The Orthodox Faith is nothing without transformation of life If our spiritual life is concentrated only on external practices and traditions, but does nothing to bring about real change, we have gained nothing. Too many people think as long as they keep the fasting rules, do their prayers, and attend
Voiding despair and despondency Despair and despondency must be avoided, for they are used by demons to make us feel hopeless. When we confess our sins before Christ’s agent (the priest,) we can leave with a joyful spirit, for our sins have been forgiven. Our repentance is the key to
Sharing the truth in a world devoid of hope If you wish to share the truth of the Orthodox Faith, and Christ Who is her head, you must give witness to the love of Christ by loving everyone. Without Christ, Orthodoxy is just another religion, devoid of the power to
Forgiveness is the fruit of love Our Lord Jesus Christ, while hanging on the cross, asked the Father to forgive his murderers because they did not know what they were doing (Luke 23:34). This was the fruit of love. If we immerse ourselves in God’s love and learn to love
The true state of repentance If we think we are repenting, while all the while dwelling on the perceived sins of others, we are not repenting. If we focus on the wrongs done to us by others, we are not in a state of repentance. True repentance happens only when
The Link between the Old and New Testament Temple 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,
Complaining disturbs the heart and distracts us from the Path If we make it a habit to avoid complaining, we will disarm the enemy of our soul, for the act of complaining is like adding kindling to a fire, for it stokes our passions, and our ego is made stronger.
The saints as models for our lives Our Orthodox Christian life is not designed to be invented as we go, for by the very nature of the Church we are instructed to use as our model of living, the lives of the saints that have gone on before us. Their
The aggressive secularization of America As an American I have watched with sadness, the eroding of our Christian values and standards of living. When I was in grade school, each day was begun with the reading of the Bible, broadcast over the intercom system (yes, we had the technology when
We are both soul and body Unlike angels, who are entirely spiritual beings, God has made each of us as creatures dwelling in a material world. To be whole, we must worship God both in body and soul. This teaching is central to our Christian faith and is an affirmation