It makes me... homesick for England, which is not my home country, but a country with whom I have a mysterious feeling of kinship that allowed me to feel a few years ago, in the small shops in Newark, Nottinghamshire, that I had come home, in maybe a way similar to what you talk about above. A revived ? England that has slipped far back out of site, but which is being retrieved through your work, and the work of others, because it has vital things to offer us right now ? Seen from where I am right now, it makes me... a little jealous, a little envious, even, because all this is going on far from where my flesh is, and will remain, and that is difficult for me to accept...
But it is a treat to know it is happening, all the same...
If I ever return to England I want to visit the places Paul writes about! I think I’ve seen enough of London for a lifetime (the only place I’d want visit again there is Greenwich).
Great piece. The faith Augustine found when he arrived in the 6th century was more “Orthodox” than “Roman,” with an interest in solitude and silence. There is so much in England and Ireland and Wales waiting to be remembered and rediscovered. Not a bad idea these days.
I find it beautiful how the Faith has grown in so many unique and varied ways. All with Christ as the center but so many different practices and forms of worship. Almost like a grapevine planted in Israel which has grown out twisting and turning its way around the world. The icons and saints and so forth are very foriegn to me, as Im sure my Church would be odd or different to you, but all serving the same purpose.
How wonderful to know this history. Many thanks for bringing to our attention. The world is such a marvel if we have the ability to see and appreciate it.
Everything I read about Eastern Orthodoxy stirs the cockles of my heart. It moves me closer to Orthodoxy and to Christ. Thank you for what you do here.
I find this quite interesting. I just finished watching your YouTube about the machine. It was absolutely incredible and I sent it to our bishop in Boston. I am old calendar Greek Orthodox. I thought it was funny though in order to subscribe, I had to go through Apple.
I've been to this chapel. Seeing it again I realise that it was there that my interest in the old saints was ignited - I noticed the icons and bought some of their prayer cards. That and contributing to the 'Saint of the Day' for a Catholic radio, when I found to my surprise that I loved telling the story of the old saints more than the more contemporary ones. I can't quite work out why, but it's not sentimentality or romanticism. Maybe they wake me up to what Christianity is, in all its divinely weird and revolutionary wonder. I think they could be the source for reuniting the churches of East and West. At least as lay people we can share them fully. Unlike you Paul, I don't find the particular Englishness of the flag and bunting homely. As a Catholic with an Irish immigrant mother and inner city Liverpudlian father, Englishness didn't have this kind of flavour. When I visit old English churches they feel Southern English, middle/ upper class and Anglican. Not that these are bad things of course, but for me it something I have to get over. I love that these saints were before nations, before the schism. Perhaps, particularly for the Western / Catholic Church, they travel lightly, without the baggage that has amassed over the centuries since. Maybe this is true for Orthodox too? I know the Orthodox Church will carry its own kind of baggage, but I'm thinking that its rootedness in the ancient fathers is a distinction that must have spiritual impact....
There are a lot of different flavours of Englishness. It doesn't just come in one variety. North and south are almost different nations. I lived in the northwest of England for five years. It's wonderful up there. Still, I'm a man of the south country, and it is in my bones and my heritage. It's probably one reason I like Walsingham so much. In the end though, as you rightly say, the Church is above and beyond all nations and borders. The saints belong to us all.
Just to say The Norfolk Orient is where I am bound in May for your talk on British Saints. I have sent in my booking form and request for accommodation. Your article was so inspiring! Now to book the trains...
How cool! I am not totally sure why, but your stories make Christianity, particularly Orthodox Christianity, feel more approachable. Despite my best intentions, I am still intimidated by the whole idea of it most of the time. Reading your stories makes me want to get out of my head (though I have to actually do it in my own locale of course). Thank you again and I will keep finding ways to act in these impulses. It feels like trying to tip a scale one grain of sand at a time 🤣
I have a book on the sayings of the Desert Fathers, and I imagine a lot of the readers of this blog have one, too. While the words of the Fathers are still worth reading, I sometimes feel that the authors are more myth then men. Therefore it cheered me to read about Fr. Lazarus and how he lived in a cave, subsisting on roots and berries, much as his spiritual ancestors did many centuries ago. A man I could have actually known! I didn't really think that people went in for that sort of thing nowadays, Paul and Father Lazarus excepted, of course. There is an idea I've come across that monasteries are great engines of spiritual power that help to keep the world in balance. I've always thought of this as a metaphor, or even a pleasant fiction. I am beginning to take it more seriously. But as great a source of spirit power as monasteries are, I think there is something even greater about a hermit who wrestles with God in the wilderness. I doubt I will ever meet one of them, but I am sure they still exist out there somewhere, praying for the salvation of the world.
I have been reading your posts for a long time and think this is my favorite. There’s so much heart in it and your words and pictures really brought it to life. I’m excited for an inspired by this project!
I love the Englishness - seems like the best of England (traditional and not modern) - let’s hope it flourishes.
This piece is really lovely, Paul, and inspiring.
It makes me... homesick for England, which is not my home country, but a country with whom I have a mysterious feeling of kinship that allowed me to feel a few years ago, in the small shops in Newark, Nottinghamshire, that I had come home, in maybe a way similar to what you talk about above. A revived ? England that has slipped far back out of site, but which is being retrieved through your work, and the work of others, because it has vital things to offer us right now ? Seen from where I am right now, it makes me... a little jealous, a little envious, even, because all this is going on far from where my flesh is, and will remain, and that is difficult for me to accept...
But it is a treat to know it is happening, all the same...
If I ever return to England I want to visit the places Paul writes about! I think I’ve seen enough of London for a lifetime (the only place I’d want visit again there is Greenwich).
Great piece. The faith Augustine found when he arrived in the 6th century was more “Orthodox” than “Roman,” with an interest in solitude and silence. There is so much in England and Ireland and Wales waiting to be remembered and rediscovered. Not a bad idea these days.
I find it beautiful how the Faith has grown in so many unique and varied ways. All with Christ as the center but so many different practices and forms of worship. Almost like a grapevine planted in Israel which has grown out twisting and turning its way around the world. The icons and saints and so forth are very foriegn to me, as Im sure my Church would be odd or different to you, but all serving the same purpose.
How wonderful to know this history. Many thanks for bringing to our attention. The world is such a marvel if we have the ability to see and appreciate it.
Everything I read about Eastern Orthodoxy stirs the cockles of my heart. It moves me closer to Orthodoxy and to Christ. Thank you for what you do here.
I find this quite interesting. I just finished watching your YouTube about the machine. It was absolutely incredible and I sent it to our bishop in Boston. I am old calendar Greek Orthodox. I thought it was funny though in order to subscribe, I had to go through Apple.
I've been to this chapel. Seeing it again I realise that it was there that my interest in the old saints was ignited - I noticed the icons and bought some of their prayer cards. That and contributing to the 'Saint of the Day' for a Catholic radio, when I found to my surprise that I loved telling the story of the old saints more than the more contemporary ones. I can't quite work out why, but it's not sentimentality or romanticism. Maybe they wake me up to what Christianity is, in all its divinely weird and revolutionary wonder. I think they could be the source for reuniting the churches of East and West. At least as lay people we can share them fully. Unlike you Paul, I don't find the particular Englishness of the flag and bunting homely. As a Catholic with an Irish immigrant mother and inner city Liverpudlian father, Englishness didn't have this kind of flavour. When I visit old English churches they feel Southern English, middle/ upper class and Anglican. Not that these are bad things of course, but for me it something I have to get over. I love that these saints were before nations, before the schism. Perhaps, particularly for the Western / Catholic Church, they travel lightly, without the baggage that has amassed over the centuries since. Maybe this is true for Orthodox too? I know the Orthodox Church will carry its own kind of baggage, but I'm thinking that its rootedness in the ancient fathers is a distinction that must have spiritual impact....
There are a lot of different flavours of Englishness. It doesn't just come in one variety. North and south are almost different nations. I lived in the northwest of England for five years. It's wonderful up there. Still, I'm a man of the south country, and it is in my bones and my heritage. It's probably one reason I like Walsingham so much. In the end though, as you rightly say, the Church is above and beyond all nations and borders. The saints belong to us all.
Just to say The Norfolk Orient is where I am bound in May for your talk on British Saints. I have sent in my booking form and request for accommodation. Your article was so inspiring! Now to book the trains...
I look forward to meeting you. I think it should be a really interesting weekend.
Praise be to God! What wonders‼️☦️
How cool! I am not totally sure why, but your stories make Christianity, particularly Orthodox Christianity, feel more approachable. Despite my best intentions, I am still intimidated by the whole idea of it most of the time. Reading your stories makes me want to get out of my head (though I have to actually do it in my own locale of course). Thank you again and I will keep finding ways to act in these impulses. It feels like trying to tip a scale one grain of sand at a time 🤣
There is no need for an excuse to write about Father Lazarus - please ‘write away’.
I have a book on the sayings of the Desert Fathers, and I imagine a lot of the readers of this blog have one, too. While the words of the Fathers are still worth reading, I sometimes feel that the authors are more myth then men. Therefore it cheered me to read about Fr. Lazarus and how he lived in a cave, subsisting on roots and berries, much as his spiritual ancestors did many centuries ago. A man I could have actually known! I didn't really think that people went in for that sort of thing nowadays, Paul and Father Lazarus excepted, of course. There is an idea I've come across that monasteries are great engines of spiritual power that help to keep the world in balance. I've always thought of this as a metaphor, or even a pleasant fiction. I am beginning to take it more seriously. But as great a source of spirit power as monasteries are, I think there is something even greater about a hermit who wrestles with God in the wilderness. I doubt I will ever meet one of them, but I am sure they still exist out there somewhere, praying for the salvation of the world.
I have been reading your posts for a long time and think this is my favorite. There’s so much heart in it and your words and pictures really brought it to life. I’m excited for an inspired by this project!