Articles

Those of us who have not switched to the new calendar, are currently celebrating the Feast of the Nativity. One of the great themes we often hear is that we are to create a Bethlehem in our hearts. Our hearts must be a place where Christ may come and dwell. A place where Christ may

Father Spyridon January 10, 2022 Orthodox Christianity, Praxis, Senior Contributors, Spirituality

Humility, Nativity, Video

St Antony and His Encounters with Demons

In this paper I will analyze St. Athanasios’ Life of Saint Antony, particularly with regards to the element of demonology and spiritual warfare in the work. The Vita addresses many different topics and can be assessed from different perspectives – e.g., Antony’s physical journey as it mirrors the spiritual journey, a historical record of the development of monasticism,

Patristic Faith January 10, 2022 Early Christian Writings , Orthodox Christianity, Philosophy, Spiritual Disciplines, Spirituality

Asceticism, Demonology, Demons, Desert, Marcelo P. Souza, St Antony, St Athanasios

Humility does not require we think poorly of ourselves, nor be given over to self-loathing. Just as we must not be over-lauding ourselves, we must not sink to a state of self-loathing, for both states have their basis in the ego. I would be the last person to suggest anyone be trapped in a state

Abbot Tryphon January 9, 2022 Orthodox Christianity, Praxis, Senior Contributors

Passions

How to Set Up a Personal Commemoration Book

What follows is directions on how to set up a private commemoration book for use in one's private prayers (for commemorations at the liturgy, one should either use the slips provided at the candle counter in their parish, or use a book designed for that purpose). I make no claims to this being the way to organize

Father John Whiteford January 8, 2022 Prayer, Senior Contributors

Commemoration Book

Free Will in Christian Theology According to St. Maximus the Confessor

In this video presentation we discuss Christ as the Paradigm of Creation, On Will and It's Distinctions, Divine Simplicity and Free Choice, and Repentance After Death

David Erhan January 7, 2022 Orthodox Christianity, Senior Contributors, Theology

Divine Simplicity, Free Will, St. Maximus the Confessor

The Concept of the Gnomic Will in St Maximus the Confessor

In this paper I will address St Maximus the Confessor’s concept of the gnomic will, including (1) what he means by the term; (2) how does it differ from natural will; (3) the historical development of his usage of the term; (4) whether Christ has a gnomic will; and (5) what are its implications to

Patristic Faith Fr. John Souza January 7, 2022 Christology, Church History, Early Christian Writings , Metaphysics, Orthodox Christianity, Philosophy, Sacramental Theology, Senior Contributors, Spiritual Disciplines, Theology, Trinitarian Theology

Fr. John Souza, Philosophy of Religion, St. Maximus the Confessor

Those of us who observe the Julian Calendar are now about to complete the Nativity Fast. Having abstained from meat, eggs, dairy products, anger, envy and other habits, for the sake of promoting the discipline of the soul, we enter into a celebration that marks forever the change in man's relationship with the Creator. We

Abbot Tryphon January 6, 2022 Orthodox Christianity, Senior Contributors, Theology

Incarnation, Nativity

In both the Gospels of St. Luke and St. Matthew, we're presented with the genealogy of Christ, that long list of names, giving the ancestors leading all the way up to St. Joseph and St. Mary the Theotokos. Now, this list of names is not just a historical record, it has spiritual meaning. There is

Father Spyridon January 5, 2022 Orthodox Christianity, Senior Contributors, Spirituality, Theology

Incarnation, Nativity, Salvation, Video

Fr. Zechariah Lynch on Theosis and Communist “Re-Education”

Today I am interviewing Father Zachariah Lynch from his excellent blog, The Inkless Pen, where he posts his articles and his thoughts on everything that's been going on. We will be discussing themes such as “recreating man in a new image”, specifically, the Orthodox Christian path of Theosis and the Communist path of "Re-education".

Fr. Zechariah Lynch January 5, 2022 Orthodox Christianity, Senior Contributors, Spirituality, Theology

Communism, Corona Virus / CoVID-19, Fr. Zechariah Lynch, Materialism, Salvation, Secular Humanism, Theosis, Universalism, Video

“It is appointed to men once to die, and then the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). This sober warning reminds us of one of the most essential themes of the Gospel—that each of us is continually moving ever closer to the moment when we must stand before the righteous Judge. Seen from one point of view, all

Patristic Faith January 4, 2022 Orthodox Christianity, Theology

David Bradshaw, Death and Dying, Divine Judgement, Guest Post, Repentance, Salvation, St. Maximus the Confessor

There are two cities, forever at war with one another: a City of God and a City of Man. This war is found both in the hearts of each man and in the world itself. Struggling through the battles of these two waring kingdoms, we must choose where our citizenry will be. Born into a

Fr. Deacon Ananias January 1, 2022 Orthodox Christianity, Senior Contributors

I want to greet all my readers as we begin the year 2022 with the words, "Glory to Jesus Christ, Glory to Him forever". May this year be one of spiritual renewal for all of us, and may we use the allotted time God gives us profitably, and for His glory. Let us love one

Abbot Tryphon January 1, 2022 Orthodox Christianity, Senior Contributors, Spirituality

Corona Virus / CoVID-19, Forgiveness, Love, Video

I wanted to share with all of you an experience that I had that actually changed me forever. It was back in 1989 when I was on the Holy Mountain of Athos.

Abbot Tryphon December 31, 2021 Orthodox Christianity, Senior Contributors, Spirituality

Evangelism, Iconography, Love, Theotokos, Video

God has given us the Church as the very place wherein we can grow spiritually, while enjoying the protection, and the blessings, of being in weekly contact with other believers. Just like an earthly family, we don't always enjoy the presence of other members, but it is often those difficult and uncomfortable moments that help

Abbot Tryphon December 31, 2021 Orthodox Christianity, Senior Contributors, Spirituality

Divine Liturgy

When we're considering cannabis or marijuana, we need to understand first of all that cannabis, and its use is completely at odds with the Christian life. It's completely incompatible with living an Orthodox Christian life. There are many liberal modern groups that may disagree with us, but this is the Orthodox perspective. And so for

Father Spyridon December 30, 2021 Orthodox Christianity, Senior Contributors, Spirituality

Demonic Deception, Drugs, Marijuana, Pharmakeia, Sorcery

Unlike angels, who are entirely spiritual beings, God has made each of us as creatures dwelling in a material world. To be whole, we must worship God both in body and soul. This teaching is central to our Christian faith and is an affirmation of the sacramental nature of this material world. Because of this

Abbot Tryphon December 30, 2021 Orthodox Christianity, Prayer, Senior Contributors

Iconography, Incarnation

Driven by fear, there are people who leave the Church and head into schism. In Greece there are at least eighteen “Old Calendar” Orthodox churches who claim to be THE Church, not recognizing each other as canonical. In the United States there are nearly the same numbers, some Slavic and others of Greek origin.

Abbot Tryphon December 29, 2021 Orthodox Christianity, Senior Contributors

Ecumenism, False Ecumenism, Schism

One of the most difficult topics concerning Christianity is suffering. Lord Jesus Christ called us to pick up and carry our cross while not being of the world, but how much suffering is too much? Should we attempt to alleviate our suffering or embrace it? From my short two-year walk with Christ, I have noticed

Roosh Valizadeh December 28, 2021 Orthodox Christianity, Senior Contributors, Spirituality

Faith, Salvation, Suffering

I have chosen not to bless my monks, nor my spiritual children, to take the vaccine. I do not think any vaccine will prevent anyone from getting Covid, and I have read with increased horror as the evidence has become increasingly clear within the scientific community that this vaccine is in reality causing the spread

Abbot Tryphon December 27, 2021 Orthodox Christianity, Senior Contributors, Spirituality

Corona Virus / CoVID-19, Health, Holy Water, Vaccine

This paper investigates the conditions of knowledge pertaining to science, distinguishing genuine science from pseudoscience as it relates to Covid-19. I discuss the relationship between science and socio-political structures, illustrating how science can be corrupted into scientism. I argue that the current dominating ideology of technocracy, a form of “modern gnosticism,” is incompatible with Christianity,

Fr. Deacon Ananias December 25, 2021 Orthodox Christianity, Philosophy, Senior Contributors

Corona Virus / CoVID-19, Gnostic Scientism, Gnosticism, Health, Science, Scientism, Technocracy, Technocratic Totalitarianism