Episode 11: “By Way of Conclusion”Unit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher VeniaminSeries: “Mystical Theology"“By Way of Conclusion”, Episode 11 in our series, "John of the Ladder”, consists of concluding remarks regarding our brief overview of Steps 4 and 5 of the famous Ladder of Divine Ascent by the great John Climacus. Presented by Dr. Christopher Veniamin, themes from this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.Q&As available in The Pr...
Episode 9: Holy Myrrh and Holy RelicsUnit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher VeniaminSeries: “Mystical Theology"“Holy Myrrh and Holy Relics”, Episode 9 in our series, "John of the Ladder, is based on the readings, “About Menas” and “About Saint Acacius”. In it, inter alia, Prof. Christopher Veniamin discusses the significance of holy myrrh and holy relics.Themes from this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.Q&As available in The Profess...
Episode 8: How to Deal with Pain and SufferingUnit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher VeniaminSeries: “Mystical Theology"In Episode 8 of "John of the Ladder, Prof. Christopher Veniamin reads the sections “Macedonius the archdeacon” and “Again about the steward”, who are placed before us as an examples of Christlike humility. Themes include accepting injustice, how the Saints deal with suffering and the enemy, thoughts, reason and the imagination, ...
Episode 7: Compassion, the Body, and St. AbbacyrusUnit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher VeniaminSeries: “Mystical Theology"In Episode 7 of "John of the Ladder, Prof. Christopher Veniamin talks about the compassion of the Saints, the place of the human body in the spiritual life, and the remarkable example of St. Abbacyrus, who teaches us how to handle adversity.Themes from this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.Q&As available in The...
Unit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher VeniaminSeries: “Mystical Theology"In Episode 6 of "John of the Ladder, Prof. Christopher Veniamin discusses the benefits for lay folk of reading literature that is intended first and foremost for a monastic audience.Themes from this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog: https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blogRecommended background reading: The Ladde...
St Isidore, St Laurence & St Sophrony, in John of the Ladder, Ep 5, Prof. C. VeniaminUnit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher VeniaminSeries: “Mystical Theology"In Episode 5 of "John of the Ladder, Prof. Christopher Veniamin presents two great examples of Christian obedience, St Isidore and St Laurence, and also adds a story from the life of his spiritual father, St Sophrony the Athonite; all of which serve to illustrate that inspired obedience...
St Sophrony and the Divine Liturgy, John of the Ladder, Ep 4, Prof. C. VeniaminUnit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher VeniaminSeries: “Mystical Theology"In Episode 4 in the series, "John of the Ladder, Prof. Christopher Veniamin takes the opportunity to describe something of what it was like to experience the Divine Liturgy when St. Sophrony was serving. Serving in the Holy Altar for a number of years in his youth, watching his spiritual father (...
Obedience to One's Spiritual Father, “On Obedience”, Pt 3, John of the Ladder, Ep 3, Dr. C. VeniaminUnit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher VeniaminSeries: “Mystical Theology"Based on the reading of The Ladder of Divine Ascent, one of the most influential writings in the history of spirituality, the purpose of this series is to introduce the audience to the fundamental themes of obedience and repentance in the context of striving to discover the w...
MT Academy “Holy Saturday, Gen. 1:1–13”, Orthodox Bible Study, Session 2, with Dr. C. Veniamin (Feb 13, 2024)Teaser Recording of the second session of our Bible Study, which took place on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 (at 9 PM Eastern Time).Discussion of the first reading for Holy Saturday, Gen. 1:1–13. See also the Timestamps below.It is hoped that these presentations will help the enquirer discern the interwoven character of Orthodox theology and the Orthodox Christian life, and to identify th...
MT Academy Bookclub, Saint Silouan the Athonite, “Spiritual Warfare”, Bookclub, Part 3, St. Silouan, Special Edition, Episode 3, with Dr. C. Veniamin (Nov 29, 2023)Recording of the third session of our Bookclub, which took place on Wednesday, Novermber 29, 2023 (at 9 PM Eastern Time), available to channel members only.We started our spiritual itinerary with Sts. Silouan and Sophrony, the Athonites, by reading the first few paragraphs from St. Silouan's own writings, specifically Chapter XVI, ...
Episode 2: Parenting and Parish Priests, “On Obedience”, Pt 2, Ep 2, in John of the LadderUnit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher VeniaminSeries: “Mystical Theology"Based on the reading of The Ladder of Divine Ascent, one of the most influential writings in the history of spirituality, the purpose of this series is to introduce the audience to the fundamental themes of obedience and repentance in the context of striving to discover the will of God...
Episode 1: How to Find a Spiritual Father, in John of the Ladder, “On Obedience”, Part 1, Ep 1Unit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher VeniaminSeries: “Mystical Theology"Based on the reading of The Ladder of Divine Ascent, one of the most influential writings in the history of spirituality, the purpose of this series is to introduce the audience to the fundamental themes of obedience and repentance in the context of striving to discover the w...
Series: Mystical Theology, Special EditionEpisode 3: “John Damascene: Christology”, Part 1Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present.In “John Damascene: Christology”, Part 1, Episode 3 of our Special Editions, we begin our exploration of the Person of Jesus Christ, our Lord, God and Saviour, through Book III of the Damascene’s Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith. Bas...
Series: Mystical TheologyEpisode 25: “What Is Meant By The Spiritual Life?”, Part 6 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Dr. C. VeniaminIn Part 6 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 25 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we attempt to outline some of the distinguishing characteristics of the Orthodox spiritual life. Other themes broached in this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.Q&As available in The Professor’s BlogRecommended background readin...
Series: Mystical TheologyEpisode 24: “De Trinitate”, Book IX, Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Part 5, Dr. C. VeniaminIn Part 5 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 24 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we conclude our remarks on St. Augustine’s “Commentary on Ps. 134:3 (135:3)”, and then begin reading from Book IX of his “de Trinitate”. Particular attention is given to Augustine’s understanding of “sure knowledge” in the Life to Come in contrast to the Pat...
Series: Mystical TheologyEpisode 23: “Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good” (Ps. 135:3), Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Part 4, Dr. C. VeniaminIn Part 4 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 23 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we discuss the significance of St. Augustine's commentary of Psalm 135:3: “Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good”. Other themes broached in this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog...
Series: Mystical TheologyEpisode 22: Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Part 3, Revelation of "I AM" (Exod. 3:18), with Prof. Christopher VeniaminIn Part 3 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 22 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we discuss St. Augustine's understanding of the revelation of "I AM", given to Moses on Sinai (Exod. 3:14). See Timestamps for other themes.Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog: https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blo...
Series: Mystical TheologyEpisode 21: Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Part 2, Analogies, with Prof. Christopher VeniaminIn Part 2 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 21 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we present the terminology of St. Augustine's "analogies of Trinity". Our episode begins with a brief clarification regarding Augustine’s two sources of divine revelation: Holy Scripture (analogy of faith) and creation (analogy of being); and then proceeds...
Series: Mystical TheologyEpisode 20: Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Part 1, Introduction, Episode 20 in Mystical Theology, with Prof. C. VeniaminIn Part 1 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 20 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we present the theology of the most influential Christian figure in Western thought. Our introduction begins by making reference to Augustine’s seminal work on the Trinity, and setting the context of his approach to the mystery b...
Series: Mystical TheologyEpisode 19: "Hypostasis": the Threeness of God, The Cappadocian Fathers, Pt 4, Prof. Christopher VeniaminIn Part 4 of “The Cappadocian Fathers”, Episode 19 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we present the doctrine of the mystery of the Threefoldness of God.Themes broached are listed in the Timestamps below.Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog: https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blogRecommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gr...