Theophany Cold Plunge
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
In the Tabletop Book for Clergy, a comprehensive instructional manual on many practical aspects of ministry in the Orthodox Church, published in 1893 in Kharkov (present-day Ukraine), its author, Sergei Bulgakov, made the following note about bathing in ice water on Theophany:
“In some places, there exists a custom to bathe in rivers (specifically, this bathing is for those who during the holy days [the period between Christmas and Theophany] wore costumes [a tradition common among the Slavs and somewhat reminiscent of Halloween], practiced divinations, and did other such things, and superstitiously ascribe to this bathing the power to cleanse them from all of these sins). This custom cannot be justified as a desire to imitate the example of the Savior who immersed in water, or the example of Palestinian faithful who bathe in the Jordan at any time. In the East, it is safe for the faithful, because they do not have such cold and such freezing temperatures as we do. A belief in the healing and cleansing power of the water which has been sanctified by the Church on the very day of the Baptism of Christ also cannot be used to excuse this custom, since to bathe in the winter is to demand a miracle from God or to completely disregard one’s life and health.”
Fast forward a century, and this practice is now ubiquitous in all of post-Soviet Russia and anywhere that post-Soviet immigrants have settled, including in the United States. Most of Bulgakov’s work is well-researched, reasoned, and argued, but this specific note seems to fall short of the quality standard maintained elsewhere in the book… [continue]
Liturgical minyan
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! – Psalm 133:1
In his excellent writings on the Liturgy, Father Alexander Schmemann once described a principle of correlation or concelebration which brings the laity into the equation of the Liturgy and strikes at the very heart of clericalism. Clericalism, at least as it exists in the Russian Church, seems to elevate ordained priests to some strange position within the Church. People appear to be convinced that priests are not normal humans (at least, a little bit “extra-normal”), that they have some special “superpowers” acquired through ordination, that the “Divine grace” of the ordination prayer is a special kind of grace not available to the uninitiated, and that the ordained are very much separate from the rest of the faithful, as if they were some alien beings – again, perhaps, just a little bit. While these ideas may be correct in a superficial way that is generally applicable to many professional occupations – priests do enjoy a certain level of guildic ‘separatness’ – these ideas are wrong fundamentally and theologically… [continue]
Father Alexander Schmemann (center) with his wife, Matushka Juliana (left), and Alexander Solzhenitsyn (right).
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From Christmas until Theophany
Typikon, ch. 48, Dec. 25:
“Let this also be understood, that from Christ’s Nativity until Holy Theophany, in no way can there be fasting or prostrations, either in churches or in cells.” (That is to say, even private asceticism should be moderated on account of the great solemnity of Christ’s Nativity.)
In other words, in this rare instance, the Typikon not only regulates public disciplines, but also private ones by adding “or in cells.” … [continue]
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Oil-free Orthodoxy
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
“[They] strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel…” – Matt 23:24
A few days since, I happened to stop by a shop which sold church supplies – books, censers, chalices, etc.
As an aside, the word chalice is a curious example of a phenomenon which is pervasive in Church culture – we start using words that are commonplace and continue to use them, but centuries later, these words sound elevated. Koine Greek was the dialect of Greek common not only to the Bible and the Church Fathers, but also to Plutarch, Marcus Aurelius, and an army of imperial bureaucrats. Elizabethan English used to be something that people actually spoke, not merely read on Sundays from the King James Bible… [CONTINUE]
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Saints Vsevolod of Pskov and Andrew of Simbirsk
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December 10 (Nov. 27): Saints Vsevolod of Pskov and Andrew of Simbirsk
Theotokos of the Sign, 12th century
On December 10 Gregorian calendar / November 27 Julian calendar, the Holy Church celebrates the Icon of the Mother of God called “The Sign” and remembers, among other saints, Vsevolod, Prince of Pskov, who died in 1138, and Andrew, the Fool-for-Christ of Simbirsk, who died in 1841… [CONTINUE]
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YouTube: Fasting Advice from Saint Theodosius
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Alypius the Stylite and Iakovos the Hermit
On November 26 Julian, which falls on December 9 Gregorian, among other saints, the Church remembers the Venerable Alypius the Stylite and Iakovos the Hermit.
There is a reason why in English, the common pronunciation for Iakovos is James. However, the name is of Hebrew origin, where it is rendered as Ya’aqov, from which we get Jacob. The name then appeared in Greek as ᾿Ιάκωβος, and from this form, through a predictable change, entered Latin as Iacobus. (The Latins were well-aware that the Greek letter “β” is pronounced as “v”, but the visual similarity with the Latin “b” was, apparently, too appealing.) Be that as it may, since the Saint lived in Syria and spoke Greek, we will use the English transliteration of the Greek name – that is, Iakovos… [CONTINUE]
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Fasting advice from Saint Theodosius of the Kiev Caves
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
Saint Theodosius of the Kiev Caves – or Fedos, as he called himself – lived in the 11th century and was the founder of cenobitic monasticism in the Kievan Rus. (Although, it must be noted that in the 11th century, Kievan Rus as such did not exist. Instead, there was a very loose confederation of various principalities.) Sometime in the 1060s, Iziaslav, the Grand Prince of Kiev, sought advice from Saint Theodosius, and two letters from the Saint to the Prince are extant… [continue]
![Фрагмент с ликом Феодосия иконы Божией Матери Свенской Печерской с предстоящими Феодосием и Антонием Печерскими, Киев[1], XIII век](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!g0nd!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fkitty.southfox.me%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fef3af2e7-b2df-4041-a6fd-3e10c622dc0e_341x446.jpeg "Фрагмент с ликом Феодосия иконы Божией Матери Свенской Печерской с предстоящими Феодосием и Антонием Печерскими, Киев[1], XIII век")
Saint Theodosius of the Kiev Caves, 13th-century icon fragment
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The Venerable Mercurius and Paisios of the Kiev Caves
On November 24 Julian calendar which falls of December 7 Gregorian, the Church remembers the Venerable Mercurius of the Kiev Caves. His brother-in-vocation Paisios is commemorated on July 19 Julian… [continue]
The Venerable Mercurius, the Faster of the Kiev Caves, mid-19th-century icon.
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Fasting on the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
The Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple is celebrated on November 21 according to Julian calendar, which falls on December 4 according to Gregorian calendar. Those on the new calendar, celebrate this Feast on November 21 according to Gregorian calendar, which falls on November 8 according to Julian calendar. Thus, on November 21, the two groups of Orthodox believers are separated by celebrating either the Entry of the Theotokos or the Feast of Archangel Michael; and on December 4, they are again divided into one group celebrating the Entry of the Theotokos, while the other – the memory of Great Martyr Barbara.
As the Pious Reader indubitably guessed from our previous posts, Phroneo believes that the calendar division in the Orthodox world is sad and destructive. Unity is created and maintained through such common markers as fasting together and feasting together. What kind of a family meal would it be, if everyone ate at different times? What kind of a family gathering would it be, if different family members celebrated the Thanksgiving meal on different dates? There is an obvious reason why the Pope of Rome and the Patriarch of Constantinople are discussing celebrating Pascha together – such an act would signify and contribute to unity. Perhaps, the separate parts of the Orthodox Church should also seek unity in common celebrations of the Feasts of the Church… [CONTINUE]
The Presentation of the Virgin at the Temple by Tiziano Vecellio (Titian), 1534-1538
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Not again!
2025 is coming to a close. This is the year that the Roman Catholic Church celebrated as a jubilee. Whatever this concept is, and whatever spiritual benefit the Catholic faithful are to gain from it is not relevant to us here. Last year, as the Catholic Church was preparing to announce the year of the jubilee, we wrote about the curious mascot that was adopted for the occasion. We have removed the paywall and invite you to re-visit this post.
As we have discussed in the past, in a post titled “Two is a coincidence, three is a pattern,” the reason we are paying attention to what is happening inside the Roman Church is that Pope Leo XIV has expressed his commitment to “the path of reconciliation and unity with the Orthodox Church” and intends to “persevere in the effort to reestablish full visible communion between our Churches.” The Ecumenical Patriarch seems amenable to the idea, as was his predecessor; albeit, unlike his Roman counterpart, he lacks the personal infallibility to be able to make this decision on behalf on the entire Orthodox Church. And thus, it is necessary for us to pay attention and to observe – no, not the aberrations, unfortunate failings, or sins of individual members of the Roman Church – may it not be!, but the official positions, trends, and trajectories promulgated at the highest levels of ecclesiastical administration. And it just so happens that these do provide plenty of food for thought. Please, enjoy the post; and if you like it, share it with your friends and relations… [CONTINUE]
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The Venerable Varlaam of the Kiev Caves
On November 19 (Julian)/December 2 (Gregorian), the Church remembers the Venerable Varlaam (Barlaam), Abbot of the Kiev Caves. We mentioned him, and how he ended up becoming the abbot, in our post about the Venerable Athanasios; his memory is celebrated on December 2 (Julian)/15 (Gregorian)… [CONTINUE]
A forensic reconstruction of the face of Saint Varlaam based on his skull.
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Interview: Presbytera Krista and Father Gregory Fedorchak
Welcome to Phroneo Interview Number Ten with Presbytera Krista and Father Gregory Fedorchak. (For our previous interview with Father Gregory, please click here; also, see link below.)
In addition to being a mother, a wife, an a presbytera, Krista Fedorchak is a dietitian by profession. This time, we talk about asceticism, fasting, the Nativity Fast, fasting on Thanksgiving Day and other holidays, and many other topics with a focus of achieving a balance which would allow one to follow the fasts of the Church without detriment to health or the ability to fulfill the many obligations people living in the world must take into consideration.
Should the Pious Reader be interested in the aspects of Orthodox fasting which have to do with physiology and proper nutrition, rather than exclusively with monastic rules and typikons, Presbytera Krista can be reached through her website:
https://www.kristafedorchak.com/
For an individual professional consultation, you may book an appointment here.
You can also take a look at her handout “Fasting Overview for Healthcare Professionals”: https://www.kristafedorchak.com/store/p/fasting-overview-for-healthcare-professionals
Other resources by Presbytera Krista include:
Orthodox Fasting and Blood Sugar Balance eBook
and
Crowned: An Orthodox Christian Wedding Guide
We invite our subscribers to enjoy the conversation and to leave comments and questions.
If you are not a subscriber, you can become one for only $5 per month. (If you follow our fasting advice, you should be saving much more than that every month.)
And for those thrifty or unsure of whether they should support this Project, there is always a way to get full access without paying anything at all to anyone:
How to read Phroneo posts for free
Interview 005: Father Gregory Fedorchak
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Nov 8
Welcome to Phroneo Interview Number Five. This time, we speak with Father Gregory Fedorchak about Saint Olympia’s parish in Norwood, near Potsdam, New York. We discuss his ministry in Upstate New York on the border with Canada, the past and the present of Saint Olympia’s parish, missionary challenges in the 21st century, ministering to college students, and much more – even about carving pumpkins. (This talk was recorded a few days before Halloween.) We invite our subscribers to enjoy the conversation and to leave comments and questions.
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Saint Nikon, the Second Abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra
On November 17 (Julian)/30 (Gregorian), the Church remembers Saint Nikon, the second abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Larva… [CONTINUE]
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Phroneo is entering a hermitage
In memory of our Venerable Father Nikon, the Wonder-Worker of Radonezh, Phroneo will be entering a hermitage (of sorts) for the month of December.
There are pre-scheduled posts which will be released automatically on their respective dates; and it is our sincere hope that you will find them informative, edifying, thought-provoking, or all of the above. (Many of these post will likely not be re-posted on WordPress, since it is not an automatic process! If you enjoy Phroneo posts and wish to continue reading them in December, please consider subscribing to Phroneo on Substack.)
However, we will not monitor comments or emails and will not respond to questions until after the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, as it is celebrated according to the Julian calendar. But please, do leave comments and send questions – we will answer every one of them in due course.
In the meantime, check out our “Ask me anything” page and the newly-released Phroneo Book! (Perhaps, you also might wish to enter a hermitage for a month in order that you could read the Phroneo Book without any distractions.) Last but not least, you might enjoy visiting our YouTube channel. Primarily, this channel was created for those who do not have a Substack account and it mostly contains audio versions of Phroneo posts. But it also has all of the shorts and clips in one convenient location. So, as the saying goes, “like and subscribe.”
Blessed Nativity Fast, Merry Christmas,
and a Happy New Year to you and yours!
DUBITO, ERGO COGITO
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YouTube Video: Nativity Fast in the Typikon
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Fasting on Thanksgiving Day
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
This year (2025), the American holiday of Thanksgiving happens to fall on the day before the Nativity fast as it is observed by those on the Julian calendar. Those on the new calendar, will have already completed the first two weeks of the Nativity fast. In fact, those on the new calendar are faced with this situation every year, unlike the old calendarists who have to deal with it only on occasion. What is an Orthodox Christian to do? … [CONTINUE]
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Interview: Father Michael Fritz
Welcome to Phroneo Interview Number Nine with Father Michael Fritz. Father Michael and I talk about talk about asceticism, fasting, prayer, almsgiving, Nativity Fast, fasting on Thanksgiving Day and other holidays, and other topics. We invite our subscribers to enjoy the conversation and to leave comments and questions… [WATCH VIDEO]
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Thoughts about fasting dispensation on Thanksgiving
It is now a decades-old custom for the Orthodox faithful who follow the new calendar to completely dispense with the Nativity Fast on Thanksgiving Day. Here at Phroneo, we do not wish to put a damper on anyone’s celebrations or to undermine family gatherings – may it not be! But in the spirit of dubito, ergo cogito, we wish to offer some thoughts on this practice. (A longer post about fasting on Thanksgiving Day will be available on Wednesday, November 26.) … [CONTINUE]
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Interview: Father Paul Fedoroff
Welcome to Phroneo Interview Number Eight with Father Paul Fedoroff. Father Paul and I talk about talk about his missionary ministry, Saint Olga of Alaska Mission in Plattsburgh, New York, internet Orthodoxy, Nativity Fast, fasting on Thanksgiving Day, and other topics. We invite our subscribers to enjoy the conversation and to leave comments and questions.
If you are not a subscriber, you can become one and support Phroneo’s mission for only $5 per month.
And for those thrifty or unsure of whether they should support this Project, there is always a way to get full access without paying anything to anyone:
How to read Phroneo posts for free
WATCH VIDEO
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The “Phroneo” eBook is available now!
The Phroneo eBook is now available on Amazon Kindle just in time for the Christmas gift shopping season!
This eBook is a complete collection of all Phroneo posts – free and paid – from August 2024 to August 2025. Organized and categorized, it makes a convenient reference for those engaged with the Christian disciplines of fasting, prayer, and other topics of interest to Phroneo.
If you prefer not to be a paying subscriber to Phroneo, the eBook offers you full access to all posts – all in one bed-side of study-shelf volume.
If you are a paying subscriber, you might like the convenience of a eBook to easily find any post you wish to re-visit or to have a reference on hand.
The Phroneo eBook make a great present for all your friends, relations, and yourself!
To purchase the eBook, please follow this link to amazon.com:
The entire volume is 377 pages. Here is a portion of the table of contents as a preview:
Fasting: Thoughts
What is fasting?
“He was afterward an hungered.” (Matt 4:2)
That one and the same rule of fasting cannot be observed by everybody.
Saint Basil the Great on the measure of fasting
Fasting advice from Saint Theodosius of the Kiev Caves
On fasting and how Christianity may have influenced our relationship with meat
The Lenten mushroom market
“Fasting: What’s the Point?” – a response to A. Papanikolaou
Fasting among the Sámi of the Kola Peninsula
Fasting for non-monastics
Useful information for those who fast
“My name is Wednesday.” A pious tale
A note on marital fasting
Fasting: Great Lent
Great Lent: An instructional manual
Why do we “diet” during Lent?
On eating fish during Lent
Fasting before Presanctified Liturgy
Great Lent in the Studite Typikon
Fasting during the First Week of Great Lent
Monday of the First Week of Lent
Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
Thursday of the First Week of Lent
Friday of the First Week of Lent
Breaking the fast – “pro tips”
The problem with olive oil
Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Sunday of the First Week of Lent
Fasting During Passion Week
Fasting on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Passion Week
Fasting on Thursday of Passion Week
Fasting on Friday of Passion Week
Fasting on Saturday of Passion Week
Fasting after Bright Week
Fasting: Seasons
A feast or a fast?
Fasting on Thanksgiving Day
Nativity Fast in the Typikon
Nativity Fast in the Studite Monastery (9th century)
“Pieces of bread and one cup of wine…”
The Apostles’ Fast
…
To purchase the eBook, please follow this link to amazon.com:
Last but not least, please share Phroneo with your friends and relations. And Please consider becoming a paying subscriber – you will support our work and receive a discount on the paperback version of the Phroneo book!
The “Phroneo” Book is available now!
·
Nov 21
The Phroneo Book is now available on Amazon just in time for the Christmas gift shopping season!
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Subscriber discount on the “Phroneo” Book
The Phroneo book is now available on Amazon just in time for the Christmas gift shopping season!
This book is a complete collection of all Phroneo posts – free and paid – from August 2024 to August 2025. Organized and categorized, it makes a convenient reference for those engaged with the Christian disciplines of fasting, prayer, and other topics of interest to Phroneo.
If you prefer not to be a paying subscriber to Phroneo, the book offers you full access to all posts – all in one bed-side of study-shelf volume.
To purchase the book, please follow this link to amazon.com:
(IMPORTANT: Paying subscribers, please keep reading)
If you are a paying subscriber and would like the convenience of a book to easily find any post you wish to re-visit or to have a reference on hand, we would like to offer you a 30% discount as a small ‘thank you’ for your generous support. You will receive a direct message with a special link to purchase the book and a discount code.
And if you are a founding member, it would be our greatest pleasure to sent you an autographed copy of the Phroneo book with our compliments. Please kindly provide your name and mailing address in a private message.
The Phroneo book make a great present for all your friends, relations, and yourself!
To purchase the book, please follow this link to amazon.com:
The entire volume is 376 pages. Here is a portion of the table of contents as a preview:
Fasting: Thoughts
What is fasting?
“He was afterward an hungered.” (Matt 4:2)
That one and the same rule of fasting cannot be observed by everybody.
Saint Basil the Great on the measure of fasting
Fasting advice from Saint Theodosius of the Kiev Caves
On fasting and how Christianity may have influenced our relationship with meat
The Lenten mushroom market
“Fasting: What’s the Point?” – a response to A. Papanikolaou
Fasting among the Sámi of the Kola Peninsula
Fasting for non-monastics
Useful information for those who fast
“My name is Wednesday.” A pious tale
A note on marital fasting
Fasting: Great Lent
Great Lent: An instructional manual
Why do we “diet” during Lent?
On eating fish during Lent
Fasting before Presanctified Liturgy
Great Lent in the Studite Typikon
Fasting during the First Week of Great Lent
Monday of the First Week of Lent
Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
Thursday of the First Week of Lent
Friday of the First Week of Lent
Breaking the fast – “pro tips”
The problem with olive oil
Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Sunday of the First Week of Lent
Fasting During Passion Week
Fasting on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Passion Week
Fasting on Thursday of Passion Week
Fasting on Friday of Passion Week
Fasting on Saturday of Passion Week
Fasting after Bright Week
Fasting: Seasons
A feast or a fast?
Fasting on Thanksgiving Day
Nativity Fast in the Typikon
Nativity Fast in the Studite Monastery (9th century)
“Pieces of bread and one cup of wine…”
The Apostles’ Fast
…
To purchase the book, please follow this link to amazon.com:
Last but not least, please share Phroneo with your friends and relations. And Please consider becoming a paying subscriber – you will support our work and receive a discount on the Phroneo book!
The “Phroneo” Book is available now!
·
Nov 21
The Phroneo Book is now available on Amazon just in time for the Christmas gift shopping season!
Comments Off on Subscriber discount on the “Phroneo” Book
The “Phroneo” Book is available now!
The Phroneo Book is now available on Amazon just in time for the Christmas gift shopping season!
This book is a complete collection of all Phroneo posts – free and paid – from August 2024 to August 2025. Organized and categorized, it makes a convenient reference for those engaged with the Christian disciplines of fasting, prayer, and other topics of interest to Phroneo.
If you prefer not to be a paying subscriber to Phroneo, the book offers you full access to all posts – all in one bed-side of study-shelf volume.
If you are a paying subscriber and would like the convenience of a book to easily find any post you wish to re-visit or to have a reference on hand, we would like to offer you a discount as a small ‘thank you’ for your generous support. Instructions of how to receive the member discount will be posted soon.
And if you are a founding member, it would be our pleasure to sent you an autographed copy of the Phroneo book with our compliments. Please kindly provide your name and mailing address in a private message.
The Phroneo book make a great present for all your friends, relations, and yourself!
To purchase the book, please follow this link to amazon.com:
The entire volume is 376 pages. Here is a portion of the table of contents as a preview:
Fasting: Thoughts
What is fasting?
“He was afterward an hungered.” (Matt 4:2)
That one and the same rule of fasting cannot be observed by everybody.
Saint Basil the Great on the measure of fasting
Fasting advice from Saint Theodosius of the Kiev Caves
On fasting and how Christianity may have influenced our relationship with meat
The Lenten mushroom market
“Fasting: What’s the Point?” – a response to A. Papanikolaou
Fasting among the Sámi of the Kola Peninsula
Fasting for non-monastics
Useful information for those who fast
“My name is Wednesday.” A pious tale
A note on marital fasting
Fasting: Great Lent
Great Lent: An instructional manual
Why do we “diet” during Lent?
On eating fish during Lent
Fasting before Presanctified Liturgy
Great Lent in the Studite Typikon
Fasting during the First Week of Great Lent
Monday of the First Week of Lent
Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
Thursday of the First Week of Lent
Friday of the First Week of Lent
Breaking the fast – “pro tips”
The problem with olive oil
Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Sunday of the First Week of Lent
Fasting During Passion Week
Fasting on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Passion Week
Fasting on Thursday of Passion Week
Fasting on Friday of Passion Week
Fasting on Saturday of Passion Week
Fasting after Bright Week
Fasting: Seasons
A feast or a fast?
Fasting on Thanksgiving Day
Nativity Fast in the Typikon
Nativity Fast in the Studite Monastery (9th century)
“Pieces of bread and one cup of wine…”
The Apostles’ Fast
…
To purchase the book, please follow this link to amazon.com:
Last but not least, please share Phroneo with your friends and relations. And Please consider becoming a paying subscriber – you will support our work and receive a discount on the Phroneo book!
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Discussion about the Nativity Fast with Father Job Considine
Welcome to Phroneo Interview Number Six. This time, Father Job Considine and I talk about the Nativity Fast: its observance today, the implications of being on the “old calendar” as opposed to the “new calendar,” celebrating the New Year’s Day, and some practical considerations with respect to office parties, family gatherings, and other such events. Finally, we touch on the practice of breaking the fast on Thanksgiving Day, and whether this dispensation makes sense in light of the way that the Orthodox Tradition treats other feasts and festivals. We invite our subscribers to enjoy the conversation and to leave comments and questions.
If you are not a subscriber, the price of a subscription is only $5 per month. Go ahead, give yourself of someone in your life a Christmas gift!
Dispensation from fasting on Thanksgiving Day , part 1
Dispensation from fasting on Thanksgiving Day, part 2
And for those thrifty or unsure of whether they should support this Project, there is always a way to get full access without paying anything to anyone:
How to read Phroneo posts for free
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Saint Lazaros of Mount Galesion
On November 20 Gregorian calendar / November 7 Julian calendar, the Church remembers the blessed repose of Saint Lazaros the Stylite of Mount Galesion (Λάζαρος ὁ Γαλησιώτης). He lived in the first half of the 11th century. The term stylite refers to the saint’s discipline of living atop a pillar; and this is not a figure of speech but an actual wooden or stone pillar, sometimes, of considerable height… [CONTINUE]
A pillar in Um er-Rasas, Jordan
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“He was afterward an hungered.” (Matt 4:2)
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
We have previously discussed an idea that relevant chapters of the Typikon, rather than giving a rule on how to fast, presume fasting as a default state of a Christian life, and instead give us rules on how to feast. Indeed, if we were to add up the 14 days of the Dormition Fast, 40 days of the Nativity Fast, 49 days of Lent, a conservative estimate of 14 days of the Apostles’ Fast, and 104 Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year, we get 221 fasting days. For those who also fast on Mondays, this number goes up to 273 – the exact number does not matter; it is more than two thirds of the entire year. Thus, it often seems that one fasting period ended only recently, while the next one is fast approaching.
With this in mind, I have browsed the internet in search of something profound on the subject of fasting to edify myself, but found more of the same. To be sure, this, at least in part, likely points to some of my own “life’s persistent questions,” as Garrison Keillor might put it, rather than a lack of homiletic talent on the part of the various authors who toil in the virtual vineyard (or soy field, as it were, on days when wine is not allowed). And yet, since the esteemed pastors and theologians find it necessary to continue to write and speak on this matter, two thousand years of tradition and voluminous patristic exhortations notwithstanding, perhaps someone else is struggling with the same questions, answers to which I find sorely lacking in the contemporary pastoral approach to fasting… [continue]
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Saints Nikandros and Hermaios
On November 17 (4), the Church remembers two of the earliest Christian martyrs. Saints Nikandros and Hermaios probably lived in the first century. Their hagiography is recorded by an anonymous author in a manuscript titled Passio of Nikandros and Hermaios (BHG 2295). A study of this manuscript was published in German in 1980 in the Yearbook of the Austrian Byzantine Society (Jahrbuch der Österreichischen Byzantinischen Gesellschaft),1 but most of what is told and re-told nowadays comes from much shorter mentions in synaxaria… [CONTINUE]
Holy Martyrs Nikandros and Hermaios
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The Venerable Akepsimas (Akebeshma)
On November 16 Gregorian calendar / November 3 Julian calendar, the Church remembers the Venerable Akepsimas of Antioch (sometimes, spelt as Acepsimas). Akepsimas was a Syrian, and in his native language, his name was likely rendered as Akebeshma; yet since it is a Greek name ( ̓Ακεψιμᾶς), he is listed in Byzantine synaxaria under the Greek spelling.
Akepsimas lived in the time of Emperor Theodosius I – that is to say, at the end of the 4th century. Nothing more is known about the exact dates of his life. His memory is celebrated on November 3 (Julian calendar), but also on January 29 and February 13… [continue]
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Nativity Fast in the Typikon
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
The Nativity Fast begins on November 15. For the Churches on the Julian calendar – Jerusalem, Russia, Serbia, Georgia, Poland, Sinai, Ukraine, and Japan – November 15 coincides with November 28 on the Gregorian calendar.
The fasting period before the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord is a rather ancient practice. However, until the year 1166, this period consisted of only one week, an echo of which is still present in the fact that the rules for the last week of the Nativity Fast are different from those of the preceding weeks. The Armenian Church which has not been in communion with Constantinople since the fifth century, continues to observe only one week of fasting as well as to celebrate Nativity and Theophany as one feast on January 6 NC / December 24 OC, as was the universal practice prior to the fifth century… [CONTINUE]
The Adoration of the Magi by Edward Burne-Jones (1904)
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The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue
In 2024, the Taliban Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice – a real Afghan government ministry headed by a real Afghan government minister – issued a set of prohibitions on the conduct of women in public. These prohibitions have been widely decried by Western media and politicians as barbaric. The reported reason behind the prohibitions is, apparently, the belief that women’s faces, bodies, voices, hair, and even gazes are tempting to men.
Afghan women
In this context, it is insightful to recall an episode from the life of Saint Ephrem of Syria. Once, Saint Ephrem was approaching a town, and at the town’s gates, there stood a woman gazing at the saint. (This was the very kind of behavior for which a woman in Afghanistan would be severely punished in the 21st century. Saint Ephrem lived in the 4th century.) Having noticed the woman, the saint asked why she was looking at him. The woman replied: “I am looking at you, because I am a woman, made from a man. You are a man, made from the dust. You should be looking not at me, but at the dust.” Having received this admonition, Saint Ephrem glorified God who so chose to give him instruction. We should feel very fortunate that in the fourth century in Syria, women were not forbidden from speaking, and today we too can join Saint Ephrem in glorifying God for preserving such wise words for us… [CONTINUE]
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The Venerable Spyridon and Nicodemus of the Kiev Caves
The holy Monastery of the Kiev Caves is rich with saints who labored within its blessed walls. On November 13, the Church celebrates the memory of two more monks – yea, even three – who pleased God with their holy lives. But the two men are particularly special.
The Monastery of the Kiev Caves
It is not uncommon for the lives of many Christian saints to seem too lofty an example for us to follow – they were strong in the face of persecutions but we are weak, they were learned in divine mysteries but we are ignorant, they were great ascetics but we struggle just to snack less. In our previous post, we talked about how confusing and complicated Christian praxis may seem, and how there are, nonetheless, beautiful examples of simplicity that give us hope. The saints celebrated today offer to us another example of sanctity in simplicity… [CONTINUE]
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By fasting and prayer
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
With the Nativity Fast now fast approaching, the topic of fasting is on our minds once again. In a previous post, we discussed some of the practical aspects of fasting, especially the difference between fasting as such, which is abstinence, and dieting. In this post, we will explore the idea that fasting without prayer is akin to prostrations without prayer – both may be very beneficial to the physical health but are quite distinct from the spiritual life… [CONTINUE]
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To the Church that sojourns in the iCloud
In a previous post, we discussed the ever-increasing tendency of preachers to rely on artificial intelligence in preparing homilies, with some going as far as letting AI write and deliver the entire sermon. In this context, we noted that there was no reliable data about the use of AI by Orthodox preachers, and that since sermonizing was not the main part in celebrating the Divine Liturgy, the use of artificial aids by Orthodox priests may be of a lesser consequence, compared to some Protestant traditions, in which a sermon constitutes the essence of a Sunday service.
It has since been reported by various news agencies that the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Nea Ionia has unveiled an Orthodox chat bot called Logos. This Logos appears to be based on the ChatGPT platform. We decided to try it out and had a few test interactions… [CONTINUE]
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Claudia Procula, the wife of Pontius Pilate
On November 9 Gregorian calendar / October 27 Julian calendar, the Russian Church used to commemorate Claudia Procula, the wife of Pontius Pilate. It appears that the Greek Church continues to include her name in their synaxarion. The Russian Church no longer does. (Although, this fact may not have been promulgated to all parts of the Russian Church, as Saint Innocent Press Calendar still lists her name in the 2025 edition.) This is not because Claudia, if this was in fact her name, did anything wrong or offended the Russian Church in any way; nor is this the only time when a saint’s name has been de-listed from official synaxaria. Scholars like to say, “more research is needed.” The problem with more research is that, from time to time, it yields results that prompt a re-consideration of a commonly-believed story, and the Church can no longer uphold the story as a canon for the faithful… [CONTINUE]
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Interview with Father Gregory Fedorchak
Welcome to Phroneo Interview Number Five. This time, we speak with Father Gregory Fedorchak about Saint Olympia’s parish in Norwood, near Potsdam, New York. We discuss his ministry in Upstate New York on the border with Canada, the past and the present of Saint Olympia’s parish, missionary challenges in the 21st century, ministering to college students, and much more – even about carving pumpkins. (This talk was recorded a few days before Halloween.) We invite our subscribers to enjoy the conversation and to leave comments and questions.
If you are not a subscriber, the price of a subscription is only $5 per month – quite affordable even for a college student. (Although, if you really are a college student, please reach out to me directly to get a complimentary subscription. With the price of education being as high as it is in the U.S., there is no need for you to be spending money on Substack subscriptions.)
And for those thrifty or unsure of whether they should support this Project, there is always a way to get full access without paying anything to anyone:
How to read Phroneo posts for free
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Origins of liturgical bread stamps
Welcome to Episode 9 of “Ask me anything” in which we discuss the origins of prosphora stamps. For previous episodes, please follow this link. If you would like to participate in the discussion or ask a question, please leave a comment or send a direct message. And please share Phroneo with your friends and relations.
A long-time Pious Reader who has supported Phroneo from the very inception of the project asked about the origins of the stamps used in the baking of liturgical bread or prosphora.
A modern Russian liturgical loaf
First, a note on terminology. The word prosphora comes from the Classical Greek προσφορά – a singular feminine noun which means an offering. The correct plural form of this word in Classical Greek is προσφοραί; but if the rules of modern or Demotic Greek are applied, then the plural of προσφορά is προσφορές. However, the correct modern Greek form of προσφορά is πρόσφορον with its corresponding plural form πρόσφορα. Add to this the anglicized plurals prosphoras and prosphorons, the fact that a single bread is used in modern Greek praxis while multiple breads are used in Slavic traditions, as well as the Greek use of πρόσφορο to mean προσφορά («πρόσφορο» σημαίνει «προσφορά») – and it’s all, as the saying goes, Greek to me. In order to simplify things here, I shall use the words bread and loaf, both of which trace back to the good Old English as brēad and hlāf respectively (with the latter being related to the Proto-Slavic *хlěbъ from the Goth hlaifs – the very word which gave rise to the Old English hlāf)… [CONTINUE]
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It is time to regain the desert, brother.
“And we are not afraid” by Nicholas Roerich, 1922
On the same day, late in the evening, in a quiet and solitary defile[1] two Mesopotamian monks were journeying afoot together. They had been sent by Syrian bishops to the council, had escaped the palatine guards with great difficulty, and now, their minds at peace, were proceeding towards Ravenna to embark as quickly as possible upon the ship which was to restore them to the desert. Fatigue and sadness were on their faces. Ephraim, one of the two, was extremely old; the other, Pimenus, a lad.
“And we are not afraid” by Nicholas Roerich, 1922
On the same day, late in the evening, in a quiet and solitary defile[1] two Mesopotamian monks were journeying afoot together. They had been sent by Syrian bishops to the council, had escaped the palatine guards with great difficulty, and now, their minds at peace, were proceeding towards Ravenna to embark as quickly as possible upon the ship which was to restore them to the desert. Fatigue and sadness were on their faces. Ephraim, one of the two, was extremely old; the other, Pimenus, a lad.
Ephraim said to Pimenus—
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Ex post facto
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
A few days ago, I received an interesting email in the post from a mailing list on which I happen to find myself. The curators of the newsletter pose a practical question to several bishops or priests and then share the answers. It is usually short, not particularly profound, and very informative. I think that the idea is wonderful and can be quite useful. In this mailing, the topic was the prayer rule before Communion – more specifically, whether a priest could still serve the Liturgy if he failed to complete the prayer rule before Communion.
The answers of senior priests offered in the newsletter were insightful, as they usually are, but that is not what drew my attention. Of particular interest to me was the appellation to a 17th-century text often included in the back of Slavonic editions of the Service Book. The text clearly indicates that the rule contained in it is of general applicability to priests, deacons, “or anyone else”; and in my experience, the question of prayers before Communion is indeed of concern to many clergy and laity alike. Here is the text in the translation provided by the newsletter:
“If a priest, deacon or anyone else deliberately neglects the prescribed Church rule and the proper preparation for Communion, whether partially or completely, out of laziness or neglect, they commit a mortal sin.
However, if a priest is engaged in other spiritual duties, such as hearing confessions or administering sacraments, and lacks time to fully complete the preparations before the Divine Liturgy, it is not considered a sin. In such a scenario, it is advised that clergymen complete the remaining part of the rule after the Service, provided they can still offer prayers for Communion before the Liturgy.”
The emphasis was provided by the editor of the newsletter and is absent in the original text. It is not clear why the editor chose to emphasize those particular parts, but this speaks more about the sensibilities of the editor, rather than about the consensus of the Church. The excerpt as provided here is somewhat incomprehensible. Let us take a closer look at the context of this selection, the history of the pre-Communion prayers, and the implication of completing the remaining part of the rule after the Service... [CONTINUE]
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Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
On November 4 (which is October 22 on Julian calendar), the Church celebrates the Icon of the Mother of God found in the town of Kazan after the town burnt in the year 1579. Kazan was one of the political centers of the Golden Horde. It was populated by the Bulgar and Kipchak peoples and was repeatedly ravaged by the Mongols, but at the break-up of the Golden Horde, Kazan became the capital of the Kazan Khanate under Khan Ulugh. In 1552, Ivan IV, called the Terrible, occupied Kazan, thus securing the entirety of the Volga River for the Tsardom of Moscow and enabling further Russian expansion into Siberia… [continue]
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The Venerable Hilarion of the Kiev Caves
On November 3 Gregorian calendar, which falls on October 21 Julian calendar, the Church celebrates the memory of four saints by the name of Hilarion. (Linguists may correct me, but methinks that the plural for Hilarion is Hilaria.) One of these saints is Hilarion of the Kiev Caves Monastery… [CONTINUE]
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Saint John of the Rila Mountains
On November 1 (October 19 on the old calendar), the Church remembers the translation of the holy relics of Saint John of the Rila Mountains, the most-venerated saint of the Bulgarian and Macedonian Churches.
Saint John of Rila, mid-14th-century icon
Amazingly-little is known about Saint John. It is possible that he lived at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries and died around the year 950 at the age of 70. In Bulgaria, 946 is considered to be the year of his death.
It is said that Saint John grew up in the village of Skrino. When his parents died for reasons now unknown, the people of Skrino decided to chase John out of their village. For this reason, they are still popularly referred to as “saint-chasers” (святогонцы). Thus, as a young man, Saint John decided to become a monk. He gave away all of his possessions, entered a monastery, but soon sought a secluded place where he could practice extreme asceticism, eventually making his way to the Rila Mountains. He first found a large hole in a tree to use as a shelter, but later climbed up an 80-meter rock and settled there in a cave… [CONTINUE]
The Rila Mountains
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Saint Joseph of Volotsk
On October 31 new calendar (18 old calendar), the Church remembers the uncovering of the holy relics of Saint Joseph (Iosif) of Volotsk.
The story of Saint Joseph’s life is well-researched in great detail and widely available. Thus, we do not aim to re-tell it here but only to highlight the moments which are interesting to this Project.
Saint Joseph lived from 1439 to 1515; he was from Lithuanian nobility, and his family was gifted an estate near the town of Volok on the Lama (present-day Volokolamsk in the Moscow Region). As an aside, in Moscow Patriarchate, the titular Metropolitan of Volokolamsk is the head of the Department of External Affairs – the Patriarchate’s Foreign Office… [CONTINUE]
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Death to Halloween!
After failing to rename Halloween in 2023, Russian lawmakers are now, in 2025, trying to ban it altogether. In July of this year, Russia’s Supreme Court banned the “international Satanism movement”; and now, some Russian lawmakers are proposing to ban Halloween as being associated with Satanism. This is likely at least as much about fighting against Western cultural influence as it is about fighting the “international Satanism movement.”
Here is an older post about Halloween. Perhaps, it has not aged very well; it touches on all of the costumes and decorations which used to cause so much offense to the politically-correct crowd, that it is a wonder that Halloween survived at all. With the recent pendulum swing away from political correctness, it is not inconceivable that some will defiantly don their old Pocahontas costumes or commit some other cultural misappropriation. And yet, since this holiday seems to play around with subversion, one of the most appropriate Halloween masks could be that of a culture warrior who is perpetually offended by all other masks and costumes.
We hope that you enjoy this post; and if you do, please share Phroneo with your friends and relations.
It is that time of year again when Orthodox and some other Christian writers attempt to warn people about the evils of Halloween. They assert – and I have done no less in my much younger days – that Halloween is a pagan holiday, and thus everyone who participates in its celebrations by default participates in the ancient Gaelic harvest festival called Samhain (“summer’s end”). As I grew older I saw that the people who dress up as princesses and Marvel super heroes have about as much to do with devil worship – for this is often the claim – as the people who send each other Christmas cards or Easter candy have to do with worshiping Jesus Christ. This is all that I will say about that, and it may be a topic for another time. For myself, I still do not see any need to celebrate Halloween any more than I do the Chinese New Year, the Parinirvana Day, Eid-al-Adha, or Yom Kippur. But I am no longer interested in writing pseudo-pious articles linking my neighbors’ children to devil worshipers for merely dressing up in costumes any more than I am interested in condemning Russian Orthodox Christians for eating pancakes on Maslenitsa, since pancakes are an ancient pagan symbol of the cult of the Sun – round, yellow, and hot… [CONTINUE]
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Saints with PTSD
October 17 Julian calendar / October 30 Gregorian calendar: The translation of the holy relics of the Righteous Lazarus, the Four-Days Dead, the Bishop of Kition.
On this day, the Church commemorates the translation of the holy relics of Lazarus the friend of Christ, from Kition in Cyprus where he was a bishop to Constantinople, in the year 898.
The story of Lazarus is told in the Gospel of John, chapter 11, and needs no re-telling here. According to tradition, following the Gospel events of Christ’s resurrection, Lazarus was forced to flee to Cyprus due to his notoriety – see John 12:10. Paul and Barnabas appointed Lazarus the bishop of Kition, and he served in this capacity for the next 30 years until his second and final death.
One of the fascinating details about his life in those 30 years, is that he never smiled. It is said that he was haunted by the memory of hell, where he spent the four days from his death to being resurrected by Christ. To use a modern term, Lazarus suffered from PTSD… [CONTINUE]
La Résurrection de Lazare by Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1896
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A discussion about Halloween with Father Job Considine
Welcome to the Quatriquintus Phroneo Interview and the third one with Father Job Considine. As the saying goes, two is a coincidence, three is a pattern; we hope to continue our collaboration with Father Job in the future as we discuss various topics of interest to the Phroneo project.
In this interview, we talk about the origins of Halloween, Fr. Job’s experience with this celebration while growing up in an Evangelical Protestant family, his personal take on Halloween in relation to his own children and grandchildren, which costumes are scary and which are not, and much more. We invite our subscribers to enjoy the conversation and to leave comments and questions.
If you are not a subscriber, the price of a subscription is only $5 per month – likely, not the spookiest way to spend a fiver.
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Saint Longin
On October 29 on the new calendar (which is October 16 on the old calendar), the Church remembers Saint Longin, the gate-keeper of the Kiev-Caves Monastery. It is not at all certain when he lived, since the only surviving inscription above his tomb is dated to the 18th century; but researchers propose that Saint Longin lived sometime between the 13th and 15th centuries. [CONTINUE]
Also on this day, the Church remembers Saint Longinus, the Roman officer who was present at the crucifixion of Christ and confessed Him as the Son of God (Matt 27:54, Mk 15:39, Lk 23:47). [CONTINUE]
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AMA 008: Prostrations on Sundays
Welcome to Episode 8 of “Ask me anything.” This episode is inspired by an excellent comment left by one Pious Reader of Phroneo and a follow-up question. For previous episodes, please follow this link. If you would like to participate in the discussion or ask a question, please leave a comment or send a direct message. And please share Phroneo with your friends and relations.
I have always found it confusing that we do not do a prostration as we sing “O Come Let Us Worship and Fall Down Before Christ”! … [CONTINUE]
This makes much more sense, thank you! I especially like the idea of incorporating a metania at that point in our family prayers. I’ve found the little ones are much more engaged when there is movement! I didn’t know that about prostrations being inappropriate for Sundays or Feast Days. Does that apply to home prayer as well? … [CONTINUE]
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Help Phroneo without spending any money or (almost) any time
Dear Pious Reader,
If you are reading this, then you probably enjoy Phroneo enough to be… well, reading this. So, I will get straight to the point.
If you are a paying subscriber, may God bless you; you make this project possible. Of course, everything requires money – from internet access, to podcasting equipment, to processing software. This is what they call a no-brainer. My sincere gratitude goes out to you for your continued support.
But if you are not a paying subscriber, I most certainly understand – why pay for content when there is so much of it available at no cost at all? Fair enough. Yet, if you value Phroneo, you can still help. Not everything is about money. The truly important piece of Project Phroneo is a community of like-minded people who are thinking about faith, curious about faith, exploring faith, and engage with the kind of content that Phroneo makes available.
Let us build this community together! Please share Phroneo with your friends, relations, and anyone who might find it interesting. Phroneo offers plenty of free content – more than just “an occasional public post.” Thus, even a free membership is well-worth it. But when you share Phroneo, and the person with whom you have shared becomes a free subscriber, you automatically get full complimentary access as a token of my appreciation. Please, help increase the reach of Phroneo by clicking one of the links below:
Thank you!
DUBITO, ERGO COGITO
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On whether Christianity is rocket science
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
I recently heard a very instructive story. In a certain parish, a certain woman often brought the “wrong” dishes for parish potlucks. She seemed to have no concern for fasting rules, which irritated the other ladies. And so, the other ladies approached the priest and asked him to speak with the woman about this problem, and he promised to do so.
When the priest gently inquired of the woman why she brought non-fasting dishes during fasting times, the woman answered that she was so thoroughly confused by all the fasting rules – when to have oil, when not to have oil, which saint is great enough for fish, and which is not so great – it was all so confusing that she decided to simply not eat at all for the first week of every month, and then to eat whatever foods God sent to her the rest of the time. Upon hearing this, the priest was humbled and blessed the woman to continue her practice.
To be sure, I do not believe the story is true in the same way that a historical event is true, but it is true in the sense that it perfectly describes how many people feel, including myself. It is certainly much easier not to eat at all for a week than to be bogged down with the various rules about the various foodstuffs that have to be aligned with the ever-changing liturgical celebrations of varying degrees, as well as with living in northern latitudes as opposed to the Mediterranean. All of this complexity may sometimes feel like rocket science. And this is just the fasting aspect of the practice! … [CONTINUE]
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On the Role of the Rational Mind in Theology
In a post subtitled “In defense of Jordan Peterson,” we discussed that theological discourse is sometimes better aided by poetry, rather than prose. What role does the rational mind play in our experience of God, and how well can we know God through reason? Should we primarily rely on the academic study of theology, such as the excellent and voluminous treatises by some of the most-learned Fathers of the Church, in order to know God?
The rational mind is certainly a God-given instrument for reasoning and for learning about the world that surrounds us. It is not at all self-evident that it is possible to know anything without relying on the mind to process the signals from the senses and to form a coherent picture of the world. But this approach would only be of primary use if God were an object of study, such as a distant star, for example. If one wishes to know about a celestial body, it is useful to study the works of astronomers and physicists. It is also appropriate to observe the light emanating from the star, to examine its spectrum, and to speculate about the star’s composition. Careful calculations may reveal the star’s trajectory and its gravitational interactions with neighboring objects. But this may not be a good way to know God, if it is a way at all.
In the language of the Bible, to know is to enter into an intimate relationship with someone. For example, “Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived…” and “Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son…” (Gen 4:1, 25) Adam did not explore Eve’s bio-chemical composition, nor did he attend learned lectures on human anatomy and physiology. He did not even aspire to study female psychology (although, perhaps, he should have). As interesting as all of this may be to a curious mind, it would not have been fruitful in knowing Eve.
Mephistopheles in Goethe’s Faust made an even starker contrast when he proposed that when it comes to a living being, to dissect is to lose every hope of understanding what that “thing” is; because once dissected, it is no longer a living being that one is studying but dead parts. In other words, it is important to know where to stop – what precisely the goal is, and how precisely it can be accomplished. The rational mind can be helpful in answering questions such as these, but perhaps, not at acting on the answers.
Adam could experience the love he shared with Eve, and he could spend nearly a millennium being married to her, and the two of them could raise a family and give rise to the human race – all with the necessary use of their minds with all of their God-given faculties – and none of them had to rely on advanced degrees in physiology or psychology in order to accomplish that.
The holy Apostles knew Christ, shared bread with Him, and spread the Gospel to all the nations, but many were quite uneducated, and none – not even the holy Apostle Paul – had completed a course on dogmatic theology. Commenting on this peculiarity, Desiderius Erasmus wrote: … [CONTINUE]
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Break the Holy Bread, Master
While experimenting with new technology, we asked AI to generate an audio overview of a book, “Break the Holy Bread, Master: A Theology of Communion Bread.” The result is what appears to be a conversation between two AI characters about the book – a bit unexpected and rather strange. Some are very ambivalent about AI – perhaps, for a good reason. We invite our Pious Readers to give this project a listen and let us know what you think. (But don’t tell Paul Kingsnorth you did.)
As for the book itself, it is in no way AI-generated or polluted by artificial anything. If you would like to read it in an old-fashioned paper format, please click here. (It is also available in Kindle format for those less old-fashioned.)
And as always, please share this post with your friends and relations. Perhaps, you might even consider becoming a paying subscriber – it is only $50 per year. All Phroneo posts are 100% written by a real human – usually, very early in the morning over a cup of real coffee.
“Break the Holy Bread, Master: A Theology of Communion Bread” by Sergei Sveshnikov, published in 2009, explores the theological significance of bread in the Christian Eucharist, particularly focusing on the historical and theological differences between the Eastern Orthodox and Western (Latin) traditions regarding the use of leavened versus unleavened bread. The author intends to develop a comprehensive systematic theology centered on the image of communion bread, arguing that the physical nature of the bread is not a peripheral issue but reflects fundamental doctrinal distinctions, such as Christology, between East and West. The text also includes historical context on the Great Schism, noting that the azymes controversy was a crucial, though often underestimated, factor in the separation of the Churches, as exemplified by the polemics of figures like Patriarch Michael Caerularius and Cardinal Humbertus. Finally, the work offers practical advice on preparing sacramental bread within the Orthodox tradition, emphasizing purity, prayer, and the symbolism of leaven as relating to the Resurrection and theosis.
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Prince Vladimir of Novgorod
Today, on 4/17 October, the Church commemorates Saint Vladimir, Prince of Novgorod – Valdamarr Jarizleifsson, son of Grand Prince Yaroslav (Jarizleif) the Wise, grandson of Grand Prince Vladimir (Valdamarr) the Great, the first Christian ruler of the Rus, and King Olof (Olafr), the first Christian ruler of the Swedes.
Saint Vladimir of Novgorod
Saint Vladimir lived in the 11th century. He was only 14 years old when his father, Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise of Kiev, sent him as the ruler to Novgorod. Vladimir performed this task with the help of his trusted advisors – Vyshata and Bishop Luke the Jew.
Vyshata was the great-grandson of the legendary Dobrynya – the commander of the army of Sviatoslav (Sveinald) I of Kiev and the tutor of Vladimir the Great… [CONTINUE]
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Interview with Fr. Moses now available
The interview with Father Moses McPherson which was published here on September 25 is now available on YouTube. Please enjoy the discussion and do not forget to share, “like,” and subscribe.
If you want to support Phroneo and receive updates on future interviews and content, please consider becoming a paying subscriber; it is only $50 per year or just a little more than $4 per month – far less than the price of protein powders or weightlifting equipment.
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YouTube Video: Protection of the Mother of God
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Protection of the Mother of God
Today, October 1 on Julian calendar, which falls on October 14 on Gregorian calendar, the Church celebrates a feast which is as dear to many Slavic Orthodox Christians, especially in the historical lands of the Rus, as it is mysterious to historians. The story about the origins of this feast is found in the description of the vision that Saint Andrew the Fool-for-Christ and Epiphanius, his disciple, were granted during a vigil in the church in Blachernae; but this story does not contain enough historical details to develop a historiography of the feast with any precision. There are several versions of how this feast came to be celebrated, but there is very little evidence to support any one of those theories definitively. One of the theories that seems to have the most scholarly support proposes that the feast was initially unknown in Byzantium, and was first introduced by Prince Andrew of Vladimir-Suzdal in the 12th century. The Slavonic liturgical service for this feast as well as a beautiful white stone church built in its honor near Vladimir both date to the 12th century.
This 866-year-old church is not the oldest still standing in Russia. Saint Sofia cathedral in Novgorod, for example, was completed in 1050. It was used for divine services until the Communist Revolution of 1917. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Saint Sofia church was re-consecrated, and divine services are again held in this holy temple that is now 974 years old.
The Greek service for the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God on October 1 was not composed until the 19th century. A second service to be celebrated on a separate day, October 28, was composed in the 20th century. There are also no known Byzantine icons of this feast; the oldest known image is in Novgorod and dates to the 13th century. And yet, according to the 10th-century Life of Saint Andrew the Fool-for-Christ and the 12th-century Rus liturgical service, the event took place in Blachernae, a suburb of Constantinople… [CONTINUE]
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“I act as if God exists and I’m terrified that he might.”: In defense of Jordan Peterson.
This subtitle to this post is, perhaps, a bit misleading. I do not find that Jordan Peterson is in need of defending; and if he were, I would be quite unlikely to take up the task. And yet…
In the now-famous video know where Peterson engages multiple self-professed atheists in a debate, one exchange seemed to have revealed what many had been saying for quite some time: Jordan Peterson is not a Christian. Here is the relevant excerpt:
PETERSON: Why are you asking me that?
CHALLENGER: Because you’re a Christian.
PETERSON: You say that. I haven’t claimed that.
CHALLENGER: Oh, what is this? Is this “Christians versus atheists?”
PETERSON: I don’t know.
CHALLENGER: You don’t where you are right now?
PETERSON: Don’t be a smartass. And I meant it.
CHALLENGER: Well, either you’re Christian or you’re not.
PETERSON: Because I won’t talk to you if you’re smartass.
CHALLENGER: Either you’re a Christian or you’re not. Which one is it?
PETERSON: I could be either of them, but I don’t have to tell you.
CHALLENGER: You don’t have to tell me. I was under the impression I was invited to talk to a Christian. Am I not talking to a Christian?
PETERSON: No, you were invited to–
CHALLENGER: I think everyone should look at the title of the YouTube channel. You’re probably in the wrong YouTube video.
PETERSON: You’re really quite something, you are.
CHALLENGER: Aren’t I? But you’re really quite nothing, right? You’re not a Christian.
The young man who debated the scandalous professor did an admirable job – at least, in my opinion. And yet… Something about this exchange left me unsettled. No, I have no pity for JBP; if he were to seek a “quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Tim 2:2), he would surely know to stay away from televised debates.
The problem as I see it is in that Peterson uses the word believe in a way which, while not unique to him, is not the most common usage of the word. He has tried to explain this nuance numerous times, it seems – apparently, all to no avail. One of the clearest statements, in my opinion, which explains his position is: “I act as if God exists and I’m terrified that he might.” Perhaps, this is just agnosticism, but because Peterson has not made a claim of being an agnostic – something which would have been quite easy to do – I have a different idea… [CONTINUE]
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Models and images of a spiritual life
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
Can the question of repentance be addressed in a mechanistic model of pastoral counseling? Is the culture of instant gratification and quick solutions helpful to the understanding of repentance? Can pastors work with the tools and terminology offered by the modern world and frame the Orthodox teaching of the spiritual life in those terms?
Methinks, repentance can never be addressed within a short-term model. Nowadays more than ever, there is a need to teach, and preach, and talk, and counsel about the fact that repentance is a long process – often, life-long – and that short counseling sessions, or conversations with a priest, or advice received during rushed confessions may serve as mile-markers or guiding points, but certainly not as instant cures.
It is true that modern culture promotes “magic pills” and instant solutions – “one key to confidence,” “three steps to success,” “five weeks to happiness,” or “twelve rules for life.” Undoubtedly, these strategies work – especially, for the financial benefit of their authors. But for as much respect as I have for the twelve rules for life, and for the tens of millions of people who seem to have been inspired by these rules, few did anything except clean their rooms, and even fewer kept them clean. (Although, it must be said that more tidy rooms in the world is perhaps a far greater result than most other self-help strategies have ever produced.) … [CONTINUE]
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One saint to unite them all
September 25/October 8.
One saint to unite them all.
Today, the church celebrates the blessed repose in the Lord of one of the greatest saints of medieval Rus, Saint Sergius of Radonezh. Saint Sergius was born in the beginning of the 14th century in Rostov, an old Viking trade town. At some point in the 1330s, Sergius’ parents moved their family to Radonezh, a small town near Moscow. Sergius’ older brother became a monk, and from an early age, Sergius also dreamt of a monastic life, but he was not satisfied with the way it was conducted in Rus monasteries at that time. He yearned for seclusion, hardship, true asceticism, and a reliance solely on God’s providence, rather than on an integration of a monastery into the economy of medieval cities and towns… [CONTINUE]
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Pastoring in the shadow of the Cross
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
In a previous post, we discussed an idea that a priest is not only the one who offers a bloodless sacrifice of the Eucharist, but is also an iconographical representation of Christ who is Himself the Sacrifice. We also noted that the priest does not possess or represent any qualities that are unique to him as a priest; rather, he becomes the focal point of the qualities of his community – that is to say, the Church. In other words, that which is true concerning priesthood, must also be true concerning all members of the Body of Christ. In the Church, a priest is often seen as wearing two σκούφια, as it were – that of a priest and also that of a pastor; one offers a sacrifice on the altar, while the other cares for the flock entrusted to him. In this post, I would like to propose that this hat is one and the same… [CONTINUE]
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“The days of our years…”
The days of our years are threescore years and ten.
– Psalm 90:10
When I was in my early twenties, it seemed that I understood everything, and if I was wrong at times, it seemed to be no more than anyone else. Now, fifty, I look at the 30-year-olds and they seem immature, silly even, lacking in life experience. This is not to say that they do not have good ideas, insights, inspiration, courage, and all that. Of course they do. But just look at a five-year-old. She also has good ideas, insights, inspiration, courage, and all that. But she is still only five, and you look and smile. And I often find myself looking at the 30-year-olds and smiling (or grimacing, depending on what they are up to). And this made me wonder, are the 70-year-olds looking at us, the 50-year-olds, and smiling or grimacing at our lack of maturity and life experience?
And even more interestingly are the 80 and 90-year-olds looking at all of us, the whole world, and smile, grimace, or just shake their heads.
And just imagine how much head-shaking the 900-year-old Forefather Adam had to do when he looked at those silly 100 and 200-year-olds around him – immature, lacking life experience… Noah’s grandfather Methuselah was only 131 years old then – the same age that Adam was when his son Seth was born; his life had barely just begun.
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Interview with Father Job Considine
Please enjoy this interview about fasting, prayer, growing up on a farm, and many other topics with Father Job Considine. Father Job pastors a growing parish with many converts to Orthodoxy. He himself came to Orthodoxy from a Protestant background. In this interview, we discuss the purpose of fasting; whether fasting is all about animal products; his personal experience with fasting while living a very busy life as a pastor, husband, father, grandfather, farmer, and engineer in charge of a lab; making a prayer rule personal; and much, much more.
We invite our subscribers to enjoy this discussion. If you are not a subscriber, you can become one by clicking the button below:
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And please share Phroneo with all your friends, relations, and anyone who is interested in fasting, and how Christian asceticism can be practiced by anyone.
Did you know that Phroneo is now on YouTube? Visit our channel, like, subscribe, and share!
https://www.youtube.com/@phroneomen
See also our interview with Father Moses McPherson:
Interview 002: Father Moses McPherson
This is an interview about fasting with Father Moses McPherson, in which we discuss his personal experience with fasting, fasting while following a physical training program, fasting for new converts to Orthodoxy, fasting for children, supplements, the purpose of fasting, and many other topics.
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On the freedom of the will
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
“There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy. All the rest— whether or not the world has three dimensions, whether the mind has nine or twelve categories—comes afterwards. These are games; one must first answer.” – Albert Camus, “The Myth of Sisyphus,” 1942
Recently, I came across an idea that sparked my curiosity. Many – if not most – people, when standing at an edge of a drop-off of a considerable height – such as, a cliff, for example – will experience a peculiar kind of fear of a distinctly visceral quality. Those who experience this fear most acutely, will profess to having a so-called fear of heights. And yet, it is not exactly the height that they seem to fear, for in the very moment of this trepidation they are, rather obviously, quite safe: they are securely standing or sitting on a firm well-engineered platform or on a natural rock.
Perhaps, what frightens the man is not the small probability of a hidden flaw in the design of the platform or the even-smaller probability of the rock face plummeting into the abyss at the very moment the man is standing on it (after all, it might – and indeed it will – plummet, one of these millennia). Rather, the man is terrified by the unbridled and complete freedom that he possesses, or perhaps, that suddenly possesses him.
He is violently torn from the deterministic world of predictable alarm clocks, predictable work schedules, predictable meaningless conversations, and predictable reactions to predictable stimuli, and overwhelmed by the sudden realization that right here, in this place and in this moment, he is completely and finally free, that the next step is not determined by anything outside himself, and that he is the only determining agent. He is free to jump. In fact, he must actively will not to jump, despite the seductive beckoning of the abyss. This freedom is so immediate, so obvious, so complete and final that it grips the man by his very entrails, punches him in the gut, cuts off his breath, leaving him nauseated and dizzy. (I do not have the fear of heights, but I think this is how others describe it.)
As unpleasant as this feeling may be, it is, perhaps, in this very moment that an ordinary man – just for a fleeting second, to be sure – gets to contend with the “[only] truly serious philosophical problem,” the question that first must be answered: to be or not to be. It is in this brief and frightening encounter with reality and finality of his freedom that he is finally a man in the fullest meaning of this word and not a cog, an actor following someone else’s script, a slave of outside forces in a predetermined universe… [CONTINUE]
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Fasting and pregnancy
Welcome to Episode 7 of “Ask me anything” where we discuss eucharistic fasting for pregnant women. For previous episodes, please follow this link. If you would like to participate in the discussion or ask a question, please leave a comment or send a direct message. And please share Phroneo with your friends and relations.
In the lives of many people who have lived, there comes a time when they are overjoyed with the prospect of becoming a grandparent. At least, this has been the case historically; this is why humans are still around and in ever-increasing numbers. It seems that this time has come for me also; and with it came a question for this the next episode of “Ask me anything”:
What are the fasting rules for pregnant women; and specifically, how should a pregnant woman observe the eucharistic fast? … [CONTINUE]
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Interview with Father Moses McPherson
This is an interview about fasting with Father Moses McPherson, in which we discuss his personal experience with fasting, fasting while following a physical training program, fasting for new converts to Orthodoxy, fasting for children, supplements, the purpose of fasting, and many other topics.
We invite our subscribers to enjoy this discussion. If you are not a subscriber, you can become one by clicking the button below:
https://substack.com/@phroneo
… or follow this link to find out how to get full access to to all of our posts for absolutely free:
How to read Phroneo posts for free
And please share Phroneo with all your friends, relations, and anyone who is interested in fasting, and how Christian asceticism can be practiced by anyone.
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Preview 3: Interview with Fr. Moses McPherson
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Preview 2: Interview with Fr. Moses McPherson
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Preview 1: Interview with Fr. Moses McPherson
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Laicism
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
I heard a new usage of the word laicism. The speaker was not using it in the common sense of laïcité but in reference to a phenomenon of church life which is a reverse of clericalism (positive anti-clericalism, as it were). In other words, clericalism can be described (to some degree of approximation, of course) as the attitude of the otherness, even supremacy, of those ordained to the clerical ranks over the the laity; the attitude of “us versus them”; some notion that the clergy are the “real” Church, whereas the ignorant, unchurched masses, οἱ πολλοί, are the sheep to be led, who do not know what is good for them or where the greener grass is. The clergy often act as if they have some special and unique grace and right which the laity do not possess. All the superlatives, bowing, and hand-kissing can go to some newly-ordained youngsters’ head so much that they begin to imagine that they have the divine authority and insight to tell people much older than they are how to live.
To be fair, some lay people do not help the matter, as they also enjoy playing this game of pretending that their parish priest suddenly became a holy elder by virtue of his ordination. Consider, for example, what they choose to call bishops who, by the way, self-identify as “humble” when signing an antimension – they insist on calling them “высокопреосвященнейший” or “highly-over-most-sanctified.” One would have to be truly humble, not only as a matter of self-identification, in order not to be persuaded by such byzantinisms of his own highly-over-specialness and super-most-chosenness… [CONTINUE]
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Phroneo is now on YouTube
Phroneo is now on YouTube! This is our first experiment at posting video content.
https://www.youtube.com/@phroneomen
For now, we are converting our podcast audio posts into YouTube video format. The very first video is now available; please take a look, and, as they say on YouTube, “like and subscribe”! With God’s help and your support, there will be much more to come. We are open to ideas from our Pious Readers about what you would like to see in these videos! Please send us a message or leave a comment.
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Saint Makarius of Optina
Among the Optina Elders whom we commemorate during many of our services, we specifically name Saint Makarius. Here, we will only briefly recount his well-known biography and focus in more detail on a very specific ascetical discipline that Saint Makarius practiced.
The future Saint was born Michael Ivanov in 1788. In 1802, he became a bookkeeper, and in 1805 – an accountant at a branch of the federal treasury in Kursk. (If bookkeepers and accountants were ever in need of a patron saint, Makarius could be considered as one such candidate.) In 1810, the future Saint became a novice and almost immediately, a monk with the name Melchizedek. (We will continue to refer to him as Makarius in an effort to avoid confusion.) … [CONTINUE]
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How to read Phroneo posts for free
I truly and greatly appreciate those of you who choose to support this project with a paid subscription; your support makes the existence of Phroneo possible; and without you, there would be no Phroneo. I am humbled that you find the posts interesting enough to continue to support the work.
However, I can genuinely understand those of you who do not wish to pay money just to read someone’s posts. Fortunately, Substack has a feature that allows people to read posts without paying for a subscription in three easy steps.
Step 1 – Sign up for a free subscription to Phroneo.
Step 2 – Share Phroneo with anyone – friends, family, neighbors, strangers, enemies – anyone at all.
Step 3 – When those with whom you share Phroneo sign up for a free subscription of their own, you receive full access as a thank you. When even one person signs up, you get one month of full access. Three people – three months. Six people – six months. That is half a year of full access without anyone paying anything at all to anyone.
This also works if you are a paying subscriber – you will get free months for sharing Phroneo.
Of course, if you choose to subscribe – the yearly subscription is $50 or a little more than $4 per month. This is only two cups of gas-station coffee (or one very small cup at a pretentious shop). With the recent poor coffee harvests in Brazil and Vietnam and prices rising, a subscription to Phroneo may be a good deal indeed.
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We are not free (that is, most of us)
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and update some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
Has not man a hard service upon earth,
and are not his days like the days of a hireling?
Like a slave who longs for the shadow,
and like a hireling who looks for his wages,
so I am allotted months of emptiness,
and nights of misery are apportioned to me. – Job 7:1-3
In the Orthodox Church, as in most other Christian traditions, there seems to be a list of commandments or rules that is often seen, at least implicitly, as obligatory for most. Thou shalt pray, thou shalt fast, and thou shalt attend church services are some of these imperatives. They are taken so much for granted that it is rarely if ever elaborated who specifically is expected to obey these precepts or to what extent, or where exactly did these rules originate.
There is an undeniable scriptural basis for these rules, but its translation into the modern practice is not always straight forward. Fervently did the Apostles pray, but not one of them ever owned a Jordanville or Saint Tikhon’s Prayer Book. Fast they did, but none ever knew that fish was allowed on some days, wine and oil on others, and tofu on most of the rest. And it is not self-evident that those of us who know with precision on which days shrimp is allowed are any better for it than the Apostles or their flock who were largely ignorant of such technicalities. They celebrated the Eucharist, but the question of whether to leave right after the anointing, or to skip the Hours, or to bring their children to just right before Communion never entered their pious minds… [CONTINUE]
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AMA 006: Fasting hacks
Welcome to Episode 6 of “Ask me anything” where we discuss fasting hacks. For previous episodes, please follow this link. If you would like to participate in the discussion or ask a question, please leave a comment or send a direct message. And please share Phroneo with your friends and relations.
This excellent question was in response to the post titled “Asceticism and health” which was published on August 25, 2025.
Question: It seems fasting is meant to be a challenge to some extent, and that overcoming the challenges is part of the spiritual benefit. What do you think of secular intermittent fasting “hacks” to make fasting easier, such as having a pinch of salt in water to prevent light-headedness, or having the last meal before a fast be high in protein and low in carbs to stabilize blood sugar? Are such measures a reasonable aid to maintaining a fast, or are they robbing one of the challenge they are meant to diminish?
This question seems to aim for the very heart of the issue with fasting: What exactly is the purpose of fasting? I will not attempt to answer this question here, but it is instructive to keep in mind that the way that the Orthodox Christians keep fast in this generation is most likely somewhat nonsensical from the perspective of asceticism, and the question about the purpose of this exercise may not presently have a satisfactory answer… [CONTINUE]
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Phroneo 2025-09-14: Church New Year / Sts. Peter and Fevronia
Today is the Church New Year according to the Julian calendar. To find out about what the Church New Year is and a brief history of how we came to celebrate it on September 1/14, please follow the link below:
Christianity 003: What is the Church New Year?
Also today, we celebrate celebrate the translation of the holy relics of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom which took place in 1992. For more about these wonderous saints, please follow this link:
Phroneo 2025-07-08
Until recently, I considered the story of Saints Peter and Fevronia to be the most unique hagiography of the ones with which I was familiar; but now I think that perhaps the story of Saint Twrog of Meirionnydd whose memory is celebrated tomorrow is a strong contender for that honor. Nonetheless, the story of Saints Peter and Fevronia is quite unique…
As always, if you enjoy Phroneo, share it with your friends and relations. And if you feel so inclined, please consider becoming a paying subscriber – it is only $5 per month, and whether the water tastes the same off port and starboard, your support will help keep the Phroneo boat afloat.
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Two is a coincidence, three is a pattern
2025 is coming to a close. This is the year that the Roman Catholic Church celebrated as a jubilee. Whatever this concept is, and whatever spiritual benefit the Catholic faithful are to gain from it is not relevant to us here. Last year, as the Catholic Church was preparing to announce the year of the jubilee, we wrote about the curious mascot that was adopted for the occasion. If you would like to revisit that post from a year ago – well worth it, in our opinion – we have removed the paywall, and you can access it by following the link below:
Current Events 003: Not again!
It seems that it was not all that long ago that the collective Christendom was lamenting the choices made by the organizers of the Olympic Games in Paris. (Please see our previous post on this topic.) But while Christians of many traditions and even Muslims and Buddhists voiced their outrage, the insult was most specifically aimed at the Catholic Church…
In that post, we noted that the artistic task of creating the mascot was given to one Simone Legno, an enthusiastic LGBTQ (or 2SLGBTQIA+) supporter and promoter.
Recently, the Vatican appointed another enthusiastic LGBTQ supporter, Cristiana Perrella, to head the Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi al Pantheon. Lest the Pious Reader think that Sig.na Perrella merely supports LGBT people as fellow human beings or that she merely objects to the mistreatment of said LGBT people, here is a description of the kind of art that Sig.na Perrella promotes:
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On the danger of academic Christianity
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and updating some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
It is not uncommon to hear the comment from those outside the Church that Christians seem to be no different from most secular people or from non-believers. Christians recognize this problem as well and often retort that while the Church is indeed “spotless and without blemish” (Eph 5:27), the people who make up the Church “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). It is often said that the Church is like a hospital that is naturally full of sick people. Indeed, even such holy men as Saint Macarius the Great prayed: “O God, cleanse me a sinner, for I have never done anything good in Thy sight.” (Yet this should hardly be an occasion to propose that since such great saints never did anything good in the sight of God – and they would not fib or lie about that, would they? – then we are also justified in not ever doing anything good.) … [CONTINUE]
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AMA 005: Asceticism and health
Welcome to Episode 5 of “Ask me anything” where we discuss health and asceticism. If you would like to participate in the discussion or ask a question, please leave a comment or send a direct message. And please share Phroneo with your friends and relations.
Question: “… maybe a bit about the church’s view on the body and its genuine needs versus the passions? What level of priority should Orthodox Christians give to stewardship of their health? Can concern for health become an excuse or a passion?”
This is a very important question which touches on the entirety of human life. In essence, this is a question about the limits of asceticism – too much asceticism may be detrimental to one’s health; too little – may lean toward indulging in passions. Here are some things to consider… [CONTINUE]
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Saint Isaac of Optina
Saint Isaac (Исаакий) of Optina lived in the 19th century, from 1810 to 1894. The story of his long life is fascinating in many ways – from the future saint’s upbringing in a wealthy merchant family, to his “escape” to the Optina monastery1, to living as a simple monk under the guidance of Elder Makarios of Optina, to becoming the abbot of the Optina monastery in 1862 at the suggestion of Elders Makarios and Ambrose. (Elder Ambrose became Saint Isaac’s spiritual father upon the repose of Elder Makarios.) In 1877, Saint Innocent (Veniaminov)2 who was then the Metropolitan of Moscow chose Saint Isaac as the abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, but by then, Saint Isaac had powerful friends in high places and was able to avoid this appointment. However, what is of primary interest to us in the life of the saint is his asceticism… [CONTINUE]
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What is the Church New Year?
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and updating some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago and share it with your friends and relations!
September 1 on the Julian Calendar (which falls on September 14 on Gregorian calendar) is the beginning of the Church New Year. First, let us dive a little bit into the history of this holiday before we discuss what it all means, and whether celebrating it on September 1 or 14 makes any difference to anyone at all… [CONTINUE]
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AMA 004: Family planning
Welcome to Episode 4 of “Ask me anything.” If you would like to participate in the discussion or ask a question, please leave a comment or send a direct message. And please share Phroneo with your relatives, friends, and neighbours.
Question: Where does an Orthodox Christian stand with receiving Eucharist if they decide not to have children and use contraceptives or surgery as a way to accomplish this? Does the answer depend on the priest or whether they are Russian, Greek, Bulgarian, Romanian, Serbian, or Antiochian? Or is this a subject that a parishioner should not ask a priest?
The subject of using or not using contraception or surgery is not whether to have children, but instead not wanting more children. There could be many reasons: mental health, age, physical, and financial problems... [CONTINUE]
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The Church of AI
Those who enjoyed the 2009 science fiction show Caprica, may remember a depiction of a religion originated with and led by humans but adopted and practiced by Cylons – robots with what we would now call artificial intelligence. The religion imagined in the series – at least, in its outward forms – is strikingly-reminiscent of Protestantism: Cylons come for services, sit in pews, and listen to sermons delivered by a human.
Cylons listening to a sermon, “Caprica: Apotheosis,” 2009
I will not spoil the rest of the story for those who may want to watch the show (it is well-worth it, in my opinion), but in what may be rare for science fiction, the writers may have gotten the fusion of human and AI religion completely wrong. As a recent NPR report appears to indicate, the actual trend in this “collaboration” seems to be the exact opposite of what is envisioned in the show: some Protestant churches now have humans sitting in pews and listening to sermons delivered by artificial intelligence or composed with help from AI.
The problem is that for many Protestant traditions, the core of a service is a sermon; the faithful come to church primarily in order to listen to what the preacher has to say. To be sure, there is also singing and the act of coming together at the same time in the same place, but the sermon seems to be the main event just as Communion is for historical Churches. Due to this feature of Protestant traditions, it is possible to “have church” by radio, television, or internet – all of which has been in abundance for decades. In the competition for donations, the most skillful and charismatic preacher has always had an advantage. But it appears that artificial intelligence may be more skillful than many human preachers at finding just the right words, and it is likely to continue to improve.
It is also the case that AI can select or even compose hymns and play them for the audience; and, as the recent rise in AI psychological therapy is indicating, with some minor adjustments in programming, it will be able to deliver pastoral counseling – likely, of much higher quality than that delivered by many human pastors who are either untrained in counseling altogether or are trained to dubious standards. Thus, it is now not at all inconceivable that a pastor (and also the band, secretary, treasurer, and the rest of the staff) can soon be replaced by an AI. It is not clear at the moment just who will receive the various tithes, donations, and collections, but this has never been a very difficult problem for humans to solve.
Lacy Rand as Holy Mother of the Monad Church, “Caprica: Apotheosis,” 2009
Of course, our interest in Protestants is only oblique; and the more important question is, what is happening in Orthodoxy? Surely, AI is not taking over the Liturgy, right? … [CONTINUE]
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Asceticism and health
Several recent questions for our “Ask me anything” project have touched on the effects of asceticism on health. Indeed, care for our health is a universal human pursuit, and not only in the United States, where healthcare can be so expensive that it can alter the course of a family’s life. The universal human concern for good health stems from the fact that ill health often causes suffering. Thus, intentionally acting in a way that may damage our health is not particularly wise; and the concerns about the effects of asceticism on health are certainly legitimate. Below are some general thoughts on the topic of Christianity, asceticism, and health that add to the context for the discussion… [CONTINUE]
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What is fasting?
We are continuing to remove some of the paywalls and updating some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo. Please enjoy this post originally published here a year ago.
In a previous post, we discussed a principle of the Typikon by which the measure of fasting for monastics and laity differs only in terms of the complete dispensation from fasting – an occasion on which laity feast on meat while monks are satisfied with eggs and cheese. In other words, if we propose that monastics do not eat meat not as a matter of fasting, but as a matter of lifestyle, then the Typikon does not make any distinctions in fasting rules for laity and monastics, with one or two notable exceptions to be discussed in a future post. But what exactly is fasting? Does this strange and at times obsessive fascination with the culinary “ladder of divine ascent” – from meat to cheese, from fish to oil, and from wine to water – is this the correct way to understand the Typikon, and is this what fasting is? … [CONTINUE]
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Changes to fasting rules
It has been almost a decade since the 2016 Pan-Orthodox Council took place in Crete. Some may consider it a flop; others may hail some of its decisions as important in world Orthodoxy (albeit, these hails seem to be quite faint). The Russian Church, the largest by numbers and accounting for approximately half of all Orthodox Christians in the world, did not participate in the Council, and neither did the Churches of Antioch, Georgia, and Bulgaria. The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) was not invited. Should the Good Lord tarry, there will be another council eventually, and the organizers may do a better job next time.
The first idea of convening a pan-Orthodox council may date as far back as 1902. In 1930, one of the earliest meetings of an inter-Orthodox preparatory committee was held on Mount Athos. Two World Wars later, in 1961, the preparations began in earnest with a meeting of a pan-Orthodox conference in Rhodes. In 1968, the preparatory committee met in Geneva and prepared drafts of some of the documents. One of those documents is of particular interest to our project; it is titled The harmonization of ecclesiastical rules on fasting with the requirements of modern life… [CONTINUE]
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AMA: Bonus episode
Welcome to this bonus episode of “Ask me anything”; the question was too interesting to pass up. If you would like to participate in the discussion or ask a question, please leave a comment or send a direct message. And please share Phroneo with your relatives, friends, and neighbours.
Question: A question about fasting from fruit until the feast of Transfiguration. Before the near year-round availability of fresh fruit, it makes sense that waiting to eat the “first fruits” of apples, peaches, grapes around the Feast of Transfiguration aligned with the growing season. How about now, in the 21st century? Some say we should abstain from eating fruits (specifically apples, peaches, grapes) from the Apostles’ Feast (29 June/12 July) until Transfiguration (Aug 6/19). Others refrain from eating these from the beginning of Dormition Fast until Transfiguration. And then, are we talking about the true first fruits (that is, locally produced apples, peaches, grapes) or whatever is in the supermarket, which may come from a different region? is whatever observance concerning fruit a “lower case” tradition or is it Tradition?
Excellent question! And you are right to be confused. First things first. There is in fact a rule in the Typikon1, according to which, monks may not eat grapes until they are blessed on Transfiguration. The rule is specifically about fresh grapes and concerns the new harvest. Quite naturally, grapes from the previous year’s harvest are processed either into wine or raisins, which are then used to make wine, but this rule is about neither – only fresh grapes. After the grapes are blessed, they are served to the monastic brethren three times per week: on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
There is a sentence at the end of that paragraph which is as follows: … [CONTINUE]
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A feast or a fast?
Beginning with this post, I will start removing some of the paywalls and updating some of the content for this the second year of Phroneo.
Last year, the Feast of Dormition fell on a Wednesday for those on the old calendar. This year, the Feast falls on a Friday for those on the new calendar. Below is a post from last year dealing with fasting on a feast day.
This year [2024 – S.S.], the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos falls on a Wednesday – at least for those of us who follow the Julian calendar. This presents an interesting problem: is today a feast or a fast? On the one hand, it is definitely a feast in liturgical terms. On the other hand, Wednesday is usually a fast, and so many popular calendars show that fish is allowed, implying that meat is not. Thus, it may appear – and many treat it as such – that if a liturgical fast falls on a Wednesday or a Friday, with some exceptions, then we still keep the fast, however relaxed by eating fish but not poultry, meat, or other animal products, such as cheese and eggs. Is this correct? … [CONTINUE]
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Baptism of the Rus
August 14 Gregorian calendar / August 1 Julian calendar
The Russian Church traditionally celebrates the baptism of the Rus on July 15 Julian / July 28 Gregorian calendar. But of course, this is not the day that the Rus were baptized; this is the day that Grand Prince Vladimir reposed in the Lord. There are other curiosities that surround this event.
Saint Vladimir was actually baptized with the name Basil. Vladimir or *Voldiměrъ was his pre-baptismal or Pagan name.
According to the Primary Chronicle written more than a century after the event, at his baptism, Vladimir recited the Arian Creed. In English, this means that instead of saying that the Christ is “of one essence with the Father,” Vladimir said that He is “of like essence with the Father.” He also used the same word – “подобосущен (όμοιούσιος)” – in reference to the Holy Spirit: “of like essence with the Father and the Son.”1 It is not clear why the Chronicle uses this term or whether it is the very term that Vladimir used when reciting the Creed, but it says what it says: … [CONTINUE]
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AMA 003
Welcome to Episode 3 of “Ask me anything” where we discuss a couple of questions that did not make it into Episode 2. If you would like to participate in the discussion or ask a question, please leave a comment or send a direct message. And please share Phroneo with your relatives, friends, and neighbours.
Question 1: What is your opinion on the various statements that have come out in the past year regarding celiac disease and holy communion?
Question 2: Can you share some of the history of the practice of fasting from sleep in the Orthodox Church?
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Dormition Fast
Dormition Fast is a sad example of the division caused among Orthodox Churches by the use of two different calendars. Those on the old calendar fast from August 14 to 27 and celebrate the Feast of Dormition on August 28. Those on the new calendar begin their fast on August 1 and celebrate Dormition on August 15. Thus, the two groups of “calendarists” fast together for only one day, August 14, and do not celebrate together at all. Of course, this is not a problem in isolated communities but presents an obstacle to fellowship for Christians from two communities following different calendars. It can only be hoped that the merciful Lord who prayed that all of His disciples be united will grant wisdom to church leaders to heal this unfortunate division… [CONTINUE]
Fresco by Theophan the Greek, 1392
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“And when Peter was come down out of the ship…”
The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14:
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
In reading today’s Gospel passage, many of us may be understandably drawn to the image of Christ walking on water. Yet for the ancients, such things as God, or gods, or prophets walking on water, or flying through the air in a fiery chariot, or sailing inside the belly of a fish were not at all supernatural. In fact, the word supernatural is not found in the Scriptures. In our worldview, we have divided phenomena into those we can dissect or natural and those that defy our theoretical analysis or supernatural. The ancients did not often bother with theoretical analysis; to their mind, the world was whole, and walking on water was as much a part or the natural order of things as was a star pointing the way to the newly-born Christ. To be sure, speaking donkeys or a few loaves and fishes multiplying to feed a crowd of several thousand were not very common events; they reminded people that God intervened in their affairs, and they marveled at that (Ps 118:23). But it was not altogether unexpected that the One who gave sight to the blind and raised the dead from their graves would also walk on water as if it were dry land. This passage is not about that. It is about the iconography of all things pointing to Jesus as the Son of God; and also, it is about Peter – and through him, about us… [CONTINUE]
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Interview: Zeba
With this post, we are beginning a new project: interviews with various people on topics that we explore on Phroneo; and this interview is about fasting.
As we have discussed in previous posts, fasting is not a uniquely-Christian discipline, nor is it limited to the last 2000 years of human experience. In an attempt to explore an additional angle on the discipline of fasting, I asked a Muslim friend to tell me about her experience with Ramadan. This interview was in the form of a conversation, and I did not record an audio but took quick written notes. Thus, this post is a recollection of the conversation based on my notes and is not in a question-answer format.
Zeba was born in Delhi to a Muslim mother and an atheist father. Zeba’s father, a Communist politician in India, did not impede his wife’s and his daughter’s practice of Islam, and Zeba grew up a devout Muslim. Zeba’s grandfather was an Muslim hafiz; he lived to be 108 years old, enjoying good physical health and a sound mind until his last, and strictly kept all of the fasts prescribed by his faith (of which, to be fair, there are fewer than those found in present-day Orthodox Christianity).
In Zeba’s recollection, children may begin to fast – in their own peculiar way – when they are 8 or 9 years old. While they do not have to observe the fasts until a few years later, the fact that the adults around them are fasting, prompts their interest in the discipline. The way these young children fast is quite interesting. They are told that they may eat or drink using only one half of their mouth. While this may sound a bit odd, this is first of all a way of developing an awareness; and secondly, it is likely that the amount of food and water consumed by this method is a bit less than the normal average – thus, gently preparing the children toward complete abstinence.
While adults fast during Ramadan, they still cook food for young children as well as for some men who do not keep the fast. Sometimes, this is because men work jobs that make strict fasting impractical; other times, it may be because some men as not are observant as their religion requires – in either case, the instances of breaking the fast remain a private matter and are hidden from extended family and neighbors… [CONTINUE]
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One year of Phroneo: Book release
Dear Pious Reader,
It is amazing how quickly the time of our life passes. It has now been almost one year of exploring topics in the Christian ascetic discipline of fasting (with occasional forays into prayer and other topics of interest). I owe a debt of sincere gratitude to Phroneo’s subscribes for continuing to support this project, and especially to paying subscribers for making this project possible. Without your generous support Phroneo would not exist. I am looking forward to continuing our study and experimentation with Christian asceticism. (One of my favorite work by Saint Ignatii [Brianchaninov] is the Аскетические опыты – Ascetic Experiments.)
To celebrate one year of Phroneo, we are releasing all of the posts and many of the notes in a convenient paperback format. The volume can serve as a reference, bedtime reading, or a unique present to someone who is interested in the real-world application of fasting and other ascetic disciplines.
If you are a paying subscriber to Phroneo, you will receive a discount on this release with our heart-felt thank you; and if you are a founding member, we would love to express our deepest appreciation for your generous support by sending the volume to you with our compliments. Details are forthcoming.
Please share Phroneo with your friends and neighbours. And if you have not yet, please consider becoming a paying subscriber. While other substacks may charge you so much that you will be compelled to fast, Phroneo is only $5 per month, even less if you sign up for a year. And if you do, you will get a discount on the new book. So, it really is a good deal.
Below, please find the table of contents of the new release for your perusing enjoyment.
1.1 Fasting: Thoughts
What is fasting?
“He was afterward an hungered.” (Matt 4:2)
That one and the same rule of fasting cannot be observed by everybody.
Saint Basil the Great on the measure of fasting
Fasting advice from Saint Theodosius of the Kiev Caves
On fasting and how Christianity may have influenced our relationship with meat
The Lenten mushroom market
“Fasting: What’s the Point?” – a response to A. Papanikolaou
Fasting among the Sámi of the Kola Peninsula
Fasting for non-monastics
Useful information for those who fast
“My name is Wednesday.” A pious tale
A note on marital fasting
1.2 Fasting: Great Lent
Great Lent: An instructional manual
Why do we “diet” during Lent?
On eating fish during Lent
Fasting before Presanctified Liturgy
Great Lent in the Studite Typikon
Fasting during the First Week of Great Lent
Monday of the First Week of Lent
Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
Thursday of the First Week of Lent
Friday of the First Week of Lent
Breaking the fast – “pro tips”
The problem with olive oil
Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Sunday of the First Week of Lent
Fasting During Passion Week
Fasting on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Passion Week
Fasting on Thursday of Passion Week
Fasting on Friday of Passion Week
Fasting on Saturday of Passion Week
Fasting after Bright Week
1.3 Fasting: Seasons
A feast or a fast?
Fasting on Thanksgiving Day
Nativity Fast in the Typikon
Nativity Fast in the Studite Monastery (9th century)
“Pieces of bread and one cup of wine…”
The Apostles’ Fast
1.4 Fasting: Lenten Fare
Metropolitan salad and lay salad
Simple (and completely Lenten) hummus
Salted mushrooms
Kvass
“Monastery” salad dressing
Cooked cabbage
2 Prayer
Prayer: A Personal Conversation with God?
By fasting and prayer
Do words matter?
Ex post facto
3.1 Christianity: Varia
On whether Christianity is rocket science
On the danger of academic Christianity
On the freedom of the will
We are not free (that is, most of us)
Models and images of a spiritual life
What is Good and what is Bad?
The Greater Hermitage
Your god is that which you serve
frus·tra·tion
The mechanics of salvation
Found in translation
“But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still…” – Exodus 23:11
“Ye are my friends…” (John 15:14)
3.2 Christianity: Priesthood
Laicism
Pastoring in the shadow of the Cross
Call no man a father
Royal inadequacies of royal priesthood
Liturgical minyan
3.3 Christianity: Seasons
What is the Church New Year?
Theophany Cold Plunge
3.4 Christianity: Christian living
Life as a sacrament
On Preparation for Holy Communion
Church etiquette
Thoughts on the sacramental nature of marriage
A note about marriage
3.5 Christianity: A search for meaning
On why we write
The Sovereignty of God
It’s about time…
A longing for the end of time
4 Homilies
Protection of the Mother of God
Palm Sunday: Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem
Saint Thomas Sunday
The Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearers
The Sunday of the Paralytic: “Do you want to be made well?”
The Sunday of the Samaritan Woman: “Give me this water!”
The Healing of the Man Born Blind
The Ascension of our Lord
The First Sunday after Pentecost: On sanctity
The Second Sunday after Pentecost: The Feast of all saints of Russia
The Third Sunday After Pentecost: Seek First His Kingdom and His Righteousness
5 Phroneo Notes: 297 – 358
August 29: A letter from Jesus
August 31: Martyrs Florus and Laurus
September 1: “The Enlightener of Minds”
September 2: Prophet Samuel
September 3: Apostle Thaddeus of the Seventy
September 4: Saint Eulalia of Merida
September 6: Saint Eutychius
September 10: Sea legs
September 11: The beheading of John the Baptist
September 12: Saint Alexander Nevsky
September 13: The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue
September 18: Prince Gleb
September 20: Alarming numbers?
September 21: It is time to regain the desert, brother.
September 22: Kursk
September 24: Adapt and overcome
September 25: The siege of Sevastopol
September 26: Disorder in the Church
September 27: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
September 28: Great martyr Nicetas
September 30: Faith, Hope, and Love
October 1: On the evolution of man
October 3: Prince Michael of Chernigov
October 5: The days of our years
October 6: A small blessing
October 8: Saint Sergius
October 10: Terminus ad quem
October 15: On the role of the rational mind in theology
October 17: Prince Vladimir of Novgorod
October 18: Met. Peter of Moscow and Saint Charitina of Lithuania
October 27: Saint Nikola Sviatosha
October 29: The Venerable Longin
October 30: The Righteous Lazarus and PTSD
November 3: The Venerable Hilarion
November 4: The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
November 11: The Venerable Avraamii (Abraham) of Rostov
November 13: The Venerable Spyridon and Nicodemus
November 17: Saints Nikandros and Hermaios
November 22: A very special cutting board
December 10: Saints Vsevolod of Pskov and Andrew of Simbirsk
December 15: The Venerable Athanasius
January 1: Saint Elias of the Kiev Caves
January 21: Saint Gregory of the Kiev Caves
January 27: Equal-to-the Apostles Nino
January 31: The Venerable Kiril and Maria
May 27: Saint Nikita, the Recluse of the Kiev Caves
July 8: Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom
July 9: Saint Twrog of Meirionnydd
July 12: Saint Peter the Fisherman
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Wednesday and Friday, a pious tale
Here is a pious peasant tale of the kind that abound in the Slavic world. It is usually very difficult or impossible to know where or when these tales originate. The most that can often be ascertained is when and where a tale was first written down by an ethnographer. The topics of these pious tales range from a 17th-century village being visited by the Mother of God, to Christ’s origins in Galicia (with Galilee apparently being conflated with Galicia, an area that nowadays spans southeastern Poland and western Ukraine), to the various troubles that befall a peasant who does not honour a religious festival, and many others. Here is a tale about fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays… [CONTINUE]
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Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov 
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