Holy Tradition supports the proper interpretation of the Holy Scriptures Many evangelical protestants see Holy Tradition as standing in direct contrast to Scripture, as though Tradition is always relegated to “the traditions of men”. However, there are numerous references in Holy Scripture to Holy Tradition. For example: “Many have undertaken to
Let us pass on the gift of love My father was a golf pro in Spokane, Washington, during my grade and early middle school years, and the country club was the center of our family’s social life. My brother, Dwayne, and I use to play an average of 18 to
What about people who are not Orthodox? It is always a pity when people who claim to be Orthodox make judgements against fellow Christians. In the tradition of Orthodoxy, wherever we find beauty and truth, it is of God, and it is our calling, as Orthodox Christians, to rejoice when
Man’s participation in the uncreated energies of God Our Orthodox patristic tradition holds that it is through God’s own uncreated energies that we are able to participate in His own being, light, and glory. We can not know God through our own faculties, for God is beyond human comprehension. The
We should think upon our own death Saint Sisoes, the great ascetic, standing before the tomb of Alexander the Great, beheld the skeletal remains of one who was once covered in magnificent garments. Astonished, the saint mourned for the vicissitudes of time and the transience of glory, and tearfully proclaimed,
The original men in black 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 set apart from
Chaplains are the ones who are the presence of God in the midst of tragedy I am grateful to God for all the friendships I’ve formed with other chaplains during these past fourteen years of service as a police and fire chaplain, and am privileged to count among my friends
We must not become detached from our original goal If we are radically obedient to the Gospel, we can face anything, even extreme fear, and stay connected to the heart. If we are to avoid becoming hardhearted, we must keep ourselves focused on the goal of union with God, for
For the Christian, ownership must not become possessiveness If we view everything, be it a house, a car, a good income, a wonderful friendship, or a good education, as ours, we give in to the sin of possessiveness. If we are blessed with the joy and happiness that comes
The link between repentance and humility In an age when “self-focus” is the rule of the day, and where the ego seems to reign, it is hard for people to see the value of humility. Many people, from politicians to rock stars, seem to climb the ladder of success by