Deus Misereatur

Modern Orthodox Thinkers: From the Philokalia to the Present Andrew Louth IVP Academic (InterVarsity Press) PO Box 1400 Downers Grove, IL 60515 ISBN: 978-0-8308-5121-8; $35.00; September 2015 Reviewed by Rev. Dr. Michael Philliber for Deus Misereatur Insightful; 5 Stars out of 5 For one who hardly knows the difference between an archimandrite and an apolytikion , or a hatjis and a heretismoi , it’s a bit of a stretch to pick up and stay with the 416 page paperback “Modern Orthodox Thinkers: From the Philokalia to the Present”. Yet Andrew Louth, who serves as a priest in the Russian Orthodox parish in Durham and is professor emeritus of patristic and Byzantine studies at Durham University, England, as well as a visiting professor of Eastern Orthodox theology at the Amsterdam Centre of Eastern Orthodox Theology in the Faculty of Theology, the Free University, Amsterdam, has made what at first appears insurmountable into something obtainable.  This scholarl...

[If you find this homily useful and would like to use it at your Christmas Eve Service, you have my permission. Mike] For Us and For Our Salvation Luke 2.1-20 (Here's the audio file ) One of the disheartening trends of our day is that everything – every action, every literary work, every religious expression, every relationship, etc. – Is being viewed as some kind of power struggle. Even in the Da Vinci Code , Dan Brown brings out this charge against Christianity: “It was all about power.” Maybe this will surprise you, but Brown’s right – It was all about power. And we Christians have believed this from the very beginning – God’s power poured out For Us and For Our Salvation! --- The Contrast : Caesar – Stepping up to rule from above. 2.1-3 – power to move whole people-groups. Augustus was the adopted son of Julius Caesar. Became the lone ruler of the Empire after a bloody civil war in which he defeated Mark Antony. He turned what was once a republic into an E...

Sunday morning: O Child who was born, Son who was given, Wonderful Counselor , who has done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure (Isaiah 25.1); may your hand be on those who need your wisdom: especially parents of young kids, teenagers, and adult children, that they may counsel with your wisdom and lead with your insight. We pray as well for your prudent discernment to be bestowed on those making tough decisions with regard to work, family issues, relationships, and future direction. / And we pray for those afflicted … may your wisdom settle and strengthen their hearts as they place themselves in your hands. O Wonderful Counselor , hear our prayer. You who are on the throne of David and over his kingdom, Mighty God ; We pray: “ O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free / thine own from Satan’s tyranny; from depths of hell thy people save, & give them victory o’er the grave .” Govern the nations of the earth to seek out and pursue what is fair and equitable for t...