“Instead of learning to live, people are learning to die” Bob Dylan. A reflection on the Div. Liturgy during these trying times. The Divine Liturgy not only teaches us how to live, but it is also the means whereby we truly live. We must understand that first and foremost we are “Ekklesia.” That is …
Continue reading The Divine Liturgy is the Heart of the Church
Introduction added on 3/25/20 - I originally penned this blog in response to ideas I encountered on the internet and blog-o-sphere. This piece is a response to the ideas of my peers in that realm. That is the sole intent. I am questioning some of the ideas put forth by my peers. It is a …
Continue reading “Social Distancing,” Desert Fathers, and Church Services
At current, even within Orthodox circles, the idea is being put forth that if I, as a person, truly cared about others I would stay at home. This staying at home includes forgoing attending church. Some are saying things like "don't try to be a hero." Others are proposing that staying at home is …
Continue reading Christians in Times of Epidemic, Then and Now
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” Deut. 31:6. Fear and panic are tools of the devil to manipulate humanity. When humanity “materializes,” that is lives for …
Continue reading The Coronavirus, Fear as Control, and Fearlessness
“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 …
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). …
The Inkless Pen 