The journey to God begins with the first step The Church has guidelines governing the many periods of fasting for her people. Additionally, she has prescribed the morning and evening prayers as aides in our struggle for holiness, and transformation of life. Keeping a prayer rule and fasting rules, helps
Not about rules and formulas The Lord Jesus Christ desires that each of us be joined together in unity within the confines of His Church. This union of all who confess Christ as true God and true man, and who are united as one body in Him, have as their
Only heavenly things are of an eternal nature In our fallen nature we naturally seek things that lead to earthly happiness. The Devil leads us in false directions, and allures us through things that are transitory in nature, such as riches, honors, and earthly amusements. Because he is the father
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
When God seems to distance Himself from us There are those times in our lives when God seems distant, even absent from you. These are usually times when your faith seems weak and you struggle to believe God really cares for you, or perhaps you begin to question whether God
Centers for spiritual healing, and transformation of life Monastics are an integral part of the Church and should not be seen as independent of the Church Universal. Monks are bound by the same Gospel as other Christians and need to avail themselves to the missionary and pastoral needs of the
Spiritual work and physical work The compartmentalization of the work week can wreak havoc on the inner life. It is easier to keep your prayers, spiritual reading, and focus on Christ, reserved for the weekend. Like so many, you struggle to keep spiritually grounded while at work. So many jobs
Community is the essential element Christianity is a communal faith, one that requires it’s followers to be actively involved with others. The Church’s worship is communal, and salvation itself is a corporate act, one that necessitates interaction with others. One is not “saved” in a vacuum, but as part of
Great Hieromartyr Gregory pray to God for us In 1821, on Pascha, the Feast of Feasts, the Resurrection of Christ, the Moslem Sultan, Mahmud II, ordered the murder of the Oecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Gregory V, First Among Equals of the Bishops of the Orthodox Church, in reprisal for the
And the importance of frequent communion Eternity is an everlasting banquet (the Divine Liturgy) that takes place in the heavenly realm. Every time we participate in the Divine Liturgy we are transported into a place where there is neither time nor space, and participate in that very banquet. As we