Spirituality and Prayer Life in the Ancient Faithਨਮੂਨਾ

Day 1: The Foundation of Orthodox Spirituality

Orthodox Christian spirituality is rooted in the Holy Trinity and our relationship with God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This foundational understanding shapes every aspect of Orthodox Christian life and prayer. As we begin this journey into deepening our Orthodox Christian spirituality and prayer life, it's crucial to grasp the centrality of the Trinity in our faith.

The concept of the Trinity is not merely an abstract theological idea, but a living reality that we are called to experience and participate in. Our entire spiritual life flows from and returns to the Triune God. Orthodox Christian spirituality is a journey into the heart of God, a life-long process of transformation and union with the Holy Trinity. This understanding is beautifully expressed in the prayer of St. Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 59: "We beseech You, Master, to be our helper and protector. Save the afflicted among us; have mercy on the lowly; Raise up the fallen; appear to the needy; heal the ungodly; Restore the wanderers of Your people"

This prayer encompasses the Orthodox Christian understanding of our relationship with God - we are utterly dependent on Him and He is our "helper and protector." It also highlights the transformative nature of this relationship; God saves, has mercy, raises up, appears to, heals, and restores us.

In Orthodox Christian spirituality, we understand that we are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). This means that we are inherently relational beings, reflecting the relational nature of the Trinity. Just as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit exist in perfect communion with each other, we are also called to communion with God and with one another. Communion with God, a vertical line, and communion with one another, a horizontal line; together the horizontal and vertical line forms a cross; a stark reminder of the price paid for our salvation and a work we should continue to do daily by carrying our crosses (Luke 9:23).

This communion is not something we achieve through our own efforts but is a gift of God's grace. As the Apostle St. Paul writes, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV). Our spiritual life, then, is about opening ourselves to this grace and allowing it to transform us.

The Orthodox Christian understanding of salvation is deeply tied to this Trinitarian foundation. We are saved not merely from something (sin and death), but for something (participation in the divine nature) - 2 Peter 1:4. This process, known as sanctification, is the ultimate goal of Orthodox Christian spirituality. Purification begins with repentance, turning away from sin and seeking God’s forgiveness. As we are purified, God illumines our hearts, granting deeper understanding and love. Sanctification is the fulfillment of this journey, as we become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4 NKJV). It's a journey of becoming more and more like God. St. Athanasius of Alexandria, also known as St. Athanasius the Apostolic, summarizes this in his work, On the Incarnation, where he says: "God became man so that man might become god."

This journey begins with our baptism, in the Sacrament of Baptism, also known as the Mystery of Baptism, where we are washed clean of our sins, and then we are united to Christ and then we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in the Mystery of Chrismation. It continues throughout our lives as we participate in the sacramental life of the Church, engage in personal prayer, practice asceticism, and strive to live out the commandments of Christ.

The Orthodox Christian emphasis on the Trinity also shapes our understanding of prayer and how we pray. We pray to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit - all 3 Persons of the Trinity are God and there is One God. This Trinitarian formula reminds us that our prayer is always a participation in the life of the Trinity. We don't pray as isolated individuals, but as members of the Body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

As we begin this devotional journey, it's important to reflect on how we can deepen our relationship with the Trinity in practical ways. Here are some suggestions:

1. Begin each day by making the sign of the cross and invoking the Trinity: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
2. Spend time meditating on Trinitarian prayers, such as the Trisagion: "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us."
3. When you pray, consciously address your prayers to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit.
4. Reflect on how each Person of the Trinity is active in your life. How have you experienced the Father's love, the Son's redemption, and the Spirit's guidance?
5. Seek to mirror the love and unity of the Trinity in your relationships with others.

Remember, Orthodox Christian spirituality is not about accumulating knowledge, but about transformation. As you contemplate the mystery of the Trinity, allow it to shape not just what you know, but who you are becoming in Christ. Let it inspire you to love more deeply, forgive more readily, and serve more selflessly.

Our spiritual life flows from God's love and mercy, and it should lead us back to that love, expressed both towards God and towards our neighbor. Today, as you go about your activities, try to be more conscious of God's presence. See each interaction, each task, each moment as an opportunity to participate in the life of the Trinity.

Reflection: God invites you to share in His divine life. How can you open your heart to God today, as He stands at the door of your heart knocking (Revelation 3:20)?

Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, You invite me to union with You. Kindle my heart with longing for Your presence. Let my life be transformed by Your love and grace, that I may reflect Your image in the world. Amen.