From the June 2007 Newsletter

Orthodoxy of the Heart
June 15 is the feast of Blessed Augustine of Hippo, and it is important that we do not overlook him, for there is much he can teach us about the Orthodoxy of the heart. It is true that some of St. Augustine’s theological teaching on grace, free will and predestination has not been embraced by the Church. Nobody bats a thousand—not even an undisputed Church Father. As St. Photius said, “Have there not been complicated conditions which have forced many Fathers in part to express themselves imprecisely? If some have spoken imprecisely or even deviated from the right path…we still admit them to the list of Fathers, because of their righteousness of life… We do not take as doctrine those areas in which they strayed, but we embrace the men.” No one Father has it all. It is through the consensus of the Fathers that the fullness of truth is revealed.

Blessed Augustine has always been accepted as a true Church Father by the ancient Church, in the east as well as the west. St. Gregory the Dialogist (to whose authorship our Presanctified Liturgy is ascribed) wrote of him, “If you desire to be satiated with delicious food, read the works of the blessed Augustine.” The Fifth Ecumenical Council, held in Constantinople in 553, proclaimed, “We in every way follow the holy Fathers, Athanasius, Basil, Gregory, Cyril, Augustine…” The Council referred to him as “Augustine of most religious memory, who shone forth resplendent among the African bishops”. St. Mark of Ephesus spoke of him as “blessed Augustine” and used his writings against the Latins at the Council of Florence. (For more information about the history of St. Augustine’s place in the Church, see “The Place of Blessed Augustine in the Orthodox Church” by Seraphim Rose.)

What can Augustine teach us today? In the words of Fr. Seraphim Rose already quoted, “the Orthodoxy of the heart”. In his Confessions, Augustine wrote, “You [O God] made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in You”. He concluded his great book The City of God with the words, [“At the end] we shall be still and we shall see, we shall see and we shall love, we shall love and we shall praise. Behold what will be, in the end, without end! For what is our end but to reach the Kingdom which has no end?” From these words and others, it is plain that Augustine knew what it was to love God and to find his center in Him. It is too easy in our day to define Orthodoxy controversially, as if it were another denomination, despising the west and thinking ourselves superior. The mysticism and heart of Blessed Augustine provide a much-needed antidote. We must strive for the warm Orthodoxy of the heart that he embodied, and like him, find our rest, not in sterile controversy, but in God.

All my love,

Fr. Lawrence


+++++ June Events +++++

Mon. June 4 – Apostles’ Fast begins
Sun. June 10—Party for Meike after lunch at Rowena’s
Thurs. June 28 – – 7.00 pm Vesperal Liturgy for Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. Fast from noon, bring festal food to share

Fri. June 29 – St. Arseny fundraising dinner in Victoria
Sat. June 30 – BC Deanery hockey tournament in Victoria

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FASTING RULES JUNE 2007

Sunday May 27- Sunday June 3 Pentecost Fast-free week.

Apostle’s fast begins Monday June 4th ---no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil

EXCEPTIONS:

Fish, wine & oil are permitted the following days:

All Saturdays & Sundays
Mon June 11-- Sts Bartholomew & Barnabas
Tues June 19-- Apostle Jude

Thurs June 28 fast from noon for communion at festal liturgy. We will celebrate with festal food afterward

Fri June 29 Apostles Feast Fish wine & oil permitted

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DEANERY WEEKEND on the ISLAND !

Friday, June 29th at 5:30pm at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre (3277 Douglas Street, Victoria).

Tickets available from Dn. Kurt for $30, kids under 12 free.
Price includes a full, multicultural dinner, consisting of dishes from various ethnicities. Silent auction and a dance will follow. All funds go to support the camp

Anybody interested in staying overnight, Fr. John is arranging billeting with all of his crew for the HOCKEY GAME the next day

Sat. June 30th – HOCKEY CHALLENGE! On the Island Dn. Kurt says: “We are going to try to have practices every Sunday after church (that is, after lunch and choir practice), weather permitting, right up until that weekend.”

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Celebration for Meike

After lunch on
Sunday June 10th

at Rowena’s house
#34- 20449-66th Ave

Gifts not expected, babes in arms welcome.
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Next St. Herman’s
youth event:
End of School Year Party—Senior Youth only
Details:

Magdalen Farley 778-898-0013
or Dave Pasivirta 778-888-4717

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MANY YEARS to those entering the church at Holy Pentecost:

Peter Schultz
James Parson

Pray for our catechumens:

Andrew Friesen
Lindsey Friesen
Dylan Falk
Ryan Bishop
Robyn Bishop

Pray for expectant mothers:

Mat. Jenny Hainsworth
Monica Olteanu