Episode 3: “On the Knowledge of God”, Part 3, & “Concerning Obedience”, Part 1. “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”

Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church

Series: Mystical Theology
Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin
Episode 3: “On the Knowledge of God”, Part 3, & “Concerning Obedience”, Part 1
Based on the reading of excerpts from Silouan’s chapters, “On the Knowledge of God” and “Concerning Obedience”, from the masterpiece, Saint Silouan the Athonite, by St. Sophrony the Athonite, this third episode will delve a little more deeply into the mystery of how we may come to know God, and subsequently on the Orthodox understanding of Christian obedience, which is fundamental in our constant quest to discover the will of God in any and every moment of our lives.
Themes covered include the vision of Christ, ascetic & charismatic humility, three forms of obedience, the paradoxical character of the Christian life, the obedience of Sts. Silouan, Porphyrios, and Symeon the New Theologian.
It is hoped that these presentations will help the enquirer discern the interwoven character of Orthodox theology and the Orthodox Christian life, and to identify the ascetic and pastoral significance of the Orthodox ethos.
Q&As related to Episode 3 available in The Professor’s Blog
Recommended background reading: Saint Silouan the Athonite, by St. Sophrony the Athonite; and The Enlargement of the Heart, by Archimandrite Zacharias
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I wish to express my indebtedness to the spoken and written traditions of Sts Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites, Fr. Zacharias Zacharou, Fr. Kyrill Akon, Fr. Raphael Noica, Fr. Symeon Brüschweiler; Fr. John Romanides, Fr. Pavlos Englezakis, Fr. Georges Florovsky, Prof. Constantine Scouteris, Prof. George Mantzarides, Prof. John Fountoulis, Mtp Kallistos Ware, and Prof. Panayiotes Chrestou. My presentations have been enriched by all of the above sources. Responsibility however for the content of my presentations is of course mine alone. ©Christopher Veniamin 2023

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1. Saint Silouan the Athonite Chapter 8 "On the Knowledge of God" p.317-318 (00:00:00)

2. Silouan's vision of Christ (00:04:44)

3. Fr. Zacharias: ascetic and charismatic humility and love (00:06:06)

4. Response to humility of Christ (00:08:21)

5. Fr. Zacharias: exchange of lives (00:09:02)

6. Silouan's struggle (00:09:37)

7. Trials and tribulations of the Christian life normal (00:10:54)

8. St. Nikolai Velimirovich: Silouan's word healing (00:12:54)

9. St. Justin Popovich: about book on Silouan (00:14:04)

10. Silouan's word born of prayer (00:15:25)

11. Saint Silouan the Athonite Chapter 15 "Concerning Obedience" p. 370-372 (00:17:07)

12. What is Christian obedience? (00:29:25)

13. Fr. Akakios disciple of St. Porphyrios (00:30:00)

14. Three forms of obedience (00:32:11)

15. Blind obedience (00:32:22)

16. Obedience with discernment (00:33:42)

17. Obedience of the saints (00:34:33)

18. Will of saints in harmony with will of God (00:35:12)

19. Christian life a paradox (00:35:56)

20. Obedience of St. Porphyrios (00:36:37)

21. Obedience of St. Silouan (00:38:47)

22. Self-denial (00:39:28)

23. Obedience of St. Symeon the New Theologian (00:40:16)

24. Conscience: the voice of God in us (00:40:42)

25. St. Sophrony on the spiritual life (00:41:15)