Our Toxic Environment The main speaker for our International Conference of Police Chaplains, was Samuel L. Feemster, a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent who was assigned to the FBI Academy. According to Mr. Feemster, our police officers are serving in a society that is filled with a toxicity that necessitates
A City without Police Would be a Hell of a Place The first time I ever visited the City of San Francisco, a friend took a photo of me on a city bus, with an ad showing just above me that read, “San Francisco Would be a Hell of a
Christos razhdayetsya! Slavite yoho! Kristos rozhdaetsya! Slav’te ego! Hristos se Rodi! Voistinu se Rodi! Almasihu Wulidah! Famajjiduhu! Today we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord, He Who came to the world to restore peace and love. May we war against evil and the self, fighting with the
The Saints are Alive in Christ JesusVigil 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 them
Nativity: December 25th or January 7th? Regarding the Church Calendar (also known as the Old Calendar, and the Julian Calendar), I am grateful that our monastery is part of a jurisdiction that has remained true to the Traditional Calendar. The move to the Papal Calendar was, to my mind, divisive,
The Royal Hours at Christmas All Divine Liturgies in the Orthodox Church are preceded by the chanting of the Hours services, consisting of psalms, hymns and prayers. But in the great cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, the Byzantine Emperor was present each year at the service beginning the
Mt. Rainier as seen from Vashon Island Vigilantly Exercise Virtue in the Coming Year It is a tradition among Americans to make a New Year’s Resolution, pledging ourselves to positive change in the coming months. We decide we’re going to lose weight, and set the loss of a certain amount
click on areal of monastery to enlarge The Call to Monasticism is all About Relationships 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
I want to greet all my readers as we begin the year 2013, with the words, “Glory to Jesus Christ, Glory to Him forever”. May this year be one of spiritual renewal for all of us, and may we use the allotted time God gives us profitably, and for His
There is no Salvation outside the Body of Christ Orthodoxy is all about community. The fierce individualism found in much of what claims to be Christianity is in opposition to the Orthodox understanding of faith. The Church as the Body of Christ is where we are united in Christ, becoming