Marriage is a universal characteristic of human culture. In fact, as soon as the difference between the sexes came into existence (Gen 2:21-23), the “one flesh” union of their coming back together is already in view (Gen 2:24). This is not to say that every human person should be married in the earthly sense, but that there is an archetypal aspect to marriage which goes to the heart of what it means to be a… [ read more ]
Bibliography – Orthodox sources
Here are some Orthodox sources relating to issues in anthropology, relationships, sexuality and gender for further exploration and research into these issues. FtFtL does not necessarily endorse their content; we have attempted to include a broad range of Orthodox reflection on these topics that has been published in English.
de Beausobre, Iulia: Creative Suffering (1984: SLG Press, Fairacres, Oxford — First published 1940: Dacre Press, London) Behr, John: Asceticism and Anthropology in Irenaeus and Clement… [ read more ]
Map of the passions
Based on St Maximos the Confessor’s Four Hundred Texts on Love, and the parallel passage in St Thalassios the Libyan, the diagram (click the image for a larger version) shows the concupiscent, intellectual, and irascible passions in terms of self-love – the luxuriating, self-obsessive, and acquisitive.
Also found in the Philokalia are writings on the passions by St John of Damascusm who likewise categorized the passions as intellectual (intelligent), irascible (incensive) and concupiscent (desiring), providing lists and… [ read more ]