Monachos.net eNewsletter - 13 / 26 February 2010
Monachos.net
13th / 26th February 2010
St Martinian
Dear readers and friends of Monachos.net,
May we take this opportunity to announce a number of recent additions
to the Monachos.net website on Orthodoxy through patristic and
monastic study:
Two Daily Patristic Reading Plans for Great Lent
http://www.monachos.net/content/whats-new/646
For those wishing to increase their reading of the Church Fathers
during this Lenten period, we reprint two day-by-day patristic reading
plans for the forty days of the Fast. A longer and shorter plan are
provided, depending on how much time one has each day for patristic
reading; and all the texts are linked to the full documents in the
Monachos Library for easy access. Each plan serves to provide an
immersion in the writings of the early Fathers on themes pertinent to
the Lenten ascesis and preparation for Holy Pascha.
'The Cup of Christ' by St Ignatius (Brianchaninov)
http://www.monachos.net/content/patristics/patristictexts/644
This remarkable text is a sustained reflection on Christ's 'Cup' as
that suffering He received from the Father, and the manner in which
all Christians are called to partake of this Cup of suffering in this
life, in a proper spirit of willingness and joy. Especially in the
season of Great Lent, this writing from a modern-day Father of the
Church is of critical importance.
NEW PATRISTIC SOURCE TEXTS:
Additionally, we have added a number of essential patristic writings
to the Monachos Library, that will be of special value to readers
during this Lenten period (and which in fact form part of the Lenten
'reading plans' mentioned above):
The Didache, or the 'Teaching of the Twelve Apostles'
http://www.monachos.net/content/patristics/patristictexts/657
A classic text from the early Church, and one of the earliest
Christian documents. The Didache describes the life and organisation
of the earliest Christian community.
St Cyprian of Carthage, 'On the Unity of the Church'
http://www.monachos.net/content/patristics/patristictexts/647
A brief yet essential document on ecclesiology and the unity of the
Church by one of her great patristic defenders.
St Athanasius of Alexandria, 'The Life of St Anthony of Egypt'
http://www.monachos.net/content/patristics/patristictexts/649
The complete text of the famous and pivotal accounting of the founding
father of Christian eremitical monasticism. The 'Life of St Anthony'
has been a critical document throughout Christian history, and remains
today as powerful and moving an account of the life of self-sacrifice
as it was when first penned by St Athanasius the Great.
St Leo the Great of Rome, Homily 49: 'On Great Lent'
http://www.monachos.net/content/patristics/patristictexts/656
Another in the collection of St Leo's homilies, this sermon focuses on
the fast of Great Lent and how it applies to the lives of all
Christians.
St Cyril of Jerusalem, 'The Five Mystagogical Catecheses'
http://www.monachos.net/content/patristics/patristictexts/651
St Cyril's series of catechetical orations conclude with these five
'Mystical Orations', delivered to the newly-baptised immediately after
their immersion at the end of Great Lent. Focusing on the mystical
life of the Church's sacraments, they are powerful early witnesses to
the sacramental life of the Church.
We hope these new materials will be of benefit to our readers, and
wish you all a profitable continuation of the Great Fast.
INXC,
Monachos.net