Category: The Morning Offering

“To whomever we give our heart, this person can harm us or abandon us. The spirits of wickedness are constantly putting evil thoughts into our feelings of love and preying on us. Divine love is boundless and all-encompassing, whereas we are attached to men and the lifeless things of this

Cremation versus the Orthodox Practice of Burial The first time I ever attended a funeral service where cremation of the body of the deceased had taken place was in Portland, Oregon, many years ago. An Episcopal priest friend had died and had requested his body be cremated. Walking into the

“Christians therefore ought to strive continually, and never to pass judgment on anyone—no, not upon the harlot on the street, or upon open sinners and disorderly persons—but to regard all men with singleness of intention and purity of eye, so that it may become like a fixed law of nature

Let My Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven When we closely examine our heart, we must see whether we are filled with a strong sense of self importance, or if we see ourselves as the least of all. If we think highly of ourselves, this sense

The Abbot responds to @nathanmcgowan7454 who asks: Father, how do you stay focused in prayer? My mind always drifts to other things and I have a hard time concentrating. Ask more questions in the comments below, and I will try to respond. Maybe your question will get featured in the

The Temptation Of Living Only For Today The almost universal temptation of our time is to be living only for the present moment. We want to enjoy ourselves now, relax and be comfortable now, have it all now. Our focus is, consequently, on a tiny slice of eternity. By focusing

Become like God: fully human. “Not too many years ago a young monastic aspirant went to Mount Athos. In talking with the venerable abbot of the monastery where he wished to stay, he told him, “Holy Father! My heart burns for the spiritual life, for asceticism, for unceasing communion with

We Must Judge No One But Ourselves In an age when “self-focus” is the rule of the day and where the ego seems to reign, it is hard for people to see the value of humility. Many people, from politicians to rock stars, seem to climb the ladder of success

This war will be our undoing, unless…

Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit The Divine Liturgy begins with the words, “Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages”. This kingdom