Both Soul and Body Unlike angels, who are entirely spiritual beings, God has made each of us as creatures dwelling in a material world. To be whole, we must worship God both in body and soul. This teaching is central to our Christian faith and is an affirmation of the
More than Acquittal and Justification Salvation can not be explained in legalistic terms of acquittal and justification, for salvation is much more than simply being forgiven and getting into heaven. The close tie between faith and works, when it comes to the Orthodox view of salvation, is not about being
The Orthodox Practice of Standing for Worship Standing for worship has been the only acceptable posture for Orthodox Christians from the earliest of times. Through the discipline of standing we act as the faithful servants of the Lord, worshiping before the Throne. We recognize that the temple is not a
And the Quest for Humility Struggling with his pride, the monk focuses on bringing his own will into conformity with the will of God, through monastic obedience. This obedience is not limited to obeying the directives of his abbot, but taking up a standard of humility that takes seriously his
Returning to Where it all Began Because of my brother’s recent serious illness, I decided to spend time with Dwayne before the onset of winter, thus avoiding the snows that will soon make Snoqualmie Pass on I-90, perilous. This visit turned out to be one of the best I’ve had
The Ancient Orthodox Faith is Relevant for All Times and in All Places When a priest makes a concerted effort to relate to his young parishioners, by demonstrating a real interest in their lives, discovering what is important to them, and taking the time to actually instruct them in the
Joy is the Infallible Sign of God’s Presence Although we have no written evidence that Our Lord Jesus Christ laughed, I am personally convinced that he did. How could He not have shared in our humanity with perfection had he not had a sense of humor, and shared moments of
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. We adults need to remember is
And the Acquisition of Holiness As Christians, we know the struggle against the passions must be a daily battle, if we are to live according to biblical standards. This quest to defeat the passions is impossible without love, for a loveless heart desires nothing beyond supporting its own ego. The
Newly built storage barn Refrain from the Life of the Super Correct Driven by fear, there are people who leave the Church and head into schism. In Greece there are at least eighteen “Old Calendar” Orthodox churches who claim to be THE Church, not recognizing each other as canonical. In