Orthodox Christianity

Sunday, December 8/21, 2025. 28th Sunday after Pentecost. Nativity Fast.

Fish, wine and oil allowed.

St. Patapius of Thebes (7th c.).

Apostles of the Seventy Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar, and Onesiphorus (1st c.). Holy Martyrs of Africa: 62 priests and 300 laymen martyred by the Arians (477). Martyr Anthusa at Rome (5th c.). St. Cyril, founder of Chelmogorsk Monastery (Karelia) (1367).

St. Valerius, bishop of Trier (3rd c.).

See the full calendar

Ukrainian Church Crisis

Thanksgiving is an Essential Part of Spiritual Life

Thanksgiving is an Essential Part of Spiritual Life His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Thanksgiving is an Essential Part of Spiritual Life Homily on the Gospel of Luke 17:12–19, on the healing of the ten lepers His Holiness Patriarch Kirill The believer first gives thanks to God, and in the light of this thanksgiving asks the Lord for His blessing and help in life and in every good work.

“Ambrose for Bishop!”

“Ambrose for Bishop!” Alexandra Kalinovskaya “Ambrose for Bishop!” Alexandra Kalinovskaya St. Ambrose’s sermon had a profound effect on his contemporaries. The saint became one of the greatest preachers and teachers of his age.

A Miracle at Sea, or a Life Rescued by Prayer

A Miracle at Sea, or a Life Rescued by Prayer Irina Dmitrieva A Miracle at Sea, or a Life Rescued by Prayer Irina Dmitrieva I don’t know whether I was asleep or awake, but a small, gray–haired old man with a bald patch came into the barn and said, “Cheer up, Christina, why are you so sick?... the Lord wants you to live longer.”

The Nativity Fast

All articles on this theme

News

‹ ›

Publications

Sermon on the Feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

Hieromonk Pafnuty (Fokin)

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Sermon on the Feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

Hieromonk Pafnuty (Fokin)

His kindness was gracious—granted to him by God for his pastoral zeal, it was combined with prudence and cheerfulness, and filled with the willingness to defend the faith.

Following the Star of Bethlehem. The Spiritual Meaning of the Nativity Fast

Ariadna Nefedkina

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Following the Star of Bethlehem. The Spiritual Meaning of the Nativity Fast

Ariadna Nefedkina

The Nativity Fast is a direction of our souls, the path of grateful anticipation of the Savior.

St. Sabbas the Sanctified and the Struggle Against Heresy

0 0

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

St. Sabbas the Sanctified and the Struggle Against Heresy

We could tell of so many miracles of the saint that it is difficult to decide which of his miracles are most worthy of admiration.

Faith Through Trials

Testimony of Miraculous Healings by the Prayers to the Venerable Agapitus the Unmercenary Physician of the Kiev Caves

Elena Belovitskaya

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Faith Through Trials

Testimony of Miraculous Healings by the Prayers to the Venerable Agapitus the Unmercenary Physician of the Kiev Caves

Elena Belovitskaya

The incorrupt relics of the venerable saint have rested there for almost a thousand years, but he hears prayers as if there wasn’t a millennium dividing him and those who pray at his tomb today...

Great Martyr Barbara, the “Patroness of Artillery”

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Great Martyr Barbara, the “Patroness of Artillery”

When the masons were finishing the tower in her father’s absence, they pierced two windows in the wall, and Barbara—who had secretly embraced Christianity—ordered them to make three, as a visible confession of faith in the Holy Trinity.

To Grow Strong or to Give Up: There is no Other Option

Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

To Grow Strong or to Give Up: There is no Other Option

Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko)

God does not say, “Just wait, and someday I will help you.” No. He says: “I am already here. Fear not; be of good courage.”

How to Help a Relative If He’s “Not All There”

Conversation with Psychotherapist Andrey Butko

Elena Nasledysheva

Orthodoxy Around the World

How to Help a Relative If He’s “Not All There”

Conversation with Psychotherapist Andrey Butko

Elena Nasledysheva

Illnesses connected with damage to the brain are unequivocally not a direct consequence of sin.

A Beacon of Love and Warmth for the Vast Tundra

Ministering in Russia’s Northernmost Port

Hieromonk Joasaph (Kurakulov)

Churches and Monasteries

A Beacon of Love and Warmth for the Vast Tundra

Ministering in Russia’s Northernmost Port

Hieromonk Joasaph (Kurakulov)

Liturgy is a common work—I’m sure of it. Some amazing people, some amazing helpers have gathered around me.

Let’s All Go to Heaven!

Archpriest Andrew Lemeshonok

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Let’s All Go to Heaven!

Archpriest Andrew Lemeshonok

No need for sentimentality, no need for any human feelings, moods, conditions. We face a question: to live or not, to be or not to be.

On the Rich Young Man

Discourse on the 30th Sunday After Pentecost. Luke 8:18–29.

St. Philaret of Chernigov

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

On the Rich Young Man

Discourse on the 30th Sunday After Pentecost. Luke 8:18–29.

St. Philaret of Chernigov

Does the Lord ask too much? What is there that the Lord has not the right to require of our hearts? All that you have belongs to Him and ought to be consecrated to Him.

Sermon on the Feast of St. Andrew the First-Called

Hieromonk Nazary (Rypin)

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Sermon on the Feast of St. Andrew the First-Called

Hieromonk Nazary (Rypin)

The example of the holy Apostle Andrew tells us that the focus of our life, its core, should be faith in Christ, the hope of the salvation of our souls, the hope that Christ did not just come into this world to save man, but that He came to save each one of us.

“Orthodoxy will be preached and spread as these fateful days unfold”

Orthodoxy Today

“Orthodoxy will be preached and spread as these fateful days unfold”

In this part of our interview, Conrad Franz talks about his own path to Orthodoxy, Orthodox media, the demographics of the Church in the US, and the conversion blooming deep in the heart of Texas.

My encounter with St. Clement, or my path to God

Vadim Prokopenkov

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

My encounter with St. Clement, or my path to God

Vadim Prokopenkov

One night, I woke up from a bright light. A feeling of immeasurable joy penetrated my whole being. An old man of short stature, engulfed in the golden glow, or rather, radiance, was looking at me…

Orthodox Attitude Toward AI: Between Anxiety and Hope

Priest Tarasiy Borozenets

Orthodoxy Today

Orthodox Attitude Toward AI: Between Anxiety and Hope

Priest Tarasiy Borozenets

Any technology is subject to moral evaluation: does it destroy human dignity, substitute living relations, or infringe on the freedom of the personality?

A Zealous Servant of the Holy Trinity

Alexandra Kalinovskaya

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

A Zealous Servant of the Holy Trinity

Alexandra Kalinovskaya

The bloodthirsty executioners carried the infirm eighty-one-year-old elder out on a stretcher and sent him to the Taganka Prison. Interrogations lasted several weeks, but the courageous soldier of Christ did not give a single testimony.

Blessed Are the Merciful

Priest Tarasiy Borozenets

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Blessed Are the Merciful

Priest Tarasiy Borozenets

Every act of mercy that we do for our neighbor we do for Christ personally.

The Days are Evil. Save Your Soul Before It Perishes

Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

The Days are Evil. Save Your Soul Before It Perishes

Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko)

When God is at the center, everything else falls into place.

Ask, and It Shall Be Given You

On a contemporary miracle of St. Innocent of Irkutsk

Irina Dmitrieva

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Ask, and It Shall Be Given You

On a contemporary miracle of St. Innocent of Irkutsk

Irina Dmitrieva

Liudmila’s sister had told her that that day was the festive service in honor of St. Innocent of Irkutsk, and that she should necessarily bow before his holy relics with her prayer requests. “He’s like that—he’ll definitely help you!” she exclaimed at the end of their conversation.

How to Spend the Nativity Fast in Joy and Not in Despondency?

Priest Alexei Taakh

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

How to Spend the Nativity Fast in Joy and Not in Despondency?

Priest Alexei Taakh

Fasting is not for despondency, but for a joyful victory over yourself, over your passions.

Elder Gabriel (Bunge): I deeply admire the Ukrainian faithful under Metropolitan Onuphry

Orthodoxy Today

Elder Gabriel (Bunge): I deeply admire the Ukrainian faithful under Metropolitan Onuphry

The 84-year-old elder, who holds a doctorate in history, receives regular information about the situation in Ukraine through the Union of Orthodox Journalists.

Orchestra of Bells: Hearing the Symphony in the Peal of Bells

Natalia Malakhova

Churches and Monasteries

Orchestra of Bells: Hearing the Symphony in the Peal of Bells

Natalia Malakhova

Bell ringing is not merely a part of church services, but a special language through which the inhabitants of Ancient Rus communicated.

Greatmartyr Catherine: a Good Example of Christian Upbringing

Archimandrite Diodor (Didkovsky)

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Greatmartyr Catherine: a Good Example of Christian Upbringing

Archimandrite Diodor (Didkovsky)

It is reckless to teach children many skills and sciences while neglecting their upbringing in the commandments and teaching of our Lord and Savior.

What Love There Was Then!

It’s Difficult to Live in a Monastery, but Salvific, Part 2

Abbess Olympiada (Baranova)

Churches and Monasteries

What Love There Was Then!

It’s Difficult to Live in a Monastery, but Salvific, Part 2

Abbess Olympiada (Baranova)

How we loved Mother, how we all wanted to do something nice for her, to at least make her smile.

We Have to Strengthen Genuine Faith

Schema-Archimandrite Mikhail (Krechetov)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

We Have to Strengthen Genuine Faith

Schema-Archimandrite Mikhail (Krechetov)

All the truths that are given to us in the Gospel, that the Church presents to us in the Apostolic Epistles, in the Church’s typikon, speak of one and the same thing: that saving your soul, and even more so the souls of others, takes time and struggle.

It’s Difficult to Live in a Monastery, but Salvific

Part 1

Abbess Olympiada (Baranova)

Churches and Monasteries

It’s Difficult to Live in a Monastery, but Salvific

Part 1

Abbess Olympiada (Baranova)

Abbess Olympiada shared her story about her spiritual mother and her experience of the continuity of the traditions of Russian female monasticism.