The Spirit of Freedom and Diversity
May 11, 2008
The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of freedom. The Holy Spirit not only unites us but also ensures our infinite diversity in the Church: at Pentecost the tongues of fire were ‘cloven’ or divided, descending separately upon each one of those present. The gift of the Spirit is a gift to the Church, but it is at the same time a personal gift, appropriated by each in her or his own way. ‘There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit’ (I Corinthians xii, 4). Life in the Church does not mean the ironing out of human variety, not the imposition of a rigid and uniform pattern upon all alike, but the exact opposite. The saints, so far from displaying a drab monotony, have developed the most vivid and distinctive personalities. It is not holiness but evil which is dull.
Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia, The Orthodox Church [New Edition], pp. 242-243
May 12, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Great quote from a great book by a great man. The Orthodox Church was the first book I read about the Church when I first started learning about Orthodoxy. Every time I hear him speak or see what he has written, I am always impressed and enlightened. I was very disappointed that I was out of state for his recent visit to Dallas (about 2 hours from here).
May 14, 2008 at 1:11 am
David,
I’ve never had the chance to listen to the Metropolitan speak, and would sure like to meet him some day. When I first began learning about Orthodoxy, my pastor recommended The Orthodox Way, which I read and liked immensely. It didn’t take too long before I devoured The Orthodox Church as well!
W.H.