Elder Sophrony and Major Tom

By John Sanidopoulos

Many years ago I had an existential crisis that seemed to separate me from my surrounding environment, and it felt as if I was living in a state of non-reality and disconnection. I came to call this Major Tom Syndrome, because when I listened to the song "Space Oddity" by David Bowie, which describes the tragic and lonely demise of the fictional cosmonaut Major Tom in outer space, it reminded me of that state I was in. Years later I came to find out that Major Tom Syndrome is actually a term used to describe a persons disconnect with reality, but it is more of a willful disconnection, such as through drug use, which had nothing to do with what I had felt.

"The Raven": Demon of Despair (On Poe and Death)

By Presbytera Juliana Cownie

Soon after the death of a loved one come many visitors to the bereaved. Some arrive early, bearing gifts of food and speaking words of consolation and comfort. Others appear late in the day, unable to say anything, but still comforting in their very presence. But when the comforters have gone away and we sit through the lonely watches of the night, pondering our loss, the last visitor arrives. He comes invited, though not to bring consolation; his words are empty of that. No, his purpose is to smother any desire we may still have for life, to snuff out the smallest spark of hope that may yet gleam within our soul. He is the black-winged demon of despair, sent to bring us swiftly to the realm of everlasting pain and to bring the pain of Hell to us while we yet live.