The Beauty of Orthodoxy I
Our view of Orthodox faith and worship is misconstrued – we think of it as dry, constraining, even bitter. To understand it, we need to go back to the grass roots – what is Orthodoxy? What are its main characteristics? This article is the first in a series on “The Orthodox Life.”To understand Orthodoxy and its main characteristics, we need to go back even further. Orthodoxy does not survive in a vacuum; it is the …
The World Needs Abba Moses
Since the tragic ruling of five judges on the United States Supreme Court this past Friday, I’ve observed many Christians living in something like a daze. Although the decision wasn’t unexpected, it’s now real and a part of everyone’s life whether they wanted it or not. People are anxious, wondering what the decision means for their parishes, their childrens’ education, and even their own job security.In the midst of the anxiety, God, Who is always …
Martin Luther’s Confession of Orthodox Christianity
In July 1519, Martin Luther, the founder of the Reformation which would ultimately give rise to what we call the Protestant churches, engaged in a debate with a famous Roman Catholic apologist named Johann Eck in Leipzig… and he confessed the truth of Orthodox Christianity!
How the Lord Chose His Twelve Apostles
Our Lord Jesus Christ spent the night in prayer, conversing with His Father and God in heaven in a way indescribable and beyond our powers of understanding, a way which is solely known to Himself. He thus makes Himself an example to us of that which is necessary for salvation, for He taught us in what way we too may rightly and blamelessly offer our prayers. He then came down from the mountain, and appointed …
A Story from the Travels of the Apostle Thomas
In light of the Feast of the Holy Apostle Thomas, which we celebrate today, we offer this beautiful story of how Thomas began to bring many Indians to the knowledge of God. It comes from the First Book of the Evergetinos. The great Apostle Thomas was placed by the Lord in the service of a businessman, Abban, as one very able in the art of construction. Together with the businessman Abban, St. Thomas arrived in …
Two Miracles of the Holy Epiphanios, Bishop of Cyprus
On this day, the Coptic Orthodox Church would have celebrated the Feast of the Holy Epiphanios, Bishop of Cyprus. Of course, our focus is on the celebration of the Resurrection of our Savior, so we do not remember him liturgically, but it is nonetheless meet to learn from his life insofar as we are able.The following is an excerpt from the Early Church historian Sozomen’s account of Epiphanios’ miracles.The Miracles of EpiphaniosEpiphanios was at this …
The Feast of the Great Syrian Ascetic, the Holy Simon the Stylite
On this day in the Coptic calendar, Pashons 11, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Simon the Stylite. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, he is known as Symeon the Stylite and his feast is celebrated on September 1. He was a 5th c. Syrian saint who is remembered for living as a hermit atop a pillar for an astounding 45 years.In the Coptic Synaxarion, the entry for the feast of his departure reads as …
Asking the Father in the Son’s Name
In the Holy and Divine Liturgy, we observe within many prayers the structure of supplicating and petitioning God the Father in the Name of God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps the most common example of this in the Anaphora of St. Basil is the Prayer of Thanksgiving in which we give thanks to God the Father “for every condition, concerning every condition, and in every condition.” At the end of this prayer, the …
Destructive Boredom
There is a useful sorrow, and a destructive sorrow. Sorrow is useful when we weep for sin, and for our neighbour’s ignorance, and so that we may not relax our purpose to attain to true goodness: these are the true kinds of sorrow. Our enemy adds [another type of sorrow]. For he sends sorrow without reason, which is something called acedia. We ought always to drive out a spirit like this with prayer and psalmody.Owen …
The Great and Holy Martyr George, the Prince of the Martyrs
This glorious and victorious saint was born in Cappadocia, the son of wealthy and virtuous parents. His father suffered for Christ, and his mother then moved to Palestine.When George grew up he entered the military, where he attained, in his twentieth year, the rank of tribune, and as such he was in the service of the Emperor Diocletian.When Diocletian began his terrible persecution of Christians, George came before him and courageously confessed that he was …