Welcome

The purpose of this site primarily consists in hosting one of the weblogs of the deacon Ephraim, a cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (χειροτονία: 2018), who although unworthy of attention, cannot cease thinking and needing to attempt to communicate within a spiritual focus alone. Turning decidedly to “practice” (which, of course, lies within the scope of “theory” vertically construed (i.e. theoria)) after long graduate work in Philosophy (Classical & Generative Phenomenology; Social Ontology) and Orthodox Pastoral Theology in seminary, one is constantly struck by “working themes” but no proper “forum,” as it were. The title and theme — diakonia — shall thusly attempt to steer a course between its broad, literal meaning “service” and its spiritual direction in Holy Tradition as the “diaconal art”—particularly in the long-standing tradition of the Russian deacon. May God help us as we struggle against the persecution of the increasingly more nihilist, faithless world which threatens to redouble every moment in and of its gleeful dirge and redirect it to the now universal injunction to serve the passions. The views expressed on this and his other blogs represent solely those of the author in a personal capacity as a churchman and not in an official clerical capacity of the Church, his jurisdiction, or parochial assignment.

The author also planned to publish the Neptic Epoche, an attempt to steer his philosophy graduate studies in the phenomenology of loving and religious experience under one of the world’s leading experts in the field into his work and life in Orthodox theology (ever forthcoming? After all, it is a “modern method,” as it were, and largely distorted if unreceived by church scholars), as well as, occasionally, Cinegogikon: Orthodox Christian Film Review. His several-year ministry of reading entire critical, sacred texts live into the decrepit, co-opted public face on the ZuckerKniga Facebook, In the Stead of Idols, continues via YouTube. He also of late usually has a handful of catechumens whom he instructs individually online, and continues his secular career as a Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent helping protect families financially under the agency nickname/persona of “The Deacon.” He is now an independent agency owner writing policies with multiple carriers for Churches, Businesses, Building Projects, along with Homes, Autos, and Life/Financial.

Please pray for him, and his family and parish.