Stability of Place and Personal Growth An Elder said: “Just as a tree cannot bear fruit if it is often transplanted, so neither can a monk bear fruit if he frequently changes his abode.” In an age when people change addresses as often as those in past generations changed their
How do we find God in an unbelieving world? God is a merciful God, quick to forgive, quick to show mercy, quick to embrace us when we turn to Him. In all of eternity our God chose to create humankind in His image and likeness, offering His creatures the opportunity
In our Smugness and Pride we ask God to Prove Himself to Us Asking for miracles in order to believe betrays a sort of smugness on our part, sort of like asking for an expensive gift from a prospective friend, before considering their overture for friendship. It could hardly become
Kissing the Hand of the Priest is all About Christ The kissing of the hand of the priest is not about the man, but rather about Christ. It is much like the kissing of an icon, which is not about the veneration of paint and wood, but about the archetype
The Link between the Old and New Testament Temples Orthodox temples have kept to the same form and function since ancient times. Using the Old Testament Temple model, Orthodox churches are divided into several courts or spaces peculiar to their function. The Holy Table, upon which is celebrated the Eucharist,
The Gifts of the Lord Abound “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (I Peter 3:15).” If we are attentive to all
We only think we can be of Christ and of the World “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). One
We Must Publicly Commit to Living Lives in Repentance We’ve entered an age when families no longer eat dinner together, children watch movies on their laptops, play computer games, and text message their friends from their bedrooms. Adults can be seen walking in our cities text messaging on their cell