The Friend of the Bridegroom: On the Orthodox Veneration of the Forerunner

Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Portrait and Spiritual Meditation
Review: This is not one of Fr Sergei's far-ranging speculative theological treatises. Rather it is an extended meditation on the person of St John the Baptist and the spiritual significance of his person and his ministry. It is a good introduction to Fr Sergei's works because it shows his Orthodoxy so well; those who know him only through his Sophiological doctrines will see another side of him here. His veneration for the Forerunner is warm, heartfelt, and profound; his approach is especially good for moderns who lack a real sense of "tserkovnost" ("churchliness") because he gives spiritual nourishment that both satisfies the intellect and warms the heart. As with his other writings, then, ultimately he provides a bridge for those who are divided from the Church's traditional piety. He makes that piety comprehensible to the modern mind; and while you read, all of a sudden you find yourself filled with awe and love for the Baptist -- the book kindles real devotion at the same time that it enlightens the mind. This to my mind is a hallmark of Orthodoxy. Another noteworthy feature of the book is that it shows Fr Sergei's deep understanding of the centrality of asceticism in Christian life. Fr Thomas Hopko, in his introduction to Fr Sergei's book "The Orthodox Church," noted that Fr Sergei was silent on monasticism in that work. Well, that shows the foolishness of basing such an assessment on only one of an author's books! In this book, he expounds the Church's assessment of the Forerunner as the first monastic. I wonder what other surprises are in store for us as more of Fr Sergei's work is translated into English. I can't wait for the companion volume to this one, "The Burning Bush," on the Mother of God.