Author: Abbot Tryphon

Keeping unrest at bay Every day can bring about many events or problems that can make us feel unsettled. Yet if we want to keep unrest at bay, it is important that we prayerfully receive everything with the knowledge that God is watching over us, and that all will be

The Purveyor of Divine Revelation When we say that Christianity is a way of life, we are referring to the fact that the Church is the purveyor of divine revelation from our Creator. This divine revelation infuses us with a transformational power that lifts us up, changes us, and makes

Is there a place for alcohol in the life of a Christian? Although some Christians forbid alcohol, the Bible makes no demand for abstinence. The scriptures do condemn drunkenness and enslavement to wine (Ephesians 5:18; Titus 2:3), but it never says that tee-totaling is a better way to be obedient

The priest accompanies God’s people into the Kingdom Every priest who hears the confessions of his people knows that pain and suffering are a part of every persons journey to God. Some struggle with particular sins, while others suffer loneliness, or the pain of illnesses, or loss. These struggles are

Repentance is the renewal of life To be truly repentant means we free ourselves from all negativity, and bind ourselves to everything that is good and pure. As we grow in wisdom, we realize our sinful nature has separated us from the image of God, and we make every effort

Our sovereignty and the capacity to reject the will of God According to Saint Gregory Palamas, God has given us lordship over all the earth because of our capacity for sovereignty. With this sovereignty comes the responsibility to be good stewards of that which God has given us. Saint Gregory

How to end isolation In an age when families no longer eat dinner together, children watch TV, play computer games, and text message their friends from their bedrooms. When adults can be seen walking in our cities talking on cell phones. At a time in our history when people can

Children must be taught kindness at an early age More and more frequently we read about children taking their own lives, having reached a place where they would rather be dead than live another hour suffering from bullying. Too often parents and teachers have ignored the problem of bullying, dismissing

Forgiveness is the fruit of love This holy season of the Nativity of Christ is a time that brings family and loved ones together, often gathering for the only time during the year. Stress levels are often off the charts, as family members prepare to spend time with relatives who

Waging war against the flesh Since the eyes and the ears are the doors of the soul, an Orthodox Christian must not leave the body without attention. Unlike the religion of Gnosticism, which teaches the separation of soul and body, with the physical world being evil and something to be