The quest for righteousness is not a part time job Teachers and parents routinely remind children of the importance of refraining from giving in to peer pressure, knowing that good behavior can often be undermined by the desire to fit in with their friends and school mates. Adults also need
When the Light of Christ is shrouded in darkness Each time I speak publicly about Orthodoxy, I try to share about the joy and healing that is to be found within the walls of the Church, and about the transformation and restoration of the human heart that can take place
The importance of honesty in discovering God for oneself As I approach my seventieth birthday I find myself spending an increasing amount of time on area campuses, and hosting growing numbers of young people making pilgrimages to the monastery. At an age when many of my contemporaries are grandfathers, or
The role of bodily suffering in the salvation of human kind Elder Ambrose of Optina Monastery said, “We should not forget that in our age of ‘sophistication’ even little children are spiritually harmed by what they see and hear. As a result, purification is required, and this is only accomplished
Pets as gifts from God Every evening I try to spend an hour or so in the library, sitting in front of the fire place. Our beloved Norwegian Forest Cat, Hammi, sleeps in the library/community room every night. Hammi is most happy when the entire monastic brotherhood is gathered together
The Falling Asleep of the Mother of God According to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, Mary, having spent her life after Pentecost supporting and serving the nascent Church, was living in the house of the Apostle John, in Jerusalem, when the Archangel Gabriel revealed to her that her repose
We are joined with the cloud of witnesses When we say that Christianity is a way of life, we are referring to the fact that the Church is the purveyor of divine revelation from our Creator. This divine revelation infuses us with a transformational power that lifts us up, changes
Our faith must be our main priority Orthodoxy is by nature a faith that demands full participation and deep commitment, otherwise it becomes just another religion, devoid of salvific, transformational value. Our Orthodox life is an adventure, full of pitfalls and great heights. If we make our faith the primary
Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit The Divine Liturgy begins with the words, Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. This kingdom is our
Going deep into the heart We all need a good dose of silent prayer each and every day. Finding that perfect place in your home that can become your cave, or prayer closet, will afford you that sacred space wherein you can go deep into the heart and connect with