Category: Adult Faith Formation

Online study on the Divine Nature

God With Us Online is offering a free 3 part study on Theosis, deification –an essential point of our Eastern Christian faith. This brief course of study contributes to our ongoing work of Adult Faith Formation.

“God has called his people to become partakers of His Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4). Join us for this three-part series as we explore this process of participating in the Sacramental and moral life of Christ by which each individual and the whole Church are transformed into the mystical body of Christ.”

PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE: A Patristic Study of Deification

Instructor: Father Nathan Symeon

Register at the link above. The course is free.

Wednesdays, January 13 – 27 @ 8 – 9 PM ET

****Look at the link noted above and read the document under the heading of “Resources.”

UPDATE: Here is the video presentation in case you weren’t able to watch the original airing by Father Nathan.

Theophany

“When You, O Lord were baptized in the Jordan / The worship of the Trinity was revealed, / For the voice of the Father bore witness to You / And called You His beloved Son. / And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, / Confirmed the truthfulness of His word. / O Christ, our God, You have revealed Yourself / And have enlightened the world, glory to You!” (Byzantine Troparion-hymn of Theophany)

The Lord “reveals” Himself; He appears unto us. That’s what He does, on this great feast of Theo-phany (θεο-φάνεια, Бого-явление, or «appearance/revelation of God»)…. He doesn’t hide Himself from us, but exposes Himself, immersing Himself into, and giving His light and “enlightenment” to, the “waters” of my world in the river Jordan.

Let me not hide myself from Him either, today, but come to Him in honesty, in some heartfelt prayer. Let me respond to His openness to me, and to His readiness to immerse Himself in all the “waters” of my life, opening my heart to His enlightening presence, and letting myself be immersed in it. Thank You, Lord, for sanctifying all our “waters,” however muddy they may be. “You have revealed Yourself and have enlightened the world. Glory to You!”

Sr. Vassa
text of 2019

Forward in Orthodox-Catholic Relations

Here is a very interesting and important conversation among the Orthodox and Eastern Catholics. I’d also include in my descriptors is beautiful. This particular presentation is the first of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute online lecture series addressing issues, obstacles, and ways forward in Orthodox-Catholic relations.

The host is Sr. Vassa Larin of “Coffee with Sr. Vassa.”

The lecture’s participants:

Fr. Cyril Hovorun (Loyola Marymount University)
Fr. Mark Morozowich (Catholic University of America)

 

Resources for Sunday of the Forefathers

Resources for Sunday, December 13, Sunday of the Forefathers

God With Us Online pulls together great liturgical catechetical resources for use in three jurisdictions of the Byzantine Catholic Church (Ruthenian, Ukrainian and Melkite).

You will notice on the link below several things:

1. prayers for the Domestic Church
2. a music file of the Resurrectional Troparion
3. Catechist resources
4. a Gospel reflection given by 2 priests.

There is something for everyone. For example, the December reflection on St. Symeon the New Theologian is brief and helpful.

These resources are given to us to help prepare for the Divine Liturgy on Sunday. By tapping into what is given allows us to enter more deeply in our Catholic Faith and Ukrainian Tradition. Utilize as much as you have time for but something for your relationship with the Lord. These resources from God With Us Online are a particularly good and beautiful way to encounter the Lord in a personal way.

The Sunday of the Forefathers

 

Iconography of the Mother of God presented

Today,May 7, a presentation on the Iconography of the Mother of God was given as part of the Knights of Columbus Museum’s webinar series.

The presenter, Marek Czarnecki, is a well skilled in iconography. He lives in Meriden, CT.

Scholars have classified over 600 distinct prototypes for icons of the Mother of God. How can this multiplicity point to only one source, the first century Miryam of Nazareth? The first Christians responded to her intuitively with the earliest catacomb frescoes. The early church validated her importance with biographical icons narrating her participation in the life of Christ. Icons representing her solely with the Christ child expressed formal Marian dogma, beginning with her title as Mother of God. As Intercessor, her icons catalogued every possible human need. Other icons commemorated the sites of miracles or apparitions, while new prototypes continue to be revealed and painted into the present.