Cremation versus the Orthodox Practice of Burial The first time I ever attended a funeral service where cremation of the body of the deceased had taken place was in Portland, Oregon, many years ago. An Episcopal priest friend had died and had requested his body be cremated. Walking into the
Let My Will be Done on Earth and in Heaven When we closely examine our heart, we must see whether we are filled with a strong sense of self importance, or if we see ourselves as the least of all. If we think highly of ourselves, this sense of personal
The Temptation of Living only for Today The almost universal temptation of our time, is to be living only for the present moment. We want to enjoy ourselves now, relax and be comfortable now, have it all now. Our focus is, consequently, on a tiny slice of eternity. By focusing
My friend, Koshin Cain, Abbot of the Puget Sound Zen Center, joined us for his first Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Kazan Icon The Link between Repentance and Humility In an age when “self-focus” is the rule of the day, and where the ego seems to reign, it
The Christian Response to Poverty Americans are witnessing the widest gap between the highest and lowest income families since officials began tracking the data a decade ago. As many conservative members of Congress continue to press for cutbacks in programs, such as food stamps, medical coverage, and housings subsidies, all
The Meaning of Salvation in the Ancient Church According to Protopresbyter George Metallinos, Dean of the Athens University School of Theology, “For we Orthodox the unique and absolute goal of life in Christ is theosis, our union with God, so that man – through his participation in God’s uncreated energy
Entering into the Silence All Orthodox Christians are aware of the importance of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, in our journey to God. These three practices are at the heart of the Great Lenten Fast. Prayer is our way of communicating with God on a daily basis, and fasting days (Wednesday
Metaphysical Philosophy and Pure Theology There are only a few Orthodox saints who’ve been given the honor of being called, “theologians”. Saint John the Theologian, and Saint Symeon the New Theologian, to give two examples, were declared Theologians by the Church, because their theology was the result of their having
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