The Divine Liturgy – The Hymn of the Seraphim

Below the reader will find my translation from the Russian of sermon number 19 by St. Seraphim (Zvezdenski), On the Divine Liturgy. The preceding sermons may be found by clicking here. We are reminded of the reality that the Divine Liturgy is a Divine revelation, that is it is not ultimately the creation of man, …

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There is no place for despair for a Christian on earth

Words and consolation from our sweetest Lord Jesus come in various ways. This past week I encountered a rather tumultuous situation, in the midst of which two dear priests (I believe unbeknownst to each other) shared this letter by St. Justin Popovich with me. Although I fall short, it brought words of consolation to me. …

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You may not, not kiss the Icon

For Orthodox Christians, what does it mean to properly venerate an icon? Are there required physical actions of Orthodox when venerating an icon? Can one simply venerate it in one's heart and forego outward physical greetings? Many people are already familiar with the theological teaching behind the use of icons as proclaimed especially in the …

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Green Shepherds for the Global Fleecing

“Cursed is the person who has hoped in humankind and who will lean the flesh of his arm on him and his heart is removed from the Lord,” Jeremiah 17:1 The “climate change” agenda, as it is expounded by Government agencies, foundations, corporations, and so forth is much more about the control of humanity than …

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Climate Change, Elite Powers, and Christianity

I remember back to my elementary school days in the 1980s, I had a sweet bowl-cut, knee-high socks – yes, white with colored stripes on the top – plaid shorts and a long underwear shirt under my tee-shirt. Yes, I was bold enough to mix plaid and stripes. Sometimes I think the 90's Grunge movement …

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Christianity and War

Here is the second part of a portion of St. Nikolai Velimirovich's work entitled, War and the Bible. As I noted in the preface to the first part, “I am already invested in the labor of directly translating the sermons of St. Seraphim (Zvezdenski), On the Divine Liturgy (in which translation I sit with the …

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The Divine Liturgy Conquers Hades

Below the reader will find my translation from the Russian of sermon number 18 by St. Seraphim (Zvezdenski), On the Divine Liturgy. The preceding sermons may be found by clicking here. St. Seraphim reminds us that the only way to rise up from the darkness that surrounds our world and us is through the worship …

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Rome, Constantinople, Kyiv, and the Union of Man

“Just as the disruption of war can create new circumstances favorable to peace … so, too, can ecclesial conflicts create new circumstances for unity. At the end of 2022, divisions in global Orthodoxy have rarely been so deep. That paradoxically offers new possibilities for ecumenical progress,”1 proclaims a prominent Roman Catholic publication, The National Catholic …

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