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Monastic Authority of the Alexandrian Mystics 08-11-2017

Jesus may be elusive and mystifying. Jesus may be obscured by centuries of calcified interpretations. Yet he remains Christianity’s fulcrum. And at one point or another, if we take our faith seriously, we have to submit to one authority or another on the person of Jesus. Here I resonate with the words of the desert mystic Evagrius: “He who prays is a theologian; and he who is a true theologian truly prays.”[1]

What convinces me of the Monastic Authority of the Alexandrian Mystics (Alexandrian Fathers) is that they truly prayed and experienced God firsthand. They did not experience God secondhand through books, classes, and workshops. Mystics like Athanasius of Alexandria swam in the ocean of God. They didn’t read about God perched in their living room. They ardently watched over their souls in desert solitude. Athanasius wasn’t only an archbishop, he was also a monk. And his identity as a monk came first! This is evident from early images of Athanasius with a monk’s hood. In the third century only monks wore hoods. The unique genius of the Alexandrian archbishops from Athanasius on is they were monks and theologians first. The clerical titles and positions were secondary.

The Alexandrian Mystics not only plumbed the depths of theology. They also plumbed the depths of self knowledge through training the mind in silent prayer. Athanasius and the Alexandrian archbishops who followed him (referred to in Appendix B of Healing The Divide) were scientists of the Spirit. They conducted original firsthand experiments. They came away from these experiments radiating the power of the Spirit. This gave them the authority to lead the churches and monastic communities of their time.

 

[1] Ponticus, The Praktikos.
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The Way of the Wisdom Jesus: Going Beyond the Mind to the Heart of His Teaching – If you put aside what you think you know about Jesus and approach the Gospels as though for the first time, something remarkable happens: Jesus emerges as a teacher of the transformation of consciousness. In this online course, Episcopal priest, teacher, and retreat and conference leader Cynthia Bourgeault serves as a masterful guide to Jesus’s vision and to the traditional contemplative practices you can use to experience the heart of his teaching for yourself.  Based upon her book the Wisdom Jesus.

Our friends at Contemplative Light are offering  Contemplative Practices. This  course examines in-depth traditional practices of the Christian mystics, including:  The Examen, Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, The Jesus Prayer and Christian Meditation.

Prayer is a core Christian practice, but for many, this means “saying prayers” or asking God for various favors. In this course, we will review a variety of methods of prayer that have been used for centuries in Christianity. Whether you’re a beginner who is just learning how to pray, or a more mature Christian who has been at it awhile, this course will offer specific guidance, encouragement and support for practicing several time-tested methods of prayer.  Enjoy a review of this course by Rich.

Enjoy Rich’s post: Does God Wake You Up At 3 in the Morning?

Enjoy Rich’s review of Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice – Book Review

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