FORUM ON ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY (FOS)
FOS SUMMARIES
On the left
of this page, you will find summaries of each FOS meeting. The
summary generally attempts to capture the wisdoms gleaned from the sessions and
share them with as many people that may be thirsting for them. We update by adding to the list the
latest summary from the FOS meetings as they become available. We know
that this will add a new dimension to our online capabilities of our
Cathedral. Having this kind of online resource available to us is a
blessing to not only our community, but to the ever widening cyber community
on the web. Please tell your family and friends about our efforts to
enrich and expand the horizons of each and every one of us through this
wonderful outreach. Enjoy and God Bless
You.
FOS
In response to the
need for continual spiritual illumination and nourishment, the Cathedral
inaugurated a new ministry, the Forum on Orthodox Spirituality
("FOS") on February 12, 2008 geared toward NY area professionals. The
aim of FOS, led by Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, Dean and Protopresbyter of the
Cathedral, is to enrich our lives by coming into a deeper meaning of Orthodox Christian faith and worship while at
the same time creating community and relationships. By tapping into Orthodox spirituality, FOS
makes faith contemporary and relevant to our lives. Ultimately, the core purpose of FOS is to
bring people into a deeper connection with Christ and with each other.
FOS welcomes Cathedral members, non-members and
individuals of all faiths. Individuals are welcome to join at any point.
It generally meets as follows (please check this
website for updates there are breaks in between series):
Tuesdays
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Holy Trinity Cathedral
337 E. 74th St.
(1st & 2nd)
FOS covers a particular topic for a certain number of
consecutive weekly sessions. Fr. Frank draws on Scripture, Holy Tradition,
Church Fathers' writings, Theology and Liturgical Worship for his exegesis on
these topics.
FOS encourages suggestions for topics and events as well
as tough questions on religion. God wants questioning believers and not blind
obedience. According to Fr. Frank, one must use all their resources and
strength to dialogue and debate, and wrestle and grapple with issues of faith.
Within this struggle, one opens oneself to the reality of God, an experience
that each individual must own personally.
Loyal to the aim of building community, FOS also
offers an opportunity for those attending the session to gather between 6:00 -
7:00 pm for refreshments. In addition, all are welcome afterwards to continue
the discussion or simply socialize at any one of the neighborhood restaurants.
To be on the distribution list for announcements or
discussion summaries, please send an e-mail to Dorothy at fos.cathedral@gmail.com.
FOS SERIES TOPICS:
Currently:
Series 5: SOUL TREK-CULTIVATING YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE
"To Boldly Go
Where God Is Leading..."
The FOS Summer Series promises exciting voyages into the universe of spiritual
development. Sacrifice, loyalty, honor, and friendship are some of the topics
for which the Star Trek TV and movie series is
noted. Who are we and what is the purpose of our existence? Who or what
determines our future? How do we decide what direction our lives should take?
These are the fundamental issues of the latest Star Trek
movie. But they are also the silent questions that determine our
spiritual lives as well. Join the crew of FOS as we embark on our summer
spiritual trek!
Schedule of presentations:
June 16: Stages of
Spiritual Life
June 23: God's Call
to Adventure *
June 30:
Resistance is Futile
July 7:
The
Need for Spock (Mentorship)
July 14:
Confronting the Dark Side (Risk)
July 21:
Fighting Klingons (Seizing the Sword)
July 30 (Thurs) The Awakening
August 4:
Kirk, Spock & McCoy
(Spirit, Soul & Body)
August 11: Life in the Spirit
August 18: TBA
August 25: Q&A
* Special
Guest Presenter: His Grace Bishop Savas, Archdiocesan Director of Church &
Society
Series 4: What is So Great About
ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY? A Journey of
Faith and Doubt Through Great Lent (January 20 – April 7, 2009):
The Spring Session of FOS focused its attention on the
common arguments against Orthodox Christianity. As most of these attacks can be traced back to earlier historical
debates, each of the 90-minute conversations examined the counter-argument
responses that have been wisely inserted into the hymnology of the Great Lenten
Period.
Series
3: “Lord of the Rings – Living the Sacraments”
(September 23- December 2, 2008)
Each of the seven sacraments
was discussed in light of Tolkien’s famous trilogy with special attention given
to the application of each sacrament in the circumstances of contemporary
life. “In The Lord of the Rings,
Tolkien addresses the timeless problems of human nature…by
writing his own myth that echoes what the author sincerely believed to be the
truths of Christianity – truths that offer solutions to these problems of human nature.”
Series 2: “Spirit and the City” (June 10-August 13,
2008)
We explored how to access the joyous life that we were
created to live with God.
Series 1: “Spiritual Lesson of Great Lenten
Sundays” (February 12 –April 25, 2008)
We were provided with an in-depth understanding of our
faith inspiring us in our everyday lives and for our Lenten journey towards the
new life offered by Christ in His Kingdom.
FOS EVENTS:
In addition to the Tuesday night discussions, FOS sponsors
a variety of other activities:
Movie Nights:
FOS periodically hosts movie showings where Fr. Frank
discusses spiritual themes in contemporary films. In Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, shown on May 8, 2009,
many of the contemporary issues of faith and doubt were addressed. In The
Lord of the Rings shown on November 14, 2008, the major themes are: the ring represents power either for
corruptibility or for good, for disfigurement or transformation; God uses
broken and imperfect people to accomplish His Will; the power in mercy and
forgiveness are the greatest of messages that Tolkien wished to convey. Previously,
FOS The Matrix followed
by a group dinner on May 9, 2008. Fr. Frank discussed the film’s Christian and
non-Christian undertones (whether intentional or unintentional by the writers
as in any artistic piece). Some of the most significant Christian themes are:
God seeks and finds us and never gives up on us; our free will is never taken
from us and, at every turn, we always have a choice in how to respond; when we
are cut off from God, we lose our way and/or give up; nothing else has power
over us when God’s Love resurrects us.
Outreach
Socials:
FOS also sponsors outreach cocktail gatherings prior
to the start of a new series. The most
recent one was held on June 11 as an Open House at the Cathedral. Prior ones were held on January 13, 2009 at
Thalassa Restaurant, September 16, 2008 at H2O Restaurant & Lounge and June
3, 2008 at Kellari-Parea. These events
serve to introduce what FOS offers to those interested in spiritual
illumination as well as to meet the other participants and spiritual leader,
Fr. Frank. They are also relaxed
get-togethers for both current and new FOS participants.
We also had a Christmas Party on December 19, 2008 at
Kellari-Parea.
Philanthropic Works:
- FOS sponsored a homeless run in
coordination with Midnight Run on March 10. Food & clothing was distributed to
the homeless on the streets of NYC.
- FOS held a Christmas Toys for
Tots gift drive for disadvantaged and disabled elementary school students
attending a school in Queens .
- FOS also sponsored a bone
marrow drive on Sunday, May 18, 2008. A FOS participant and oncology
doctor led the drive to find a donor for Joanna, a young Greek-American
woman, fighting lymphoma. The drive served to increase the chances of
finding a match for Joanna while also increasing the register’s ethnic
diversity worldwide.
