Sacred Song

Of all the instruments God created – the human voice is the greatest of them all.      Video footage – Monastery Ravanica – Orthodox Church – The Ascension of Our Lord Church – May 2007.  This is a wonderful, peaceful holy place, more than 6 centuries old. Translation from the Greek to English It is [...]

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Give Thanks…for He is Good

A blessed Thanksgiving to everyone. May we never forget the goodness of God.  Let us always remember that He is our Father, and we are His children. That He is our  Shepherd.  And we are His sheep. That He is good.  And He loves all mankind.     Give thanks with this beautiful piece of music [...]

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+ Rev. Fr. Daniil Sysoyev – Memory Eternal

      Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9   But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God.  And no torture will ever touch them.  In the eyes of the undiscerning they seem to have died, and their departure was considered to be a misfortune.  And their passage from us to be their destruction; [...]

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Evagrius of Pontus – Food for the Fast

As we move into the second week of the Nativity fast, I am confronted with the discipline of prayer.   The purpose of the fast is to free us from worldly pursuits, and to set us free to engage in spiritual virtues – like prayer.  So what about prayer?  First, do I pray?  Second, if I do pray, [...]

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St. Maximus – Food for the Fast

Learning to do more  – with less.  Learning to be content with what I have – instead of with what I want.  Learning to live simply, that others might simply live. Words from the desert, from St. Maximus the Confessor, that give life to the world.   Love is a most holy condition of the soul in [...]

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Merry ‘counter-cultural’ Christmas!

Before you read my post below… Here is a geat video you need to watch and great site you need to visit.  If living a non-consumption, non-indulgent lifestyle is appealing to you, then join the ‘conspiracy’…. Compassion instead of Consumerism.   www.adventconspiracy.org     Now for the rest of the story…   The funny thing about [...]

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Food for the Fast

The “Holidays” in America.  Synonymous for many things: family, parties, gifts, gifts that no one wants, or needs, ”spending” so the economy grows - an intense, but short time in which we try to cram all the relational connections that we should have been working on during the other eleven months of the year, into one frantic and frenetic [...]

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Ranks of Angels

As some of you may know, I work for a Christian Publishing company.  Three times a year we conduct a week-long conference that presents the content of the soon to be released products coming up in the next sales cycle.  It is a busy, energetic, exciting and tiring week.  In the end we always ask [...]

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Sacred Tradition – anchor for troubled times

Have you noticed lately that many “for sure“  and “non-negotiable” things are suddenly – not so sure and very negotiable? How many historic, stable, and vital institutions of our culture are being challenged?  Torn down?  And redefined to be socially acceptable – but are morally and ethically bankrupt? How many sacred teachings and historic foundations of the Christian [...]

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The Bodiless Powers

On Sunday, November 8, the Church celebrates the feast of the “Synaxis of the Holy Heavenly Bodiless Powers” especially the Archangels Michael and Gabriel.  It was wonderful during the Divine Liturgy yesterday as we were singing the Thrice Holy Hymn, ”Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth…” and to really understand, and know, that we were, at that [...]

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“…icon of the voice of God…”

  On Saturday the 7th of November 2010  the bells of Holy Cross  Orthodox Church will be installed.   At sundown on that same evening, at the holy service of Vespers, as the suns sets, they will ring out announcing that Sunday has arrived.  The little Pascha (Easter) that awaits all Christians has arrived!  The Eighth [...]

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Ignatius says, “Cyber-what?”

As I mentioned in my previous post, it’s very important to step back from issues.  Especially hot issues.  Issues that can cause Christians to become “un-Christian”.  To step back from me saying what I want to say.  From you saying what you want to say.  And from all of us thinking that “our side” is right [...]

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How “real” is Virtual Church?

Way out there in the wonderful world of  “blogosphere” there is a “friendly debate” being waged these days regarding “simulated”, or the “virtual Church” experience, substituting, or replacing,  as a viable internet based alternative, to what is known as “traditional church“.   Apparently, regular ‘walk in the building’ kind of church,  is not meeting the  felt “needs” of [...]

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Perfect for Monday

Thank you God for Mondays.   And even for the “woodpeckers” traveling with us on the boat of life. Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah’s Ark: One:       Don’t miss the boat. Two:      Remember that we are all in the same boat. Three:   Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the [...]

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