Comments on: Family with a Big ‘F’ http://www.rendyourheart.com/revelations/family-with-a-big-f/ FIERY WORSHIP. BOLD TEACHING. FERVENT PRAYER. Sun, 20 May 2012 14:13:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Jennifer Mckinney http://www.rendyourheart.com/revelations/family-with-a-big-f/#comment-103 Jennifer Mckinney Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:37:13 +0000 http://www.likedaviddid.com/revelations/family-with-a-big-f/#comment-103 Family is great. I know I need to step it up. We get selfish with our time and tend to forget that people need us. Family is great. I know I need to step it up. We get selfish with our time and tend to forget that people need us.

]]> By: Nick Weisenfels http://www.rendyourheart.com/revelations/family-with-a-big-f/#comment-102 Nick Weisenfels Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:11:44 +0000 http://www.likedaviddid.com/revelations/family-with-a-big-f/#comment-102 Here's another verse for you along this same vein: "Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask they father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee." Deuteronomy 32:7 I could not agree more that spiritual eldership is a much misunderstood and under used necessity within Christianity today. In the Orthodox Church we have a rich tradition of such an office. In Russia these elders are known as 'staretz' and in Greece they are known as 'geronda.' In the words of the Orth. Church, "an elder is a spiritually experienced Christian who, having himself faithfully walked Christ's path to Golgotha and experienced His resurection, has thereby experientially learned the secrets of the ways of spiritual growth. This ministry is administered in a relationship of complete freedon and love." This ministry is often practiced by Clergy, but it is not exclusive to the Priesthood. In many cases, Monks are spiritual elders. However, anyone may potentially be such an elder, as it is not a ministry that exists on an Official Level within the Orth. Church. We believe that this ministry, along with the Office of Holy Priesthood, is essential to the true functioning of the Body of Christ. St. Symeon the New Theologian termed this ministry the "golden-chain," passed down from the Apostles since the time of Christ. Spiritual eldership and fatherhood is very important to us indeed. Unfortunately, in the OCA (Orth. Church in America) there is a great lack of such individuals as are truly worthy of the title of Spiritual Elder, but I have a feeling that there are many laypeople who are holier than we know. I can think of one person in particular who is probably one of the most holy people I have ever met, and I take any opportunity I can to learn from her wisdom. May Christ our God see fit to bestow upon the world such spiritual elders as have not been seen since the time of the Holy Apostles, not just for Orthodoxy, but for people of all Christian faiths. Glory be to God! Sorry about this reply being as long as your original post. If you are really interested in Spiritual Eldership, you might like to check out a book entitled: "Precious Vessels of the Holy Spirit: the lives and councils of Contemporary Elders of Greece." You can find it on Amazon.com for pretty cheap. Here’s another verse for you along this same vein:

“Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask they father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.” Deuteronomy 32:7

I could not agree more that spiritual eldership is a much misunderstood and under used necessity within Christianity today. In the Orthodox Church we have a rich tradition of such an office. In Russia these elders are known as ’staretz’ and in Greece they are known as ‘geronda.’ In the words of the Orth. Church,

“an elder is a spiritually experienced Christian who, having himself faithfully walked Christ’s path to Golgotha and experienced His resurection, has thereby experientially learned the secrets of the ways of spiritual growth. This ministry is administered in a relationship of complete freedon and love.”

This ministry is often practiced by Clergy, but it is not exclusive to the Priesthood. In many cases, Monks are spiritual elders. However, anyone may potentially be such an elder, as it is not a ministry that exists on an Official Level within the Orth. Church. We believe that this ministry, along with the Office of Holy Priesthood, is essential to the true functioning of the Body of Christ. St. Symeon the New Theologian termed this ministry the “golden-chain,” passed down from the Apostles since the time of Christ. Spiritual eldership and fatherhood is very important to us indeed.

Unfortunately, in the OCA (Orth. Church in America) there is a great lack of such individuals as are truly worthy of the title of Spiritual Elder, but I have a feeling that there are many laypeople who are holier than we know. I can think of one person in particular who is probably one of the most holy people I have ever met, and I take any opportunity I can to learn from her wisdom.

May Christ our God see fit to bestow upon the world such spiritual elders as have not been seen since the time of the Holy Apostles, not just for Orthodoxy, but for people of all Christian faiths. Glory be to God!

Sorry about this reply being as long as your original post. If you are really interested in Spiritual Eldership, you might like to check out a book entitled:

“Precious Vessels of the Holy Spirit: the lives and councils of Contemporary Elders of Greece.”

You can find it on Amazon.com for pretty cheap.

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