The Compassion of the Father"In this work, Boris Bobrinskoy shows how by spiritual union to the life of Christ, we can be clothed with the Holy Spirit and filled with the infinite mercy of the Father, who far from pleasing himself in a blessed transcendence, suffers with humanity. This way of purification triumphs over all the deadly forces of division, darkness, and hate that dwell in the heart - a universe vaster than any other universe. The invocation of the Name, the asceticism of the body, and the baptism of the intellect constitute this long and difficult way of conversion and a cure of unification with God, others, and even oneself." "From his long experience as a priest and a theologian, the author reveals the Trinitarian love guiding the living tradition of the Church - a river of revelation and faith that has its foundation in the Scriptures and that transmits itself from heart to heart, as from a spiritual father to his children. He explores the links between hesychasm and the Eucharist, solitary prayer and intercession for the world, the spiritual life and theological reflection, and fidelity to tradition and creative liberty. By listening to the Word of the Spirit, Bobrinskoy always returns to that same silence of the Father, whose mercy is the eternal source of authentic love and true unity."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
Contents
Introduction | 7 |
The Lamb of God Takes upon Himself Human Suffering | 51 |
Love for Enemies in the Gospels | 67 |
The Mystery of Forgiveness | 73 |
The Prayer of the Heart and Suffering | 87 |
The Art of the Invocation of the Name | 99 |
The Inner Eucharist | 113 |
Theology and Spirituality | 121 |
The Theology of Language and the Language of Theology | 135 |
Sacred Tradition and Human Traditions | 151 |
Sources | 171 |
Common terms and phrases
Alexander Schmemann apostolic Archimandrite Sophrony baptism become biblical called century Christian church fathers communion compassion consubstantial created death dialogue dimension disciples divine divine-human doctrine ecclesial ecumenical entire Eucharist evil experience face faith fatherhood forgiveness Georges Florovsky gift glory gospel grace Gregory Palamas hatred healing heavenly hesychasm Holy Spirit Holy Trinity Homily human heart icon Ignatius of Antioch inner invocation Irenaeus of Lyons Jesus Christ kenōsis Kyrie eleison Lamb language light Liturgy living Lord meaning mercy mystery of Christ Name of Jesus Old Testament Orthodox Church Orthodoxy March ourselves passions Pentecost person Philokalia philokalic pray preaching presence priest purification relationship renewal reveals Russian sacramental saints Satan Scripture silence speak St Irenaeus St John St Paul says St Sergius St Vladimir's Seminary Staniloaë Staretz Silouan suffering Sunday teaching texts theologian theology things tion Tradition trinitarian Triumph of Orthodoxy true truth unity words worship