Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology, Special Edition Episode 3: “John Damascene: Christology”, Part 1 Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. In “John Damascene: Christology”, Part 1, Episode 3 of our Special Editions, we begin our exploration of the Person of Jes...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 12: Athanasius the Great, Pt. 2: What did Arius Believe? Part 2 Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. In Episode 12 of our “Mystical Theology”, we have Part 2 of our presentation of “Athanasius the Great: What did Ariu...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 13: “Concerning Shepherds of Souls” & “Concerning Monks"  Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin Series: “Mystical Theology" Based on the reading of St. Silouan’s chapters, “Concerning Shepherds of Souls” & “Concerning Monks”, in Saint Silouan the Athonite , Episode 12 offers ref...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 11: Athanasius the Great, Pt. 1: What did Arius Believe? Part 1 Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. In Episode 11 of our “Mystical Theology”, we present “Athanasius the Great: What did Arius Believe?, Part 1”, as a p...

Send us Fan Mail Recording of the fifth session of our Bookclub, which took place on Wednesday, January 24, 2023 (at 9 PM Eastern Time), available to the public. Presented by Prof. Christopher Veniamin, a spiritual child of St. Sophrony the Athonite. Broaching the challenging question of the significance of the word given to St. Silouan the Athonite, “Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not”, as ex...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 10: What Every Orthodox Christian Should Know About the Orthodox Faith Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. In Episode 10, “What Every Orthodox Christian Should Know About the Orthodox Faith" is based on a presen...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 11: “Keep Thy Mind in Hell and Despair Not”  Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin Series: “Mystical Theology" Based on the reading of St. Sophrony’s chapter, “Keep Thy Mind in Hell and Despair Not”, in Saint Silouan the Athonite , Episode 11 attempts to discern the practical significance of...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 9: Origen, Part 3 Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. Origen, who flourished in the 3rd Century, is one of the most difficult and important chapters in the history of early Christian doctrine. An Orthodox appreciatio...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 10: “The 3rd Form of Prayer”; “Development of Intrusive Thoughts” Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin Series: “Mystical Theology" Based on the reading of excerpts from St. Sophrony’s masterpiece, Saint Silouan the Athonite , Episode 10: “The 3rd Form of Prayer”; “Development of Intrusive T...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 8: Origen, Part 2 Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. Origen, who flourished in the 3rd Century, is one of the most difficult and important chapters in the history of early Christian doctrine. An Orthodox appreciatio...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 9: “Tradition & Scripture”; “Three Forms of Prayer” Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin  Series: “Mystical Theology"   Based on the reading of excerpts from the Sections, “Tradition & Scripture” and “Three Forms of Prayer”, from St. Sophrony’s masterpiece, Saint Silouan the Athonit...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 7: Clement of Alexandria, Part 2; Origen, Part 1 Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. This Episode, "Clement of Alexandria, Part 2; Origen, Part 1, continues Clement of Alexandria, Part 1, by counterbalancing Cle...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 6: Clement of Alexandria, Part 1 Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. This Episode, "Clement of Alexandria, Part 1”, is a presentation of Clement’s apophatic theology (influenced by his Greek cultural heritage),...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 8: “On Love”, Pt 1  Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin  Series: “Mystical Theology" Based on the reading of excerpts from the chapter, “On Love”, from St. Sophrony’s masterpiece, Saint Silouan the Athonite , this eighth episode includes such theme as love for one’s enemies, angelic song,...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 7: “On Love”, Pt 1 Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin Series: “Mystical Theology" Based on the reading of excerpts from the chapter, “On Love”, from St. Sophrony’s masterpiece, Saint Silouan the Athonite , this seventh episode includes such theme as love for one’s enemies, angelic song, r...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Episode 5: Irenaeus of Lyons, Part 2 Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. This Episode, "Irenaeus of Lyons, Part 2”, is the continuation of Part 1, which was the Introduction to St. Irenaeus of Lyons. A spiritual child o...

Send us Fan Mail Recording of the first session of our Bookclub, which took place on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 (at 9 PM Eastern Time), available to the public. We started our spiritual itinerary with Sts. Silouan and Sophrony, the Athonites, by reading the first few paragraphs from St. Silouan's own writings, specifically Chapter XVI, "Concerning Spiritual Warfare" - getting rig...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Unit 2: Irenaeus of Lyons Episode 4: Irenaeus of Lyons, Part 1 Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. This Episode, "Irenaeus of Lyons, Part 1", is an introduction to Irenaeus of Lyons, a spiritual child of St. Polyca...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin Episode 6: “Discovering the Will of God”, Part 3 Based on the reading of excerpts from St. Sophrony’s chapter, “The Staretz’ Doctrinal Teaching”, from his masterpiece, Saint Silouan the Athonite , this sixth episode will continue the discuss...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Unit 1: Introduction Episode 3: Philo of Alexandria, Part 2 Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. This Episode, "Philo of Alexandria, Part 2", consists of a presentation of Philo, an Alexandrian rabbi of the first ce...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin Episode 5: “Discovering the Will of God”, Part 2 Based on the reading of excerpts from St. Sophrony’s chapter, “The Staretz’ Doctrinal Teaching”, from the masterpiece, Saint Silouan the Athonite , this fifth episode will discuss the mystery...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Unit 1: Introduction Episode 2: Philo of Alexandria, Part 1 Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. This Episode, "Philo of Alexandria, Part 1", consists of a presentation of Philo, an Alexandrian rabbi of the first ce...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin Episode 4: “Discovering the Will of God”, Part 1 Based on the reading of excerpts from St. Sophrony’s chapter, “The Staretz’ Doctrinal Teaching”, from the masterpiece, Saint Silouan the Athonite , this fourth episode will discuss the mystery...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Unit 1: Introduction Episode 1: Holy Scripture & Greek Philosophy Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present. This Unit, "Holy Scripture & Greek Philosophy", consists of a presentation of select passages from Holy...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin Episode 3: “On the Knowledge of God”, Part 3, & “Concerning Obedience”, Part 1 Based on the reading of excerpts from Silouan’s chapters, “On the Knowledge of God” and “Concerning Obedience”, from the masterpiece, Saint Silouan the Athoni...