My favorite photo of Hammi and me Monasticism in the World Monasticism within the tradition of the Orthodox Church has many expressions. Some are called to live in the wilderness as hermits, living the solitary way of life. Others, such as Saint Maria of Paris and Saint John of San
Detachment and the Life of a Monk Detachment from the world is not necessarily cutting off all social contact with people, or avoiding any exposure to or contact with things of the world in some sort of pharisaical obsession with keeping oneself ritually ‘pure’. The work of purification is an
Conspiracies and the Living of the Christian Life It is spiritually fruitless if we allow ourselves to be distracted by the delusions created by Satan that draw us away from the awareness of the presence of God. When we allow the thrall of conspiracy theories to fill us with fear,
The Struggle Against the Passions and Our Victory in Christ As we struggle with anger, gluttony, with judging others, sexual impurity and a myriad of others passions, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless. We find ourselves feeling defeated and tempted to give up the battle. Sometimes we even
All Goodness and Virtue Comes from God When we realize it is God Who accomplishes every virtue and good act in us, we can become better instruments for His actions in our lives. All goodness and truth comes from God, whereas we bring only our agreement to allow the Lord
The Monastery’s library and community room. Binding our Anger If we think we have to be slaves to anger we deceive ourselves. Anger is not a normal part of any one’s personality and as with any addictive pattern of behavior, it can be changed. As long as we continue to
I was thinking of Saint Peter the Fisherman Focus in all Humility How often we allow our minds to search in all directions, wondering what we should be doing or where we should be going. It is better to focus in all humility on the task at hand and trust
Dwayne Parsons, my younger brother 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
I’m staying here! () I’m spending a few days on Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced: pond-o-ray) in the panhandle of Northern Idaho. My niece Sarah and her husband Nicholas are expecting their second child in August (I’m already the proud granduncle of Maximos). They will be moving to Boston in October,
A Celtic cross given by Dr. Ken Bakken The Theological Vision of God and Natural Science Orthodoxy does not exclude from the theological vision of God the findings of natural science. Science and faith can be in concert with one another and our desire to reinstate our communion with God