Darkness does not exist in its own right Our Orthodox Christian theology views evil not as a primeval essence that is coeternal and equal to God, but rather a falling away from good. Evil does not exist in and of itself, and was not created by God. Our Orthodox Church
Walking in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ Vashon is the largest of the southern most islands in the Salish Sea, surrounded by waters known as the Puget Sound. Eighty-five percent undeveloped forest, Vashon is about the size of Manhattan, New York, but with a rural population of only
The Church is the mother who nurtures It is important that we always remember, the Holy Spirit guides the Church. The early Christians worshiped in secret places, and were not able to have formal temples, yet as the Church gained her freedom, public places of worship were built. These new
Should we be concerned about infections or germs when receiving from a common spoon? A recent poll among Orthodox Christians reported that many voiced concern regarding the safety of receiving the Holy Gifts from a common spoon, worried it might expose them to germs, infections, or some disease. They were
A monastic as a Police and Fire Chaplain It has been a great blessing for me to have been serving as a police and fire chaplain for the past sixteen years. My interest in chaplaincy began when I was asked by a number of inmates to serve as their Orthodox
The Age of Enlightenment, and the fall of the West Without Christ, all things are permissible, to paraphrase Dostoevsky. There is the real problem this country and all ‘Western’ formerly Christian nations are facing today. As the last shreds of Christian morality and belief fall away, the reality of the
The restoration of the true self The Lord Jesus Christ was humble, meek and good, and with the help of the Lord we too can be humble. Fasting and prayer are the means by which God can change our hearts, but we must approach both with humility and purpose. Saying
On being a good father I’ll forever be grateful for the love and support I received from my father. My dad never let a day pass without assuring his two sons of his love and acceptance. Albert Parsons always imaged to his sons the importance of living an honest life,
Spiritual pain control or spiritual healing? Since the Church is the hospital for the soul, it is important we take full advantage of all the resources for healing found within the Church. Confession is the all important beginning for this healing process to begin. The grace imparted during a good
Complaining weakens our resolve If we are always complaining about how unfairly we are treated, we will have failed in our imitation of Christ, Who was abused by His enemies unto death. We should strive to reign with Our Lord by loving our enemies and never complain. Christ looked towards