tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post1421204535561704455..comments2023-12-22T19:01:28.512-08:00Comments on Holy Nativity Orthodox Church: The Sin of AnaniasFr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981965403145920704noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post-80502738611246624962011-05-16T12:23:40.638-07:002011-05-16T12:23:40.638-07:00Thank you for the explanation and the reference!Thank you for the explanation and the reference!Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post-35504693005053037052011-05-07T16:45:22.806-07:002011-05-07T16:45:22.806-07:00Dear Christopher,
I got it from a secondary source...Dear Christopher,<br />I got it from a secondary source: "Heavenly Participation" by Hans Boersma (p.160) who was quoting from "From Glory to Glory: Texts from Gregory of Nyssa's Mystical Writings" edited and translated by Herbert Musurillo, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2001 (p.120).<br />Paraphrasing Boesma: Mystical knowledge proceeds in three steps: first the way of light (you know things, see things and understand things) which lead you to purify yourself through repentance and victory over the passions of soul and body--law or rules and principles and obedience are examples of this way. Then there is the way of cloud, which is contemplation of created things (this would include scripture, but also any created thing). Through this contemplation we know less directly or clearly than the first way for it is a matter of discerning the words (logismoi) of creation in created things. That is, one begins to discern the word within the Word, or what God is saying through a thing or phenomenon or experience. This second way is often connected to appreciation of beauty and feelings of awe and godly fear. The third is the way of darkness. This is beyond all conceptualization or even feelings as we normally understand them. Moses meets God in "Thick Darkness." Here we know nothing except God Himself.<br />St. Gregory bases these three levels on an allegorical (spiritual) interpretation of Moses' ascent up Mt. Sinai.Fr. Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16981965403145920704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post-58898612759288648652011-05-07T07:49:45.172-07:002011-05-07T07:49:45.172-07:00Father, in a post below you say "St. Gregory ...Father, in a post below you say "St. Gregory of Nyssa says that there are three levels at which we participate in God". What is the source text of this? I would like to expand on this...Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.com