Orthodox Christianity / OrthoChristian.Com

Saturday, June 11/24, 2017. 3rd Week after Pentecost. Fast of the Holy Apostles.

Fish, wine and oil allowed.

Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas (1st c.).

St. Barnabas, ascetic of Vetluga (1445). Translation of the relics of St. Ephraim, founder of the Sts. Boris and Gleb Monastery (Novotorzhok) (1572). St. Arcadius, monk, of Vyasma (ca. 1592).

Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “It Is Truly Meet” (Axion Estin) (10th c.).

Commemoration of the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to a monk on Mt. Athos, and the revelation of the hymn “It Is Truly Meet” (Axion Estin) (982). 222 Chinese New Martyrs of the Boxer Uprising, at Beijing and other places: Hieromartyr Metrophanes Chang (Chang Tzi-tzung), his wife Tatiana, his sons John and Isaiah, Isaiah’s fiancée Maria, the church-school teachers Paul Wang and Ia Wen, and others (1900). St. Barnabas of Basa near Limasol on Cyprus.

Repose of the recluse Melania of Eletz and Zadonsk (1836) and Ivan Vasilievich Kireyevsky, philosopher and Patristic translator (1856).

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Uncovering the Truth: Head Coverings and Revisionist Biblical Interpretation

Uncovering the Truth: Head Coverings and Revisionist Biblical Interpretation Fr. John Whiteford Uncovering the Truth: Head Coverings and Revisionist Biblical Interpretation Fr. John Whiteford On what basis does Mark Arey present his novel interpretations as if they were the correct Orthodox understanding of this passage? Certainly not on the basis of the Fathers. Certainly not on the basis of how the Church has always understood this passage.

Reading between the lines of the article “Enhancing the Role of the Ecumenical Patriarch”

Reading between the lines of the article “Enhancing the Role of the Ecumenical Patriarch” Tamar Lomidze Reading between the lines of the article “Enhancing the Role of the Ecumenical Patriarch” Tamar Lomidze Dennis Menos believes that “the Ecumenical Patriarch needs to be elevated to the rank of “head” of the Orthodox East, with authority to act and speak for the entire Church” and that His Holiness “will need to be freed of all responsibility for serving also as the Primate of the Church of Constantinople”.

June 22, 1941: “To Conquer and Destroy”

June 22, 1941: “To Conquer and Destroy” Prof. Mikhail Frolov June 22, 1941: “To Conquer and Destroy” Professor Mikhail Ivanovich Frolov The instruction in military training for troops reads: “Remember the glory and the victory of Germany. You must kill exactly 100 Russians for your personal fame. You have neither a heart nor nerves—you don’t need them at war. Having killed pity and compassion inside yourself, you shall murder any Russian; don’t stop, evenit’s an old man, or a woman, a girl or a boy is standing in front of you. Murder! In this way you will save yourself from death, ensure the future of your family and win fame forever.”

Apostles fast

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Venerable Columba of Iona, Wonderworker

Commemorated: June 9/22

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Rating: 9,8|Votes: 8

Venerable Columba of Iona, Wonderworker

Commemorated: June 9/22

The founder of the great and famous monastery on Iona along with numerous other monastic communities and churches, St. Columba has for fourteen centuries been greatly venerated by many Christians as the enlightener of Scotland, a co-patron of Ireland and the spiritual father of a host of churches throughout Europe.

Latvians are Converting to Orthodoxy

The Latvian Orthodox Church is increasingly filling up with former Catholics and Lutherans

Grigory Shugaev

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Rating: 10|Votes: 19

Latvians are Converting to Orthodoxy

The Latvian Orthodox Church is increasingly filling up with former Catholics and Lutherans

Grigory Shugaev

“In the capital of Latvia the Orthodox churches are filled to capacity with Latvian parishioners. Every Wednesday, Latvian Lutherans and Catholics talk with Orthodox priests about how they can convert to Orthodoxy. In Latvia whole families are receiving the Orthodox faith.”

Soft-Pedaling Christian Morality: A Review of a Curious Review

Fr. John Whiteford

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Rating: 8,7|Votes: 15

Soft-Pedaling Christian Morality: A Review of a Curious Review

Fr. John Whiteford

Of course we should deal with people who struggle with that sin pastorally, just like we do people who struggle with alcoholism, adultery, drug abuse, or any other passion that is especially difficult to overcome. But if we fail to communicate what sin is, it is impossible for those whom we have confused to overcome sins that they do not recognize to be such.

The Orthodox Church and the Non-Chalcedonians: Part 2 Deification: Pope Shenouda and Matthew the Poor

Igumen Gregory (Zaiens)

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Rating: 4,5|Votes: 11

The Orthodox Church and the Non-Chalcedonians: Part 2 Deification: Pope Shenouda and Matthew the Poor

Igumen Gregory (Zaiens)

There is one more issue to consider which is central to the Orthodox concept of salvation, and that is deification. I will relate what I have learned from an Orthodox priest who is a university professor. This father is fluent in Arabic and has studied the Chalcedonian/Non-Chalcedonian positions.

A Greatly Troubled Heart

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Rating: 10|Votes: 6

A Greatly Troubled Heart

The Scriptures and Orthodox theology are clear that God is not just a super human being – God is not merely an omnipotent and omniscient human writ large. God is totally other, and whatever words we might apply to us humans – being, nature, person, existing – cannot then rightfully be applied to God.

A Divine, Immortal Regiment

Homily on the Second Sunday after Pentecost, of All the Saints who shonе forth in the Russian Land

Hieromonk Pavel (Scherbachev)

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Rating: 8,9|Votes: 7

A Divine, Immortal Regiment

Homily on the Second Sunday after Pentecost, of All the Saints who shonе forth in the Russian Land

Hieromonk Pavel (Scherbachev)

Today, when the holy Church celebrates the memory of all the saints who shown forth in the Russian lands, we prayerfully turn our spiritual gaze towards the hosts of warriors for the Heavenly King, the immortal Divine regiment.

Obedience in the Christian Life according to St. Paul

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Rating: 9|Votes: 12

Obedience in the Christian Life according to St. Paul

We tend to view obedience as a burden, but as we see in the Epistles of the great Apostle St. Paul, obedience is a necessary part of the Orthodox Christian life. But why is that?

The Orthodox Church and Non-Chalcedonians, Part One Christology/Ecclesiology

Igumen Gregory (Zaiens)

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Rating: 3,1|Votes: 15

The Orthodox Church and Non-Chalcedonians, Part One Christology/Ecclesiology

Igumen Gregory (Zaiens)

There are, however, many of both Chalcedonians and Non-Chalcedonians, who believe that all along through history, it was a language problem, a matter of semantics. However, St. John of Damascus knew their language, and he wrote against them. And if it was all along this language problem, then we would have to say that God made a mistake with the miracle He performed through the Great Martyr Euphemia at the Fourth Ecumenical council.

“Can There Be Anything Higher Than to Live in Love?”

On the Search for Faith, Holy Mount Athos, Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, and Orthodoxy in the U.S.

Prof. Nikos Stergiou, George Daliaris

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Rating: 10|Votes: 7

“Can There Be Anything Higher Than to Live in Love?”

On the Search for Faith, Holy Mount Athos, Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, and Orthodoxy in the U.S.

Prof. Nikos Stergiou, George Daliaris

I came to the conviction that behind everything in the world stands Divine providence. Nothing happens by chance. I rely on concrete data.

Filioquism is Arian Subordinationism Applied to the Spirit

Rating: 9,8|Votes: 13

Filioquism is Arian Subordinationism Applied to the Spirit

Recently reviewing some old Roman Catholic dogmatic manuals and catechisms, a strange position stood out to me which I had not previously seen.

“Faith is the Most Important Thing That God Wants From Us”

Igumen Michael (Bregvadze) On the Search for God, On Athos, and On Holy People

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Rating: 9,7|Votes: 10

“Faith is the Most Important Thing That God Wants From Us”

Igumen Michael (Bregvadze) On the Search for God, On Athos, and On Holy People

Fr. Michael met us in his monastery in the center of Tbilisi, in the Old City, on the banks of the Kura River. He spoke about a lot: how he came to God, and how he labored on Mt. Athos, of his meetings with the patriarch, with St. Gabriel (Urgebadze), and other interesting and edifying stories.

The Vision of Our Holy Father John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

St. John of Kronstadt

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Rating: 10|Votes: 26

The Vision of Our Holy Father John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

St. John of Kronstadt

The Holy and Righteous John of Kronstadt recalled this vision, which he had in January of 1901.

A Word From the Patriarch

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill

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Rating: 9,3|Votes: 11

A Word From the Patriarch

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill

The Cross procession is also a podvig. But contemporary man is educated as if no podvigs are necessary, that we need to live richly, to have and spend a lot of money, and enjoy life. In this false system of false values there is no place for podvig, and those who think this way not only never walk the Velikoretsk procession—they find it hard to even leave their homes.

Telling the Truth is a Revolutionary Act

Fr. James Guirguis

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Rating: 9,6|Votes: 17

Telling the Truth is a Revolutionary Act

Fr. James Guirguis

What is the beginning of sainthood? According to the Lord, it is the acknowledgement of Jesus Christ before others. How do we acknowledge our Lord and master on a daily basis before others? It is a really important question that is worthy of reflection and a thoughtful answer.

Recipes for Saving Families, from a Priest and a Psychologist

Archpriest Pavel Gumerov, Nadezhda Khramova, Farida Savelyeva

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Rating: 9|Votes: 7

Recipes for Saving Families, from a Priest and a Psychologist

Archpriest Pavel Gumerov, Nadezhda Khramova, Farida Savelyeva

Divorces are a real disaster of our times. Broken lives, the loss of any hope of building personal happiness, unhappy children who are very likely to imitate the behavior pattern of adults, the inevitable diminishing of the role of family and family values in the society—these are the most evident consequences of divorces.

Homily on the Sunday of All Saints

St. Luke, Archbishop of Crimea

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Rating: 10|Votes: 6

Homily on the Sunday of All Saints

St. Luke, Archbishop of Crimea

Innumerable and boundless like the sands of the great Sahara and Gobi Deserts are our contemporaries and those who lived before us. Who are they? What are there lives like?

Getting To Know the Old Believers: How We Pray

Vladimir Basenkov

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Rating: 9,3|Votes: 14

Getting To Know the Old Believers: How We Pray

Vladimir Basenkov

There are no longer long services and plangent, angelic singing in our city parishes, and icons of the Rublev school are found far from everywhere. But grains of these olden times, of this semi-monastic life have been preserved, by the will of God, and survived to our day in the Edinoverie (United Faith, Old Rite) parishes of the Russian Church.

Entering Hell on Pentecost – With Prayer

Fr. Stephen Freeman

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Rating: 9|Votes: 3

Entering Hell on Pentecost – With Prayer

Fr. Stephen Freeman

The cycle of prayers assaulting Hades reaches a climax on the day of Pentecost. On the evening of that Sunday, the faithful gather for Vespers. During that service, they kneel for the first time since Pascha. And in that kneeling, the Church teaches them the boldness of prayer, the cry of human hearts for God’s solace and relief.

St. Augustine of Canterbury, Evangelizer of England

Commemorated on May 26/June 9

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Rating: 7|Votes: 4

St. Augustine of Canterbury, Evangelizer of England

Commemorated on May 26/June 9

Saint Augustine was from Italy, and a disciple of Saint Felix, Bishop of Messana. Saint Gregory Dialogus chose him to lead a mission of forty monks to evangelize the people of Britain. They arrived at Ebbsfleet in Kent in 597.

Contraception and the Orthodox Church: Contemporary Theology and the Sources of Tradition

Tikhon Alexander Pino

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Rating: 9|Votes: 8

Contraception and the Orthodox Church: Contemporary Theology and the Sources of Tradition

Tikhon Alexander Pino

Modern apologists for contraception do not represent the mind of the Church. When they are aware of the teaching of the Fathers they either misunderstand it or dismiss it, whether in principle or in particulars.

“Abortion is Legalized Genocide”

Metropolitan Paul of Sisanion and Siatista

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Rating: 9,5|Votes: 19

“Abortion is Legalized Genocide”

Metropolitan Paul of Sisanion and Siatista

A few years ago, a young couple invited me over for a cup of coffee on one of the feast days. They had two children at that time...

Saint Bede of Jarrow

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Rating: 8,2|Votes: 5

Saint Bede of Jarrow

Saint Bede was a church historian who recorded the history of Christianity in England up to his own time. He was probably born around 673 in Northumbria. We do not know exactly where he was born, but it is likely that it was somewhere near Jarrow.

St. John the Baptist: Christian Courage

Priest Roman Savchuk

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Rating: 10|Votes: 4

St. John the Baptist: Christian Courage

Priest Roman Savchuk

We see in the image of St. John the Baptist a remarkable example of Christian courage. It is the courage to live in the presence of Truth, to witness to Him by his life, but to always remember that not our life has meaning, not our words or deeds, but the ability to be unnoticeable, to sacrifice even our own authority and reputation before Him.

A Wondrous Purity of Mind. Blessed Gerondissa Macrina

(1921–1995)

Olga Rozhneva, Olga Zatushevskaya

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Rating: 10|Votes: 10

A Wondrous Purity of Mind. Blessed Gerondissa Macrina

(1921–1995)

Olga Rozhneva, Olga Zatushevskaya

On June 4 we honor the repose day of blessed Gerondissa Macrina, abbess of the Panagia Hodigitria Monastery near Volos, Greece, and spiritual daughter of Elder Joseph the Hesychast and Elder Ephraim of Philotheos (and Arizona) (Moraitissa). Eldress Macrina acquired numerous spiritual gifts and was worthy of very lofty spiritual states.

How Do Christians Receive the Holy Spirit?

Fr. James Guirguis

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Rating: 9,9|Votes: 7

How Do Christians Receive the Holy Spirit?

Fr. James Guirguis

Today we celebrate the Holy Feast of Pentecost. We celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples and Apostles of Our Lord Jesus Christ. But what about us?