Author: Abbot Tryphon

God Loves The Real You Being a Christian requires a genuine, ongoing relationship with God that is not measured in external actions alone. We must be careful not to perform our Orthodox faith in a mirror, striking dramatic poses as if this demonstrates anything but our pride. Putting on the

Humility Hurts The acquisition of humility requires struggle. Our natural inclination is to flee pain, and cling to our comfortable pride. When difficulties and humiliations come our way, we must embrace them as from God. The Lord knows what we need, and if we are to acquire true humility like

Behold The Face of God The Old Testament God was revealed to us by Christ Jesus. Prior to the incarnation of the Logos, God’s people were forbidden to make any image of Him, for no one had seen His face. Yet when Christ said to His disciples, “he who has

Evidence of Eternal Life Because Jesus conquered death with His death and Resurrection, we now have multiple accounts of the dead rising again that strengthen our faith in the impermanence of death. All of us will be raised at the Final Judgment, but already one of us has been taken

At Least Try All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). When we seemingly can’t stop the bad behavior that we confess over and over, almost like a litany, we are tempted to despair. Our captivity to this bad behavior seems permanent, and change, impossible.

Metaphysical Therapy Recovering from illness and injury often requires outside help if we wish to return to wholeness. I know this firsthand as I am many weeks into physical therapy from my own injuries and surgery. The road back to health takes effort, but I cannot do it alone. The

Abide Within Oneself Forests and mountains have always been associated with prayer for me and monks the world over. My first chapel was at the end of a hidden trail in a forest that was only a short walk down the beach from our home on Lake Pend Oreille. I’d

Proclaim The Gospel The Church Militant, which is the Church of Christ here on this earth, is in the midst of a battle. Our enemy is not one of flesh and blood, but one of darkness and evil. The survival of humankind is not dependent on the number of people

God’s Race In the Book of Acts we read that diverse expressions of languages were being spoken with the coming of the Holy Spirit. In Revelation we see a glimpse of eternity with men and women from every tongue, tribe, and nation making up the choir of eternal praise (Rev.

Conquer Delusion It is by leading a life of continual contrition and uninterrupted prayer that we will conquer all the delusions that we harbor in our hearts, and firmly resolve to stay the course even unto death. We must fortify ourselves in keeping up our courage when we are consumed