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Entering the Mystery of Christmas

12/12/2019

By Fr. Stephen Freeman, December 9, 2017 Orthodox Christianity is deeply associated with the word “mystery.” Its theological hymns are replete with paradox, repeatedly affirming two things to be true that are seemingly contradictory. Most of these things are associated with what is called “apophatic” theology, or a theology that is “unspeakable.” This same theological approach is sometimes called the Via Negativa. This is easily misunderstood in common conversation. An Orthodox discussion takes place and reaches

Figures of the Nativity—The Angels

12/11/2019

By Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis, December 7, 2018 If we can supposedly find ourselves in all the figures of the Nativity, how can we possibly be angels? The answer is simple. What is the role of an angel? Well, there are two roles actually—Angels praise God, and angels are God’s messengers, and we are capable of doing both. How do we praise God? Well, the same way the angels did. With our voices. We praise God

The Morality of Christmas

12/10/2019

By Fr. Stephen Freeman, December 5, 2017 Morality is tricky business in what is an extremely moral society. I pray my readers to be patient with me as I explain what I think is the problem. First, I will note that morality is all that is left when the most fundamental grounds of a culture have been destroyed. We indeed live in just such a time, hence the rise of a vehemence in the moral life. Second,

Figures of the Nativity—The Shepherds

12/09/2019

By Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis, December 5, 2018 No parent in Bethlehem two thousand years ago hoped that their child would grow up to be a shepherd. Being a shepherd was a dangerous, lonely and nomadic life. It was dangerous, because sheep were often prey for wolves and other dangerous animals. Shepherds were armed with staffs, not guns, and could easily be hurt or worse by animals preying on the sheep. Shepherds had to be on

The Ordination of Bishop-Elect Joachim Cotsonis, PhD, as Bishop of Amissos

12/02/2019

The Ordination of Bishop-Elect Joachim Cotsonis, PhD, as Bishop of Amissos Saint Sophia Cathedral, Washington, DC Sunday, December 22, 2019 On Wednesday, November 27, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America received with much gratitude the official announcement from the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate that His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, together with the Holy and Sacred Synod, welcomed the proposal of the Holy Eparchial Synod of our Archdiocese for the election of an

The Feast of the Archangels and other Bodiless Heavenly Powers

11/08/2019

SYNAXIS OF THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL AND OTHER BODILESS HEAVENLY POWERS COMMEMORATED ON NOVEMBER 8TH The Synaxis of the Chief of the Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael and Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers: Archangel Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, and Jeremiel was established at the beginning of the 4th century at the Council (Synod) of Laodicea, which met several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The 35th holy Canon of the Council of Laodicea condemned and denounced as

Prayer of the Heart in an Age of Technology and Distraction, Part 9

11/07/2019

By Fr. Maximos (Constas) The metaphors used by Scripture and the Church are not random and arbitrary, and the deeper you dig into any particular symbol the more meaning it will generate. Those who work with plants and gardening, or maybe biologists who know about reproduction, and the activity of seeds and sperm will be able to unpack even more insight. But the thing about a seed is that seeds remain dormant until they are

Thoughts on Spirituality and Psychology. Thoughts on Sacred and Secular.

11/06/2019

By Michael Haldas Thoughts on Spirituality and Psychology, June 21, 2016 “In a psychological culture, morality and psychology are the only human realities we acknowledge. We do not see nor understand the nature of spiritual things. We are locked in a world of cause and effect and presume that everything works in such a manner. The landscape of psychological causes (and effects) is the world as we choose to see it. But it does not

Priorities

11/05/2019

By Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis, June 3, 2018 If you were to list out the things you love, where would God be on the list? Take a moment and list all the things you love. My list would include The Lord, my wife, our son, my mom, my brother and his family, a couple of close friends, celebrating Liturgy, other aspects of my ministry, summer camp, and mowing the lawn. Then take a moment and write

Forgiveness: Forgiving Reality for Being What It Is

11/04/2019

The story of Noah and the flood is filled with insight. God tells Noah to bring into the ark all the opposites: the wild and the domestic, the crawling and the flying, the clean and the unclean, the male and the female of each animal (Genesis 7:2-15). Then God does a most amazing thing. God locks them together inside the ark (Genesis 7:16). Check it out. Most people never note that God actually closed them

Blog

Entering the Mystery of Christmas

Figures of the Nativity—The Angels

The Morality of Christmas

Figures of the Nativity—The Shepherds

The Ordination of Bishop-Elect Joachim Cotsonis, PhD, as Bishop of Amissos

The Feast of the Archangels and other Bodiless Heavenly Powers

Prayer of the Heart in an Age of Technology and Distraction, Part 9

Thoughts on Spirituality and Psychology. Thoughts on Sacred and Secular.

Priorities

Forgiveness: Forgiving Reality for Being What It Is

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