Protopresbyter Theodore Zisis
Rating: 4,5|Votes: 2
Assuredly, the Holy Fathers and the venerable Elders did not have less love and understanding than the contemporary champions of union. On the contrary, their attitude was based on a pastoral and pedagogical concern that those who had deviated should become aware of their error and be led to the correct faith, which is the indispensable prerequisite for salvation. He who speaks the truth has love, even if he causes distress at the outset and creates a reaction, not he who misleads and conceals the truth, taking account of temporary human relations and not of eternal realities.
Fr. John Whiteford
Rating: 10|Votes: 3
One could argue that the most ideal form of government is a theocracy, but as the history of Israel up to this point demonstrated, such a theocracy only worked out well for the people when they were zealous to obey God, which very often was not the case. So monarchy is perhaps the second best system of government, but not one without problems ... because for monarchy to work out well, you need a king that is pious.
Fr. Peter Alban Heers
Rating: 10|Votes: 2
The Orthodox Church’s understanding of heterodox baptism flows from and is determined by its self-understanding of being the “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church,” which alone performs the one baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ. This is so, for the Church is known in her mysteries. In and through the mysteries the Church exists and is continually formed, her borders are set, her members identified. “Those who live their lives outside the mysterial (sacramental) life are outside the body of Christ.”
Hieromonk Alexis (Trader)
Rating: 10|Votes: 1
Ultimately, physical illnesses or the death of a loved one are opportunities to reflect upon the brevity of earthly life and ponder the reality that we are sojourners in a foreign land with our real homeland being in heaven with Christ and His saints.
Fr. John Guy Winfrey
Go out into this world and try to see beyond its darkness. Try to look behind the present wickedness and sin which are so prevalent and set up before our eyes. Look carefully and you will see persons. They come in all shapes and sizes. They are all wounded, just as we are all wounded. They bear the potential of being transfigured into radiant images of the Light of Christ, just as we do. They each have the potential of being brought into the divine Body of Christ and changed into Saints.