Author: Abbot Tryphon

The Therapeutic Tradition of the Church Most of us have been asked the question, “are you saved?”, at least once in our life. Having its origin in the protestant soteriology (doctrine of salvation), this question has clearly become part of our American cultural lexicon. The question is often asked by

Wisdom is Not Based on Age It has been said that wisdom comes with age, and to some degree this is quite true. I’ve often had conversations with old college friends about how nice it would have been to have had the knowledge and wisdom we have now, back when

We Must Look Only for the Good in Others Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain said there are two types of people. There are the bees and the flies. The bees are attracted to flowers and sweet smells, whereas the flies are only attracted to dirt and stench. Ask a

The Role of the Saints in the Life of a Christian Growing up Lutheran I always believed the veneration of saints by Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians was a form of idolatry. They were idolaters because they “worshiped saints”. This worship of the saints was a major stumbling block for

Beware of False Idols Idolatry is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object worshiped as though it were a god. Idolatry can also involve objects, persons, entertainment, even self. Anything that replaces the centrality of God in our life, can be a form of idolatry.

Consolation Follows Repentance “When the cares of my heart are many, Thy consolations cheer my heart (Psalm 94:19).” True repentance and Christian living proceeds God’s consolation. We reach out to God in every act we do, and in every activity we perform, all the while seeking to acquire a sense

Church as Hospital of the Soul Our Orthodox Faith defines sin as an illness that is in need of healing, not as a crime that requires punishment. The Church is a hospital for the soul whose therapists (priests) first sought therapy and then became therapists. As a healing institution the

The Past, the Future, and the Present Sometimes we get so bogged down with regret, and we fail to move on and grab the moment. The wonderful thing about the Mystery of Confession is the gift we are given, by our loving God, to receive absolution, and move into the