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The Fathers of the First Five Centuries and Their Approach to Deification

There is an ongoing debate within the Coptic Orthodox Church about the deification of man. Although the term “deification” is not found in the Holy Scriptures, the concept of elevating the status of humanity does exist. This debate is also heightened by the conversation spurred on by the Eastern Orthodox Church’s teachings about deification as…

General | On the Perception of the Church

A Series On the Perception of the Church: Size Doesn’t Matter (Part IV)

Many are concerned with a church’s size; however, the more critical factor is its mobility. A church’s ability to move quickly in a difficult situation or to come together swiftly for a function is a significant indication that the church has energy. This life of a church doesn’t come from an empty source but rather…

General | On the Perception of the Church | orthodox spirituality

A Series On the Perception of the Church: The Convenient Church (Part III)

In the last two issues, the church was presented as the Pillar of Truth. The church ought to speak the truth in love without discrimination, prejudice, political correctness, or compromise. This spoken truth might cause some to be uncomfortable or annoyed or to even leave the church in search of a more convenient church. It…

On the Perception of the Church

A Series On the Perception of the Church: The Pillar and Ground of the Truth (Part II)

In the last issue, the church was defined as the pillar and ground of truth. This truth was described as the revelation of the person of the Lord Christ Himself in John 14:6: “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” The conclusion was that every claimed fact, preacher, book, scientific theory, prophet, law,…

General | On the Perception of the Church | orthodox spirituality

A Series On the Perception of the Church: The Pillar and Ground of the Truth (Part I)

People have different perceptions of the church. Some claim it is a hospital for the sick, while others, in the early centuries of the church, declared it was a resort for the saints. Some claim that the church should be a comfortable place, while others argue comfort isn’t a concern at all. Yet others claim…

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An opinion on natural disasters – Part 2

The last blog covered an opinion on natural disasters solely by St. John Chrysostom. This post covers the final section of this series. Let’s continue finding answers to many of our questions regarding these natural events. Why, then, does the bible call these calamities evil, as in Amos 3:6 & Isaiah 45:7? St. John Chrysostom…

orthodox spirituality | Unbalanced Fatherhood

Unbalanced Fatherhood: On the Verge of Absence and Unhealthy Control – Part 3

This is our final post in our series on unbalanced fatherhood. In the last two posts, we discussed the absence of the father in his children’s lives. In this post, we will talk about the other extreme: the father who exhibits unhealthy control. We have all heard about unhealthy parental control or have even experienced…