THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THE WORLD

The Orthodox Church in the World

Talks and Discussions in Cyprus, Russia, Romania and Georgia

Preface by the Author to the English Edition

Preface by the Author to the Greek Edition

Part 1 - Cyprus

1. Dogma and Ethos

1. Terminology

2. The Link between Dogma and Ethos

3. Ethics and Asceticism

4. Dogmas as an Expression of Experience

5. Dogmas as Medicines

6. Practical Consequences

a) Four Images

b) The Need for Dogmas

c) Dogmas and Sacred Canons

7. Experiencing Dogma

a) Trinitarian Doctrine

b) Christology

c) Ecclesiology

d) Eschatology

Discussion after the Talk

Q1 Dogma, Ethos and Experience

Q2 Vision of God, Asceticism and Revelation

Q3 Theoria of the Uncreated Light

Q4 The Different Phases of the Church up until Pentecost

Q5 The Theology of God forsakenness

Q6 Paradise and Hades

Q7 Different Kinds of Light

Q8 The Soul after Death

Part 2 - Russia

1. Personalism and Person

1. Terminology

2. Western Personalism

3. The Person in Orthodoxy

Conclusion

Discussion after the Talk

Q1 Elder Sophrony and the Person

Q2 Hesychasm and Married People

Q3 What it means for someone to be ‘Ecclesiastical’, and the Threat to Orthodox Theology 

Q4 Contemporary Theology in Academic and Ecclesiastical Circles

Q5 About Anthony Bloom

Q6 Helping those who Make their Confession – Pastoral Science

Q7 Ecumenism

Q8 Pain in the Soul and God’s Peace

Q9 For New Deacons and Priests

Q10 Relationship between the Flock and the Shepherd

2. Theology as Science and as Charisma

1. Theology as Science

a) Studying Texts

b) Church History

c) Ecclesiastical Arts

d) Religions and Christian Confessions

e) Studying Modern Life

2. Theology as Charisma and Experience

a) St John the Theologian and Evangelist

b) St Gregory the Theologian

c) St Symeon the New Theologian

d) St Gregory Palamas

Discussion after the Talk

Q1 Progress in Prayer

Q2 The Worldwide Influence of Russian Theologians

Q3 Curing Human Beings

Q4 Noetic Prayer and Evagrius of Pontus

Q5 The Method of Hypnotism and Orthodox Psychotherapy

Q6 Obedience to the Spiritual Father

Q7 Monasticism and Marriage in Relation to Deification

Q8 Holy Communion and Confession

Q9 Holy Communion and Holy Relics

Q10 The Possibility of Baptism in the Mother’s Womb

Q11 Birth Control

Q12 The Relationship between the Divine Liturgy and the Jesus Prayer

Q13 Theology and Philosophy

Q14 Discerning between Thoughts

Q15 Sorrow and Depression

Part 3 - Romania

1. The Hesychastic Life according to St Basil the Great

1. Correspondence with St Gregory the Theologian

2. Sacred Hesychia and God’s Temple

a) Wandering

b) Leaving the World

c) Life in the Wilderness

d) Prayer and Reading

e) Hesychia

f) Nous and Theoria

g) Temple of the All-Holy Spirit

h) Transformation of the Whole of Life

3. Hesychast and Celebrant

Epilogue

Discussion after the Talk

Q1 The Link between Hesychastic Experience and the Divine Eucharist

Q2 Theoria of the Divine Light

Statement on the Television Station of the Patriarchate of Romania

The International Conference on St Basil the Great

2. Bringing Up Children Today

1. Children are God’s Gift

2. Bringing up Children in the Church

3. Children as Equal Members of the Church

4. Difficulties connected with the Development and Upbringing of Children Today

Discussion after the Talk

Q1 The Hour of Death

Q2 Sickness of the Nous

Q3 Noetic Prayer

Q4 Holy Communion and Confession

Q5 Homeopathy

Q6 Children in the Church

Q7 Choosing Someone to Care for Children

Q8 Dialogues between the Orthodox and non-Orthodox
Q9 Children Facing Death

Q10 Children and Church Attendance

Q11 Religious Education in School

Q12 Demonic Attacks on Children

Q13 Psychological Disturbance

Q14 Unloved Children

3. Interview - The Theology of St Gregory Palamas and the Scholasticism of Barlaam

Q1 The Historical Context of the Life of St Gregory Palamas

Q2 Influence of the Holy Mountain on his Life

Q3 Effect of his Conflict with Barlaam

Q4 Popular Interest in Theological Issues

Q5 Summary of St Gregory Palamas’s Teaching

Q6 Knowledge of God

Q7 Patristic Teaching as the Basis of St Gregory Palamas’s Teaching

Q8 Consequences of the Church’s Victory through St Gregory Palamas

Q9 The Message of St Gregory Palamas for our Era

4. Interview - Therapy and Truth

Q1 Spiritual Illnesses

Q2 The Church as a Spiritual Therapeutic Centre

Q3 Dogmas as an Expression of Experience and a Path to Experience

Q4 The Mysteries of the Church and Asceticism

Q5 Curing People

Q6 Humility and Therapy

Q7 Resurrection of the Soul from the Therapeutic Perspective

Q8 Doubts about the Faith

Part 4 - Georgia

1. About Orthodox Psychotherapy

1. Why the Book was written

2. The Book’s Title and Subtitle

3. Discussions about the Subject Matter of the Book

4. Orthodox Psychotherapy from the Psychological Point of View

5. Basic Elements of Orthodox Therapeutic Treatment

Discussion after the Talk

Q1 The Therapeutic Method Preserved in the Orthodox Church

Q2 The Priest as Physician

Q3 Confession and Healing

Q4 Orthodox Teaching

Q5&6 Psychologists and Orthodox Psychotherapy

Q7 Therapy within the Church Community

Q8 God’s Providence

Q9 The Soul of the Embryo and ‘in Vitro’ Fertilisation

Q10 Soul, Body and Spirit

Q11 Medical Science and Orthodox Psychotherapy

Q12 Introduction

Q13 Logotherapy according to Orthodox Teaching

Q14 Curing the Passions

Q15 The Pastoral Care of People with Disabilities

Q16 Co-operation between Spiritual Fathers and Psychologists

Q17 Different Methods of Psychotherapy

Q18 Treating Drug Addicts

Q19 Diagnosis and Treatment

Q20 The Nature of Political Authority and how to transcend it

Q21 Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and the Greatness of Human Beings

Q22 Physical Illness

2. Interview on the Television Station of the Georgian Patriarchate, ‘Concord’

Q1&2 Orthodox Psychotherapy 

Q3 The Most Serious Illness Afflicting Humankind

Q4 How the Clergy Can Help with People’s Anxiety

Q5 How to Find a Suitable Spiritual Father

Q6 Contemporary Holy Fathers

Q7 The Treasure of the Orthodox Faith and the Therapeutic Method

Q8 The Fathers as Living Tradition

Q9&10 Scholasticism and the Orthodox Tradition

Q11&12 Technology and the Pastoral Ministry

Part 5 - St Paissy Velichkovsky

St Paissy Velichkovsky – A Great Hesychast Father

1. His Path to Monasticism

2. Searching for and Translating the Writings of Hesychast Fathers

3. Spiritual Guide to Hundreds and Thousands of Monks

4. Experiencing Hesychastic Monasticism

5. His Saintly Decease

6. The ‘Philokalic’ Movement in the Orthodox World

Conclusion