An Orthodox View

I have not written in this blog for quite a while now. I have been busy with my daughter's wedding and the art show in February for which I prepared ten paintings. Lately, though, I have been very excited about the lessons I have been learning from several books. I have been reading sociologist Kyriakos Markides' books about Father Maximos, an Orthodox priest, monk and now bishop who heads up a monastery in Cyprus. Father Maximos has revealed through three of Markides' books the teachings of the Orthodox Church, the stories of the monks of Mt. Athos as they dedicate their lives to union with God through Jesus Christ, and the Orthodox view of the modern world as contrasted with the lives of these monks. Markides' first book was "Mountain of Silence," and was his doctoral dissertation. Originally intended to be on the topic of human trafficking, Markides changed his mind after a visit with a friend to the monasteries on Mt. Athos, and his introduction to Father Maximos. His entire worldview shifted, and he became interested in how the worldview of the ancient Orthodox religion and particularly the teachings of F. Maximos, could utterly change the world.
I feel as though these Orthodox teachings have brought me back to a sort of new beginning in my Christian walk. Orthodoxy is quite fundamental. I would not say Fundamentalist, as that word conjures up all sorts of raw images, but fundamental. It is basically the simple Gospel, told in all its simplicity and its power. Orthodoxy does not worry about doctrine or theology. It does not build up great treatises on the meaning of this or that religious concept. Instead, it seeks to work with each individual's path to God. Its many saints write about all the stages of becoming more and more united with God. They deal with how to strip oneself of worldly passions, and turn constantly to Christ each hour of the day, in order to become like Him. Orthodoxy teaches us the Jesus Prayer, a powerful repetitive prayer that serves to focus one's thoughts on Christ in the right relationship of sinner to savior. Humility and love of God and the Trinity are... fundamental.