Orthodox Christianity

Friday, September 21/October 4, 2024. 15th Week after Pentecost. Fast Day.

Wine and oil allowed.

Apodosis of the Exaltation of the Cross. Apostle Quadratus of the Seventy (ca. 117). Uncovering of the relics of St. Demetrius, metropolitan of Rostov (1752).

Hieromartyr Hypatius, bishop of Ephesus, and his priest Andrew (730). St. Daniel, founder of Shuzhgorsk Monastery (Belozersk) (16th c). St. Joseph, founder of Zaonikiev Monastery (Vologda) (1612). Sts. Isaacius and Meletius, bishops of Cyprus. Martyrs Priscus of Phrygia, Eusebius, Nestabus, Zeno, and Nestor the Confessor, of Gaza (4th c.) Synaxis of the Saints of Uglich.

New Hieromartyrs Alexis Stabnikov, archpriest, of Perm (1918) and Maurice (Poletaev), archimandrite, of Yuriev-Polsky (Vladimir) (1937).

Martyr Eusebius of Phoenicia (2nd c.).

Repose of Priest Dumitru Staniloae of Romania (1993).

See the full calendar

Ukrainian Church Crisis

Was Jesus a Zealot?

Was Jesus a Zealot? Fr. Lawrence Farley Was Jesus a Zealot? Fr. Lawrence Farley There is not a shred of evidence in the epistles or the earliest history of the Church to sustain the notion that Jesus was beginning a Zealot movement or that His apostles expected Him to come back soon and overthrow Rome.

The Life and Death of the Hieromartyr Ilarion Felea

The Life and Death of the Hieromartyr Ilarion Felea Fabian Seiche The Life and Death of the Hieromartyr Ilarion Felea Fabian Seiche He was buried without a cross in an unmarked grave. The priest and professor Ilarion Felea was crowned with the halo of martyrdom.

When Fr. Ilarion Felea Died

When Fr. Ilarion Felea Died Fr. Ioan Bărdaş When Fr. Ilarion Felea Died Fr. Ioan Bărdaş All 5,000 political prisoners of Aiud, assisted by 400 Orthodox priests, prayed according to the rite: “With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Thy servant, Priest Ilarion...”

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Publications

On Our Prayer Requests

Julia Balayants

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

On Our Prayer Requests

Julia Balayants

We know what we want, but we don’t know if it’s good for us, and we don’t know what God wants, but we know that it’s good for us.

“We must strive to live according to the New Testament”

Archpriest Darko Đogo from Republika Srpska talks with students of the Sretensky Theological Academy

Sretensky Monastery

“We must strive to live according to the New Testament”

Archpriest Darko Đogo from Republika Srpska talks with students of the Sretensky Theological Academy

Archpriest Darko Đogo, Doctor of Theology, Professor at the Orthodox Theological Faculty of St. Basil of Ostrog (University of East Sarajevo, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbian Orthodox Church), talks with Moscow seminarians about Serbian Church life, the Church in North Macedonia, Russian-Serbian relations, the New Testament, and more.

God Gives Prayer to Him Who Prays: Selected Sayings of St. Hilarion of Optina

St. Hilarion of Optina

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Rating: 5|Votes: 20

God Gives Prayer to Him Who Prays: Selected Sayings of St. Hilarion of Optina

St. Hilarion of Optina

In the pure writings of the Holy Fathers, we see that he who desires to cleanse his heart of the passions must call on the Lord for help—this is so. We cannot say the Jesus Prayer without our thoughts being plundered. With beginners, God does not demand undistracted prayer: it is acquired with much time and labor. As the writings of the Holy Fathers say: "God gives prayer to him who prays,” thus we must nevertheless continue to pray, orally, and with the mind.

St. Hilarion of Optina (1805-1873)

Commemorated September 18/October 1

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Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Rating: 9.6|Votes: 7

St. Hilarion of Optina (1805-1873)

Commemorated September 18/October 1

St. Hilarion was a skilled spiritual physician. He taught people who were suffering to go over their whole previous life from the age of seven, to recall forgotten unrepented sins, in which were often hidden the reason for a spiritual illness.

The Demons and the Cat, or How a Couple Started Going to Church

Irina Dmitrieva

Coming to Orthodoxy

The Demons and the Cat, or How a Couple Started Going to Church

Irina Dmitrieva

Scary-looking and furry, it simply paralyzed me with its gaze, so I couldn’t move from fear. On top of that, my throat was dry with fear.

Cleansing the Heart and Mind Through Repentance

Strength of Spirit, Part 11

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Cleansing the Heart and Mind Through Repentance

Strength of Spirit, Part 11

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

The most perfect and greatest thing a man can desire and achieve is drawing near to God and abiding in solitude with Him.

Bearing Our Cross as We Follow Christ

Sermon on the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross

Archpriest Maxim Kozlov

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Bearing Our Cross as We Follow Christ

Sermon on the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross

Archpriest Maxim Kozlov

Let us dwell on this sentence: Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Luke 8:34).

The Serb Boban, Max the Dog, and Their Chalet in Sar Planina Mountains

Notes from Kosovo and Metohija

Orthodoxy Around the World

The Serb Boban, Max the Dog, and Their Chalet in Sar Planina Mountains

Notes from Kosovo and Metohija

There have been no clashes on nationalistic grounds in Brezovica: They have lived and continue to live peacefully. No one here is surprised when a Serb helps his Albanian neighbor or vice versa.

The Banner of Victory and Faith

A Homily for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

The Banner of Victory and Faith

A Homily for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov)

The Cross was given to us as a sign on our foreheads, just as Israel was given circumcision. By the Cross, we the faithful are distinguished from the unfaithful.

The Word of God Is an Immeasurable Treasury

Metropolitan Serafim (Joanta)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

The Word of God Is an Immeasurable Treasury

Metropolitan Serafim (Joanta)

The Book of Psalms, more than any other book of the Bible, is a concentration of praise, thanksgiving and petition to God.

Donbass: “We must not allow hatred to reign in our hearts”

A talk with Nun Zosima (Khomyakova) from the Dormition Monastery of Sts. Nicholas and Basil the Great

Suffering Church

Donbass: “We must not allow hatred to reign in our hearts”

A talk with Nun Zosima (Khomyakova) from the Dormition Monastery of Sts. Nicholas and Basil the Great

Even after seeing the life of the monastery under siege, the suffering of the refugees, monks and nuns, she nevertheless gave our coordinates to those who want to destroy us. Even after seeing the children, seeing that there are no military personnel here, and after shedding a tear…

Attention, Christians!

Priest Tarasiy Borozenets

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Attention, Christians!

Priest Tarasiy Borozenets

What makes faith living? Attention and determination to live up to what you believe in.

On the Monastic Life

Strength of Spirit, Part 10

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

On the Monastic Life

Strength of Spirit, Part 10

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

The monastic life is arduous, filled with sorrows and ascetic struggles. Therefore, people of the world rarely understand it.

Apostasy, Chastisement, and Repentance; the Incarnation; the Serpent’s Revenge; Seeing the Father’s Unchanging Love

The Gospel of Adam, Abel, Abraham and Jesus. Wounds of love in Eden and Calvary. Part 5 of 5

Fr. Joseph Gleason

Theology

Apostasy, Chastisement, and Repentance; the Incarnation; the Serpent’s Revenge; Seeing the Father’s Unchanging Love

The Gospel of Adam, Abel, Abraham and Jesus. Wounds of love in Eden and Calvary. Part 5 of 5

Fr. Joseph Gleason

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all in perfect unity, and have always been in perfect unity. They love us. They have always loved us.

Abraham’s World, His Sacrifice, and the Passover Lamb

The Gospel of Adam, Abel, Abraham and Jesus. Wounds of love in Eden and Calvary. Part 4 of 5

Fr. Joseph Gleason

Theology

Abraham’s World, His Sacrifice, and the Passover Lamb

The Gospel of Adam, Abel, Abraham and Jesus. Wounds of love in Eden and Calvary. Part 4 of 5

Fr. Joseph Gleason

Having turned their backs on Egypt’s gods, and having slain lambs and bulls — two of the most sacred animals in the Egyptian religion — God’s people were set to live a new way, loving God and loving their neighbor, following the two greatest commandments.

A Few Words on the Calling For Monastic Life

Hieromonk Eutychius

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

A Few Words on the Calling For Monastic Life

Hieromonk Eutychius

Most sincere Orthodox Christians have faced this difficult question at some point in their lives: whether to go to a monastery, or to live in the world.

“Wisdom hath builded her house.” The Mother of God and her Holy Parents, Joachim and Anna

Protosingel Ieremia

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Rating: 8|Votes: 4

“Wisdom hath builded her house.” The Mother of God and her Holy Parents, Joachim and Anna

Protosingel Ieremia

No sinner, no matter how great, should not despond, should not lose hope if Mother of God defends him—for she will not desert him.

The Silence of the Theotokos

Strength of Spirit, Part 9

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

The Silence of the Theotokos

Strength of Spirit, Part 9

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Let us listen to the silence of Mary and learn from her! What does this incomprehensible spiritual labor mean? That Mary is a perfect vessel of grace.

On Cultivating a Prayerful Spirit

Strength of Spirit, Part 8

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

On Cultivating a Prayerful Spirit

Strength of Spirit, Part 8

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

True Christians are always quickly heard by the saints because they are of the same spirit.

Two Brothers, Two Sacrifices, and The Strategic Lie

The Gospel of Adam, Abel, Abraham and Jesus. Wounds of love in Eden and Calvary. Part 3 of 5

Fr. Joseph Gleason

Theology

Two Brothers, Two Sacrifices, and The Strategic Lie

The Gospel of Adam, Abel, Abraham and Jesus. Wounds of love in Eden and Calvary. Part 3 of 5

Fr. Joseph Gleason

This is the world into which Abraham was born, of a nation steeped in pagan worship and human sacrifice, surrounded by nations which were equally deceived.

The Forbidden Fruit, and the Gift of Sorrow

The Gospel of Adam, Abel, Abraham and Jesus. Wounds of love in Eden and Calvary. Part 2 of 5

Fr. Joseph Gleason

Theology

The Forbidden Fruit, and the Gift of Sorrow

The Gospel of Adam, Abel, Abraham and Jesus. Wounds of love in Eden and Calvary. Part 2 of 5

Fr. Joseph Gleason

As a loving Father, God permitted them to face the challenge of death, because He knew it would aid them on the quest for humility, repentance, and spiritual healing.

In Search of Chonae, the Place of Archangel Michael’s Miracle

Vasilisa Phillips-Pokhil

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

In Search of Chonae, the Place of Archangel Michael’s Miracle

Vasilisa Phillips-Pokhil

The Archangel Michael appeared in front of the church, stopped the flow of water with the sign of the cross, and then striking his staff on a stone he cut it into two.

The Gospel of Adam, Abel, Abraham and Jesus

Wounds of love in Eden and Calvary. Part 1 of 5

Fr. Joseph Gleason

Theology

The Gospel of Adam, Abel, Abraham and Jesus

Wounds of love in Eden and Calvary. Part 1 of 5

Fr. Joseph Gleason

In Genesis, we find this beautiful marriage between Adam and Eve. And in Revelation, we find the marriage supper of the Lamb, celebrating the mystical union between Christ and the Church.

Why is the Rapist Guilty, but an Unborn Infant is Punished?

The Story of a Rape Survivor Who Refused Abortion

Alexandra Gripas

Coming to Orthodoxy

Why is the Rapist Guilty, but an Unborn Infant is Punished?

The Story of a Rape Survivor Who Refused Abortion

Alexandra Gripas

I didn’t want to have an abortion. Some unknown force as if led me towards the church. I had my first confession at the age of eighteen.

Vladyka was Devoted to the Mission of the Montreal Icon and Loved Brother Jose

Memories of Bishop Basil (Rodzianko) and Brother Jose Munos-Cortez

Orthodoxy Around the World

Vladyka was Devoted to the Mission of the Montreal Icon and Loved Brother Jose

Memories of Bishop Basil (Rodzianko) and Brother Jose Munos-Cortez

The main and constant miracle was the effect presence of the icon on people in the who were uplifted, and sometimes just brought to a renewal of their faith.