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
First Responders to First Responders Chaplains are called to be for police officers, medics, and fire fighters, what these officers cannot be for themselves. Chaplains must be advocates for their police officers, before their chiefs, and with the community. Police Officers, by their vary nature, have to be tough, often
Federation of Fire Chaplains I’m two days into a four day Federation of Fire Chaplains International Conference, being held at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Seattle. Last night we held a memorial service at St. James Catholic Cathedral, honoring the fallen fire fighters and chaplains who lost their lives in
Just Whose Recipe is it, Anyway? One of the most powerful reasons for embracing Orthodoxy is to be found in the Church’s insistence that she holds to the evangelical and apostolic doctrine of the Ancient Church. In an age when everything is up for change, there is a certain security
The Limits of Human Reason and the Knowledge of God There is the seen, and there is the unseen, the material and the immaterial. That which is material can be scientifically examined and experienced, the immaterial can only be seen and experienced spiritually. These are two worlds that are only
Within the Fold but Without Love That our Orthodox Church possesses the Fullness of Truth is a given, yet in our weakness as believers, the obviousness of that Truth is often invisible to others. In our weakness as sinful people, we Orthodox clergy, as well as the laity, often fail
Heavenly Worship Must Enter the Heart The beauty of Orthodox worship is meant to lift us up, and connect us to the Heavenly Worship that is eternally taking place before the Throne of God. The very description of Heavenly Worship as found in the Book of Revelation is clearly an
The Acquisition of Virtue The struggle for the acquisition of virtue must be continuous, otherwise we are in danger of losing ground. To become virtuous, we must struggle every hour, and every day. Love in Christ, Abbot Tryphon Friday October 25, 2013 18th Week after Pentecost. Tone eight. Fast. By
Humility Requires Struggle Only through struggle can we acquire humility. Our natural inclination is to flee struggle, and cling to our comfortable pride. When difficulties and humiliations come our way, we must embrace them, as from God, for the Lord knows what we need. If we are to acquire true
Replacing Doubt with Faith In the Gospel narratives we read the Apostle Thomas told his fellow apostles he would not believe the Lord had risen from the dead unless he put his hand in the wounds of Christ. When He actually saw Jesus, he immediately said “My Lord and my