Recommended Sites

Finding a dedicated site relating to theological issues in modern Orthodoxy, such as Ecumenism, can be difficult. Often, to be fair, the sites tend to devolve into forums of infighting between groups, leading to nothing productive. I personally find it very difficult to ponder on a subject which has been rhetorically beaten into my brain, rather than a position well written and spoken, even if the author and I disagree. This is admitedly difficult to accomplish in the area of modern apologetics.

While one can agree with their feelings and say "Yes, but so-and-so deserves a good slap upside the head!" we have to admit that rarely -if ever- does it change so-and-so's mind or soften their hearts. For a wayward sheep, drifting from the flock, this is what the shepherd's staff is for, no? But if a rhetorical tactic has no basis in and is not approached with charity, it is worthless, no matter how right one might be.

So with that said, I present two relatively new websites on a topic very important to us here in Portland: Ecumenism. On our website, I try to focus on the spiritual life and "working out our salvation in fear and trembling." (Phil 2:12) I am the type of person who does not revel in arguments (though, I used to; it's how I came to the Church) and as I get older it appeals to me less and less. That does not mean it is not important. Instead I'll typically let others who are far better than me, such as Subdeacon Nektarios, do the arguing and apologetics.

These two sites are very well done and though the topics are polemical in nature, they are written in a manner which is firm but charitable. For a topic which is 100 year old, the author finds ways to describe the situation which are new to me. I hope that you will find them helpful, even if you are one who has come here in disagreement with us.

The truth is that in the past, warring sides in the Church found a way to come back together. Prayer, humility and love attract one another. Let us approach this enduring controversy with a heart full of such virtues, and then maybe, if it isn't our generation which will see us begin a rapprochement and things made right again, our children or their children will, to the glory of God. It starts with us.

https://patristicwitness.com/Home

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