Condemned to Immortality

Condemned to Immortality
A meditation on the Resurrection
from Philosophical Gifts
by Archimandrite Justin Popovich
People condemned God to death; with His Resurrection He condemned them to immortality. For striking Him, God returned embraces; for insults, blessings; for death, immortality. Never did men show more hate towards God than when they crucified Him; and God never showed His love [...]

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Remembrance of Death

My husband’s brother died today. He was very sick, so it was no surprise, but it was still a jolt, and a reminder that death comes to us all. We never know when it will come, so we must work at all times to be prepared.
The saints call this, “remembrance of death.” St. Ignaty [Brianchaninov], [...]

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Memory Eternal! [Heiromonk Damian]

From an e-mail I received this morning:
“Through the great, saving mercy of God, Father Damian (Hart) had a peaceful repose, Saturday evening, March 7 at 11:13 Pacific time. May his memory be eternal!
Father Damian had been suffering from small-cell lung cancer that metastasized to his brain. When treatment failed, he went back to the monastery [...]

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Admonitory Address to a Virgin – Gregory Nazianzen

Gregory Nazianzen.
ADMONITORY ADDRESS TO A VIRGIN.
Parqene, numfe Cristou,
(The Greek is of varied metre, arranged in lines of generally seven
syllables each.)
O bride of Christ on high,
Thy Bridegroom glorify!
Always thyself keep pure,
In word and wisdom sure,
That bright with Him all-bright
Thou e’er mayst dwell in light.
Far better spouse is He
Than earthly spouse could be:
Thy union happier far
Than mortal [...]

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Bilbo’s Song

There is much to be said for J.R.R. Tolkein’s perceptions of life and death!
I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies
In summers that have been;
Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think
of [...]

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If Today I Should Die -

From the rock, I’ve been sleepily looking out at the Pond today. Can’t seem to wake up, can’t seem to drop off and go ahead to sleep. Weird bodily sensations. Not pain, except muscles and joints – they are as usual during flare.
Couldn’t decide what was wrong. Got to thinking – maybe I’m dying.
Don’t much [...]

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Waxing Philosophic at 6AM -

An e-mail from an old friend got me to thinking about my late MILs. First we lost the Ol’ Curmudgeon’s mother, then we lost the XH’s mother – who was dear to the Ol’ Curmudgeon as well as to me.
I still miss the Ol’ Curmudgeon’s mother afresh and suddenly from time to time. When I [...]

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Memories –

We were watching Cats the other day. Love that musical. I think it’s the “perfect” stage musical. The Ol’ Curmudgeon likes it, but prefers Chicago over it. Variety is what makes life go ’round!
But I got to thinking – back when Cats first came out, all of a sudden all the young girls would choose [...]

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Death at the Pond -

Death comes to everyone on this earth. Even Christ died on the Cross. He triumphed over death, thereby assuring us of the possibility of everlasting life.
But, still, death comes to everyone.
Here at the pond, we are always aware of death. Not only because we are of the age at which we should be considering it, [...]

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