360° Tours of Holy Sites

Several 360° virtual tours of Holy Sites are available online.  See the Church of the Resurrection (Church of the Holy Sepulcher) in Jerusalem, which contains Golgotha, the place of Christ's Crucifixion, and the Holy Tomb of the Resurrection.  There is also a tour of the Church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Constantinople, the capital of the Orthodox Christian Eastern Roman Empire, and a tour of the headquarters of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. 

Orthodox Christian Hermits

Source: Youtube

Archimandrite Zarcharias on the Spiritual Life

Archimandrite Zacharias of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Essex, England speaks about the spiritual life.

The Church of the Resurrection (Jerusalem)

Today we commemorate the founding of the Church of the Holy Resurrection (aka the Church of the Holy Sepulchre), which contains both Golgotha (the place of Christ's Crucifixion) and the Holy Tomb of the Resurrection. You can read about it on Orthodoxwiki here.

Also, here is an account from the ancient historian, Eusebius, about how St. Constantine, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, built the Church in the 4th century AD with the help of his devout mother, St. Helena:

Chapter XXV.--How he ordered the Erection of a Church at Jerusalem, in the Holy Place of our Saviour's Resurrection.

“After these things, the pious emperor addressed himself to another work truly worthy of record, in the province of Palestine. What then was this work? He judged it incumbent on him to render the blessed locality of our Saviour's resurrection an object of attraction and veneration to all. He issued immediate injunctions, therefore, for the erection in that spot of a house of prayer: and this he did, not on the mere natural impulse of his own mind, but being moved in spirit by the Saviour himself.”

Chapter XXVI.--That the Holy Sepulchre had been covered with Rubbish and with Idols by the Ungodly.

“For it had been in time past the endeavor of impious men (or rather let me say of the whole race of evil spirits through their means), to consign to the darkness of oblivion that divine monument of immortality to which the radiant angel had descended from heaven, and rolled away the stone for those who still had stony hearts, and who supposed that the living One still lay among the dead; and had declared glad tidings to the women also, and removed their stony-hearted unbelief by the conviction that he whom they sought was alive. This sacred cave, then, certain impious and godless persons had thought to remove entirely from the eyes of men, supposing in their folly that thus they should be able effectually to obscure the truth. Accordingly they brought a quantity of earth from a distance with much labor, and covered the entire spot; then, having raised this to a moderate height, they paved it with stone, concealing the holy cave beneath this massive mound. Then, as though their purpose had been effectually accomplished, they prepare on this foundation a truly dreadful sepulchre of souls, by building a gloomy shrine of lifeless idols to the impure spirit whom they call Venus, and offering detestable oblations therein on profane and accursed altars. For they supposed that their object could not otherwise be fully attained, than by thus burying the sacred cave beneath these foul pollutions.”

Chapter XXVII.--How Constantine commanded the Materials of the Idol Temple, and the Soil itself, to be removed at a Distance.

“Nor did the emperor's zeal stop here; but he gave further orders that the materials of what was thus destroyed, both stone and timber, should be removed and thrown as far from the spot as possible; and this command also was speedily executed. The emperor, however, was not satisfied with having proceeded thus far: once more, fired with holy ardor, he directed that the ground itself should be dug up to a considerable depth, and the soil which had been polluted by the foul impurities of demon worship transported to a far distant place.”

Chapter XXX.--Constantine's Letter to Macarius respecting the Building of the Church of our Saviour.

"Victor Constantius, Maximus Augustus, to Macarius.

"Such is our Saviour's grace, that no power of language seems adequate to describe the wondrous circumstance to which I am about to refer. For, that the monument of his most holy Passion, so long ago buried beneath the ground, should have remained unknown for so long a series of years, until its reappearance to his servants now set free through the removal of him [3263] who was the common enemy of all, is a fact which truly surpasses all admiration. For if all who are accounted wise throughout the world were to unite in their endeavors to say somewhat worthy of this event, they would be unable to attain their object in the smallest degree. Indeed, the nature of this miracle as far transcends the capacity of human reason as heavenly things are superior to human affairs. For this cause it is ever my first, and indeed my only object, that, as the authority of the truth is evincing itself daily by fresh wonders, so our souls may all become more zealous, with all sobriety and earnest unanimity, for the honor of the Divine law. I desire, therefore, especially, that you should be persuaded of that which I suppose is evident to all beside, namely, that I have no greater care than how I may best adorn with a splendid structure that sacred spot, which, under Divine direction, I have disencumbered as it were of the heavy weight of foul idol worship; a spot which has been accounted holy from the beginning in God's judgment, but which now appears holier still, since it has brought to light a clear assurance of our Saviour's passion.

Chapter XXXI.--That the Building should surpass all the Churches in the World in the Beauty of its Walls, its Columns, and Marbles.

"It will be well, therefore, for your sagacity to make such arrangements and provision of all things needful for the work, that not only the church itself as a whole may surpass all others whatsoever in beauty, but that the details of the building may be of such a kind that the fairest structures in any city of the empire may be excelled by this. And with respect to the erection and decoration of the walls, this is to inform you that our friend Dracilianus, the deputy of the Praetorian Praefects, and the governor of the province, have received a charge from us. For our pious directions to them are to the effect that artificers and laborers, and whatever they shall understand from your sagacity to be needful for the advancement of the work, shall forthwith be furnished by their care. And as to the columns and marbles, whatever you shall judge, after actual inspection of the plan, to be especially precious and serviceable, be diligent to send information to us in writing, in order that whatever quantity or sort of materials we shall esteem from your letter to be needful, may be procured from every quarter, as required, for it is fitting that the most marvelous place in the world should be worthily decorated.”

__________________________________________________________________

Chapter XXXII.--That he instructed the Governors concerning the Beautifying of the Roof; also concerning Workmen, and Materials.

"With respect to the ceiling [3264] of the church, I wish to know from you whether in your judgment it should be panel-ceiled, [3265] or finished with any other kind of workmanship. If the panel ceiling be adopted, it may also be ornamented with gold. For the rest, your Holiness will give information as early as possible to the before-mentioned magistrates how many laborers and artificers, and what expenditure of money is required. You will also be careful to send us a report without delay, not only respecting the marbles and columns, but the paneled ceiling also, should this appear to you to be the most beautiful form. God preserve you, beloved brother!"

Chapter XXXIII.--How the Church of our Saviour, the New Jerusalem prophesied of in Scripture, was built.

“This was the emperor's letter; and his directions were at once carried into effect. Accordingly, on the very spot which witnessed the Saviour's sufferings, a new Jerusalem was constructed, over against the one so celebrated of old, which, since the foul stain of guilt brought on it by the murder of the Lord, had experienced the last extremity of desolation, the effect of Divine judgment on its impious people. It was

opposite this city that the emperor now began to rear a monument to the Saviour's victory over death, with rich and lavish magnificence. And it may be that this was that second and new Jerusalem spoken of in the predictions of the prophets, [3266] concerning which such abundant testimony is given in the divinely inspired records.

First of all, then, he adorned the sacred cave itself, as the chief part of the whole work, and the hallowed monument at which the angel radiant with light had once declared to all that regeneration which was first manifested in the Saviour's person.”

Chapter XLII.--That the Empress Helena, [3274] Constantine's Mother, having visited this Locality for Devotional Purposes, built these Churches.

“For she, having resolved to discharge the duties of pious devotion to the God, the King of kings, and feeling it incumbent on her to render thanksgivings with prayers on behalf both of her own son, now so mighty an emperor, and of his sons, her own grandchildren, the divinely favored Caesars, though now advanced in years, yet gifted with no common degree of wisdom, had hastened with youthful alacrity to survey this venerable land; and at the same time to visit the eastern provinces, cities, and people, with a truly imperial solicitude. As soon, then, as she had rendered due reverence to the ground which the Saviour's feet had trodden, according to the prophetic word which says [3275] "Let us worship at the place whereon his feet have stood," she immediately bequeathed the fruit of her piety to future generations.”

Eusebius, “The Life of Constantine,” Chapters XXV-XLVII. (NPNF, second series, vol. 1, pp. 526-532.) The text of this work is available for free at this address: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf201.txt

Go to Bibleplaces.com for photos.

Wounded by Love - Book Study & Discussion

Wounded

by Love

Book Study & Discussion

SATURDAY EVENINGS 5:15-6:15 PM

followed by Great Vespers

(the ancient service of evening prayer)

Love + Prayer + Healing + Spiritual Struggle +

+ Relationships + Nurturing Children +

… and more

St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

5311 Mercer
Houston, TX 77005

The book study will meet on the 2nd Floor
of the Education Building (connected to the church)
in the Conference Room.

You don't need your own copy of the book

and no prior reading is necessary.

The Orthodox Way of Life - Initial Reading List

Hello everyone,

Below you will find an initial list of recommended books and online articles to supplement our upcoming course, The Orthodox Way of Life. I’m also attaching a brochure for the class, in case you haven’t received one already. I encourage you to invite others to attend the classes with you.

I especially recommend that you purchase the first two books, The Orthodox Study Bible and The Orthodox Church by Metropolitan Kallistos (Timothy Ware), a good basic introduction to Church history and the Orthodox Faith. Buying these books is recommended, but not necessary. I do plan to use the OSB in class. (At least bring a readable translation of the Bible with you, if you have one. If not, that’s ok.)

If you have any particular questions or areas you want to read about, perhaps I could point you to more specific resources. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Forgive me.

Yours in Christ,

Symeon

Recommended Reading for the “Introduction to the Orthodox Way of Life – An Introduction” class:

1. The Orthodox Study Bible (OT & NT)

Make sure that you get the OSB with the Old Testament included. In addition to a recent translation of the Old Testament and the New King James Version of the New Testament, the OSB contains commentary, articles, and other helpful resources.

2. Timothy Ware. The Orthodox Church. Second Edition. New York: Penguin Press, 1997. (The author is now known as Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia.)

3. Articles on the “Discover Orthodox Christianity” page of the Antiochian Archdiocese website:

Finding the New Testament Church by Fr. Jon Braun

http://www.antiochian.org/node/16918

What Orthodox Christians Believe

http://www.antiochian.org/whatorthodoxbelieve

Glossary of Orthodox Terminology

http://www.antiochian.org/theology/glossary_of_orthodox_terminology.htm

Entering God's Kingdom by Fr. Peter Gillquist

http://www.antiochian.org/node/16962

"The Orthodox Christian Way of Life"

Orthodox Christian Education 2009 - Houston, TX

China Reports & Analysis

If you are on Facebook and interested in China, join the group I recently started, China Reports & Analysis. I recommend perusing the links already posted to see if any of them catch your interest.

"This is a group for those interested in English-language news reports and analysis related to China. This group takes no position on Chinese territorial claims or the Chinese system of government. Reports and analysis of various points of view welcome. Submissions from the English-language press welcome."

Please pass this information on to those who may have interest.

The World According to the Map.

Listen to an interview about the book The Atlas of the Real World: Mapping the Way We Live.

See also Worldmapper.org

Also, check out my previous post, Geopolitics: Lessons from a Map of China.

Women, Spirituality, and TV

Read this article in the Telegraph: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer slaying church attendance among women, study claims."

Within the United States, as well as the UK, many women are influenced by feminist ideas and view their own lives, at least in part, through a feminist lens. Indeed, many ideas compatible with feminism are truly incompatible with the Orthodox Christian path, which leads one from arrogance to humility and from self-centeredness to love, self-sacrifice for the sake of others (even men). The Orthodox Church cannot fit into the restrictive feminist box, but through the life of the Church a woman can discover what it means to be a true human person, one truly free, and why womanhood is so highly honored. The Church offers more than ideology. She offers the experience of healing and transformation in the presence of women from human history who have achieved what women in our culture can now become.

Marriage, Sexuality, and TV

Television exerts tremendous influence over people in our secular world. Of course, at the same time, programs reflect ideas and beliefs present in society. Television shows often devalue marriage and portray unhealthy, destructive sexual attitudes and practices as acceptable and normal. Stories on television can serve to shape attitudes, influence lifestyle decisions, and validate harmful behavior. Therefore, television can have a negative effect on adults as well as children.

Check out the CNN article, "Sex beats marriage on network TV, study shows."

Notice in the article that a representative of TVWatch responded to the study by the Parents Television Council with this statement: "The Parents Television Council won't be satisfied with television content until they convince the government to enforce their personal, selective judgments." While the Parents Television Council does indeed seem to encourage people to work toward change through political action, the question of whether certain content should be shown on television is not merely a matter of "personal, selective judgments," although the process of determining good content involves the discernment and decisions of persons. Since television does influence people, content would be best determined by asking questions like these:

"What message promotes the nurturing of personal life, health, and relationships?"
"What message helps people acquire an accurate vision of themselves, other people, and the world?"
"What message shows that we genuinely care for those receiving the message?"

To some, the question of television content looks like a matter of opinion concerning views on morality, censorship, government intervention, freedom of expression, and choice. In reality, the questions of what should be shown and viewed on TV is not as much about opinion, ideology, and control as it is about truth, love, and spirituality. As we determine what to view and allow our children to see, may we discern wisely and avoid harmful influences.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Alexander Solzhenitsyn has died at the age of 89. Many Americans probably don't know who he is, but Solzhenitsyn is a man Americans should know about. Check out my post on Solzhenitsyn from 2006.

His obituary and a video are available on the BBC News website.

Geopolitics: Lessons from a Map of China

When studying an area of the world, a map is a valuable resource. With a map of a region, you can get a visual picture of how geography affects where people live, military security, politics, economics, culture, and so on.

An example in East Asia is China, a country with a long tradition of geographical awareness. China is known for defining and securing boundaries. (Take the Great Wall as an example.) Strategic Forecasting (stratfor.com) has published a couple recent articles on the relevance of Chinese geography for for the Chinese government. I especially recommend Chinese Geopolitics and the Significance of Tibet (4/15/08) because of its rather comprehensive summary analysis of geography. Another articles is China and Russia's Geographic Divide (7/22/08).

A satellite image of Asia is available here.

Historical Manuscripts

For a look at interesting historical manuscripts, visit the "Turning the Pages" section of the British Library website. Each page of the manuscript displayed online includes audio commentary with text (if you click the appropriate buttons). Manuscripts include an atlas of Europe (1570), Mozart's music, a 16th-century anatomy book, sketches by Da Vinci, literary manuscripts, and more.

The manuscript of the Lindisfarne Gospels (listed as "Pinnacle of Anglo-Saxon Art") is particularly relevant to Orthodox Christians since it was produced when Britain was still an Orthodox land. For a related article, read my previous post on Ancient Manuscripts from the British Isles.

To see an even more ancient book, visit the website of the Codex Sinaiticus and learn about the significance of this biblical manuscript.

To view more manuscripts, explore the Schoyen Collection.

You may also enjoy reading an article on the history of the book (codex), entitled "The Coming of the Codex" from the University of Edinburgh's Centre for the History of the Book.

Christ and the Tao

Articles have been recently published on the rise of Christianity in China. Notably, Frontline has covered the story.

I recommend reading The Logos and the Tao from the Bonovox blog concerning the connection between Taoism and Orthodox Christianity.

You may also like to read my previous post on Orthodox Christianity in China and my post on Christ the Eternal Tao.

Journalism: Covering the Orthodox Church

Articles about the Orthodox Christian Church published in the secular press sometimes include inaccuracies or information that lacks sufficient explanation to offer readers a clear picture of the Orthodox Church and her way of life. I would like to compile a list of previously published inaccuracies that could help members of the press in their reporting. I am asking you to submit any examples that you have encountered. Please include the following:

1. The inaccuracy or point that may be misleading without proper explanation.

2. A more accurate way of stating the point.

3. If possible, the paragraph containing the problem passage with a citation indicating the publication's name, date of publication, title of the article, author, web address to article, etc.

Please include the information clearly and as dispassionately as possible.

Many thanks to you who contribute and to those among you who pass along the information.

(By the way, if you're interested in coverage of religion in the media, check out GetReligion.org.)

Symeon

The Fall of the Byzantine Empire

I recently discovered a video on the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire (aka the Byzantine Empire). The video offers an opportunity for considering the relationship between the Orthodox Christian Faith and the fall of one of history's greatest empires. Consider the relationship between spirituality and politics in the world.

This Russian video has been translated into English.

Teen Pregnancy at Gloucester High

At Gloucester High School, a school in Massachusetts, a rather large group of young, unmarried teens have become pregnant. This story shows what happens when teenagers are not reared and educated in a spiritual environment in which they can grow to understand, from a spiritual perspective, personhood, virtuous living, womanhood, marriage, sexuality, and motherhood.

Read the article from Time.com and watch an interview from CNN. The interview reveals how some leaders in our culture don't understand the problem or how to deal with it. You can also listen to the NPR report.

QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION: What is wrong with the teen pregnancy pact? What are some of the positive Christian values taught at the school these girls attend(ed)? What are some of the problems that may exist at a school like this? What is the positive spiritual role of shame in how teenagers encounter sexuality, how a pregnant teenager might deal with her own pregnancy, and how those around her might deal with it (parents, friends, teachers, etc.)? Why would more education about and use of birth control not solve the problem? Could encouragement to use birth control contribute to the underlying problems that led the girls to want to be pregnant? What is shame, and what is the difference between shame (good) and bad guilt? If you were in charge of teaching values related to sexuality and pregnancy to High School students, what would you teach them? How is the role of importance of marriage relevant to this story? How are the Theotokos and St. Mary of Egypt examples that we can offer young women to emulate? Give examples of other positive role models to whom girls can look to see a vision of true womanhood with the beauty of both virginity and chastity. Why are these women you have chosen positive role models?

Sophia: Secret Wisdom

A documentary on the Orthodox monastic tradition entitled, Sophia: Secret Wisdom, is currently in production. Fr. John McGuckin, an Orthodox priest and scholar, is associated with the project. This film may not only help people understand something about Orthodox monasticism, but also the heart of the Orthodox Church and the spiritual way of life experienced by those of us who are Orthodox Christians.

You can see footage from the film on the website for the project: http://sophiasecretwisdom.com/