11/25/2013 “In the first half of psalm 128 (verses 1-7), the psalmist asks God’s forgiveness and pleas for God’s mercy.” Footnote from the Good News translation of the New Testament 11/25/2013 “Sin is defined in a number of ways in the Bible—from disobeying God’s commandment to defying or rebelling against God. Sin is anything that interrupts the right relationship with God, one another, and the whole creation.” Footnote from the Good News translation of the Old Testament 11/25/13 A MODEL FOR MONASTICS AND A CHAMPION OF ORTHODOXY “Monasticism has long been a respected lifestyle for men and women in the Orthodox Church. Example after example can be given of those who willingly sacrificed wealth, political position and social rank in order to submit themselves totally to Christ. One such person was THEODORE THE STUDITE. He was born in Constantinople in 759 A.D. His family was a prominent one in the capital city of the Byzantine Empire, and there is little doubt that Theodore could have ascended to a lofty rank in the Imperial Court of the Empire. Instead, he chose to enter a monastery, where his uncle was the Abbot. When his uncle passed away, Theodore was chosen to head the monastic community. He quickly became known as a great reformer, restoring many of the ancient monastic disciplines and practices that had been lost through the years. Theodore also developed a reputation for defending the true teachings of the Orthodox Faith. When the Emperor Constantine VI chose to divorce his wife and marry his mistress, Theodore loudly expressed his disapproval. Exiled from the monastery for his boldness, Theodore was forced to live in Thessalonica until Constantine was overthrown. Returning to Constantinople, Theodore was placed in charge of the famous Studium Monastery, which became a model for monasticism in the Byzantine world. Soon however, he was exiled again—this time for speaking out against the iconoclastic Emperor Leo V. Even while banished from the Empire, Theodore continued to write treatises in defense of the dogmas of the Holy Orthodox Church, particularly those dealing with the veneration of icons. He died in 826 A.D. having “fought the good fight” for Christ and His Church throughout his life.” From The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 09:33:50 +0000
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