The first relates to fasting. In reading the lives of the saints, there are many who seem to have been drawn to fasting from sleep. For example, my own patron Saint Juliana of Lazarevo and our dear Saint John of San Francisco slept very little, and when they did sleep it was purposefully in uncomfortable, unrestful positions. Aside from staying awake into the wee hours for the Paschal and Nativity liturgies, the Church doesn't seem to have any formality around sleep-fasting for laity. At least not that I know of! But my understanding is that monastics often have rules of prayer that include waking in the middle of the night to pray, with fewer total hours of sleep. Can you share some of the history of the practice of fasting from sleep in the Orthodox Church, and maybe a bit about the church's view on the body and its genuine needs versus the passions? What level of priority should Orthodox Christians give to stewardship of their health? Can concern for health become an excuse or a passion?
My second question is about education. I've noticed the occasional scattering of Latin phrases in your posts and wanted to ask if you believe Latin is an important component of a good education? Many Orthodox Christians are drawn to classical education which heavily emphasizes the study of Latin, and sometimes Greek to a lesser extent. If you feel you can comment on this, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Thank you! It's definitely part of the larger "asceticism" umbrella, along with things like fasting from footwear, or from social interaction (hermits). But I've noticed abstaining from sleep coming up in the lives of the saints more often than some of those other practices and have been praying for understanding. My intuition is that it's something to do with the disciples falling asleep in the garden rather than keeping watch with the Lord as He prayed? And the beautiful troparion of Bridegroom Matins. But that's all I've got.
Please share some ways that parishioners can support their priest and his family. Many of us are converts and would love guidance in this area. Please share ways we can help them financially along with services we could do for them. Thank you.
How in the time of Jesus Christ and after in the early centuries Christians pray in the morning and in the evening. Or did they even pray regularly? Maybe it was the singing of psalms as it was in the Old Testament times?
I am trying to imagine Maria Magdalena for example and how was her praying practice? Did St. Many prayed every morning?
Excuse me. The subject of using or not using contraception or surgery is not whether to have children, but instead not wanting more children. There could be many reasons: mental health, age, physical, and financial problems.
Where does an Orthodox Christian stand with receiving Eucharist if they decide not to have children and use contraceptives or surgery as a way to accomplish this? Does the answer depend on the priest or whether they are Russian, Greek, Bulgarian, Romanian, Serbian, or Antiochian? Or is this a subject that a parishioner should not ask a priest?
I have a couple questions.
The first relates to fasting. In reading the lives of the saints, there are many who seem to have been drawn to fasting from sleep. For example, my own patron Saint Juliana of Lazarevo and our dear Saint John of San Francisco slept very little, and when they did sleep it was purposefully in uncomfortable, unrestful positions. Aside from staying awake into the wee hours for the Paschal and Nativity liturgies, the Church doesn't seem to have any formality around sleep-fasting for laity. At least not that I know of! But my understanding is that monastics often have rules of prayer that include waking in the middle of the night to pray, with fewer total hours of sleep. Can you share some of the history of the practice of fasting from sleep in the Orthodox Church, and maybe a bit about the church's view on the body and its genuine needs versus the passions? What level of priority should Orthodox Christians give to stewardship of their health? Can concern for health become an excuse or a passion?
My second question is about education. I've noticed the occasional scattering of Latin phrases in your posts and wanted to ask if you believe Latin is an important component of a good education? Many Orthodox Christians are drawn to classical education which heavily emphasizes the study of Latin, and sometimes Greek to a lesser extent. If you feel you can comment on this, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
You have astutely noted that fasting as a discipline involves far more than a concern with food. Let me look into sleep and see what I find.
Thank you! It's definitely part of the larger "asceticism" umbrella, along with things like fasting from footwear, or from social interaction (hermits). But I've noticed abstaining from sleep coming up in the lives of the saints more often than some of those other practices and have been praying for understanding. My intuition is that it's something to do with the disciples falling asleep in the garden rather than keeping watch with the Lord as He prayed? And the beautiful troparion of Bridegroom Matins. But that's all I've got.
Father bless!
Please share some ways that parishioners can support their priest and his family. Many of us are converts and would love guidance in this area. Please share ways we can help them financially along with services we could do for them. Thank you.
In Christ, Anna
It is quite rare that people ask this very important question. I will collect my thoughts and share them in AMA 002.
How in the time of Jesus Christ and after in the early centuries Christians pray in the morning and in the evening. Or did they even pray regularly? Maybe it was the singing of psalms as it was in the Old Testament times?
I am trying to imagine Maria Magdalena for example and how was her praying practice? Did St. Many prayed every morning?
Thank you very very much for you blog.
Best wishes,
Karina
Good question. They certainly did not use an Orthodox Prayer Book. I will share some information in AMA 002.
Thank you very much. I appreciate your attention to my question!
Excuse me. The subject of using or not using contraception or surgery is not whether to have children, but instead not wanting more children. There could be many reasons: mental health, age, physical, and financial problems.
I assume you are not asking for my personal opinion. Let me see what I can find; I will put it in one of the AMAs.
Where does an Orthodox Christian stand with receiving Eucharist if they decide not to have children and use contraceptives or surgery as a way to accomplish this? Does the answer depend on the priest or whether they are Russian, Greek, Bulgarian, Romanian, Serbian, or Antiochian? Or is this a subject that a parishioner should not ask a priest?