The holy mountain on Vashon Island Many years ago I spent a month in Greece, including ten days on Mount Athos. When I returned to the United States, via New York City, I suffered major culture shock. I found myself grieving for the loss of the simple life of the
The ultimate sickness Humankind’s ultimate sickness, is that of unbelief. This world is the place of preparation for our life in eternity, the place where we are prepared for the Kingdom that is to come. Within this world, Our Lord Jesus Christ established a hospital in which the medicine for
And do not be called teacher “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever
Anger must not be allowed to take root Most people, when angered by someone, think the best way to deal with the anger is by avoiding the person who offended them. The problem with this approach is that it allows the anger to take root in the heart, festering as
Leaving the ninety-nine for the one An important work of the Church is to seek out the lost sheep, and bring them back into the fold. The Church must go out into the community and find those who are lost. Many who were previously Orthodox, but failed to made a
The link between the Old and New Testament Orthodox temples have kept to the same form and function since ancient times. Using the Old Testament Temple model, Orthodox churches are divided into several courts or spaces peculiar to their function. The Holy Table, upon which is celebrated the Eucharist, is
Racism has no place in the life of a Christian It is important to understand that genetically, all humans are of but one race. Indians, Arabs, Jews, Caucasians, Africans, and Asians, are not different races, but rather, different ethnicities of the human race. God created all humans with the same
The kingdom that is our true home The Divine Liturgy begins with the words, “Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages”. This kingdom is our true home and our lives as Christians
The seen and the unseen, and the created and the uncreated 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
We must live our lives in total commitment Throughout the New Testament we read of the importance of struggle, where focus on the acquisition of a humble and contrite heart is paramount to what it means to be a Christian. The Lord Jesus Christ tells us that if we are