The Morning Offering
Thursday, June 4 / May 22 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! Saints of the Day May 22 / June 4. Martyr Basiliscus, Bishop of Comana. St. John-Vladimir, ruler of Serbia. New Hieromartyr Zachariah of Prusa. Blessed James, youth, of Borovichi (Novgorod). Commemoration of the Second Ecumenical Council. Righteous Melchizedek, king of Salem. (Greek Calendar: Martyrs Marcellus and Codratus. Martyr Sophia and physician. New…
Glory to God for All Things
In the Secret Place of the Most High God
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This article first appeared in 2007. It speaks of one of the most essential elements of our spiritual life – the secret place. I have not written often on the topic – but it bears repeating. Without a proper regard for the ‘secret place of the Most High God’ and the secret place that is our own true heart – then we will know neither God nor our own selves. Fr. Meletios…
The Morning Offering
Wednesday, June 3 / May 21 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! 23rd Annual Monastery PilgrimageBeginning with the Feast of Saint Olav of Norway, Tuesday, August 11th, and Concluding with the Patronal Feast of the Monastery, The Feast of the All-Merciful Saviour, Friday, August 14th (August 1st, Old Style). Camping space is available in the Monastery’s Saint Seraphim’s Wood, and there are many B&B’s…
Glory to God for All Things
Eastern Christian New Media Awards Voting
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Eastern Christian New Media Awards has opened its voting for its annual blog awards. There are a growing number of excellent Orthodox and Eastern Christian websites, worthy of reading, and worthy of encouraging with a thank you for their work. Glory to God for All Things is nominated in two categories. My podcast, Glory to God (on Ancient Faith Radio) is among the nominees in the new category of best podcast. If…
The Morning Offering
Tuesday, June 2 / May 20 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! 23rd Annual Monastery PilgrimageBeginning with the Feast of Saint Olav of Norway, Tuesday, August 11th, and Concluding with the Patronal Feast of the Monastery, The Feast of the All-Merciful Saviour, Friday, August 14th (August 1st, Old Style). Camping space is available in the Monastery’s Saint Seraphim’s Wood, and there are many B&B’s…
Glory to God for All Things
Heaven On Their Minds
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Years ago, I recall hearing someone complain about zealous Christians, “They are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good.” The truth of the statement depends entirely on the understanding of heaven and earth. It is possible to pursue a version of “heaven” such that the spiritual life is undermined. It is also possible to pursue heaven in such a way that the world around us is transformed. It is…
The Morning Offering
Monday, June 1 / May 19 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! 23rd Annual Monastery PilgrimageBeginning with the Feast of Saint Olav of Norway, Tuesday, August 11th, and Concluding with the Patronal Feast of the Monastery, The Feast of the All-Merciful Saviour, Friday, August 14th (August 1st, Old Style). Camping space is available in the Monastery’s Saint Seraphim’s Wood, and there are many B&B’s…
Praying in the Rain
What is worth living for ? A response
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You have really asked the fundamental question: What is worth living for? You are right that an external constraint to be good only proves to be a burden that eventually produces some form of mental illness either because of guilt because you ignore the “rules” or fundamentalistic self-righteousness and condemnation of others because you deceive yourself into thinking that you are keeping the “rules.” Why bother? Of course, libertinism only produces more…
Glory to God for All Things
The Hypostatic Nearness of You (A Repost)
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Originally posted in February 2007. I have updated a few things. It is a piece that is quite relevant as my youngest child graduates high school this week. The fullness only grows. Sometimes I sit down to write with an idea and I know that I am either getting ready to write something good, or something really bad. That is how I feel about this particular topic. I have good feelings about…
The Morning Offering
Sunday, May 31 / May 18 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! Saints of the Day May 18 / 31. Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra, and with him the seven Virgin Martyrs Alexandra, Tecusa, Claudia, Phaine, Euphraisa, Matrona and Julia. Martyrs Peter, Dionysius, and those who suffered under Decius Andrew, Paul, Christina, Heraclius, Paulinus, and Benedimus. Martyrs Symeon, Isaac and Bachtisius of Persia. Martyr Euphrasia…
Glory to God for All Things
A Mystery Solved
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If you practice an excellent virtue without perceiving the taste of its aid, do not marvel; for until a man becomes humble, he will not receive a reward for his labor. Recompense is given, not for labor, but for humility. -St. Isaac of Syria +++ I cannot count the number of times that people have complained of their lack of “progress” in the spiritual life. In our cause and effect model of…
The Morning Offering
Saturday, May 30 / May 17 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! Saints of the Day May 17 / 30. Apostle Andronicus of the Seventy and his fellow laborer Junia. St. Stephen, Archbishop of Constantinople. Martyrs Solochon, Pamphamer, and Pamphalon at Chalcedon. Translation of the Relics of St. Adrian, abbot of Ondrusov. Saints Nectarius and Theophanes of Meteora. St. Euphrosyne (princess Eudocia) of Moscow.…
Praying in the Rain
Watch out for big words
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A weary priest, after listening to a college student share in rapture all that he has learned from the latest Life of an elder on the Holy Mountain: “Prayer of the heart? Theosis? These are big words. Do me and yourself a favor. Don’t speak those words again until you have either (A) spent a least fifteen years in a monastery under obedience; or (B) you have raised at least five children…
Glory to God for All Things
Self-Emptying
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I offer a brief apology to Buddhists – forgive me if I have mischaracterized your religious practices. We are enjoined by St. Paul to have within us the mind that was in Christ – specifically in His self-emptying love in going to the Cross (Philippians 2:5-11). It is the very heart of humility. Of course there are difficulties when we seek to practice such a thing – difficulties for which I have already…
The Morning Offering
Friday, May 29 / May 16 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! Saints of the Day May 16 / 29. St. Theodore the Sanctified, disciple of St. Pachomius the Great. St. Ephraim, abbot of Perekos (Novgorod). Blessed child Musa of Rome. St. George, Bishop of Mitylene. Martyr Abdiesus, Bishop, and companions, in Persia. Martyr Peter of Blachernae. St. Nicholas the Mystic, Patriarch of Constantinople.…
Glory to God for All Things
Isaac of Syria on Humility
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From Met. Hilarion Alfeyev”s The Spiritual World of Isaac the Syrian: To speak of humility (mukkaka or makkikuta) meant to Isaac to speak of God, for God in his vision is primarily the One who is ‘meek and lowly in heart’. God’s humility was revealed to the world in the Incarnation of the Word. In the Old Testament, God remained invisible to and unattainable by everyone approaching him. But when he clothed…
The Morning Offering
Thursday, May 28 / May 15 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! The Holy Ascension of Our Lord “O Christ God, Thou hast ascended in glory, granting joy to Thy disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing they were assured that Thou art the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world!” –Troparion of the Ascension Saints of the Day…
The Morning Offering
Wednesday, May 27 / May 14 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! Apodosis of Pascha Saints of the Day May 14 / 27. Martyr Isidore of Chios. St. Isidore, fool-for-Christ, wonderworker of Rostov. Martyr Maximus. St. Serapion, monk of Egypt. St. Nicetas, Bishop of Novgorod and recluse of the Kiev Caves. New-Martyr Mark of Crete at Smyrna. New-Martyr John of Bulgaria. First Opening of…
Glory to God for All Things
The Church and the Cross
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This article is also found in my pages section as The Ecclesiology of the Cross. It seems that as the Orthodox world begins another level of internal discussions on ecclesiology – that these thoughts are worth re-posting. I was pleased to see the article quoted recently in an Orthodox discussion on another site. Of course, sense the subject is the true nature of the Church, it is a matter of concern for…
The Morning Offering
Tuesday, May 26 / May 13 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Saints of the Day May 13 / 26. Virgin Martyr Glyceria at Heraclea. Martyr Laodicius, jailer of St. Glyceria. Martyr Alexander of Rome. St. George the Confessor of Constantinople. St. Pausicacius, Bishop of Synnada. St. Euthymius the New, founder of Iveron Monastery, and his fellow…
Glory to God for All Things
To Change the World
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This is a reprint from the summer of 2007. Some recent meanderings have brought up yet again the subject of “social progress” as a Christian goal. Our cultural metaphor is deeply indebted to 19th century Liberal Protestant theology (Rauschenbusch, et al). I think the utilitarian approach (we need to be “practical”) can be very alluring – and also a contradiction of the Christian faith. I believe no one has changed the world…
The Morning Offering
A Day of Remembrance
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! Monday, May 25 / May 12 (Church Calendar) Memorial DayChrist is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Saints of the Day May 12 / 25. St. Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus, and St. Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople. St. Sabinus, Archbishop of Cyprus. St. Polybius, Bishop of Cyprus. St. Dionysius, archimandrite of St. Sergius Monastery.…
Glory to God for All Things
Blue Highways
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A few years back there was an American travel book called Blue Highways. The title referred to American maps on which the smaller roads are printed in blue, while the major arteries, the Interstate System, are printed in red. The book was about a trip across America on the “blue” highways. It was almost time-travel since America prior to the 1960’s was largely without an Interstate system. Blue highways are the land…
The Morning Offering
Sunday, May 24 / May 11 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! Sunday of the Blind ManChrist is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Saints of the Day May 11 / 24. Holy Equals-to-the-Apostles Methodius and Cyril, first teachers of the Slavs. Hieromartyr Mocius (Mucius), presbyter of Amphipolis in Macedonia. Commemoration of the Founding of Constantinople. St. Nicodemus, Archbishop of Serbia. St. Sophronius, recluse of…
The Morning Offering
Saturday, May 23 / May 10 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Saints of the Day May 10 / 23. Apostle Simon Zelotes. St. Isidore the Fool of Tabenna in Egypt. Blessed Thais (Taisia) of Egypt. Martyr Hesychius of Antioch. Martyrs Philadelphus, Cyprian, Alphius, Onesimus, Erasmus, and 14 others in Sicily. St. Laurence, monk of Egypt. Blessed…
Glory to God for All Things
The Pilgrim's Way - A Preview
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The Morning Offering
Friday, May 22 / May 9 (Church Calendar)
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Saints of the Day May 9 / 22. Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari. Prophet Isaiah. Martyr Christopher of Lycia, and with him Martyrs Callinica and Aquilina. Martyr Epimachus the New of Alexandria. Martyr Gordion at Rome. Translation…
