Pure theology does not come out of a philosophical search There are only a few Orthodox saints who’ve been given the honor of being called, “theologians”. Saint John the Theologian, and Saint Symeon the New Theologian, to give two examples, were declared Theologians by the Church, because their theology was
Category: The Morning Offering
We must guard our thoughts and keep pure our hearts As we are all filled with thoughts that flood our minds, let us consider each thought and decide whether it be our own, or those of the enemy of our salvation. If they be the latter they should be
Children learn love of God by the example of their parents Every Orthodox parent wants their children to grow up attending Sunday Liturgies and staying active in the life of the Church throughout their lives. Yet many parents don’t demonstrate the importance of having a personal relationship with God in
The Church transcends “private” interpretations The unique spiritual bond that exists between the Church, which is the Body of Christ, is bound with Christ, Who is the Word incarnate. This truth is the very reason the Church, from the earliest of times, has transcended all private interpretations, and the reason
Mustering passions against that which they claim does not exist As I view the onslaught of the crazed mindset of a world gone mad, I am saddened by a culture that has totally lost its way. Christianity has always had enemies, but in the past those enemies declared themselves by
The Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God According to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, Mary, having spent her life after Pentecost supporting and serving the nascent Church, was living in the house of the Apostle John, in Jerusalem, when the Archangel Gabriel revealed to her that
The Prayer Rule is the medicine that helps us progress on our journey to God One medicine for the heart, is the use of a “Prayer Rule.” This “Rule” is of the utmost importance, for the prayer rule helps develop the discipline we all need to progress, spiritually. It is
What to do when we feel isolated and lonely While on my pilgrimage to Alaska, I met a number of priests who serve isolated village parishes, many of whom expressed difficulty in overcoming a sense of loneliness. This sense of isolation is not reserved for those who live in tiny
Showing proper respect for those who have gone on before us Every time I walk in a cemetery, I look at all the outrageously expensive monuments and consider the immense amount of money not only spent on them but on embalming (creating a vast pool of embalming fluid under ground,
The enemy of faith is pride The absolute necessary element for salvation is faith. Faith alone will save us, for only faith brings us into communion with God. Faith is a free gift, for nothing we can do can save us. No good works can save us. Being a