My husband was a lifelong Catholic until, sickened by the abuse, he wrote to the bishop of our diocese about what was being done and how he might support the Church in its efforts at reform. He received a standard reply scripted by a public relations firm that had been hired to do this. Arriving at the church door one Sunday, he said "Cleo, I can't go in there." I remebered that our friends like the newly formed American Orthodox congregation near us. we went and found ourselves very at home. My husband joined that church in the last years of his life (I did not for largely contingent reasons) and it was a great support to us. The beauty of the liturgy overwhelmed us. And my own theology is shaped prinarily by the work of David Bentley Hart (q.v. https://substack.com/@davidbentleyhart?utm_source=top-search and his magnum opus Roland by Moonlight) so there you are. It was lovely to read this. Please tell us how it continues to land for you going forward.
This is an excellent recap of your first Liturgy, wow! I am not surprised that you feel a pull to Orthodoxy, with it’s apophatic theology. As rigid as it might seem on the exterior, there is a gentleness in the theology that creates a surprising amount of flexibility. There is a saying, “Orthodoxy is paradoxy,” which always keeps me oriented in the right direction. I look forward to hearing more!
My heart is aligned with yours, although I am much older. As a Jesuit grad student over 50 years ago, I discovered Whitehead. Discovering you and your thought renews the consciousness that emerged at that time.
Later I married into a Greek family, so I have shared the mystery of the Orthodox liturgy.
If you have not already done so, please explore the works of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, especially The Divine Milieu and Hymn of the Universe.
The way you point out the value of remaining silent at times is great. We often assume the only response is to speak, but, like you said, there is value in being quiet, too.
Beautiful account. I know very little about orthodoxy, and I wondered reading this as to whether or not only the priest is allowed to go behind the curtain?
Come to Saint Luke's in San Francisco and we can deep dive on Plato. It might not have the grandeur of the Orthodox tradition, but I like to joke it’s ‘Catholic lite’—same doctrines, half the guilt!
Recommend the writings of the Russian theologian Romilo Aleksandar Knezevic, especially his unpublished presentation at a Greek seminary on Presence, available on academia.edu
Yes, about philosophy following ritual...I think that whatever liturgy we choose, its attraction though sights and sounds, comes from our history...and comes to us at the 'right' time. Liturgy finds us.
Its not for nothing that even in the ancient tradition of Vedas, 70 percent of scripture is liturgical, the Upanishads are 'after' for our ripening. A beautiful post, to remind us. Thank you.
My husband was a lifelong Catholic until, sickened by the abuse, he wrote to the bishop of our diocese about what was being done and how he might support the Church in its efforts at reform. He received a standard reply scripted by a public relations firm that had been hired to do this. Arriving at the church door one Sunday, he said "Cleo, I can't go in there." I remebered that our friends like the newly formed American Orthodox congregation near us. we went and found ourselves very at home. My husband joined that church in the last years of his life (I did not for largely contingent reasons) and it was a great support to us. The beauty of the liturgy overwhelmed us. And my own theology is shaped prinarily by the work of David Bentley Hart (q.v. https://substack.com/@davidbentleyhart?utm_source=top-search and his magnum opus Roland by Moonlight) so there you are. It was lovely to read this. Please tell us how it continues to land for you going forward.
☮️
This is an excellent recap of your first Liturgy, wow! I am not surprised that you feel a pull to Orthodoxy, with it’s apophatic theology. As rigid as it might seem on the exterior, there is a gentleness in the theology that creates a surprising amount of flexibility. There is a saying, “Orthodoxy is paradoxy,” which always keeps me oriented in the right direction. I look forward to hearing more!
My heart is aligned with yours, although I am much older. As a Jesuit grad student over 50 years ago, I discovered Whitehead. Discovering you and your thought renews the consciousness that emerged at that time.
Later I married into a Greek family, so I have shared the mystery of the Orthodox liturgy.
If you have not already done so, please explore the works of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, especially The Divine Milieu and Hymn of the Universe.
Teilhard is wonderful. An important influence. Thanks for your comment!
The way you point out the value of remaining silent at times is great. We often assume the only response is to speak, but, like you said, there is value in being quiet, too.
Beautiful account. I know very little about orthodoxy, and I wondered reading this as to whether or not only the priest is allowed to go behind the curtain?
Come to Saint Luke's in San Francisco and we can deep dive on Plato. It might not have the grandeur of the Orthodox tradition, but I like to joke it’s ‘Catholic lite’—same doctrines, half the guilt!
I’d love to visit!
Beautifully written and both experiences capture the essence of an ineffable sense of Presence. The Ancient Greek word for truth is un-concealment.
Recommend the writings of the Russian theologian Romilo Aleksandar Knezevic, especially his unpublished presentation at a Greek seminary on Presence, available on academia.edu
Yes, about philosophy following ritual...I think that whatever liturgy we choose, its attraction though sights and sounds, comes from our history...and comes to us at the 'right' time. Liturgy finds us.
Its not for nothing that even in the ancient tradition of Vedas, 70 percent of scripture is liturgical, the Upanishads are 'after' for our ripening. A beautiful post, to remind us. Thank you.
What beautiful language! You write to well, so poetically. I loved hearing about your experiences, the one years ago and today's. Thank you.
I am so glad for you. Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts.
This is a beautiful post. Thank you.
No, you won't find 'it' there either. You're looking for something both more and less than what is. Look for an apprenticeship not a refuge.