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Series: Mystical Theology

Episode 35: John Chrysostom: The Language of Holy Scripture, Eunomius & The Light of Tabor, Dr. C. Veniamin

With Episode 34, we come to the end of Volume 1 of our series, Mystical Theology. Through Chrysostom’s appreciation of the Transfiguration of Christ on Tabor, we catch a glimpse of the theological presuppositions, the gnosiology, of one of the greatest commentators of Holy Scripture in the history of Christianity. And we note that his theology, though expressed in somewhat different terms, is the same as that of Athanasius the Great and of Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and Gregory of Nyssa. We also provide a road map for Volume 2 of our Mystical Theology. And finally, by way of conclusion, we add a brief word on Essentialism, Pantheism, and Deification. Other themes touched upon in this episode are included in the Timestamps.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

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Dr. Christopher Veniamin
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The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner.

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Series: Mystical Theology

Episode 33: Conclusions to Augustine, Part 2: Gregory of Nyssa, Life of Moses, Part 6 of The Cappadocian Fathers, Dr. C. Veniamin

In Episode 33, we have the second part of our Conclusions to the Unit on the Cappadocian Fathers and Augustine of Hippo. This consists of Gregory of Nyssa’s Life of Moses (paragraphs 152-169), in which St. Gregory presents the God-seer Moses in his ascent towards God and deification (theosis). One of the key themes in Nyssa’s account is that of “divine darkness”. Other themes touched upon in this episode are included in the Timestamps.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin
Support The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner.

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Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 32: Conclusions to Augustine, Part 1: Basil the Great & Gregory the Theologian, C. Veniamin

In Episode 32, we return to the Cappadocian Fathers by way of conclusion, following our overview of Augustine of Hippo, in order to bring us back to an Orthodox approach to the mystery of the Holy Trinity. We attempt a clarification of the essence-energies distinction as taught by Basil the Great, and proceed from there to a broader discussion of what is theology and who is a theologian according to Gregory of Nazianzus, the Theologian. Other themes touched upon are included in the Timestamps.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin
Support The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner.

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Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 31: Three Basic Mistakes, Augustine of Hippo on the Holy Trinity, Episode 31, Mystical Theology, Dr. C. Veniamin

Based on St. Augustine’s De Fide et Symbolo, this presentation discusses three erroneous presuppositions made by the Bishop of Hippo, and perpetuated by his followers, which have influenced subsequent generations in the Franco-Latin Christianity of the West. These assumptions, discerned by Fr. John Romanides, one of the foremost Orthodox theologians of our times, may be found in his lecture, “The Filioque” (see details below). Other themes touched upon are included in the Timestamps.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020) ; and Fr. John Romanides, “The Filioque”, Patriarch Athenagoras Memorial Lectures, Franks, Romans, Feudalism, and Doctrine: An Interplay between Theology and Society (Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1981), pp. 71–90.

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin
Support The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner.

THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY
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Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 28: Augustine’s Essentialism and the Essence–Energies Distinction of Basil the Great, Part 9 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Dr. C. Veniamin

In Part 9 of our presentations on Augustine of Hippo a comparison is made between the theological approach of Augustine and Basil the Great vis-a-vis the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, based on our reading of Augustine’s De Trinitate Book IX, and of Basil’s Epistles 2 and 234. A brief explanation of what is meant by the “substance and attributes” distinction is also given. Other themes touched upon are included in the Timestamps.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin
Support The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner.

THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY
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Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 27: Further Reading & Commentary, Reading De Trinitate Book IX, Part 8 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Dr. C. Veniamin

In Part 8 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 27 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we continue our reading and commentary on Book IX of St. Augustine’s De Trinitate; and in so doing we delve into Augustine's theological presuppositions. Other themes broached in this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin
Support The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner.

THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY
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Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 26: Reading & Commentary, Reading De Trinitate Book IX, Part 7 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Dr. C. Veniamin

In Part 7 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 26 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we continue our reading and commentary on Book IX of St. Augustine’s De Trinitate; and in so doing we touch on such key questions as, “What is theology?” and “Who is a theologian?”. Other themes broached in this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin
Support The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner.

THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY
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Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 25: “What Is Meant By The Spiritual Life?”, Part 6 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Dr. C. Veniamin

In Part 6 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 25 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we attempt to outline some of the distinguishing characteristics of the Orthodox spiritual life. Other themes broached in this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Further bibliography may be found in our "Scholar's Corner" webpage.

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin
Support The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner.

THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY
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Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 25: “What Is Meant By The Spiritual Life?”, Part 6 of Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective, Dr. C. Veniamin

In Part 6 of “Augustine of Hippo: An Orthodox Perspective”, Episode 25 of our series in “Mystical Theology”, we attempt to outline some of the distinguishing characteristics of the Orthodox spiritual life. Other themes broached in this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature(2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin
Support The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner.

THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY
Print Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING

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Episode 11: “By Way of Conclusion”
Unit 15: “John of the Ladder: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin
Series: “Mystical Theology"

“By Way of Conclusion”, Episode 11 in our series, "John of the Ladder”, consists of concluding remarks regarding our brief overview of Steps 4 and 5 of the famous Ladder of Divine Ascent by the great John Climacus. Presented by Dr. Christopher Veniamin, themes from this episode are listed in the Timestamps below.

Q&As available in The Professor’s Blog: https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blog

Recommended background reading: The Ladder of Divine Ascent (Holy Transfiguration Monastery); Saint Silouan the Athonite, by St. Sophrony the Athonite (https://mountthabor.com/products/st-silouan-the-athonite); and The Enlargement of the Heart, by Archimandrite Zacharias (https://mountthabor.com/products/the-enlargement-of-the-heart-2nd-ed)

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin
Support The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

The Professor's Blog
Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner.

THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMY
Print Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING

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