Eastern Orthodoxy and “Mysticism”: The Transformation of the Senses

2010 Seminar with Hieromonk Irenei Steenberg, Ph.D.

There is a yearning for mystical experience in our times, a longing to go beyond the narrow confines of sensory data to find meaning and purpose, to experience the Absolute. At the same time there is skepticism and misunderstanding about what constitutes authentic Christian mysticism. Some contemporary Christians consider any talk of mysticism as the result of bad theology which breeds errors in spirituality.

Others consider Pentecostal or charismatic expressions as authentic mystical experiences. Growing numbers seek mystical experiences and the esoteric through New Age meditation methods, blends of Buddhist thought, Native American spirituality, Hinduism and yoga, along with shamanism, paganism, eco-spirituality and Wicca.

For Eastern Orthodox Christianity, often called the “inner tradition of Christianity,” the foundations for Christian spirituality — and what Orthodoxy more authentically considers “the mystical life” — were laid by the early Christian ascetics and monastics of the Church.

In the silence of the desert, in the solitude of the cell, free from worldly entanglements, one could ascend to the contemplation and knowledge of God, and loving union with Him. This inner tradition of becoming “sharers of the divine nature” (2 Peter: 4 ) — all but lost to modern Christianity — survives, almost unchanged over the centuries in certain corners of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Hieromonk Irenei is a Russian Orthodox monk, priest, PhD. in theology, professor and author of numerous books and articles on early Church fathers and theology. He serves at Saint Tikhon’s Church, San Francisco. He is also the Principal of the St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy and Visiting Professor in Orthodox Studies at Santa Clara University. Listen to his podcast on Ancient Faith Radio called “A Word From the Holy Fathers.”

Friday. November 5 – 7pm and Saturday November 6 – 10am- 3pm

ST. BARNABAS ORTHODOX CHURCH
3505 Cadillac Ave. Bldg. G-3, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
http://stbarnabasonline.org/fallseminar/

This is Hieromonk Irenei’s exclusive seminar in Southern California in 2010.

Space is limited! Register now!

Admission: Friday – $5/person;  Saturday – $10/person
Lunch on Saturday is included.

Contact:
714-429-0587
info@stbarnabasoc.org
Local hotel/motel options are available.

Flyer for Steenberg Seminar at St. Barnabas (PDF)