The Feast of Saint Tryphon, Abbot of Vyatka Please pray for me on this my Names Day. I honor my patron with his icon hanging on my icon corner in my study. I am sharing this homily by my friend Archpriest Basil Rhodes, rector of Saint Nicholas Church in Saratoga,
Living Orthodoxy in a Non-Orthodox World In this pluralistic society there are many Orthodox individuals who have found themselves sharing their lives with non-Orthodox family members. Sometimes these families are not even practicing Christians, so the struggle to keep to the traditions and practices of the Orthodox Faith can be
Bringing the Kingdom of God into this World The Gospel demands Christians usher the Kingdom of God into this world, not by political ideology, but by the individual Christian’s transformation of self. This command to usher in the Kingdom of God is not about neutrality in the face of evil,
The Call to Monasticism is all About Relationships The monastic vocation is a special calling from God that is all about relationships. It is a relationship that involves community (the monastic brotherhood), but primarily revolves around the monk’s relationship with God. Monks are not holy men who are living lives
The Ability to Express One’s Emotions, and be Empathetic to the Needs of Others When we are in our head, we are more judgmental, yet when we are in our heart, we become non-judgmental. Being critical of others is not an Orthodox trait, for being critical, whether of other people,
The Church’s Holy Tradition is our guide to the Holy Scriptures The Bible can only be understood through the interpretation of the Church, for the Holy Scriptures came forth from the Church. The reformers dumped the papacy only to replace that institution with themselves as the ultimate authority. Since reason
Taste the presence of Christ beside you We all need a good dose of silent prayer each and every day. Finding that perfect place in our home that can become our cave, or prayer closet, will afford us that sacred space wherein we can go deep into the heart and
And the Demon of Dejection Depression is one of the plagues of the modern age, overtaking many with it’s insidious poison, and ravaging many a life. The pain and suffering that comes with deep depression can infect those who surround the sufferer, for the depression of one person can spread
Heavenly worship must enter into the heart The beauty of Orthodox worship is meant to lift us up, connecting us to Heavenly Worship that is eternally celebrated before the Throne of God. The beatific vision granted Saint John, and revealed in the Book of Revelation, describes the connection between the
The preeminence of love is the core of our Christian faith Obedience is a central theme throughout the history of salvation. Without obedience to God’s commandments, there can be no salvation, for the nous (the eye of the soul) must be healed before we can be made whole. The role