Theophan the Recluse?

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Mickey said:
Yes. St Gregory Palamas will make you reel a bit. 😃

I just remebered…here’s another one:

Saint Nektarios–The Saint of our Century
store.holycrossbookstore.com/sanesaofourc.html

This one made me weep. :o
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I assume that here you are referring to Nectarios of Aegina? When my wife and I were on our honeymoon, when we were in Greece, I saw many icons for sale of him. I wanted to get one, but felt rather silly buying one without knowing much about him. I bought one of my patron saint (one of my patrons, rather) St. Antony the Great instead.
 
To the others who mentioned St. John of the Cross, he is most interesting to me, but I find I cannot relate to his writings. But this is probably due to the fact that his writings are considered to be at such a deep and profound level that they are not recommended to beginners. I have heard of people being told specifically NOT to read St. John of the Cross…I assume this is similar to the Eastern Orthodox recommending that beginners not read the Hymns of Symeon the New Theologian (Mickey can you verify this? Just curious!).
All this said, his Ascent of Mount Carmel almost reads like a mystical Summa Theologica.
 
Mickey said:
Yes. St Gregory Palamas will make you reel a bit. 😃
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Gregory Palamas is hard reading…though there is only one theologian I have read where I actually had to take an advil after reading him, and that’s St. Anselm of Canterbury.😃
Just one sentence of St. Anselm is enough to make my head spin.
 
theidler said:
I assume that here you are referring to Nectarios of Aegina? When my wife and I were on our honeymoon, when we were in Greece, I saw many icons for sale of him. I wanted to get one, but felt rather silly buying one without knowing much about him. I bought one of my patron saint (one of my patrons, rather) St. Antony the Great instead.
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That’s a good patron saint you have there. 🙂

You’ll love St Nektarios…he was terribly persecuted…but persevered.
 
Mickey said:
That’s a good patron saint you have there. 🙂

You’ll love St Nektarios…he was terribly persecuted…but persevered.
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Yes, my I prayed to him for his intercession for a cure for my Mom who was suffering a dreadful skin condition. My Mom is not even a Christian per se, but had a dream of a man whom she said had stated his name was Anthony (and the descfription she gave me of him was very much like how you would imagine him to look), and woke up with her skin completely clear. She was crying hard, and had no idea I had prayed to him specifically for her. Praise God is all I can say. 👍

As for Nectarios, yes I have heard of his persecution during his life. It’s sad that many of the greatest saint were often treated so badly during their lives. For us in the Catholci tradition, I’d simply point out St. Joan of Arc!
 
theidler said:
I assume this is similar to the Eastern Orthodox recommending that beginners not read the Hymns of Symeon the New Theologian (Mickey can you verify this? Just curious!).
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I have never heard that. But when I first came to the Byzantine Catholic Church, my first purchase at an Eastern Catholic monastery was The Ladder of Divine Ascent (St John Climacus). My wife’s first purchase was the entire Philokalia series (expensive). A monk there told us that thiese readings may not be the best starter.
He was correct. 😃

However, I did muddle through the Ladder of Divine Ascent…I refer to it many times…
I love it. My wife slowly absorbed the Philokalia…I am still muddling my way through that. 🙂
 
Mickey said:
That’s a good patron saint you have there. 🙂

You’ll love St Nektarios…he was terribly persecuted…but persevered.
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Mickey, would you mind saying just a tiny quick prayer to Nectarios for my mother? I read that his intercession has been known to cure many of cancer…and my Mom went through breast cancer this year. If you would just say a tiny prayer for my mother, her name is Mary…I would be eternally grateful. I am sure he will hear your prayer, and take it to the Lord.
Would you mind?
 
Mickey said:
I have never heard that. But when I first came to the Byzantine Catholic Church, my first purchase at an Eastern Catholic monastery was The Ladder of Divine Ascent (St John Climacus). My wife’s first purchase was the entire Philokalia series (expensive). A monk there told us that thiese readings may not be the best starter.
He was correct. 😃

However, I did muddle through the Ladder of Divine Ascent…I refer to it many times…
I love it. My wife slowly absorbed the Philokalia…I am still muddling my way through that. 🙂
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Yes, I know that a reviewer on amazon.com referred to the Philokalia as “advanced carpentry”, when many Christians still need to learn “basic woodworking”. That’s where I find the simplicity and charity of St. Therese of Lisieux so grounding for me - it always reminds me that holiness can be exercised and found in the tiniest, simplest of actions. That said, the Philokalia is quite an incredible work.
 
theidler said:
Mickey, would you mind saying just a tiny quick prayer to Nectarios for my mother? I read that his intercession has been known to cure many of cancer…and my Mom went through breast cancer this year. If you would just say a tiny prayer for my mother, her name is Mary…I would be eternally grateful. I am sure he will hear your prayer, and take it to the Lord.
Would you mind?
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It is my great honour to pray for her, brother. You are correct about his intercession for those stricken with cancer. Your mother also has a beautiful name. 🙂 I will also ask the Most Holy Theotokos…our Panagia…to pray for her. I have an Icon corner (including St Nektarios and the Most Holy Theotokos) in my home and I am going to add her to our prayer list.
 
Mickey said:
It is my great honour to pray for her, brother. You are correct about his intercession for those stricken with cancer. Your mother also has a beautiful name. 🙂 I will also ask the Most Holy Theotokos…our Panagia…to pray for her. I have an Icon corner (including St Nektarios and the Most Holy Theotokos) in my home and I am going to add her to our prayer list.
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Thank you brother, thank you so much. It has been such a terrifying experience for me and for her to have this happen.
I will pray also for your intentions and add you to my list of people to pray for. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Praise God for your kindness friend. :crossrc:
 
Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

Through the intercessions of our Holy Father St. Nektarios of Aegina, heal Thy servant Mary in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Offspring of Silyvria and the guardian of Aegina,
the true friend of virtue who hath appeared in the last years,
Nektarios, we faithful honour thee as the Godly servant of Christ,
for you pour forth healing on everyone who piously cries out:
Glory to Christ Who hath glorified thee,
Glory to Him Who hath magnified thee,
Glory to Him who through thee workest healings to all.
 
Mickey said:
Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

Through the intercessions of our Holy Father St. Nektarios of Aegina, heal Thy servant Mary in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Offspring of Silyvria and the guardian of Aegina,
the true friend of virtue who hath appeared in the last years,
Nektarios, we faithful honour thee as the Godly servant of Christ,
for you pour forth healing on everyone who piously cries out:
Glory to Christ Who hath glorified thee,
Glory to Him Who hath magnified thee,
Glory to Him who through thee workest healings to all.
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Amen.
 
theidler said:
  1. Finally, I still think St. Bonaventure is tops when it comes to theologians. I love the Franciscan way of viewing things. His writing is much more fluid and warm compared to Aquinas’…but that’s not to say I don’t celebrate Aquinas’ feast day with gusto (a pint of Guinness and a turkey drumstick:D)!
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Although the rest of your post was great, I just had to pull this section out!!! I’m totally with you here. And I LOVE your way of celebrating the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas. I do believe that he would COMPLETELY approve (although he may prefer Murphy’s to Guinness :D)! 👍 Incidentally I celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi (my Confirmation saint) in a similar fashion, sans the turkey leg. Sadly, I lost track of things this year because I was taking care of my daughter and pregnant wife. So I didn’t get to celebrate St. Francis’ feast day until a few days later. 😦
 
Mickey said:
I love the writings of the Saint **and **the unique insights that his disciples are able to offer.🙂
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I might enjoy the insights of St. Silouan’s disciples if I was smart enough to understand them :D:D:D!
 
I think I’ll stick to this forum…I went over to Monachos.net and asked a similar question and didn’t exactly get a very friendly response…😦
 
Could just be me…I’m a pretty sensitive fellow, and I often read into things wrong…but the one reply I got was pretty…I don’t know…seemed like he was insulted or something by my asking for some good readings of post-schism saints in the Orthodox tradition.
Hey, while you’re on here friend, what would be the best work by Nectarios to read??? I’m really interested in him.👍
 
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