Icons Act As Windows Into Eternity
Upon entering an Orthodox Christian church one is immediately taken by the icons and frescoes that adorn the walls. These are not displays of Christian art but reminders that when we enter into our temples for worship, we are surrounded by “the unseen hosts of heaven” described in the holy scriptures. Icons act as windows into eternity and connect us to the Church Triumphant.
Unlike Western religious art, one does not see shadows cast from the figures depicted in the icons. This is because the light source is none other than Jesus Christ Himself, Who shines forth in His saints. No shadows here!
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photos: The Orthodox Montanica Conference, held at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Butte, Montana, has been an incredible gathering, with 150 participants, of which 95% were young men.
Fr. Deacon Ananias Sorem, PhD, is CEO, Founder, and President of Patristic Faith, and a Professor of Philosophy at Fullerton College and Carroll College was the first speaker. David Patrick Harry is a Religious Studies scholar, Orthodox Christian apologist, and owner of the YouTube channel/podcast Church of the Eternal Logos. Having an academic background studying Eastern Mysticism, Gnosticism, psychedelics, and theories of magic, he devotes the majority of his apologetic efforts towards the New Age and people who identify as “spiritual but not religious.” He is currently a PhD candidate at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA where his research is couched in the sub discipline of “New Religious Movements,” and focuses on the use of psychedelics for “spiritual” purposes post the 1960’s counterculture; arguing that such practices are a novel new religious movement but with a historical lineage tracing back through the history of magic in the Western esoteric traditions all the way to the prehistory of the shamanic tribal setting.
David Patrick Harry is a Religious Studies scholar, Orthodox Christian apologist, and owner of the YouTube channel/podcast Church of the Eternal Logos. Having an academic background studying Eastern Mysticism, Gnosticism, psychedelics, and theories of magic, he devotes the majority of his apologetic efforts towards the New Age and people who identify as “spiritual but not religious.” He is currently a PhD candidate at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA where his research is couched in the sub discipline of “New Religious Movements,” and focuses on the use of psychedelics for “spiritual” purposes post the 1960’s counterculture; arguing that such practices are a novel new religious movement but with a historical lineage tracing back through the history of magic in the Western esoteric traditions all the way to the prehistory of the shamanic tribal setting.
Michael Witcoff is a Jewish convert to Orthodox Christianity and the best-selling author of ‘On The Masons And Their Lies.’ He also wrote ‘Theopoetica,’ a work of classical Christian poetry, and can be found under his Benedictine moniker ‘Brother Augustine’ on YouTube and Telegram as well.
I was honored to be the forth speaker, with my dear friend, Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen), serving as the fifth and final presenter.
Sunday June 19, 2022 / June 6, 2022
1st Sunday after Pentecost. All Saints. Tone eight.
Eve of Apostles’ (Peter & Paul) Fast.
Icons of the Mother of God “the Consoler of angry hearts” and “the Unbreakable Wall” (movable holiday on the Sunday of All Saints).
Venerable Bessarion the Wonderworker of Egypt (466).
Venerable Hilarion the New, abbot of the Dalmatian Monastery (845).
Venerable Raphael confessor (1957).
St. Jonah, bishop of Perm (1470).
Venerable Paisius, abbot, of Uglich (1504).
Venerable Jonah, abbot of Klimetz (1534).
0Virgin-martyrs Archelais, Thecla, and Susanna, beheaded at Salerno (293).
“Pimen” Icon of the Mother of God (was brought to Moscow from Constantinople in 1381 by Metropolitan Pimen).
Five virgins of Caesarea in Palestine: Martha, Mary, Cyria, Valeria, and Marcia (Greek).
Venerable Attalus the wonderworker (Greek).
Martyr Gelasius (Greek).
Venerable Photius, monk (Greek).
St. Justus, patriarch of Alexandria (130).
Martyrs Amandus, Amantius, Alexander, Lucius, Alexander, Alexandria, Donatus, and Peregrius at Noviodunum in Scythia Minor (320).
St. Claudius of Besancon (699) (Gaul).
St. Basil of Mangazea, Siberia (1602).
St. Jarlath of Cluain Fois (560) (Celtic & British).
The Scripture Readings
Matthew 28:16-20
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Hebrews 11:33-12:2
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
The Race of Faith
12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Matthew 10:32-33
Confess Christ Before Men
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 10:37-38
37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
Read full chapter
Matthew 19:27-30
27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”
28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
