Light Through Darkness: The Orthodox TraditionOrthodoxy is often identified with beautiful icons, elaborate liturgy, perfection as deification, and the vision of God as light. But there is a deeper side in which martyrdom is embraced. The spirituality of the Christian East is often identified with beautiful icons, elaborate liturgy, a way of perfection as deification, and the vision of God as light. But martyrdom is part and parcel of the Orthodox way, and its spirituality is profoundly marked by the reality of pain and division. This fascinating study finds a deeper insight at the heart of the Orthodox tradition: the idea of brokenness and darkness as the only way to healing and light, the idea of imperfection as the only way to salvation. |
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Abba Antony apophatic Archimandrite Sophrony ascetic Athonite baptism Barsanuphius Basil of Caesarea Brookline MA Byzantine celebration chapter Christ Christian spiritual Church Fathers classical communion confession creation cross darkness death desert fathers detachment dimension disciples divine grace doctrine early earth Eastern Church Egypt Eucharist everything experience God's Gregory Palamas heart heaven heavenly Hesychast Holy Mountain Holy Spirit human ibid icon Isaac the Syrian Jesus Prayer John Climacus Joseph light living Matt Maximus the Confessor Monastery monastic monasticism monks Mount Athos mystery mystical nature obedience one's Orthodox Christians Orthodox Church Orthodox liturgy Orthodox spirituality Orthodox theology Paisios person Poemen pray presence recognise reconciliation relationship repentance resurrection revealed sacrament saints sense share silence simply Sophrony soul spiritual direction spiritual elder spiritual father spiritual tradition St Vladimir's Seminary staretz struggle Symeon teaching tears Theologian theosis things tion truth ultimately vision Vladimir's Seminary Press words worship York