Imagine That...: Mental Imagery in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Private Devotion

by Sergei Sveshnikov

This work examines the use of mental imagery in private devotion in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions of prayer. The research is based on the writing of the saints of the two Churches, as well as on the analysis provided by some of the best theologians of the Russian Orthodox Church. The findings are to be used as a tool within the ecumenical dialogue between the two Churches.

The core of the argument is that the two traditions followed significantly different paths in their approaches to spiritual life. These differences exist in many aspects of devotion, but can be exemplified by the favorable view of the use of imagination in Roman Catholic prayer and the caution with which it is approached in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The difference in devotional paths and the standards of prayer that have been canonized through the glorification of saints by each Church may present a much bigger challenge to the task of reconciliation between the two Churches than heretofore has been acknowledged. This work highlights the reality and significance of the differences between the two traditions and urges the continuation of the research in order to advance the dialogue between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.

76 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2009

About the author

Born and raised in the collapsing Soviet Union, Father Sergei's formative years fell during the perestroika period of the 1980s and tumultuous '90s. He studied psychology and sociology at the Ulyanovsk Branch of the Moscow State University.

After coming to the United States, Father Sergei served in the U.S. Navy, and continued his studies at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville and Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. Father Sergei received both a Master's of Applied Theology and a Master's of Divinity degree from Marylhurst University. In 2001, he was ordained to the holy priesthood and appointed the rector of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia Church in Mulino, Oregon, where he continues to serve.

Reviews

[Navel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good overview of a critical issue. Although confusion is added by referring to various Roman Catholic mystics as "saint" when they are not. The author also seems unaware of ecumenically binding post schism councils among the Orthodox such as the 9th ecumenical council which repudiated those against the hesychasts.

[B.gaist · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting short study comparing the Roman Catholic use of imagination in prayer with imageless noetic prayer in Eastern Orthodoxy

[Jeff ezell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chilling, dark, and frightening. Each story adds its own particular flavor.