SSCORRE!
Saint Sophia Cathedral
Online Resources for our Religious Edification
Christ is Risen!
TOPIC OF THE WEEK:
“God gives us what we need ALWAYS, but not necessarily what we want… In Orthodox countries, when people aren’t afflicted, they feel abandoned by God.”
Coping with COVID-19 for Orthodox Christians
“People have their own interior rhythm and you have to give them space for that but there needs to be a family rhythm. All our families should have a sense of rhythm but now we have to impose it upon ourselves rather than having it imposed upon us by our work schedule or the school schedule. Of course, that rhythm should start, continue and end in prayer. What a great chance to say ‘OK kids, we’ve fallen down the last couple of years, but this is our chance, we’re going to start again, we’re going to pray… Say ‘Thank you Lord, for this time, for calling me back to the kind of pristine family that you have set up for us….
The biggest single thing is that while you have your children back home, they are not outsourced at this point, you are doing really what is natural. You are saying this is how we are going to spend our time, this is what I want you to put in front of you, to gaze upon and to feed your soul with.
We know the phrase ‘You are what you eat’ and that’s why we rejoice in holy communion. We also are what we dwell upon, we are what we read, we are what we watch, we are what we do. And so put good things in front of your children…”
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“It reminds me of 6 or 7 years ago I was on my way to camp… I was really praying that I could get my cellphone usage in control. If we’re honest, this is something that is true for all of us. I was praying about that and then I was on the bus with my kids. I called my dad (it was Father’s Day), called my godfather and father-in-law. I put my phone down. It disappeared. We went into a tunnel and it was gone. God gave me the answer to just get rid of the phone! When the answer came I wasn’t ready for it. I was nervous about it. I didn’t have an interior life to be able to say God is providing everything I need. The person in front of me God provided for me. I can’t check my email, contact my wife. It was a challenge. Rude awakening. This is what’s happening to people today – rudely awakened to life.”
A Message from Maria Spanos
I am passionate about our Orthodox Christian faith and seek to help others learn as much as they can about it. My purpose here is to share online resources that help strengthen our relationship with Christ and bind us closer to His Church. I believe they are invaluable in learning about our precious Orthodox Tradition, and are a great aid for teaching family members, friends and others about Orthodoxy. ~Maria
Two of my favorite quotes:
“A true Christian behaves in this life so that it may be a preparation for the future one and not only a life here below. In his actions, he does not think what will be said of him here but of what will be said there in heaven; he represents to himself that he is always in the presence of God, of the angels and all the saints, and remembers that someday they will bear witness of his thoughts, words, and deeds.” — Saint John of Kronstadt
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“Of all the holy works, the education of children is the most holy.”
— St. Theophan the Recluse
