The saints are alive in Christ Jesus Vigil lights are placed before the icons of the saints, according to Saint Symeon the New Theologian, as a way of showing that without the Light, Who is Christ, the saints are nothing. It is only as the light of Christ shines on
Category: The Morning Offering
The spiritual life is an adventure full of pitfalls and great heights Our Orthodox faith must be something other than magic formulas and passed down ethnic traditions or our Orthodoxy will have failed us. The spiritual life is an adventure that is full of pitfalls and great heights. If we
It is impossible to love God while being a racist In the Book of Acts we read that with the coming of the Holy Spirit, diverse expressions of languages were being spoken. And in Revelation we see a glimpse of eternity with men and women from every tongue, tribe, and
Negativity does damage to the soul “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me (Job 3:25).” Negative speech contributes nothing to the heart but death, whereas receiving everything that comes our way with joy is the
Are these the End Times? The cultural and spiritual warfare that is taking place between the “Christian” West, and the Islamic Middle East, together with extreme climate change, have become a source of concern for many. Coupled with the polarization of the populous within the United States, and the mass
Receiving the power to live as a holy people Our world places a great deal of emphasis on being comfortable, and we tend to avoid anything that does not bring pleasure. If being open about our Christian faith invites ridicule, we remain silent. If keeping the fasting rules of the
Our good works help us gain God’s “likeness” in this life Salvation can not be explained in legalistic terms of acquittal and justification, for salvation is much more than simply being forgiven and getting into heaven. The close tie between faith and works, when it comes to the Orthodox view
Until this earthly life finishes the struggle between sin and righteousness continues “Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but stand your ground courageously. And assuredly, the angel who guards you will honour your patience (Saint John of the Ladder).” Out of the lower parts
Peacefully receiving all that comes our way 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 with over us, and that
And our struggle with pride Struggling with his pride, the monk focuses on bringing his own will into conformity with the will of God, through monastic obedience. This obedience is not limited to obeying the directives of his abbot, but taking up a standard of humility that takes seriously his