That depends on what dictionary you use. In the Oxford dictionary it has many generic uses, like "my mom is a saint". In my church "Saint" is the name given to those who, through purification and illumination, reach glorification and share in the glorifying energies of God.
@@byzantinedeacon You mentioned purification, illumination and glorification and sharing in the glorifying energies of God. What does that look like in practice?
@@timojazz6829it's looks like healing. It's what happens when we live a life of following Christ. We are purified through repentance and illuminated by the experience of God within us. This leads us to full participation in divine life.
@@byzantinedeacon I am a little confused! So, being illuminated is the goal I guess. What would that look like? How would this be manifested in an individual?
I've certainly wrestled with St. Nikodemos' seemingly hard line Puritanical presentation of an Orthodox phronema that's not supposed to be legalist in the first place. So, I like your take: he's holy but not mentally sound. If we're honest, the ascetical program the Church gives us needs some renovation before it's psychotherapeutic for the contemporary Christian.
I agree. I have been trying to adapt the teachings to the modern man for years. Hesychasm is for everyone. We need to take from it what we find beneficial and that's it.
What is the definition of a saint?
That depends on what dictionary you use. In the Oxford dictionary it has many generic uses, like "my mom is a saint". In my church "Saint" is the name given to those who, through purification and illumination, reach glorification and share in the glorifying energies of God.
@@byzantinedeacon You mentioned purification, illumination and glorification and sharing in the glorifying energies of God. What does that look like in practice?
@@timojazz6829it's looks like healing. It's what happens when we live a life of following Christ. We are purified through repentance and illuminated by the experience of God within us. This leads us to full participation in divine life.
@@byzantinedeacon I am a little confused! So, being illuminated is the goal I guess. What would that look like? How would this be manifested in an individual?
@@timojazz6829 think of it as being able to see and the next step is becoming what you see.
I've certainly wrestled with St. Nikodemos' seemingly hard line Puritanical presentation of an Orthodox phronema that's not supposed to be legalist in the first place. So, I like your take: he's holy but not mentally sound. If we're honest, the ascetical program the Church gives us needs some renovation before it's psychotherapeutic for the contemporary Christian.
I agree. I have been trying to adapt the teachings to the modern man for years. Hesychasm is for everyone. We need to take from it what we find beneficial and that's it.