My longtime friend, Hieromonk Mark Our Home Grown Philanthropic Selves As any history buff knows, these times we are living in can sometimes seem like reruns. News reports are filled with stories of wars, disasters, dictators, attacks on the innocent, increased crime, and the ever present persecution of Christians in
Patriarch of Coptic Church, Dead at 88 It was with great sadness that I heard the news of the death of His Holiness Pope Shenouda, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. I had the great honor of sitting next to him, many years ago, during a banquet given in his
We Are All in This Together As we struggle in this life, it is good to remember that we are all together. We find our place of silence, where we encounter God, but even in this place set apart, we are together. In our journey to God, our common goal
click on photos to enlarge The Importance of Preparing for the Divine Liturgy That the Church requires us to prepare to receive the Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ, prior to the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, by saying the Pre-communion Prayers, is a given. Although not
Sharing Orthodoxy with the staff of Trinity Lutheran College The Struggle for Holiness We are powerless to change those bad habits that dominate our lives without help from God. However we may attempt to change behavior, we can not do battle with the passions unless we surrender ourselves in humility
Father Moses making a cover for the Holy Table Neither Self-esteem nor Self-loathing Humility does not require we think poorly of ourselves, nor be given over to self-loathing. Just as we must not be over-lauding ourselves, we must not sink to a state of self-loathing, for both states have their
The Idolatry of Self-esteem Among the contributors to self-worship, is the possibility of falling into a form of idolatry associated with self-esteem. It is easy to fall into this form of idolatry, since our society has placed a great deal of emphasis on the need for self-esteem. The modern religion
The Militant Attacks on Christianity Western European and American Christianity is experiencing an increase in the attacks of militant neo-atheists and devout secularists. Following the Roman Catholic Church’s battle against same-sex marriages in Great Britain, the British government decided to stand against two women who are attempting to take their
The Good Side of Being Ill “…There are times when illness is better for sinners than good health, because it helps them towards salvation and blunts their inborn evil impulses. Inasmuch as it repays the debt of sins by means of suffering, it makes them able to receive healing of
Human Justice or Divine Justice In an age when so many seek justice, it is good to remember that true justice comes only when our communion with God has been restored. When we humble ourselves before the Lord, and do not seek the justice of men, or honor bestowed by