Dear in Christ _________, I apologize for the extended delay in my response to your letter. In it you ask several questions motivated by the information you received from my spiritual son Ignatios that the Orthodox hold the practice of freemasonry to be incompatible with the Orthodox faith, and given the self-understanding of the Church, Read more about Response to a Freemason on Dialogue with the Orthodox[…]
A quick look at fasting rules of the Nativity Fast.
An introduction to different Church fasting regimens and the fasting periods
The Theological Basis of Fasting Do not say to me that I fasted for so many days, that I did not eat this or that, that I did not drink wine, that I endured want; but show me if thou from an angry man hast become gentle, if thou from a cruel man hast become Read more about Fasting 1 – The Scriptural and Theological Basis of Fasting[…]
A 60 second thought I had: Is it a fair criticism of the Orthodox that we do not evangelize like the protestants, and especially the non-denominational protestants? Yes and no. In an absolute sense (and probably a per capita sense if such were measurable) I think it is true there is more emphasis on evangelism Read more about Do Orthodox Neglect Evangelism?[…]
This query was posted on Facebook by a friend of a friend: Why are the words of Jesus’s disciples discredited but the words of people appointed saints not? The bible says it was inspired by God. Inspired meaning in the original language is “to breath life into” just as God inspired Adam. Does Orthodox religion Read more about Does the Orthodox Church Not Believe the Bible?[…]
The Epistle Reading for today gave me much to reflect on as I prepared my homily. And after I was done, I thought it was not my best effort to be sure. But the theme of the reading was so strong, it merits more comment. The Epistle (1 Cor. 1:10-18) begins: Now I beseech you, Read more about Be Perfectly Joined Together[…]
Orthodox evangelism is not like what passes for evangelism in the various Christian sects. We understand that we do not bring anyone to the Church. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to be ready to receive and welcome each inquirer as the prepare to come home to Holy Orthodoxy! How Read more about Orthodox Evangelism[…]
The “Liturgy of St. Tikhon” is not a liturgy of St. Tikhon at all, nor was it ever approved by the Russian Synod of Bishops at the behest of St. Tikhon. As explained by the Antiochian Archdiocese: “In 1904, Archbishop Tikhon received a response from the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to his Read more about Did St. Tikhon Write a Western Rite Liturgy?[…]
On Pentecost Sunday, Fr. Irineos reflects on the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, and the founding of the Church. He also discusses how, though the Spirit may lead us into all Truth, this is only possible through the guidance of the Light of Christ.
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