Hieromonk Paul and Bishop George Leaving the ninety-nine for the one The work of the Church is to seek out the lost sheep, and bring them into the fold. The modern mission of the Church is to go out into the community and find those who are lost. Many who
The Saints are Alive in Christ Jesus Vigil lights are placed before the icons of the saints, according to Saint Symeon the New Theologian, as a way of showing that without the Light, Who is Christ, the saints are nothing. It is only as the light of Christ shines on
I’ve Never Met an Atheist! The young man announced at the beginning of a college class, that he was an atheist. I’d been invited as a guest lecturer, and had opened the talk with the observation that everyone has a nous that hungers for God. This young man took exception,
Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives “Our life depends on the kind of thoughts we nurture. If our thoughts are peaceful, calm, meek, and kind, then that is what our life is like. If our attention is turned to the circumstances in which we live, we are drawn into a whirlpool
Witnessing to the Love of Christ What is our responsibility, as Orthodox Christians, as regards those who do not live according to biblical morality? We first remember that we have fallen short of the glory of God, and say, like Saint Paul, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of
The Struggle for Peace Must Begin With Me After yesterday’s essay concerning the Orthodox priests who were part of a mob attack on a homosexual demonstration in the country of Georgia, I was reminded of a photo I have in my archives. Instead of leading a violent attack, and being
“We have all sinned and fall short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23).” We Orthodox often miss the mark in understanding and ministering to this world. We fail the words of Christ, “to love one another as God has loved us”, and forget we are charged by Our Lord
Living the Evangelical Life of the Gospels Monks are not necessarily holy, but by vocation are attempting to become holy. The world is constantly asking for compromise, but the monk tries to live a life that is an ancient ideal, where Christ reigns in the heart and the world is
Entrance to Monastery Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk said, “Do not think about the sins of your brother but about what in him is better than in yourself.” These words are powerful, and can be life changing if we take them as our own. Finding fault only in ourselves is always
Perilous Situation The Persecution of Christians in the Middle East It’s a pity there is virtually no meaningful or informative conversation taking place in the United States about the widespread persecution of Christians throughout the Middle East. Muslims in America scream and howl at the slightest provocations, yet in the