Orthodox Wisdom

Readings from Saints of Holy Orthodoxy
Orthodox Wisdom

Readings of the Writings and Lives of Orthodox Christian Saints. These recordings are free to download and share. All I ask is that you do so respectfully and reference this channel. You can also contact me, Timothy Honeycutt, at: orthodoxwisdom1@gmail.com Glory to Jesus Christ!

  1. The Non-Chalcedonian Heresy - Monastery of Gregoriou, Mount Athos

    1 DAY AGO

    The Non-Chalcedonian Heresy - Monastery of Gregoriou, Mount Athos

    What separates the Orthodox Church and the various Non-Chalcedonian churches? Is it merely semantics and misunderstandings, as some today proclaim? The Holy Monastery of Gregoriou on Mount Athos, in this 1994 treatise, gives a detailed examination of the issues and offers much for anyone interested in the truth of Christ, His Church, and the Non-Chalcedonian heresy. 📖 This is a reading of _The Non-Chalcedonian Heretics_ by the Monastery of Gregoriou (Mount Athos) (originally published as _The Non-Chalcedonian Heresy_ in Orthodox Life (Jordanville)). Buy here: https://www.ctosonline.org/ecumenism/N.html 0:00 Beginning 0:19 Prologue by Abbot George Kapsanis 2:00 Introduction Part I: Ecclesiological Presuppositions 5:30 The Orthodox Church is the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church 6:01 The Church is Conscious of Her Identity Over Time 6:47 Using “Polemical” Language Part II: The Historical Witness 8:34 Union Attempts in the Past 13:24 The Agreements of 433 Expose the Non-Chalcedonians 22:03 The Witness from the Synaxaria (Lives of Saints) Part III: Dogmatic Differences 28:42 Is Severos Orthodox? 32:32 1) The Theology of Serveros is Aristotelian 37:09 2) Severos Accepts that the Human Nature of Christ Subsists as a Hypostasis 43:54 3) The Hypostatic Union According to Severos 50:59 4) Severos teaches Monoenergism 56:56 5) Severos Accepts the Heretical Teaching of Individual Essences 59:03 6) How Does Severos Conceive the Deification of Man? 1:02:22 The Theopaschite Addition to the Trisagion 1:06:10 St. Maximus the Confessor on the Phrase “In Thought Alone” 1:09:26 Iconoclasm and its Monophysite Presuppositions 1:14:00 Thoughts on the Joint Declarations of 1989 and 1990 1:17:22 Conclusions *Primary Sources* 📖 _The Acts of the Council of Chalcedon_ translated and introduced by Fr. Richard Price (Roman Catholic) https://archive.org/details/the-acts-of-the-council-of-chalcedon-translated-texts-for-historians-lup-volume-45 📖 Letters 1-50 of St. Cyril of Alexandria https://archive.org/details/letters-1-50-cyril-of-alexandria-etc.-z-library 📖 Letters 51-110 of St. Cyril of Alexandria https://dokumen.pub/fathers-of-the-church-saint-cyril-of-alexandria-letters-51-110-0813200776-9780813200774.html 📖 The "Tome" of Pope St. Leo of Rome https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3604028.htm 📖 _Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith_ by St. John of Damascus (see Book 3) https://stanthonysmonastery.org/products/exact-exposition-of-the-orthodox-faith *Secondary Sources* 📖 _Saint Cyril of Alexandria and the Christological Controversy_ by Fr. John McGuckin https://svspress.com/saint-cyril-of-alexandria-and-the-christological-controversy/ 📖 The Political Subterfuge of Chalcedon by Patrick Craig Truglia https://orthodoxchristiantheology.com/2022/09/07/the-political-subterfuge-of-chalcedon/ *Audio* 🎧 Oriental Orthodoxy Refuted (Playlist) by David Erhan https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3QQ7jHr1GrTO3WLauMBQ6kbTEphu2rHg&si=epm0F_1DRZaz3Aqc *From Non-Chalcedonians* 📖 From V.C. Samuel (a Copt), quoted in the text from Gregoriou: _The Council of Chalcedon Re-Examined_ https://a.co/d/if45jyR From an historical perspective, it should be said that the Holy Fathers knew well with whom they were conversing, and there is no possibility that they misconstrued and condemned the Non-Chalcedonians on account of a misinterpretation. It is neither theological terminology nor racial and cultural factors that played a decisive role in the separation of the Non-Chalcedonians from the communion of the Catholic [i.e., Orthodox] Church, but chiefly their erroneous conception, and consequently their formulation, of the manner of the union of the two Natures in Christ. The dogmatic differences between the two sides are so great that, if they were forgotten, salvation itself would be put at risk.

    1h 20m
  2. Keep Thy Mind in Hell and Despair Not - Christ's Word to St. Silouan

    2 DAYS AGO

    Keep Thy Mind in Hell and Despair Not - Christ's Word to St. Silouan

    A reading of the revelation of Jesus Christ to St. Silouan from _Saint Silouan the Athonite_ by St. Sophrony (p. 429-431) 📖 _Saint Silouan the Athonite_ by St. Sophrony: https://www.holycross.org/products/saint-silouan-the-athonite 🎧 Keep Thy Mind in Hell and Despair Not - St. Silouan and St. Sophrony (Commentary on the Saying) https://youtu.be/n0CCxFuH5I4 🎧 Playlist from Orthodox Wisdom: St. Silouan & St. Sophrony - Teachings and Prayers https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzFKi22k2KYiWHl-XYYh_Jqr5w539qw2s ⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodox-world.org/ https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ _______ St. Silouan writes: 'Lord, Thou seest that I desire to pray to Thee with a single mind but the devils will not let me. Tell me what I must do to make them leave me.' And in my soul came the Lord's reply: 'The proud always suffer thus from devils.' ‘Lord,' I say, "Thou art merciful. My soul knoweth Thee. Tell me what I must do that my soul may grow humble?' And the Lord answered me in my soul: 'Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not.' Since then I have stayed my mind in hell and I burn in the sombre fire, yearning after the Lord and seeking Him in tears, and saying: ‘Soon shall I die and take up my abode in the dark prison of hell. And alone shall I burn there, and long for the Lord, and lament: 'Where is my Lord, Whom my soul knoweth?' And I had great profit from these thoughts: my mind was cleansed and my soul found rest. _______ Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!

    5 min
  3. The Firmament and the Waters Above - St. Ambrose of Milan

    3 DAYS AGO

    The Firmament and the Waters Above - St. Ambrose of Milan

    What is the firmament? What does Scripture mean by “waters above the heavens”? St. Ambrose expounds upon the Scriptural testimony and raises our minds and hearts both to God’s creation and God Himself. As he asks rhetorically, "When you hear this, why do you marvel if, by the operation of such majesty, water can be held suspended above the celestial firmament?" 📖 "Hexaemeron" by St. Ambrose of Milan https://www.scribd.com/doc/46349268/Hexaemeron-of-Saint-Ambrose-of-Milan 🎧 The Firmament and the Waters Above - St. John Chrysostom https://youtu.be/ZMCuHkVA-lo 📖 "Hexaemeron" by St. Basil the Great https://stanthonysmonastery.org/products/hexaemeron ⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodox-world.org/ https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ _______ St. Ambrose teaches: We follow the tradition of the Scriptures and we value the work by our esteem of the Author [Moses], as to what was said, who said it, and to whom it was said. ‘Let there be a firmament made,’ He said, ‘amidst the waters and let it divide the waters from the waters’ (Genesis 1:6). From this I learn that the firmament is made by a command by which the water was to be separated and the water above be divided from the water below. What is clearer than this? He who commanded the waters to be separated by the interposition of the firmament lying between them provided also the manner of them remaining in position, once they were divided and separated. The word of God gives nature its power and an enduring quality to its matter, as long as He who established it wishes it to be so, as it is written: ‘He hath established them forever and for ages of ages. He hath made a decree and it shall not pass away’ (Psalm 148:6). And that you may know that He said this concerning these *waters which you say cannot exist in the higher parts of the heavens,* listen to the words which precede: ‘Praise Him, ye heaven of heavens, and let all the waters above the heavens praise the name of the Lord’ (Psalm 148:4).... *When you hear this, why do you marvel if, by the operation of such majesty, water can be held suspended above the celestial firmament?* -Hexaemeron, p. 53-54 This firmament cannot be broken, you see, without a noise. *It also is called a firmament because it is not weak nor without resistance.* Hence, in dealing with thunderbolts, which give forth a tremendous crash when currents of air on the point of arising in the midst of the clouds meet together in collision, the Scripture speaks of strengthening the thunderbolt. Therefore, *the firmament is called because of its firmness or because it has been made firm by divine power,* just as Scripture teaches us, saying: "Praise ye him in the firmament of his power" (Psalm 150:1). And I am not unaware that some refer "the heaven of heavens" to the intelligible powers, the firmament to the efficient powers and that the heavens praise and "shine forth the glory of God and the firmament declareth it"—yet, as we have said above, they declare them not as spiritual powers, but as things of the world. Others also interpret the waters to mean the purificatory powers. We accept this interpretation as a simple adornment to our treatise. To us, however, it does not appear to be inappropriate nor absurd, if we are to understand these to be *real waters* for the reasons given above. According to the hymn of the Prophet, dew, frost, cold and heat bless the Lord, the earth, too, blesses Him. Furthermore, we do not understand the stars to be unseen powers of nature, but as having real existence. Even dragons give praise to the Lord, because their nature and aspect, if one examines them closely, are not without presenting a certain modicum of beauty and design. -Hexaemeron, p. 62 _______ Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!

    17 min
  4. Duties of Husbands & Wives in Marriage - St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

    6 DAYS AGO

    Duties of Husbands & Wives in Marriage - St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

    St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, one of the most beloved Russian saints of the past few centuries, describes the duties of husbands and wives towards each other in marriage. Text is from "Journey to Heaven: Counsels on the Particular Duties of Every Christian" by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk ⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodox-world.org/ https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ _______ St. Tikhon writes: The husband and wife must lay virtue, and not passion, as the foundation of their love, that is, when the husband sees any fault in his wife, he must nudge her meekly, and the wife must submit to her husband in this. Likewise when a wife sees some fault in her husband, she must exhort him, and he is obliged to hear her. In this manner their love will be faithful and unbroken, and thereby having mutually composed their happiness, they shall take pleasure in the virtue There is a custom that some men leave their wives and some wives leave their husbands under the pretense of abstinence, but this is a very dangerous matter, for instead of continence there may follow the grace sin of adultery in one or the other or in both parties. When the husband leaves his wife and the wife sins with another, then the husband is responsible for this sin, as he gave his wife occasion for sin. Likewise when a wife leaves her husband and the husband sins with another, then the wife is guilty of that sin, for the same reason. A man must not treat his wife as a slave, but as a helpmate; but the wife ought to submit to her husband. As the Apostle teaches, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord" (Eph. 5:22), and a little further, "And let the wife see that she reverence her husband" (v. 33), and in another place, "Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord" (Col. 3:18). When the husband and the wife are of the same character and of good morals then the marriage will be happy and excellent, for there will always be unanimity, agreement, and peace among them, in which consists great happiness. "Behold now, what is so good or so joyous as for brethren to dwell together in unity?" (Ps. 132:1), says the Prophet. But because Satan, the enemy of human souls, attempts to break the union of love and agreement, then the husband and wife must condescend to any infirmity that the other may have and suffer each other with love, and thus concord and peace will be preserved. _______ Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!

    6 min
  5. On the Moment in Liturgy: "Catechumens Depart!" - Met. Augustinos of Florina

    17 OCT

    On the Moment in Liturgy: "Catechumens Depart!" - Met. Augustinos of Florina

    Excerpt from "For Catechumens in the Orthodox Church" by Metropolitan Augoustinos (Kantiotis) of Florina (+2010), from his book “On the Divine Liturgy: Vol. 1" 📖 “On the Divine Liturgy: Vol. 1" by Met. Augustinos: http://ibmgs.org/chatechetic.html 🎧 For Catechumens in the Orthodox Church - Met. Augoustinos of Florina https://youtu.be/pE52JnVeueQ ⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodox-world.org/ https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ _______ Met Augustinos teaches: The catechumens were permitted to attend Church, to stand in a designated place, and attend a part of the Divine Liturgy, but not all of it. They stayed in church, prayed with others, listened to the readings and preaching; and after the deacon said the Ektenes and other special petitions for the catechumens, he called them to leave the church. Only when they had all left would the Divine Liturgy continue. And because only the faithful attended it, it was called the Liturgy of the Faithful. In the ancient church, not only the catechumens were obliged to leave, but others as well. Those who were baptized and registered in the books of the Church as faithful, but after baptism had not watched their way of life and had fallen into certain sins, which became known to the community and scandalized the people: fornicators, adulterers, thieves, unjust and greedy people, gossips, blasphemers, those who denied the faith, criminals and murders had no place in the church. Those who sincerely repented were later allowed to stand with the catechumens in church to attend the Divine Liturgy until the preaching was done, when they were obliged to leave. The Church in the time of Her glory was a vigilant guardian of the faith and of morals. She was gentle and compassionate to those who sincerely repented, but severe to those who committed heinous sins and did not show sincere and appropriate repentance. Among these were individuals of high estate whom the whole world held in awe and fear. She closed out general, kings, and emperors and would only allow them entry to attend the Divine Liturgy if they showed true repentance, like that of David. The ancient Church most certainly did these things. But what is our modern day Church doing? Unfortunately, She leaves Her doors open, and anyone can walk in and attend the Divine Liturgy without exception ‒ individuals who have committed horrible sins, who have scandalized the people, who do not believe in anything the Church teaches, but speak disrespectfully and blaspheme. Many are attached to error, heresy, and anti-Christian organizations. Our Church has become like the unprotected vineyard. The fault rests with us, the bishops, who will not imitate the example of the holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church. Let us hope that new days will come to our Church, when She will again be like She was in the ancient days of Her glory. _______ Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!

    3 min
  6. On Approaching God in the Heart and the Cause of Humility - St. Isaac the Syrian

    16 OCT

    On Approaching God in the Heart and the Cause of Humility - St. Isaac the Syrian

    A reading of Homily 8 from St. Isaac the Syrian's Ascetical Homilies 📖 Buy “Ascetical Homilies of Saint Issac the Syrian” here: https://www.bostonmonks.com/product_info.php/cPath/75_105/products_id/635 🎧 The Prayers of St. Isaac the Syrian https://youtu.be/nq5L6RXiH9M 🎧 On the Power of Sin & What Causes Sin To Cease - St. Isaac the Syrian https://youtu.be/sV8QJ0AcDmg ⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodox-world.org/ https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ _______ St. Isaac teaches: Blessed is the man who knows his own weakness, because this knowledge becomes to him the foundation, the root, and the beginning of all goodness. For whenever a man learns and truly perceives his own weakness, at that moment he contracts his soul on every side from the laxity that dims knowledge, and he treasures up watchfulness in himself. But when a man becomes humble, at once mercy encircles him, and then his heart is aware of Divine help, because it finds a certain power and assurance moving in itself. And when a man perceives [the coming of] Divine help, and that it is this which aids him, then at once his heart is filled with faith, and he understands from this that prayer is the refuge of help, a source of salvation, a treasury of assurance, a haven that rescues from the tempest, a light to those who are in darkness, a staff of the infirm, a shelter in time of temptations, a medicine at the height of sickness, a shield of deliverance in war, an arrow sharpened against the face of his enemies, and, to speak simply: the entire multitude of these good things is found to have its entrance through prayer. From this time forward he revels in the prayer of faith, his heart glistens with clear assurance, and does not continue in its former blindness and the mere speech of the tongue. -(Brackets included in published text from HTM) All these good things are born to a man from the recognition of his own weakness. For out of his craving for God's help, he presses on toward God by the petitions of his prayer. Therefore, whoever is walking upon the path of God must give thanks to Him for all the things that come upon him, and revile and blame his own soul, and know that he would not have been delivered over by his Provider except for the sake of negligence, in order that his mind might be awakened, or else because he has become puffed up. But he should not be overly disturbed on this account, nor quit the arena and the fight, nor leave himself free of self-reproach, lest his evil grow twofold. _______ Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!

    11 min
  7. On the Antichrist - St. Ephraim the Syrian

    14 OCT

    On the Antichrist - St. Ephraim the Syrian

    A homily describing the dreadful Antichrist, his deceitful tactics, and how Christians of the last times can remain faithful to Christ amidst intense pressure. As St. Ephraim says, "I entreat you, brethren, being the least among you, let us not be lax, O Christ-lovers, rather let us strengthen ourselves even more by the power of the Cross. The inevitable contest is at the doors. Let us take up the shield of faith.” This is a reading from "Eschatological Hymns and Homilies" by St. Ephraim the Syrian, p. 117-129 📖 "Eschatological Hymns and Homilies" by St. Ephraim the Syrian, published by St. Anthony's Monastery in Arizona https://stanthonysmonastery.org/products/eschatological-hymns-and-homilies?srsltid=AfmBOoqyfIIWEb5EY1wyOjyHonsNu2R8B3j92hIscVw6f7dXHsXqwc82🎧 The Antichrist Will Be the Natural Result of the Spiritual Direction of Man - St Ignatius Brianchaninovhttps://youtu.be/Y97eoXfZJ_k🎧 Signs of the Times: Antichrist, Zionism, & Jews - St. Paisios the Athonitehttps://youtu.be/V1fKxGkS2Tc ⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodox-world.org/ https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ _______ St. Ephraim teaches: Brethren, we must understand with all exactness the odious and illusory miracles of the enemy. Indeed our Lord will come to all of us in the stillness, and will repulse the subtleties of the beast for our sakes. Keeping the steadfast faith of Christ in purity, we will make the power of the tormentor falter. Let us acquire an unwavering and firm reason, and the powerless one will withdraw from us, being unable to do anything to us. The most despicable one will come as a robber, in a manner such as to deceive all; he will come as one humble, meek, a hater (as he will say of himself) of unrighteousness, despising idols, giving preference to piety, good, lover of the poor, beautiful to an extreme degree, constant, gracious to all. He will especially esteem the Jewish race, since the Jews will await his coming. Take note, my brethren, of the boundless evil cunning of the beast and the subtleties of his maliciousness, how he begins with the stomach in order that man, when he is brought to a state of extreme want of food, shall be forced to receive the seal of the beast, that is, the impious brand. He will not be required to receive this brand on just any member of the body, but on the right hand and also on the forehead, so that it will be impossible for a man to make the sign of the cross with his right hand, and likewise impossible to sign the holy name of the Lord and the glorious and venerable Cross of Christ our Savior on the forehead. For the wretch knows that the Cross of the Lord, signed upon a man, destroys all his power, and therefore he puts his seal on man's right hand, as it seals all our members with the Cross. Similarly the fore-head, like a lampstand which carries the lamp of light on high, the sign of our Savior. _______ Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!

    23 min
  8. Duties of Pastors and of the Flock - St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

    11 OCT

    Duties of Pastors and of the Flock - St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

    St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, one of the most beloved Russian saints of the past few centuries, describes the duties of the pastor towards his flock and of the flock towards their pastor. 0:00 Beginning 0:10 On the Duty of Pastors (Bishops and Priests) 9:02 On the Duty of the Flock Toward the Pastor Text is from "Journey to Heaven: Counsels on the Particular Duties of Every Christian" by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk ⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodox-world.org/ https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ _______ St. Tikhon writes: For the Pastor: A pastor must without fail teach people, lead them to true repentance, plant the fear and love of God in men's hearts, put the fear of God's judgement in reckless and unrepentant sinners, encourage the troubled and doubtful and those inclined to despair with he mercy of God and the consolation of the Gospel, and root out superstition, schism and heresy. He must draw all this teaching from the wellsprings of Israel, the sacred books of the word of God, and transmit it to the people under him. When people, whoever they may be, commit iniquity and you know it openly, take extreme care not to be silent, but everywhere reprove their iniquity in your speech, lest you be like a dumb dog that does not bark when thieves break into a house and loot it, and wolves fall upon the flock and devour it. Without the help of God, the efforts of the pastor himself as well as those of the people will not be discharged or meet with success. For this reason the pastor has an obligation to pray diligently to God for himself and for the people, that He help both himself and all the people. For the Flock: Because the pastor speaks the word of God, then to whatever he teaches, pay diligent heed, O Christian, and do it. Because many among the people are not men of goodwill and as they do not love pastoral reroof but wish to live according to their own will, they invent and broadcast no little slander against the pastor. Then when you hear such slander and ill report against the pastor, do not believe it and guard your lips, lest you say anything about it to anyone else. _______ Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!

    13 min

About

Readings of the Writings and Lives of Orthodox Christian Saints. These recordings are free to download and share. All I ask is that you do so respectfully and reference this channel. You can also contact me, Timothy Honeycutt, at: orthodoxwisdom1@gmail.com Glory to Jesus Christ!

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada