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
Hell and Hate One of my favorite authors as a young man, was Thomas Merton, the famous Trappist monk. In the introduction to his work New Seeds of Contemplation he wrote: “Hell was where no one has anything in common with anyone else except the fact that they all hate
Bro. Theofil with fresh collard from our garden. We Must Guard our Hearts As we are all filled with thoughts that flood our minds, let us consider each thought and decide whether it be our own, or those of the enemy of our salvation. If they be the latter they
Aerial view of monastery () Closed Communion in the Orthodox Church When a stranger approaches the Holy Gifts during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy it is the norm in the Orthodox Church for the priest to ask the person to “kiss the chalice”. Not knowing if the person is
Hieromonk Paul, mowing the lawn Authority Comes with Responsibility The recent scandal revolved around Penn State University’s assistant football coach have brought to light an ugly secret. The sexual exploitation and abuse of children seems to have reach epidemic proportions in our society, and the arrest of a respected university
The Prince of Peace is the Victorious Conqueror Revolutions, wars of conquest, and battles between nations, are all the sad consequences of our fallen world. Death and destruction are the results of our having fallen from grace, and giving in to personal pride and arrogance, all in the face of