Category: The Morning Offering

Monasteries are Centers for Spiritual Healing Monastics are an integral part of the Church and should not be seen as independent of the Church Universal. Monks are bound by the same Gospel as other Christians and need to avail themselves to the missionary and pastoral needs of the Church, as

The pacemaker was successfully implanted. After two hours in surgery I was taken to recovery, where I was informed I had to lay I my back for at least four hours. It will have been at least 24 hours before I have a meal. Thank you for your prayers. With

Prayer Request I’m being admitted to Swedish Medical Center Cherry Hill Campus in Seattle Monday morning for a cardioablation and pacemaker implant. Please keep this sinful old monk in your prayers. My blog articles will continue, if it please God, on Wednesday of this week. With love in Christ, Abbot

True Peace is the Way of the Cross In an age that seems to be forever witnessing wars between nations, and civil wars within nations, peace seems to be something that is about as possible as the alchemy that would turn metal into gold. Peacemakers struggle to find peaceful solutions

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 Link Between Repentance and Humility 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 by

When Guilt Destroys Us The conscience is that gift God has bestowed upon us that tells us when we have sinned against Him, and against our neighbor. The conscience calls us to turn from our sin, and seek to change the patterns of behavior that have caused us to sin

Theology is not about speaking of God, but encountering Him Evagrius Ponticus wrote that “If you are a theologian, you will pray truly. And if you pray truly, you are a theologian.” (Treatise On Prayer, 61). There are only a few Orthodox saints who’ve been given the honor of being called