Father Moses, the monastery’s bread baker. Fitting the Workplace into Your Spiritual Life This blog was born out of an attempt on my part to aid a number of my spiritual children to begin their work day with a spiritual focus. I’d asked them to read the appointed Scripture readings for
Church as Hospital of the Soul Our Orthodox Faith defines sin as an illness that is in need of healing, not as a crime that requires punishment. The Church is a hospital for the soul whose therapists (priests) first sought therapy and then became the therapists. As a healing institution
Having Encountered Christ, Our Life Turns Direction In the story of the Magi we read of three wise men who, having seen a star in the east, travel to a desert cave, wherein they find the Child, laid in a manger by His Virgin Mother. Once they had beheld the
When Guilt Destroys Us The conscience is that gift God has bestowed upon us that tells us when we have sinned against Him, and against our neighbor. The conscience calls us to turn from our sin, and seek to change the patterns of behavior that have caused us to sin
Philosophers and Theologians 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 of their theology was the outcome of their having encountered
Your Brother? Coming Against a Critical Spirit Fearing the loss of control, we construct a wall of defense around us, keeping authenticity at bay. Fearing rejection, we see ourselves as unlovable, and blame others. Knowing we are inauthentic, we flee from the truth by becoming critical of others. We lie
Cannon Beach, Oregon The Guarding of the Heart Watchfulness has been described by Elder Ephraim of Philotheou as “the axe which shatters the large trees, hitting their roots. When the root is struck, it doesn’t spring up again.” A conscientious attention to our thoughts is an important tactic in spiritual
Chaplaincy: Manifesting God’s Love Following our Nativity Liturgy, I drove to Cannon Beach, Oregon, for the Northwest Regional Seminar of the International Conference of Police Chaplains. I’ve been coming to this conference, held during the second week of January, ever year. I am grateful to God for all the friendships
Glorify Him! “What shall we give you, O Christ? Each of the creatures brings you a gift of gratitude: the angels their song; the heavens a star; the wise men their gifts; the shepherds their admiration; the earth the stable; the desert the manger. We human beings give you a
The Condescension of God and the Deification of Man Those of us who observe the Julian Calendar are now about to complete the Nativity Fast, where we have abstained from meat, eggs, dairy products, anger, envy and other habits, for the sake of promoting the discipline the soul. We are