“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What will you give me if I deliver Him up to you?' And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.” Matthew 26:14-15. Whatever the means by which Judas came to the point where his heart was ripe to …
A Conflict of Wills
“They stumble at the word, being disobedient, in regard to that which they were appointed.” 1 Peter 2:8. Humanity is appointed to know God and, by grace, have fellowship with Him. Humanity was created for communion with God, this is its natural state. This state was corrupted by sin, which entered through the free choice …
Neo-Babel Ecumenism
“Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower, whose top will reach to heaven; and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the earth” (Gen. 11: 4). The goal of modern Ecumenism is global religious pseudo-unity; it is Anti-Church (Ecclesia), that is, it seeks …
Are We Christians?
They went out from us, but were not of us” 1 John 2:19. Every serious Orthodox Christian should be concerned about the current situation revolving around the Church in Ukraine. As I have eluded to elsewhere there are inevitable canonical consequences, yet the canons of the Church are in place to safeguard the Spirit of …
Schismatics, Whitewashed Tombs, and Ukraine
“He ... that hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now” 1 John 2:9. Clearly, True Christianity has doctrine, it has canons, it has good order, and so forth as the Scripture and Tradition instruct. Canons and doctrines are in place to protect and make evident the true revelation and encounter with Christ God. …
Continue reading Schismatics, Whitewashed Tombs, and Ukraine
Three Evils
“The three evils are: to seek wisdom of a sinner, to live the life of a sinner and to corrupt others by one's evil example. The two good things are to conform one's will to the Law of God; and to direct one's mind to meditate day and night on God's Law.” St. Nikolai Velimirovich …
You’re a Fundamentalist!
One of my favorite responses of those who are attempting to deconstruct the Orthodox Faith from within (lovingly called “liberal” or “progressive” Orthodox) when they are confronted with indisputable Scriptural and Patristic realities that clearly refute their secular “opinions” is – “your a fundamentalist!” Or, “That's a fundamentalist stance/argument!” Clearly, there is nothing more horrible …
The Medicine Man
Start the live stream, turn the volume high, Put on your best Sunday tie, Turn off your brain, the thinking kind; Get ready to receive a mass-produced mind, And clasp the hand of the Medicine Man He's so factual, all the specialists are his fan! He'll take you to a tolerant place And with soft …
A Sacrifice for Apostasy
“We must stand bravely.” Ss. Juventius and Maximinus. The essential truth and reality of Christian revelation are in no way dependent upon quantitativeness. The revelation of Christ Jesus, given once for all (cf. Jude 3), is itself the fullness of the Faith. It remains so, whether a vast multitude believes in it, or scantily few. …
Considering Fr. Schmemann
“Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” Jude 3. Fr. Alexander Schmemann is an inevitable figure of influence in 20th century Orthodoxy, most of all in America. His well-known name has arisen once again, this time in connection to an article in The Wheel (a periodical) entitled “Thicket of …
The Inkless Pen 