Feast of the Holy Ascension! Ascension of the Lord, Troparion, Tone IV —Thou didst ascend into glory, O Christ our God, having gladdened Thy disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. And this blessing convinced them that Thou art the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. Kontakion,
Category: The Morning Offering
Our attitude has an impact that can keep us from growing spiritually. A bad attitude impacts the way we live, and hurts those around us, negatively influencing our family, our friends, and our church community. We must commit ourselves to keeping a positive attitude, for negative thinking will not make
Downtown Seattle as seen from the Water Taxi The Problem of Ethnic Purity Within the Life of the Church We Orthodox Christians, as a whole, are guilty of abandoning our Christ directed mission of making disciples of every nation, by preserving the needs of ethic groups (Russians, Greeks, Arabs, Serbs),
Aboard a Washington State Ferry Lasting Peace Found Only in Christ If we choose to blissfully move through life without thought for things spiritual, we will never find peace. The Kingdom of Heaven is our inheritance, and lasting peace can be found only in Christ. A life lived only for
Our Sixty Year Old Rhododendron Coming Against a Critical Spirit Fearing the loss of control, we construct a wall of defense around us, keeping authenticity at bay. Fearing rejection, we see ourselves as unlovable, and blame others. Knowing we are inauthentic, we flee from the truth by becoming critical of
Father Stefan Pavlenko and Abbot Tryphon Working towards gentleness of spirit, together with the use of the Jesus Prayer, is a good way to derail our tendency towards anger. With love in Christ, Abbot Tryphon Friday May 18, 2012 Fifth Week of Pascha. Tone four. Fast. Fish Allowed Photo: We
Yes, I’m a tree hugger! The Church is a Microcosm of the Universe “Everything that lives and breathes is sacred and beautiful in the eyes of God. The whole world is a sacrament. The entire created cosmos is a burning bush of God’s uncreated energies. And humankind stands as a
I am crucified with Christ In our life, every undertaking, every action, every thought, must be a reflect Christ in our life. The Lord will grant us the strength and ability to accomplish good works, and attain holiness, if we cooperate with His grace. Prayer alone is not enough, if
click on photos to enlarge Starting out your day with God Each and every day should begin with our thoughts turned towards God. At the very moment we open our eyes, we should be thanking the Lord for having slept through the night, safely, and give thanks for a new
Acknowledging Warts and Wrinkles If we do not live in repentance and humility, we clergy betray Christ, Whom we claim to serve. We must be willing to put aside all intellectual and romanticized notions of the Church, acknowledge the many warts and wrinkles and institutional flaws that have accumulated over