The Oregon Coast (click photo to enlarge) 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.
Thirty Years a Monk After almost thirty years as a monk, and nearing eighteen years in the priesthood, I am hard pressed to think there could be any other life for me. I am content. Living in community with my brothers, celebrating the divine services in the monastery’s temple, counseling
Godly Friends and Spiritual Progress It is easy to feel trapped by our bad habits. We don’t like certain behavioral patterns that have become habitual, and we feel helpless in our attempt to change. Growing as Christians is often fraught with failure, and we find ourselves stuck. Our spiritual progress
The Nativity Sermon by Saint John Chrysostom “I behold a new and wondrous mystery! My ears resound to the shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but loudly chanting a heavenly hymn! The angels sing! The archangels blend their voices in harmony! The cherubim resound their joyful praise! The Seraphim exalt
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
God Himself Appeared in the Flesh We Orthodox Christians who keep the ancient Church Calendar are approaching our celebration of the Nativity of Christ Our Lord. On January 7th we will all be gathering together in monasteries, chapels, churches, and cathedrals, to celebrate the Liturgy of the Nativity of Our
Never Converse with DemonsIn 1986 I spent fourteen days in retreat at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania. Staying in the monastic quarters, I had two weeks of wonderful fellowship with fellow monastics, worshiping in their temple, eating with them in trapeza, walking the trails through their forest, praying
Blessing the campus of Pacific Lutheran University Keeping one’s mind and heart in a good place Walking through life with a smile on your face and a song in your heart is the best way to keep your mind and heart in a good place. Life has many turns and
() We are joined with the cloud of witnesses When we say that Christianity is a way of life, we are referring to the fact that the Church is the purveyor of divine revelation from our Creator. This divine revelation infuses us with a transformational power that lifts us up,
We only think we can be of Christ and of the World “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). As