tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.comments2024-02-05T16:38:28.448+00:00Orthodox MonkOrthodox Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240761033816443587noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-80655335788406911272016-11-29T05:03:32.278+00:002016-11-29T05:03:32.278+00:00Dear Tharpa: Far be it from us to tell a self-pro...Dear Tharpa: Far be it from us to tell a self-professed Buddhist what Buddhism is all about. However, we understand that ten canonically ordained Buddhist monks must participate in the ordination of a Buddhist monk, not five. We were just reading this but have forgotten where, so we can't give a link or citation. Also, your statement that a fallen Buddhist monk would cease to be a monk and could not be a Buddhist monk again in this lifetime--could you give us a citation? Your final statement that the only authentic Buddhist monks in Japan are recent imports etc. seems biased. Could you give us a link to an authoritative statement on this? Thanks.Orthodox Monkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07240761033816443587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-77774244840784775092016-11-29T04:05:50.468+00:002016-11-29T04:05:50.468+00:00Wanted to clarify something. If a Buddhist monk w...Wanted to clarify something. If a Buddhist monk was forcibly "married" and did not give up the robes, the moment he had sexual relations he would cease to be a monk, and could not be a Buddhist monk again in this lifetime. The Buddha was quite clear about this. In addition, a Buddhist monk must be ordained by at least five authentic Buddhist monks who have not fallen into any of the Four Defeats, such as intercourse. Although in Japan there are married Buddhist clergy who are called monks, they are not authentic Buddhist monks. The only authentic Buddhist monks (bhikshus/bhikkhus) in Japan are recent imports of authentic ordination traditions from abroad, such as the Theravada.tharpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01087298759020944155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-1338840185763864032016-10-28T02:28:26.093+01:002016-10-28T02:28:26.093+01:00This blog is so accurate. The monastic life is ve...This blog is so accurate. The monastic life is very difficult and you must pray and become humble in order to even attempt becoming a monk. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01172598146978013508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-20323258995044064412016-10-12T16:41:03.571+01:002016-10-12T16:41:03.571+01:00Well, after reading this post, Mister Monk, I have...Well, after reading this post, Mister Monk, I have finally let go of the little respect for you, and Orthodoxy, I had left. prayer requesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11419368789062431448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-74608243463049366642016-09-30T19:17:40.742+01:002016-09-30T19:17:40.742+01:00Dear Orthodox Monk,
Evlogeite!
For one reason or a...Dear Orthodox Monk,<br />Evlogeite!<br />For one reason or another, I have only just seen your long, intricate and very kind reply to my question.<br />I apologize for leaving some points unclear, causing you to speculate at length on certain aspects of my case.<br />for the record, I have been Orthodox since 1978, having been baptized in the Sacred Monastery of Philotheou on the Holy Mountain of Athos. <br />All major Orthodox jurisditions are active in Santiago (Chile) and I attend the Divine Liturgy from time to time. There is a Russian convent in Chile but its status seems to be irregular. No men's monasteries.<br />My marriage (to a Chilean) was solemnized by the late Reverend Lucian Gafton, a priest of the Romanian Church, in London (198O).<br />My wife did not convert to Orthodoxy. We have been separated de facto for over 2O years. Our marriage is recognized by Chilean law and we can be divorced here according to the recent law. I do not know if a Chilean divorce would automatically lead to a UK divorce.<br />There are no complications regarding settlement of property as we are married acccording to "separation of chattels." One can choose between this legal regime and the "conjugal" one, in which wealth is shared in the traditional way.<br />As you will see, Reverend Father, the situation is more straight forward than it might have been. Nevertheless, I do see that it is still a difficult question and, as you point out, can only be answered in a specific context, depending on a particular monastery and, above all, on the decision of a particular abbot and/or his council.<br />Thank you so much for your extremely kind and painstaking reply. It will help me come to a decision about what to do with the rest of my life. It is always best to explore realistic options rather than indulge in dreaming about the future.<br />Many thanks for waking me up!<br />I ask for your holy prayers.<br />In Christ,<br />Evanglelos Perry<br />N.F. PERRYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00078741930969772974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-35496460511056404382016-09-16T18:38:44.030+01:002016-09-16T18:38:44.030+01:00We have replied to this question at https://orthod...We have replied to this question at https://orthodoxmonk.blogspot.com/2016/09/more-on-married-man-becoming-monk.htmlOrthodox Monkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07240761033816443587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-70540571663032737922016-09-10T05:43:18.704+01:002016-09-10T05:43:18.704+01:00We will discuss this in a new post in the near fut...We will discuss this in a new post in the near future.Orthodox Monkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07240761033816443587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-37385862621805265812016-09-10T04:20:26.548+01:002016-09-10T04:20:26.548+01:00Seems good and clear advice. My own question is: i...Seems good and clear advice. My own question is: if my marriage (recognized under civil law of UK) in church has not been registered with any diocese, can I become a monk without obtaining a civil divorce but with the consent of my wife? Would appreciate very much your observation on this situation from the point of view of Orthodox canon law.N.F. PERRYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00078741930969772974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-70222655978807554522016-02-29T15:51:39.342+00:002016-02-29T15:51:39.342+00:00This is a very sad post, to me. It shows a black-a...This is a very sad post, to me. It shows a black-and-white view of the U.S. - an unfair stereotype, since the people in the U.S. are quite diverse in beliefs about the economy, religion, and everything else. The "news" media makes money by showing the most shocking elements of the U.S., so people will keep watching; its depiction of my country and its people is very skewed.<br /><br />Also, judging Second Life based on spending a few hours or even a few weeks, is unfair. Perhaps you know of situations where someone has spent a few hours or days in your country, and has passed judgment on your country and its people as if they know everything about it. People spend time in Second Life for all kinds of reasons, including the ones you state, but many other (better) reasons as well.<br /><br />I invite you to watch "The Drax Files: World Makers" series on draxtor.com, or look for the series on youtube. He highlights the many incredibly diverse and creative ways people use Second Life.<br /><br />All the best to you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06036642264691116350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-76874338244004843162016-02-04T15:11:17.166+00:002016-02-04T15:11:17.166+00:00@ Alphabet
We will discuss this in a separate blog...@ Alphabet<br />We will discuss this in a separate blog post.Orthodox Monkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07240761033816443587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-90382882058907338282016-02-04T14:54:20.388+00:002016-02-04T14:54:20.388+00:00Why is a person who leaves the family, having been...Why is a person who leaves the family, having been brought up badly, wrong? I don't get it, isn't it better for the person to leave?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08062752976733708606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-64240947566554503662015-12-25T14:45:38.270+00:002015-12-25T14:45:38.270+00:00A married man can be a monk? Can he live with his ...A married man can be a monk? Can he live with his wife and have conjugal relations? This is a very unusual concept and would be of great interest to the protestants in america who have no understanding of the Orthodox whatsoever. They consider the Orthodox to have the same rules as the Church of Rome.GBXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04031132740296186123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-5706946560027268212015-09-17T11:41:39.056+01:002015-09-17T11:41:39.056+01:00Thanks for these blog posts. I am scared for my s...Thanks for these blog posts. I am scared for my salvation as i think i have been called to a monastic life, but in my heart feel as though no penance for my sin can redeem me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05704742270622449620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-31550872944820563852015-08-27T21:06:01.355+01:002015-08-27T21:06:01.355+01:00Well done on handling Martha with such evenness.Well done on handling Martha with such evenness.typerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12332645999494249382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-51078540050856876012015-08-26T20:16:43.220+01:002015-08-26T20:16:43.220+01:00(PAGE 3. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2)
Finally, you corr...(PAGE 3. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2)<br /><br />Finally, you correctly note the teaching of St. John Chrysostom, held probably by many others in the Church, about the cessation of the spirit. This creates a quandary for me. How could it be that there were extreme miraculous events in Old Testament times like God appearing in a pillar of fire to the Israelites, and then the miraculous events became commonplace in the first century as people proclaimed that the Second Coming was upon them (As Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:17), but that after the apostolic age these commonplace miracles ceased as Christianity spread? It seems more likely that (A) the charisms should have continued to be widespread and that people were missing them for some reason, or else (B) that the Old Testament extreme miracles were myths and that the New Testament claims, unfortunately, were the same kind of psychological or invented claims that the modern charismatics seem to be making. I suppose that it could be that Gold granted gifts to the apostles, and then as Christianity expanded the gifts "diluted", but it still seems strange to me that the Holy Spirit would undergo dilution.<br /><br />And this brings me to why I am writing to you. I love God and Jesus, and believe that Orthodoxy includes the worship forms and theology of early Christianity. But I have uncertainty over the main miracles reported in the first century, because it seems to me that the disciples and early Christians could really have been a version of the Charismatic Christians today. The gospels are inspiring and I love their story, but it sounds a bit like the kind of thing that a charismatic Christian from today might write. And if it were a story that the charismatics gave today, I would think that they were probably psychologically confused or making some things up.<br /><br />I am not sure what to do about this. I read Biblical commentaries and attend church and pray regularly, I just am in a place of uncertainty when it comes to the main miracles, whereas instead I would like to have a serious faith. What do you think, <b>Orthodox Monk?</b>Rakovskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01104421349211889742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-47290361595706191942015-08-26T20:15:16.540+01:002015-08-26T20:15:16.540+01:00(PAGE 2 CONTINUED FROM THE LAST POST THAT STARTED ...(PAGE 2 CONTINUED FROM THE LAST POST THAT STARTED WITH "DEAR ORTHODOX MONK")<br />The charismatics however claim that in the New Testament times, the charisms were common even among people who lacked ascetic training like this Orthodox charismatic claims:<br /><br /><i>"Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"(Mat 9:14) Holiness and ascetic striving is not a pre-requisite for endowment with spiritual gifts. During the majority of the disciples ministries while they were sent to “preach.. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons” Mat 10:7-8 they were not fasting but operating in Supernatural gifts of the holy Spirit.</i>"<br /><br />Another charismatic Orthodox claims:<br /><i>"in Acts 11, the spirit falls upon un-baptized Gentiles, while the book of I Corinthians is addressed to people who exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit apart from the fruit of that same Spirit. After the New Testament period, we read in the Didache instructions for dealing with people exercising charismatic gifts while at the same time indulging the flesh. In none of these situations is it automatically assumed that the “spirit” behind the gift is from the devil. Just as one can receive Holy Communion unworthily, so one who is unworthy can exercise the gifts of the Spirit - but there is danger in doing so. (http://www.workofchrist.com/Theosis/reply.htm)"</i><br /><br />Further, in your essay you noted that Paul mentioned Christians speaking in an angelic tongue, but that we don't know if this was like the Assemblies of God today. The only way I can think of people speaking an "angelic tongue", if taken at face value, would be that they would speak in a different language that did not belong to men, but to angels, and thus would sound unintelligible to the normal ear. That makes me think that they were using glossolalia, and it also sounds like in 1 Cor 14 Paul actually advocates glossolalia so long as someone was there to interpret it.<br /><br />Finally, you correctly note the teaching of St. John Chrysostom, held probably by many others in the Church, about the cessation of the spirit. This creates a quandary for me. How could it be that there were extreme miraculous events in Old Testament times like God appearing in a pillar of fire to the Israelites, and then the miraculous events became commonplace in the first century as people proclaimed that the Second Coming was upon them (As Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:17), but that after the apostolic age these commonplace miracles ceased as Christianity spread? It seems more likely that (A) the charisms should have continued to be widespread and that people were missing them for some reason, or else (B) that the Old Testament extreme miracles were myths and that the New Testament claims, unfortunately, were the same kind of psychological or invented claims that the modern charismatics seem to be making. I suppose that it could be that Gold granted gifts to the apostles, and then as Christianity expanded the gifts "diluted", but it still seems strange to me that the Holy Spirit would undergo dilution.<br /><br />(CONTINUED)Rakovskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01104421349211889742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-30871097404215556842015-08-26T20:12:29.066+01:002015-08-26T20:12:29.066+01:00Dear Orthodox Monk:
I belong to the OCA and saw y...Dear Orthodox Monk:<br /><br />I belong to the OCA and saw your essay discussing the charismatics. I basically agree with you when you write:<br /><br /><br /><i>"However, there is no recorded case that we are aware of that following voluntary Orthodox Baptism and Chrismation of an adult, that person spoke in tongues in the way people who have been ‘baptized in the Spirit’ do in the Assemblies of God or any other Pentecostalist or charismatic church or group. It just doesn’t happen in the Orthodox Church. Moreover, practice on Mt Athos, that beacon of discernment, is to receive members of the Orthodox Church who convert to Pentecostalism with rebaptism by the Pentecostalists and who then return to the Orthodox Church—to receive them back into the Orthodox Church by Chrismation after certain other prayers.<br />Hence, it is quite clear that there is no tradition in the Orthodox Church of speaking in tongues in the way that it is done in the Assemblies of God.<br />Now the question arises of charisms in the Orthodox Church. Here there are two points to make. St John Chrysostom (died 5th Century) discusses the question of the cessation of the charisms. We do not recall exactly what his answer was; our point is that the growing rarity of the charisms was already an issue then.<br />In the Orthodox Church, great Elders and great Saints do exercise the charisms of the Holy Spirit. Great miracle workers and healers and prophets who come to mind are St Seraphim of Sarov (died early 19th Century), St John Kronstadt (died early 20th Century), Elder Paisios (1924 – 1994) and Elder Porphyrios (1906 – 1991). There are many others. However, what characterizes all these great healers and miracle workers and prophets in the Orthodox Church is that before they either received the charisms or publicly exercised them they went through the preparation of a long and arduous asceticism so that they might be spiritually cleansed from their tendencies to sin. Such Elders and Saints are characterized by great personal holiness. Such Elders and Saints are also characterized by their rareness.<br />This is different from Pentecostalist circles where the charisms are acquired quickly (sometimes it seems that all it takes is to go to a revival). The charisms are also quite common (how many persons are claiming to be Apostles and Prophets today?). These charisms are exercised quickly after their reception (no preparation for a public ministry). These charisms are often exercised by persons who might not only lack distinction for their holiness but might even be involved in serious sin. There’s nothing odder than a great miracle worker who gets a divorce on account of his adultery."</i><br /><br />Your main points are that in the charismatic groups, the charisms come quickly after joining the movement, and they are common and exercized by people without discernment about the gifts or holiness. Further, St. John Chrysostom talked about the cessation of the Holy Spirit and how nowadays such miracles as miraculously speaking in discernible tongues are basically confined to unusually holy people. I basically agree and think that at least most of what the charismatics claim to be miracles are really psychological or mental phenomena, including their visions.<br />(Continued next)Rakovskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01104421349211889742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-4428982425724187912014-01-02T09:17:37.253+00:002014-01-02T09:17:37.253+00:00Good evening. New to your blog, I am struggling wi...Good evening. New to your blog, I am struggling with negative emotions, and welcome any encouragement not to fall into this pattern.Iulia Flamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06962212081437398247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-57626050928167977762013-12-14T00:17:14.717+00:002013-12-14T00:17:14.717+00:00Someone pointed out to us that Deacon Gregory is n...Someone pointed out to us that Deacon Gregory is now Father Gregory of the Anglican Catholic Church. His own description of his journey is here:<br /><br />http://fathergregory.wordpress.com/about/ <br /><br />Orthodox MonkOrthodox Monkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07240761033816443587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-41329357090573830902013-10-22T14:46:28.412+01:002013-10-22T14:46:28.412+01:00Thank you. I was looking for some of these answer...Thank you. I was looking for some of these answers, and got a lot more.bornagainsimplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10565602498339357646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-58112101261945883862013-03-17T13:11:28.521+00:002013-03-17T13:11:28.521+00:00Dear Orthodox Monk,
I very much look forward to y...Dear Orthodox Monk,<br /><br />I very much look forward to your answer to this email as it covers many of the issues I have myself felt and faced over the years when trying to determine whether I should be Anglican (the faith of my upbringing), Catholic or Orthodox. My congratulations to 'Jennifer' for expressing it so well.<br /><br />I also am particularly intrigued if you would be willing to answer question 4 :)<br /><br />very kind regards,<br />TessAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18395534300762460678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-52799866416818528772013-01-20T15:08:18.701+00:002013-01-20T15:08:18.701+00:00Hello,
could you tell more about your suggestion ...Hello,<br /><br />could you tell more about your suggestion of reading the book "Life of Elder Ephraim of Katounakia", related to the danger of forcing a "certain feeling of compunction" during the Jesus's Prayer? Did he sponsor so much exageration?<br /><br />Theophan speaks of "above all falling at the feet of our Lord and Saviour with contrition and humility":<br /><br />"Externally, acquiring the habit of this prayer consists in reaching the point where it turns on your tongue constantly by itself;<br />internally, it consists in concentrating the attention of the mind in the heart and in constantly standing there in the presence of the<br />Lord, with varying degrees of heartfelt warmth, repulsing all other thoughts, and above all falling at the feet of our Lord and Saviour<br />with contrition and humility" (Unseen Warfare, chap. 51 - http://ortodox.felmer.org/documents/Unseen%20Warfare.pdf)<br /><br />Thank you very much for your clarifications, I am too studying whether and in what inner attitude one could recite Main's mantras in a correct Christian spirit.robermannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902459862519924231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-38663080061166120542012-09-25T17:04:42.740+01:002012-09-25T17:04:42.740+01:00Interesting article. Here's my 2 pennies'...Interesting article. Here's my 2 pennies' worth. I asked my spiritual father about this and he said that music itself is neutral - given for the Glory of God and the pleasure of man. If there are lyrics associated with the music as in pop music then it might be more problematic and unsuitable for Orthodox consumption or performance. We'd need to understand what the lyrics are about and if they conflict with our Orthodox faith we'd have to refrain from actively listening to them or performing them. <br />As far as I can understand it, instrumental Rock music and instrumental classical music are both 'sentimental' in the sense described in the article. I don't see any "inherent" demonic element to purely instrumental music be it Rock or anything else. That's not to say that the any form of music can't be used for demonic purposes though. <br /><br />Best Wishes<br /><br />Neilpurplegnuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14067136433539370615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-85845515266445562722012-03-22T21:15:27.284+00:002012-03-22T21:15:27.284+00:00September 26/October 8: Feast of the Translation o...September 26/October 8: Feast of the Translation of the Apostle John. It is the tradition of the Church that when his tomb was opened his body was not there.Orthodox Monkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07240761033816443587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-36390494620954576002012-03-22T19:54:20.262+00:002012-03-22T19:54:20.262+00:00What is the Feast of the Translation of the Apostl...What is the Feast of the Translation of the Apostle John? What does it commemorate? Do we believe that John was translated?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17874723408578430570noreply@blogger.com