tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post8166912445832167368..comments2024-03-10T00:44:49.280-05:00Comments on This & That: The Orthodox Church -- Fathers, Monks, Role of the EmperorSusannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-34879800626106957922011-01-09T21:48:09.459-05:002011-01-09T21:48:09.459-05:00Like heaven is for real/the real deal of God's...Like heaven is for real/the real deal of God's Kingdom and Byzantium is just a model/replica/image on earth. Hope you get it! :)Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-42143507067006343702011-01-09T19:39:16.112-05:002011-01-09T19:39:16.112-05:00Ah Hah!Okay! I'll try to get it :)Ah Hah!Okay! I'll try to get it :)Latnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-80865243775456852982011-01-07T11:31:40.657-05:002011-01-07T11:31:40.657-05:00Amber, ahhhh, I didn't know this about St. Nic...Amber, ahhhh, I didn't know this about St. Nicholas of Myra...ha! Yes, I should have realized people = imperfect. I'm really glad you reminded me actually. :)<br /><br />"But the Church herself, being guided by the Holy Spirit, will never be in error."<br /><br />Gotcha and that makes sense! actually it is helpful in understanding the next chapter when Rome kind of went out by itself and started changing things. It's like this all is a puzzle building on itself - quite interesting!<br /><br />I was thinking of "How do you solve a problem like [Amber]?" from The Sound of Music when you said you thought of becoming a nun at one time. I can only imagine ... :) You might like the book I read in December about Stephanie Saldana. She spent time at a monastery in Syria (Mar Musa -- http://www.sacred-destinations.com/syria/mar-mousa-monastery.htm ) and wrote about some of her experiences there. I, too, think it would be a life-changing experience. I remember in Syria we visited some monasteries and I recall one of them having rooms upstairs and how I would love to stay there for a time and ... wow, wouldn't that be a great opportunity?Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-53859654437714469712011-01-07T11:23:03.511-05:002011-01-07T11:23:03.511-05:00Lat, good question. I think "image" from...Lat, good question. I think "image" from the last paragraph is the key to recognizing the difference.<br /><br />I see the monks reminding everyone that "helllooooo, this [Byzantium] is only a SYMBOL (an image) and *not* the Kingdom of God which is not of this earth." Remember how these guys like icons (symbols/imagery)? I think Byzantium was an icon of what is waiting for us in God's holy presence (i.e., heaven). <br /><br />I'm not sure about that, but it's how I took it. Is that any clearer?Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-30883579642172088692011-01-07T10:30:15.328-05:002011-01-07T10:30:15.328-05:00Yes, darn me for reminding you that we're all ...Yes, darn me for reminding you that we're all human! Darn me! :p<br /><br />I always remember the story of St. Nicholas of Myra when I think about these men who were holy and human all at the same time. He was a great man and defended the faith and he *still* lost his temper and punched a guy out.<br /><br />I think the thinking process is that individually anyone may be mistaken. Even those who are good and holy, those who make the effort to follow Christ and do His Will are only human and will make errors. But the Church herself, being guided by the Holy Spirit, will never be in error.<br /><br />You know I thought about being a nun once. Then I realized I'd make a terrible nun. :) One of those little goals I have in life is to visit a monastery some day on a retreat. I think, for those of us who aren't called to the monastic life that it's an excellent opportunity to step away from the world and take a breather. To get a moment of deep rest and embrace the peace we can find when we're focused on God alone without any distractions.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-51625093943359590372011-01-07T09:20:07.649-05:002011-01-07T09:20:07.649-05:00"The life of monks "reminded Christians ..."The life of monks "reminded Christians that the kingdom of God is not of this world"<br /><br />Can you explain this? Don't quite understand this with the last para,<br /><br /><br />"The Byzantines believed Christ "had redeemed every aspect of human existence" and thus their great vision was "to establish here on earth a living image of God's government in heaven." (pg. 42)"<br /><br />Are they saying the same thing or different? Thanks!Latnoreply@blogger.com