Episode 9: Holy Myrrh and Holy Relics, in John of the Ladder, Dr. Christopher Veniamin

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

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Episode 9: Holy Myrrh and Holy Relics
Unit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin
Series: “Mystical Theology"
“Holy Myrrh and Holy Relics”, Episode 9 in our series, "John of the Ladder, is based on the readings, “About Menas” and “About Saint Acacius”. In it, inter alia, Prof. Christopher Veniamin discusses the significance of holy myrrh and holy relics.
Themes from this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.
Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog: https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blog
Recommended background reading: The Ladder of Divine Ascent (Holy Transfiguration Monastery); 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 Hierotheos Vlachos, 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 2024

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فصول

1. Reading “About Saint Menas” (00:00:00)

2. Myrrh from St. Demetrius the Wonderworker (00:01:33)

3. Resumption of reading “About Saint Menas” (00:02:26)

4. Experience of fragrance at Monastery of St. Panteleimon (00:02:34)

5. Experience of the Transfiguration (00:04:00)

6. St. Porphyios & Fr. Acacios, St. Paisios: light (00:04:34)

7. Every blessing contains the mystery of the Cross (00:06:24)

8. Soteriological purpose behind spiritual experiences (00:06:39)

9. Our faith is not myths and legends (00:08:05)

10. We need the real thing (00:08:52)

11. Genuine theology contains discernment (00:09:14)

12. The man who used to live opposite the Monastery (00:09:41)

13. Witchcraft (00:12:41)

14. Living simultaneously on two planes (00:13:40)

15. Power of martyrdom and love of God for each one personally (00:14:09)

16. Building of churches and myrrhstreaming (00:15:00)

17. Relics & aromas and the final place of the body (00:15:49)

18. The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation (00:16:30)

19. Continuing reading “About Saint Menas” (00:16:42)

20. Reading passage on Stillness (00:18:12)

21. Commentary on Stillness passage (00:24:18)

22. Great Lent: practice ground of the virtues (00:24:58)

23. St. Silouan on natural beauty and the vision of God (00:26:15)

24. Commentary on Stillness passage (00:28:23)

25. Reading “About Saint Acacius” (00:29:03)

26. Commentary on “About Saint Acacius” (00:33:03)

27. 33:09 Relics and the resurrection of the body (cf. John 11:25) (00:33:09)

28. St. Porphyrios: no death for Christians (00:34:25)

29. St. Sophrony: presence after death (00:35:36)

30. “The Valley of Dry Bones”, Ezek. 37:1-14 (00:36:10)

31. Appeal (00:36:18)