Our faith must be our main priority Orthodoxy is by nature a faith that demands full participation and deep commitment, otherwise it becomes just another religion, devoid of salvific, transformational value. Our Orthodox life is an adventure, full of pitfalls and great heights. If we make our faith the primary
Category: The Morning Offering
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 the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. This kingdom is our
Going deep into the heart We all need a good dose of silent prayer each and every day. Finding that perfect place in your home that can become your cave, or prayer closet, will afford you that sacred space wherein you can go deep into the heart and connect with
Living our lives in total commitment Christianity is a religion of asceticism, instructing us to store up our treasures in heaven, where the benefits have eternal value. Throughout the New Testament we read of the importance of struggle, where focus on the acquisition of a humble and contrite heart is
Encountering the holiness and peace of the Ancient Church The very first time I entered an Orthodox church, I felt drawn to Her. There was a tangible, inner tug, and an overwhelming sense of peace, holiness, and awe, emanating from the very walls of the temple. The serving clergy were
Being empathetic allows us to see through the other persons eyes To be empathetic is to be more tolerant, for by being empathetic we can view the extenuating circumstances of other people’s lives. This means that we learn to seek a broader understanding of other people’s behaviors, because we’ve become
Anger must not be allowed to take root Most people, when angered by someone, think the best way to deal with the anger is by avoiding the person who offended us. The problem with this approach is that it allows the anger to take root in the heart, festering as
The Transfiguration of Christ is that pivotal moment Our Orthodox Christian theology assigns a great deal of significance to the Transfiguration, for this event is pivotal. It is that point where human nature meets God, and the meeting place for the temporal and the eternal, with Jesus himself as the
Avoiding this present darkness For those who embrace the enjoyment of partying and entertainment, all in an attempt to avoid the hardships and life struggles that make great souls, they will have failed to embrace the essential element that makes this life journey salvific. They will have avoided their service
When we conceal our sins from our confessor “And with that He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven’ (John 20:22-23)”. Some time ago I wrote an article on