+Father Thomas Hopko - 55 Maxims

Dear family and friends,

I know I haven’t blogged in awhile. Please forgive me. I have much to write about but I have just been so busy that I have not had time to sit down and create a blog post. This week, though, I would like to dedicate my blog post to the memory of Fr. Thomas Hopko (known to me as “Fr. Tom”), who reposed in the Lord this past Wednesday, just after 3pm Eastern time. I just want to say two words about him:

For me, Fr. Tom wasn’t "just" some Orthodox author or speaker whom I happened to like or agree with – Fr. Tom served regularly at “my” monastery, the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, Pa. I was blessed to know him and was able to ask him pretty much all the questions I ever wanted – what a wealth of knowledge he was, and a blessing to have so close to my home!!

For me, what most sets Fr. Tom apart among theologians is his humble yet staunch defense of Orthodoxy. He knew what he believed and why he believed it. While some of his writings or sayings may be controversial, I always detected an air of humility in his speech when things like that came up: he might say something like, “I believe this is clear from the way I read the Bible and the Fathers, but if I’m wrong may God forgive me.” He never insisted that he – and only he – was correct. He was open to being corrected if he was indeed wrong on something. And yet, he stayed firm in his beliefs. I believe that is the mark of a truly Orthodox theologian, and of any good Orthodox Christian.

He was also a true liturgist. I looked forward to “vigil” with him on Saturday evening each week at the monastery, and whenever I was blessed to be with him for a Divine Liturgy, it just felt right. He knew what the Divine Liturgy is; he knew what he was doing there at the Altar; and you could feel that from the way he liturgized.

I personally believe that he is now concelebrating at the heavenly Liturgy which is outside of time. May we inherit a portion of his knowledge, of his piety, and even more importantly of his humility. And if he has found boldness at the throne of God, may we have his prayers as we continue our struggle here on earth! May his memory be eternal!

Please lift him up in your prayers, as well as his family: wife Matushka Anne, her mother Matushka Juliana, Fr. Tom & Mat. Anne's children, children-in-law, grandchildren, Mother Abbess Christophora and the sisterhood of the monastery, and all who knew and loved him.

For anyone who wants to watch the funeral services live-streamed from the monastery, the funeral is at 10am Eastern time on Monday, March 23. The complete schedule of other funerary services (Vespers, Liturgies, etc), as well as information on live streaming, is available on the monastery website: http://www.orthodoxmonasteryellwoodcity.org/frhopko

Below are “55 maxims” for Christian life that I believe are on-target, and congruous with the Tradition of the Church.

1. Be always with Christ and trust God in everything.
2. Pray as you can, not as you think you must.
3. Have a keepable rule of prayer done by discipline.
4. Say the Lord's Prayer several times each day.
5. Repeat a short prayer when your mind is not occupied.
6. Make some prostrations when you pray.
7. Eat good foods in moderation and fast on fasting days.
8. Practice silence, inner and outer.
9. Sit in silence 20 to 30 minutes each day.
10. Do acts of mercy in secret.
11. Go to liturgical services regularly.
12. Go to Confession and Holy Communion regularly.
13. Do not engage intrusive thoughts and feelings.
14. Reveal all your thoughts and feelings to a trusted person regularly.
15. Read the scriptures regularly.
16. Read good books, a little at a time.
17. Cultivate communion with the saints.
18. Be an ordinary person, one of the human race.
19. Be polite with everyone, first of all family members.
20. Maintain cleanliness and order in your home.
21. Have a healthy, wholesome hobby.
22. Exercise regularly.
23. Live a day, even a part of a day, at a time.
24. Be totally honest, first of all with yourself.
25. Be faithful in little things.
26. Do your work, then forget it.
27. Do the most difficult and painful things first.
28. Face reality.
29. Be grateful.
30. Be cheerful.
31. Be simple, hidden, quiet and small.
32. Never bring attention to yourself.
33. Listen when people talk to you.
34. Be awake and attentive, fully present where you are.
35. Think and talk about things no more than necessary.
36. Speak simply, clearly, firmly, directly.
37. Flee imagination, fantasy, analysis, figuring things out.
38. Flee carnal, sexual things at their first appearance.
39. Don't complain, grumble, murmur or whine.
40. Don't seek or expect pity or praise.
41. Don't compare yourself with anyone.
42. Don't judge anyone for anything.
43. Don't try to convince anyone of anything.
44. Don't defend or justify yourself.
45. Be defined and bound by God, not people.
46. Accept criticism gracefully and test it carefully.
47. Give advice only when asked or when it is your duty.
48. Do nothing for people that they can and should do for themselves.
49. Have a daily schedule of activities, avoiding whim and caprice.
50. Be merciful with yourself and others.

51. Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath.
52. Focus exclusively on God and light, and never on darkness, temptation and sin.
53. Endure the trial of yourself and your faults serenely, under God's mercy.
54. When you fall, get up immediately and start over.
55. Get help when you need it, without fear or shame.

*(Fr. Thomas Hopko’s “55 Maxims” – On Living a Christian Life)

*Fr. Tom expounds further on this at: http://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hopko/lent_the_tithe_of_the_year

Fr. Tom in his Paschal vestments, with his wife Matushka Anne, in the monastery chapel.
Photo from St. Vladimir Seminary website:
http://www.svots.edu/headlines/protopresbyter-thomas-hopko-reposes-lord