When the Homily is about Immunology

Road to Emmaus

Karl turned me on to what I perceive to be a periodical gem called Road to Emmaus. After looking through some of the articles provided online I intend to subscribe. This one was particulalry enjoyable.

It is by an english journalist named Stephen Graham who toured Russian and comments upon his experiences in pre-revolutionary Russia. He would later convert to Orthodoxy and I have actually found the entire book online here.

A few quotes that stood out to me:

The candle before the Ikon is man's finite life shining against the background of the Infinite.

So the Ikon is the "God in the midst" with eyes for the highest and for the lowest things...It is so powerful that it suggests itself as the spirit of the room; take away the sacred picture, and you leave the dead body of what was once a living, breathing room.

If a peasant yawns, he makes the sign of the cross over his mouth to prevent the devil getting in - which is in itself a little sermon on the dangers of boredom

So by a thousand little gleams of ritual, we see how the Russian has interwoven Christian religion with life.

Anxious to read more.