Our Faith

His soul must be accustomed to the warm and fervent experience of prayer at home, by his cradle, for his neighbors, his family. The child's evening prayer calms and softens his soul, he experiences the sweetness of prayer with his little heart and catches the first scent of sacred feelings.   more...

...Byzantine icons show Christ in glory, but with a deep peace, approaching man with philanthropic and kenotic love....   more...

If you had told me a year ago that I would be writing a book on St. Andrew, I would have said you were crazy. I never imagined that I would do such a thing. But when I had some serious problems, I went to New Valaamo Monastery in Finland where I was given the extremely kind hospitality of the monks and Igumen Sergei. It was like entering the doors of paradise....   more...

Inquirer: What is the Holy Tradition that the Orthodox consider to be the second source of Holy Revelation and equal to Holy Scripture? Elder Cleopa: Holy Tradition is the teaching of the Church... What your friends have told you is not at all true, since the law of God is not contained in Holy Scripture alone. Listen to what the divine Evangelist John says...   more...

St. Katherine College is designed to focus on the Liberal Arts and Sciences, and do so through an Orthodox Christian environment. This new venture college launches this coming autumn   more...

"I wasn't satisfied with what my idea of faith was," said Polamalu, 29, who said he felt blessed to be exposed to Catholic, Mormon and Protestant churches as a child in Oregon. "I went to church. Some days I would feel the music, I'd feel the sermon; some days I wouldn't. Sometimes, I would be crying. Sometimes, I would be dead and bored.   more...

Though many believe and teach this “Pre-Tribulation Rapture” theory, they erroneously do so, because neither Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, nor any of the other writers of the Bible taught this. Nor did the early church fathers, nor any others for many hundreds of years…. Did you know that NONE of this was ever taught prior to 1812, and that all forms of Pre-Tribulation Rapture teaching were developed since that date? …. If I were to preach something, or believe something, supposedly from the Bible, but cannot find that ANYONE ELSE before 1812 ever believed it or taught it, I would seriously question that it is based on the Bible....   more...

Chrysostom slashed the budget, sold off many precious items stored at the chancery, and used the excess funds to erect at least one hospital. He took most of his meals alone. He reformed his clergy, immediately defrocking a number of deacons, who were guilty of heinous crimes, rebuked the celibate clergy who were living in so-called ”spiritual marriages” with virgins, deposed numerous bishops guilty of obtaining their office by simony, brought regulations to the city's monastic brotherhoods, demanded accountability from the women who were enrolled on the church's widows' list by requiring them to live as devout widows or to get remarried, served as imperial counselor, ruled as proлstamenos of the resident synod of Constantinople, [10] served the divine services and preached several times per week, [11] oversaw charitable institutions, kept abreast of civil activities, sought to influence imperial legislation with the Church's teaching, and organized missionary activities.   more...

"In Orthodoxy, the theme of spiritual warfare is ubiquitous; saints, including female saints, are warriors. Warfare requires courage, fortitude, and heroism. We are called to be 'strugglers' against sin, to be 'athletes' as St. Paul says. And the prize is given to the victor. The fact that you must 'struggle' during worship by standing up throughout long services is itself a challenge men are willing to take up."   more...

There are few things more vital to our lives than our homes. In our homes we pray, we work, we talk to others, we order our lives, we work out our marriages, etc. What more important place to reclaim for the Kingdom of God -   more...

Outlines the salient points of doctrine and basic credal affirmations.   more...

Describes the non-sacramental services which contribute to spiritual life.   more...

Discusses the meaning of theosis as the goal of Christian life.   more...

Outlines the procedure for becoming a member of the Orthodox Church   more...

Describes the meaning and celebration of the Eucharist.   more...

Discusses the form and characteristics of Orthodox worship.   more...

Through the forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament of Confession, the past is no longer an intolerable burden but rather an encouragement for what lies ahead. Life acquires an attitude of expectation, not of despondency; and confession becomes the way out of the impasse caused by sin.   more...

The Sacrament of the Holy Priesthood derives its origin from Christ, the great High Priest, Who was "holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens... a minister in the sanctuary which is set up not by man but by the Lord." (Hebrews 7:26, 8:2).   more...

Day and night I ask the Lord for this love. The Lord gives me tears and I weep for the whole world...   more...

There are those who say, "I believe only in the spiritual resurrection of Jesus," to which we reply, "There is no such thing as a spiritual resurrection. The Spirit of Jesus did not go into the tomb. It was His body that was laid in that sepulcher. His Spirit was alive as He descended into Hades to bring salvation to the Old Testament saints."   more...

Warm, succinct suggestions on making the prayer of the heart come alive from Moscow pastor, Fr. Artemy Vladimirov.   more...

Thirteen years ago ... I would never have expected, let alone conceive the miracle that is unfolding today for our Orthodox Church in Latin America.   more...

Fr. Zachariah proceeded to explain how the next day the Team would all travel to a village deeper in the desert. There, we would be introduced to the local ”magic” man. This man was a key to being able to preach Orthodoxy there. If we could get his approval to allow the Church in his village, then Father Zechariah believed he could return later and have great success. If, on the other hand, the Shaman didn't give permission, it would be extremely difficult to try and work there. Father Zechariah then added, ”What I am hoping is that you, Fr. Martin, will approach him on behalf of all and get this permission for us.”   more...

An examination of the history and development of fasting and its role in the life of the Orthodox Christian.   more...

Episode 3 of 6 "Orthodoxy -- From Empire to Empire". A History of Christianity is a six-part British television series originally broadcast on BBC Four in 2009. The series was presented by Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of History of the Church at St Cross College Oxford, and considers the evolution of the Christian faith and its four main forms: Orthodoxy, Oriental Christianity, Western Catholicism and Protestantism   more...

Who would have supposed that in the twenty-first century, alongside electronics, high technology and other scientific advances, the same old superstitious attraction to occultism would hang on. Everyone knows that many modern singers and actors are into cabbala. For example, Madonna personally founded a center for the study of cabbala in London, and others have followed her example—Elizabeth Taylor, Mick Jagger, Paris Hilton, Courtney Love, Phillip Kirikorov, Lolita Milyavskaya, to name only a few. The Norwegian Princess Martha Louise in 2010 announced her dedication to esoteric teachings and spiritualism. Businessmen attentively watch the astrology forecasts, and some politicians and athletes even go to psychics and other sorcerers before serious undertakings.   more...

Q: If someone comes from one Christian tradition to another, it must mean that they feel they lack something vital in their spiritual life… A: Yes. And if this person is seventy years old, like me, this step cannot be called a hasty one, can it?   more...

It strengthens the powers of our soul - if it is done, of course, with prayer and reverence...   more...

What is the significance of this behavior? Why does the priest always go in front of us without looking at us? Pay attention to this in order to understand.   more...

The Liturgy is our family, our gathering, our house. And what a spacious house it is!   more...

A day by day account of the meaning of each service in Holy Week.   more...

The practical and spiritual dimensions of fasting, which serves as a guide in our union with the resurrected Lord.   more...

An examination of how saints and santhood is understood in the Orthodox Church.   more...

An examination of the Orthodox Christian understanding of tradition as the history of salvation and the life of the Holy Spirit in the Church.   more...

Icons create within us a sharper awareness of the 'divine presence.' They awaken a more favorable disposition for prayer. They can evoke meditation and a deeper appreciation of God's gracious acts for our salvation. They can imprint upon our minds a more vivid image of the idea of things, which are necessary for our spiritual growth.   more...

Cremation (burning the bodies of those who have died to the point of ashes) is a practice which is being "sold" as a cost-effective, space-conservative alternative to traditional burial of the body. Throughout her history, however, the Orthodox Church has prohibited this practice. But, as in many areas of the Faith, we must take the time to learn why the Church takes such a position.   more...

In peace let us pray to the Lord," the first petition of several litanies in the Divine Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great, in essence tells us to leave our cares behind and to actually talk with God in prayer. Prayer is the spiritual food that strengthens our whole being. Prayer enables us to maintain a personal relationship with our loving God, through that intimate 'soul to Spirit' dialogue   more...