Metropolitan Anthony Bloom on suffering (free post)
An interview from 1973
Along with many others, I have read Metropolitan Anthony Bloom’s (1914 - 2003) books and listened to recordings of his sermons and talks to my great gain for nearly half a century. He was one of the most reliable spiritual masters of the last century: sober-minded, wise, and humble. Especially on the topic of prayer, his written works have had a lasting influence on countless lives. If one is curious about his life, one can read the Wikipedia entry about him by clicking here or visit the website dedicated to him by clicking here.
Perhaps it was the combination of this past week’s Western liturgical focus on the reality of death with All Souls Day (Nov. 2) and the ever-present painful awareness of the current wars that have brought and are still bringing untold suffering to thousands of people at this very instant, that moved me to watch this half-hour interview with Metropolitan Anthony. It was recorded in 1973, and I recall seeing it on PBS in the United States when it aired there. The subject is suffering. That’s all I’ll say here by way of introduction, but I pass the video on to you for your own quiet reflections.
Wow!
Something as deeply good as this, with my national CBC logo on it.
Times have changed. Thank God for archives. Thanks to you for sharing this; thank God for those older than myself to guide me to the best of what’s come before me. What’s still out there.
And for your own gentleness, kindness, and hopefulness Addison.
Thank you for all of this.
Mark Basil
When I first began attending an Orthodox church, the catechist would teach us through some old printed copies of Metropolitan Anthony's lectures on the sacraments. I don't remember many details, but I remember they were wonderful, and I've been a fan ever since.