“A priest without his cassock is a priest without redemption.” Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain An Orthodox priest should be the role-model of the Christian lifestyle and a beacon leading the people to the harbor of the Church and the Kingdom of God. Anything short of this will be
Therapeutic Tradition of the Church Most of us have been asked the question, ”are you saved?”, at least once in our life. Having its origin in the protestant soteriology (doctrine of salvation), this question has clearly become part of our American cultural lexicon. The question is often asked by Evangelical
Whom Do We See When We Look into the Face of Another? Our world is polarized in ways not seen in many generations. This polarization is brought closer to home because we now live in a nation that is far more cosmopolitan than in the past. Even small towns across
Tapping into the Noetic Memory of the Heart The heart does not only have a natural operation as a mere pump that circulates blood. In Orthodox patristic tradition the heart is the center of our self-awareness. Saint Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (+1809) calls the heart a natural and supernatural
The Use of Holy Water in the Orthodox Church Holy Water is typically kept in a font placed near the entrance of the church where it is available for anyone who needs it. Holy Water is often sprinkled on items or people when they are blessed, as part of the
The Communal Nature of Salvation Salvation is communal by its very nature. The fierce individualism found in much of what claims to be Christianity is in opposition to the Orthodox understanding of faith. The Church as the Body of Christ is where we are united in Christ, becoming part of
Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and the Son and 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 true home and
The Candles Represent the Light of Christ The Orthodox Church from its very inception has always used oil lamps (or lampadas) and candles during its worship and prayers. The burning of candles and oil lamps have always been the traditional source of lighting in God’s churches, and we must forgo