Orthodox Christianity

Thursday, October 25/November 7, 2024. 20th Week after Pentecost.

No fast.

Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius the Notaries, of Constantinople (355).

St. Tabitha, the widow resurrected by Apostle Peter (1st c.). Martyr Anastasius the Fuller, at Salona in Dalmatia (3rd c.). St. Martyrius, deacon, and St. Martyrius, recluse, of the Kiev Caves (13th-14th c.).

St. Matrona (Vlasova) the Confessor, of Diveyevo (1963).

St. Front, bishop of Perigueux (2nd c.). Martyr Miniatus of Florence (251). Sts. Crispinus and Crispinianus, Romans, martyred under Diocletian at Soissons (289). Martyrs Valentine and Engratia, at Sepulveda (Spain) (ca. 715). St. George, bishop of Amastris (ca. 805). St. Macarius, bishop of Paphos on Cyprus.

See the full calendar

Ukrainian Church Crisis

Orthodoxy In the Arabian Peninsula. Part 2

Orthodoxy In the Arabian Peninsula. Part 2 Matthew Hartley Orthodoxy In the Arabian Peninsula. Part 2 St. Gregory of Omirits, St. Isaac the Syrian, St. Abd al-Masih Matthew Hartley A Christian presence of any sort is greatly in the minority throughout the Arabian Peninsula.

Holy Great Martyr Arethas and Those With Him

Holy Great Martyr Arethas and Those With Him Orthodoxy In the Arabian Peninsula. Part 1 Holy Great Martyr Arethas and Those With Him Orthodoxy In the Arabian Peninsula. Part 1 Matthew Hartley The beginning of a Christian presence on the Arabian Peninsula dates to Apostolic times.

An Atheist's Prayer: On the Methodology of Finding God

An Atheist's Prayer: On the Methodology of Finding God John (Amir) Azarvan An Atheist's Prayer: On the Methodology of Finding God John (Amir) Azarvan One of the most interesting ironies that I have encountered in my research is the presence of self-identified atheists who pray.

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Publications

Lessons from the Brother of the Lord

Fr. James Guirguis

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Rating: 10|Votes: 25

Lessons from the Brother of the Lord

Fr. James Guirguis

As a change of pace today I thought I would take some time to tell you about Saint James the brother of the Lord and some of his work.

“Weep Not!”

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

“Weep Not!”

“Weep Not!”—these words contain all of Fr. Gabriel, who suffered and endured so much for the sake of Christ and others.

Russia’s Duty To the World. Homily on the Feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

Hieromartyr John Vostorgov

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Russia’s Duty To the World. Homily on the Feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

Hieromartyr John Vostorgov

Under the banner of Orthodoxy, with the Heavenly protection and blessing of the Mother of God, we will carry out our service on all paths of life.

The Rich Man, Lazarus, and Nutrition

Father Irenaeus Williams

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

The Rich Man, Lazarus, and Nutrition

Father Irenaeus Williams

In this posting I will depart from the typical commentary one would read about the rich man and Lazarus.

“All Will Be Fine!” How Elder Gabriel Miraculously Saved a Man’s Life

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

“All Will Be Fine!” How Elder Gabriel Miraculously Saved a Man’s Life

When I came home, I was horrified to learn that my nephew—for whom I had been very worried at that time and for whom I had been praying hard to all the saints, including my beloved Elder Gabriel—had been in terrible accident. I instantly remembered the car crash on the site where I had met the elder, and I went all cold.

Miracles Through the Prayers of St. Gabriel (Urgebadze)

Stories for the feast-day (repose) of St. Gabriel of Samtavro

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Miracles Through the Prayers of St. Gabriel (Urgebadze)

Stories for the feast-day (repose) of St. Gabriel of Samtavro

“Mama! Mama!” little Alyosha shouted. Xenia froze and turned around slowly. Tears flowed and flowed down her face. She took Alyosha into her arms and cuddled him.

Ioan David, the Shepherd of God

Part 2. The greatest theology is to know God

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Ioan David, the Shepherd of God

Part 2. The greatest theology is to know God

This was where not only lay people, such as simple peasants from the nearby villages, but also monastics, came for advice, prayers and strength in the last years of his life.

Ioan David, the Shepherd of God

Part 1. Inedible sheep?

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Ioan David, the Shepherd of God

Part 1. Inedible sheep?

All his life, brother Ioan was neither a priest nor a monk, but a simple shepherd.

St. Seraphim (Chichagov) and His Literary and Theological Heritage

Strength of Spirit, Part 16

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

St. Seraphim (Chichagov) and His Literary and Theological Heritage

Strength of Spirit, Part 16

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Vladyka was distinguished by his many talents, which were used for the glory of God.

“Most priests remain in the priesthood and are quite happy”

A talk with Priest Alexei Shishkin of Kirov. Part 2

Priest Alexei Shishkin

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

“Most priests remain in the priesthood and are quite happy”

A talk with Priest Alexei Shishkin of Kirov. Part 2

Priest Alexei Shishkin

This theme raises the question of what an Orthodox Christian should be like in certain circumstances. He must be Orthodox: an Orthodox Christian on a trolleybus, an Orthodox walking down the street, an Orthodox entering a church, an Orthodox working. What makes him different from other people is that he makes efforts to fulfill the commandments of God, to pray, and to turn to God with his heart.

“The Path of Holiness Is Never Closed to Anyone in Any Circumstances”

A talk with Priest Alexei Shishkin of Kirov. Part 1

Priest Alexei Shishkin

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

“The Path of Holiness Is Never Closed to Anyone in Any Circumstances”

A talk with Priest Alexei Shishkin of Kirov. Part 1

Priest Alexei Shishkin

A real Christian remains one everywhere—in everyday life, in communication with a stranger; a seller or a buyer, a boss or a subordinate. For a Christian everything is subordinated to the same Gospel law, which is the basis of his spiritual life.

Purity of Heart and Mind

Strength of Spirit, Part 15

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Purity of Heart and Mind

Strength of Spirit, Part 15

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Christian education, once begun, must continue in childhood, adolescence, and youth.

Passions and the Struggle Against Them

Strength of Spirit, Part 14

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Passions and the Struggle Against Them

Strength of Spirit, Part 14

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Let no one dream of being good and serving God as he should unless he rids himself of self-pity and fights not only against great passions, but also against small ones.

Don’t Forget the Most Important Things!

Ariadna Nefedkina

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Don’t Forget the Most Important Things!

Ariadna Nefedkina

There is a place for God even in the most turbulent flow of life.

Every Man Must Guard His Heart

Strength of Spirit, Part 13

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Every Man Must Guard His Heart

Strength of Spirit, Part 13

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

The success of spiritual struggle, true repentance, and correction of our shortcomings depends on the habit of listening to and looking closely at the movements and desires of the heart.

Repent, Confess, Commune

Fr. James Guirguis

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Repent, Confess, Commune

Fr. James Guirguis

The Lord in speaking this parable reminds us that we have a part to play in our own salvation.

Sermon on the Feast of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God

Bishop Pakhomy of Pokrovsk and Nikolaevka

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Sermon on the Feast of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God

Bishop Pakhomy of Pokrovsk and Nikolaevka

Commemorating this holy icon, we turn to the Mother of God, asking Her to protect us from troubles and give us strength. But do we fully understand what it means to entrust ourselves to Her care?

“How Much Longer Will We Have to Humble Ourselves?”
or How humility helped us in difficult situations

Alexandra Gripas

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

“How Much Longer Will We Have to Humble Ourselves?”
or How humility helped us in difficult situations

Alexandra Gripas

We were in utter despair. Only my grandmother tried to calm us down and said, “If the Lord allows this, we must humble ourselves and hope for the mercy of the Lord.”

The Venerable Poet on the Prose of Life

Deacon Pavel Serzhantov

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Theology

Rating: 4|Votes: 2

The Venerable Poet on the Prose of Life

Deacon Pavel Serzhantov

There are considerations of both high and more ordinary things in St. Symeon’s hymns. These reflections put the mundane into a spiritual perspective, prompting me to think about who I am, and whether I have found my place.

Synaxis of the Saints of Optina

Commemorated October 11/24

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Rating: 7|Votes: 6

Synaxis of the Saints of Optina

Commemorated October 11/24

Although the beginning of monastic life in Optina monastery dates to at least as early as the sixteenth century, it is most known for its tradition of spiritual eldership in the tradition of St. Paisius (Velichkovsky) of Moldavia, which flourished there in the nineteenth century—particularly in the monastery’s Skete of St. John the Forerunner. This pleiad of spiritual luminaries bears a significance to Russian Orthodox spirituality that cannot be overestimated.

On the way from Mount Everest to Christ

A real-life story

Olga Izhenyakova

Coming to Orthodoxy

On the way from Mount Everest to Christ

A real-life story

Olga Izhenyakova

The rest of the story is about a Russian man who dragged two half-dead men down from Jomolungma. And he brought them down alive! One-by-one. Counting on no one’s help. No human help…

Ukraine as a Testing Ground for a New Unia: Existing threats, and Ways to Overcome Them

Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko) of Zaporozhye and Melitopol

Orthodoxy Today

Ukraine as a Testing Ground for a New Unia: Existing threats, and Ways to Overcome Them

Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko) of Zaporozhye and Melitopol

Using Ukraine as an example, the Phanar is implementing a strategy of union that may later be applied on a broader level.

St. Ambrose, Elder of Optina

Archpriest Sergius Chetverikov

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Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Rating: 9.3|Votes: 4

St. Ambrose, Elder of Optina

Archpriest Sergius Chetverikov

Why do people experience depression? "Depression, according to Mark the Ascetic, is a spiritual cross sent to us in order to cleanse our former sins. Depression comes also for other reasons: from offended self-love, because we are not getting our own way; also from vainglory, when one sees that his equals enjoy greater privileges; from stressful situations during which our faith in God's Providence and hope in His mercy and omnipotent help is put to test.

The Eucharist in the Orthodox Tradition

Metropolitan Serafim (Joanta)

Theology

The Eucharist in the Orthodox Tradition

Metropolitan Serafim (Joanta)

The Eucharist is the principal sacrament of the Church, which creates it.

God’s Name is Love

In remembrance of Fr. Dimitry Smirnov

Archpriest Dimitry Smirnov

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

God’s Name is Love

In remembrance of Fr. Dimitry Smirnov

Archpriest Dimitry Smirnov

And if we wish to learn love, we must also live for the sake of our neighbor. Look around! Here are your neighbors, and each one needs to be shown love, regardless of whether you feel it or not.