The liturgy, icons and the prayer of the heart

Keyword(s):  
2020 ◽  
pp. 272-292
Author(s):  
Puiu Ionita

Mysticism is a way of knowing, but one based solely on experience. It is basically knowledge through love. Although religions have visible differences, mysticism is only one. The yogi and the Kabbalah worshiper, the Sufi, the hesychast and the Western mystical, all go through the same route, have the same behaviour and follow the same purpose. In contrast to other ways of knowing, the mystical way is one of direct experience. Knowledge is not achieved through a focus on the object, but by transforming the subject itself. Not by a protrusion, but by deepening itself. The mysterious path leads inexorably inwards. It is an ascending road passing through asceticism, unceasing prayer (the prayer of the heart) and progressing enlightening, to reach eventually, through ecstasy and revelation, the uniting purpose (Unio Mystica). Although secret and based on initiation, sometimes mysticism attracted massive groups of people, having a strong impact on the social level. Thus, in the last century Romania, there occurred two phenomena mainly due to the Eastern mysticism, respectively to hesychastic teaching and experience. These were the revival movement of religious life within the Romanian Orthodox Church, called the “Army of God”, and the movement initiated by intellectuals from the group “Burning Bush”.


Author(s):  
Michael Plekon

The article Becoming what we pray: Three images, three voices by professor Michael Plekon presents three persons who were very important for Orthodox culture, spirituality and thought — saint Seraphim of Sarov, Mother Maria Skobtsova and Paul Evdokimov. Showing the most substantial facts from their life and activity the author exhibits the real transformation, metamorphosis of their personalities, hearts and consciousnesses under the action of practice of the Jesus' Prayer or the prayer of the heart. The main aim of the article is — one can suppose — to underline the role of the Jesus' Prayer in changing people who systematically practicing it in their life, and in giving them the power to go over the stereotypes, myths and customs, even religious. The heart of the matter is emphasizing — in positive meaning — the real close union between the prayer andthe life and the relationship with neighbour. Professor Plekon stresses that “the personaland interior aspects of this prayer are never separated from liturgical prayer and ourlives”. Christians believe in salvation and resurrection of Jesus Christ and they practice the Jesus Prayer, but this prayer formula is not only devoid of life meaning formula but it is the method of changing the whole human mentality, in each everyday circumstances concerning family, marriage, work, life in monastic community, doing shopping, reading books, watching TV programs, raising children, writing the scientific articles, being in different social and cultural situations, generally — it changes all, the vision of life and the universe.


1982 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-68
Author(s):  
Joann Wolski Conn

Mysterion: An Approach to Mystical Spirituality, by Richard Woods (Chicago, Thomas More, 1981. 371 pp. $14.95); True Prayer: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality, by Kenneth Leech (San Francisco, Harper & Row, 1980. 202 pp. $10.95); The Call of Silence: Discovering Christian Meditation, by Bradley Hanson (Minneapolis, Augsburg, 1980. 140 pp. $5.95, paper); Prayer of the Heart, by George A. Maloney, S.J. (Notre Dame, Ave Maria, 1981. 206 pp. $3.95 paper).


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