Hieromonk Nikolai (Sakharov) Authority of the Church If she be true to herself, the Church acts with an authority that is grounded in love. She holds within her realm the authority to make her people the children of God. She has the authority to forgive, and the capacity to love.
Fasting Suggestions FAST from self-concern and FEAST on compassion for others. FAST from discouragement and FEAST on hope. FAST from lethargy and FEAST on enthusiasm. FAST from suspicion and FEAST on truth. FAST from thoughts that weaken and FEAST on promises that inspire. FAST from shadows of sorrow and FEAST
Embracing Absolute Truth In an age when many people think truth is relative, the knowledge that there is such a thing as absolute truth, is comforting. The freedom that comes with the knowledge that we are able to embrace teachings that are a continuation of an unbroken line dating back
Good Deeds and VaingloryIf the performance of good deeds are done in order to attain personal benefit for oneself, or to receive the praise of others, it falls under the sin of avarice, vanity, and greed. Anyone who performs good deeds for such purposes is guilty of sinful pride, and
Lenten Pastoral Conference () Holding on to Guilt and Shame There are many people who cling to memories of past sins, holding on to guilt and shame, reliving things long ago confessed, as though they happened yesterday. They struggle with regrets, often revisiting shame as though they were archeologists, digging
The Capacity to Forgive and the Capacity to Love The capacity to forgive is directly related to the capacity to love, and it is in our act of forgiving others, that we find forgiveness. For it is in the turning away from our own self-concern, and self-will, that we
Thinking Upon our Own Death Saint Sisoes, the great ascetic, who stood before the tomb of Alexander the Great, beheld the skeletal remains of one who was once covered in magnificent garments. Astonished, the saint mourned for the vicissitudes of time and the transience of glory, and tearfully proclaimed, “The
Created with Freewill One of the primary differences between Islam and Christianity has to do with the basic view of the nature of God. Islam teaches total surrender to a God who demands submission. There is no invitation to enter into a relationship, freely, nor is there room for an
Let us not Judge our Neighbor If we dare to judge our neighbor, we will bring judgement down upon ourselves, for the sins by which we censure our neighbor, are our own sins. With love in Christ, Abbot Tryphon Monday March 26, 2012 Fifth Week of the Great Lent. Tone
Holy Virgin Cathedral, San Francisco, CA Your Support of the Monastery is Greatly Appreciated On behalf of the holy brotherhood, I want to thank all of you who have been donating towards the support of the monastery, either through PayPal, or by mail. These are difficult economic times for everyone,