Giving our loved ones the gift of Orthodoxy through our witness We who have embraced Orthodoxy, naturally want to share it with friends and loved ones who are important parts of our lives. As we’ve experienced the Ancient Faith preserved into the modern age, we naturally want those who are
We should not remain static Anyone who is Orthodox knows that no Orthodox church is ever really finished. From the grandest cathedral to the simplest village church, there is always change taking place. Either a new icon is introduced to the church, or a new fresco is completed. Grander vestments
We must live our lives as though they are With the polarization of the American political scene, the increase of deadly terrorist attacks around the world, and the mass shootings we read about on an almost daily basis, increasing numbers of Christians have been talking about the possibility we may
The proper attire for the House of God The Church is our home, a place where we should feel comfortable, and at ease. It is also God’s house and is a temple set aside for worship of the Holy Trinity. Although times have changed and we have become a very
Everyone will spend eternity in God’s presence According to Saint Gregory of Nyssa, heaven and hell are not about location, but about relationship. God is everywhere, and He did not create a heaven for some, and a hell for others. If we love God, His fire will be a comforting
The similarities between having a trainer and a spiritual father Just after my graduation from college I moved to Portland, Oregon, where I worked at various jobs, including waiting tables in an upscale restaurant (to this day, I’m a good tipper), bartender in a small Irish pub (I’m one quarter
The necessity of a pastor’s freedom to preach the truth The fear of being labeled “political” has sidelined many a priest from injecting the Church’s biblical teachings into the life of the American scene. Sermons that were one day seen as simply preaching Gospel morality, are now seen as the
Metaphysical philosophy and pure theology There are only a few Orthodox saints who’ve been given the honor of being called, “theologians”. Saint John the Theologian, and Saint Symeon the New Theologian, to give two examples, were declared Theologians by the Church, because their theology was the result of their having
And the state of unrest The passions that create a state of unrest in our hearts cause us to forget the real purpose of our life, which is union with God. Saint Basil the Great tells us we cannot approach the knowledge of the truth with a disturbed heart. Conflict,
Putting the blame in the right place “A humble and spiritually active man, when he reads the Holy Scriptures, will refer everything to himself and not to another.” Saint Mark the Ascetic We all have a natural tendency to lay blame on others, when in truth we must blame only