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The Second Day of Christmas Advent. Apostle and Evangelist Matthew.

11/16/2021

The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, was also named Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he was one of the Twelve Apostles (Mark 3:18; Luke 6:45; Acts 1:13), and was brother of the Apostle James Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). He was a publican, or tax-collector for Rome, in a time when the Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire. He lived in the Galilean city of Capernaum. When Matthew heard the voice of Jesus Christ:

The First Day of Christmas Advent. Fasting for Christmas.

11/15/2021

By Stephen Freeman, November 19, 2006 [Monday] November 15, the Orthodox Church began its “Winter Lent,” the fast that prepares for the feast of the Nativity. Somewhat similar to Advent, it is the older practice, a full 40-day fast, that reminds us that Christmas, joy that it is, is a foretaste of Pascha. The Cave of Bethlehem reminds us of the Cave of Hades (icons of the Descent into Hell picture the Cave of Hades).

Saint John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria

11/12/2021

Saint John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria, was born on Cyprus in the seventh century into the family of the illustrious dignitary Epiphanius. At the wish of his parents he entered into marriage and had children. When the wife and the children of the saint died, he became a monk. He was zealous in fasting and prayer, and had great love for those around him. His spiritual exploits won him honor among men, and even

On the Slavery of Habits

11/11/2021

SSCORRE! Saint Sophia Cathedral Online Resources for our Religious Edification Topic of the Week – On the Slavery of Habits Every Christian person struggles constantly with the fact that despite the desire often very sincere to live a Godly life, to live in a holy way, we find ourselves constantly repeating patterns of sin, patterns of impure thought, of action, of behavior, word and deed…. But so often we don’t see our little habits here and there, as

Idolatry

11/11/2021

The idolatry of self-esteem By Abbot Tryphon, January 15, 2020 Among the contributors to self-worship, is the possibility of falling into a form of idolatry associated with self-esteem. It is easy to fall into this form of idolatry, since our society has placed a great deal of emphasis on the need for self-esteem. The modern religion of psychoanalysis has promoted self-esteem as though it were the modern equivalent of enlightenment. The priests of this modern,

Why Does God Hide?

11/10/2021

By Stephen Freeman, May 4, 2016 God hides. God makes Himself known. God hides. This pattern runs throughout the Scriptures. A holy hide-and-seek, the pattern is not accidental nor unintentional. It is rooted in the very nature of things in the Christian life. Christianity whose God is not hidden is not Christianity at all. But why is this so? Our faith is about learning to live in the revealing of things that were hidden. True

Nektarios the Wonderworker, Metropolitan of Pentapolis

11/09/2021

Saint Nektarius was born in Selyvria of Thrace on October 1, 1846. After putting himself through school in Constantinople with much hard labour, he became a monk on Chios in 1876, receiving the monastic name of Lazarus; because of his virtue, a year later he was ordained deacon, receiving the new name of Nektarius. Under the patronage of Patriarch Sophronius of Alexandria, Nektarius went to Athens to study in 1882; completing his theological studies in

Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers

11/08/2021

The Synaxis of the Chief of the Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers: Archangels Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, and Jeremiel was established at the beginning of the fourth century at the Council of Laodicea, which met several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The 35th Canon of the Council of Laodicea condemned and denounced as heretical the worship of angels as gods and rulers of the world, but affirmed

Adaptation Is Incompatible with Orthodoxy

11/05/2021

SSCORRE! Saint Sophia Cathedral Online Resources for our Religious Edification Topic of the Week – Adaptation Is Incompatible with Orthodoxy “Many times we may have the impression that God does not see what is happening in His Church. Unfortunately, some people like to believe that they need to use their power to somehow save the Church. Poor, pitiful people! You are not here to save the Church. The Church will save you. Do you know how terrible

Do We Believe in God?

11/05/2021

By Stephen Freeman, April 5, 2016 Belief is a strange thing. It rests like an idea in our mind. We can examine it, walk around it, argue it, and change it or reject it. But as an idea, belief really isn’t such a big thing. It is probably quite correct to say that most of the things we “believe” make no difference whatsoever. This is especially true of what most people mean when they say,

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The Second Day of Christmas Advent. Apostle and Evangelist Matthew.

The First Day of Christmas Advent. Fasting for Christmas.

Saint John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria

On the Slavery of Habits

Idolatry

Why Does God Hide?

Nektarios the Wonderworker, Metropolitan of Pentapolis

Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers

Adaptation Is Incompatible with Orthodoxy

Do We Believe in God?

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