“And to the angel of the Church in Pergamos write ...” (Rev. 2:12). The historic church of Pergamos “was planted in the midst of a city extremely corrupted by paganism … In it there was a temple to the pagan god Aesculapius, the patron of physicians. Its sorcerers occupied themselves with medicine and offered great …
Continue reading The Church in Pergamos: Balaam is in Your Midst
With great joy today I received in the mail a copy of the Orthodox Word. One of the subjects in this issue is His Beatitude Met. Onuphry of Ukraine. I will start by encouraging anyone reading this to get a copy and read it, here is a link to the digital copy (hard copies may …
Continue reading Met. Onuphry, Ukraine, and Orthodox Unity in America (and throughout the world)
Below is a translation of a short encouraging word from Met. Luke of Zaparozhye. He is a hierarch in the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. His diocese is located in Western Ukraine, the area where the most intense trials and tribulations are occurring (please see "Orthodox situation in Ukraine" in categories for more on this topic). …
The message to the church of Smyrna is the shortest of the seven letters. “And to the angel of the Church in Smyrna write: “These things says the First and the Last, Who became dead and came to life ...” (Rev. 2:8). Also, see Rev. 1:17-18. Archimandrite Athanasios understands “angel” to refer specifically to the …
True Christianity is concerned with true underlying principles and reality, that is, what are the real factors, the real movers behind a situation? In the book of Revelation when the Lord speaks to the seven churches, He reveals to them the real force behind the immediate physical manifestation of persecution that some were suffering. He …
Continue reading The Power that Pulls the Strings of Anti-Orthodox Intrigue
Dear Readers, As I slowly continue to produce brief studies on the Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation, I wanted to provide you with the link to the extensive study by Archimandrite Athanasios of blessed memory. It is a voluminous work which seems to be firmly grounded upon the Patristic ethos. Link - Study …
Continue reading Extensive Study of the Book of Revelation in English
“To the angel of the Church in Ephesus write: 'These things says the One Who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One Who walks about in the midst of the seven golden lampstands” (Rev. 2:1). According to the Patristic understanding, the seven stars represent bishops and the lampstands the churches. Christ the …
Introduction. “Write these things which you saw, and the things which are, and the things which are about to take place after these things” (Rev. 1:19). In the opening pages of the most cryptic book of the New Testament, the book of the Apocalypse, or Revelation, Our Lord Jesus, the First and the Last, addresses …
Continue reading The Seven Churches of Revelation: A Message to the Church For All Time.
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments,” John 14:15. A true Christian is one who is striving to abide in the commandments of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. For the one tasting of the goodness of God, even just a little bit, the commandments become “good and light” (cf. Matt. 11:30). …
Once again Mr. Jim Jatras, who I've recommended in the past, has written a very perceptive article which deals with the "Western Campaign against Orthodoxy." I highly recommend taking the time to read it. The "enlightened" Western Powers will not tolerate anything that does not bow before their totalitarian doctrines. One is not free to …
The Inkless Pen 