Natural Science and the Vision of God
Orthodoxy does not exclude from the theological vision of God the findings of natural science. Science and faith can be in concert with one another and our desire to reinstate our communion with God can involve both natural science, and the science of the soul. An Orthodox Christian does not have to suspend scientific knowledge in order to adhere to faith. “Only with a superficial knowledge do there arise false contradictions between faith and knowledge, between religion and science (I.M. Andreyev).”
To many Orthodox theologians, science and theology are compatible, and seen as complementary revelations of God. Because God is the source of both His specific revelation of Himself in the Christian faith and the source of the general revelation of Himself in nature, the findings of science and theology cannot really contradict.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: I just returned to the monastery after a week and a half on the road. Thank you all for praying for my safe travels.
Wednesday November 9, 2016 / October 27, 2016
21st Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica (306).
New Hieromartyr Sergius (1942).
Venerable Nestor the Chronicler of the Kiev Caves (1114).
Uncovering of the relics (1539) of St. Andrew, prince of Smolensk (1390).
Martyrs Capitolina and Eroteis of Cappadocia (304).
Martyr Mark of the isle of Thasos (304).
St. Cyriacus, patriarch of Constantinople (1390).
St. Procla, wife of Pontius Pilate (1st c.).
New Hieromartyr Seraphim (Samojlovich) bishop of Uglich.
St. Demetrius of Basarbov in Bulgaria (12th-13th c.).
St. Odran, monk of Iona.
St. Ia, virgin of Cornwall.
Hierarch Alexander, Bishop of Guria and Samegrelo (1907) (Georgia)
Scripture Readings
Colossians 1:18-23
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Reconciled in Christ
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Luke 11:9-13
Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Father bless,
I came to your site today, to ask you to pray for me, as I am still in shock and very saddened by the results of the presidential election. I still read your post in which you reminded the priests to keep encouraging their people to “Be not afraid. God is in charge.”
As I scrolled down I saw the passage from Luke to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking. God is still here.
And I believe it was St. Seraphim who would pound his staff into the ground and say, “What is wrong with you! Christ is risen!”
Please pray for this sad soul of mine.
Be at peace, Laura. God is in charge, and nothing that is happening on the national level is without salvific value.
Thank you, Father. May it indeed be for my salvation.
Bless Fr
I love your cross ➕.
I want one, or ten. Lol.
It’s beautiful and it so so suits you.
I also love your um whatsitcalled? The Moses stick. I love it. Is it wooden? Looks like wood.
Bless
Sofie Bult
Thank you, Sofie. The cross was awarded to me by Archbishop Kyrill. It is from Jerusalem, has real amethyst stones, and I absolutely love it. The abbot’s staff was made by a woodworker on Vashon Island.
Oops…..Our Father Paul just pointed out that you were commenting on the jeweled gold cross given to me by a dear bishop friend of mine. This is the one that has a very intricate gold design, with rubies, not amethyst stones. I love them both very much.