Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Make His paths straight
·
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. amen. More than 400 years ago in Tudor England, there was a custom of celebrating a holiday called “Twelfth Night,” which took place on January 5th. Twelfth Night was so named because it was the twelfth day of Christmas, beginning with December 25th as the first day.…
The Morning Offering
Wednesday January 5, 2011 / December 23, 2010
·
Frost on the Grounds of the Monastery 33rd Week after Pentecost. Tone seven. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits) Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ. Holy Ten Martyrs of Crete: Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zoticus, Pompeius, Agathopus, Basilides, and Evaristus (250). New Hieromartyr Basil priest and Hieromartyrs Macarius and John (1938). St. Theoctistus,…
Praying in the Rain
Emma: Gratitude
·
I am reading Emma again. It is my favorite of the three Jane Austen novels I have read. I started Sense and Sensibility, but was overrun early on by too much femininity. I think I had to break something to recover. Early on in Emma, Austen describes Captain Weston’s probability of a happy life after his second marriage. His first wife, who died after three years of marriage, was of a higher…
Praying in the Rain
Punishment vs. Discipline
·
Discipline and punishment are not the same thing. Discipline is a kind of teaching, it has as its goal the training of the person under discipline. Punishment is a mater of retribution, it has as its goal the carrying out of a sanction or penalty based on the transgression of a moral, legal or social code. Discipline is an essential part of Christian life, punishment is not. For the one…
Glory to God for All Things
The Mystery of Theophany
·
This week, the Church moves from the feast of Christmas to the feast of the Theophany – the celebration of the Baptism of Christ. The intent of this feast is not to celebrate a succession of historical events (the Baptism of Christ is at least 30 years later than His birth). Rather this feast takes us into the depths of the mystery of Christ and His salvation of the world. Many Christians,…
The Morning Offering
Tuesday
·
Koshin Christopher Cain, Abbot of the Puget Sound Zen Center, and his wife, Soshin Lidunn, visited with Abbot Tryphon, in the Monastery’s library. January 4, 2011 33rd Week after Pentecost. Tone seven. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). By Monastic Charter: Food without Oil Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ. Great-martyr Anastasia of Rome, deliverer from bonds, and her teacher Martyr Chrysogonus,…
Praying in the Rain
Why Is Theophany Important?
·
The feast of Theophany (also called Epiphany) is the second greatest feast (after Pascha) in the Christian Calendar. Theophany is even more important than Nativity. In fact, Theophany is the fulfillment of the Nativity. At Christ’s birth, his revelation as the God-man begins. However, this revelation begins slowly, quietly (it had actually begun silently nine months earlier at the Annunciation). At Christ’s birth, only a few shepherds know what is going on–and…
Nearly Orthodox
fasting...
·
I’m fasting this week. I’m probably not supposed to tell you that. I think I’m supposed to suffer in silence when I do things like this. I’m fairly sure the withholding of that information has something to do with gaining humility but fasting makes me cranky and so I’m telling you about it. It’s a blood sugar issue on a physical level and a deprivation issue on the spiritual side. Why the…
The Morning Offering
Monday January 3, 2011 / December 21, 2010
·
33rd Week after Pentecost. Tone seven. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits) Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ. Virgin-martyr Juliana of Nicomedia, and with her 500 men and 130 women (304). Repose of St. Peter, metropolitan of All Russia (1326). New Hieromartyr Michael priest (1918). New Hieromartyr Sergius deacon (1937). New Hieromartyr Nicetas bishop…
The Morning Offering
Sunday January 2, 2011 / December 20, 2010
·
A Cold, but Sunny Day at the Monastery. 32nd Sunday after Pentecost. Tone seven. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Food with Oil Sunday before the Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, Holy Father Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ. Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, bishop of Antioch (107). Repose of Righteous John of Kronstadt (1908). Venerable Ignatius, archimandrite of…
Glory to God for All Things
Awakening
·
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). This fear descends on us from on High. It is a spiritual feeling, firstly of God and then of us ourselves. We live in a state of awe by virtue of the presence of the Living God together with awareness of our own impurity. This fear places us before the Face of God to be judged by Him. We have…
The Morning Offering
Saturday January 1, 2011 / December 19, 2010
·
Our Monastery’s chicken coop progresses towards completion. 32nd Week after Pentecost. Tone six. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Fish Allowed Saturday the Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ Martyr Boniface at Tarsus in Cilicia (290) and Righteous Aglae (Aglaida) of Rome. Venerable Elias of Murom, wonderworker of the Kiev Caves (1188). Martyrs Elias, Probus, and Ares, in Cilicia…
Nearly Orthodox
circle...
·
I am slowly expanding my circle of Orthodox friends. It’s a slow process and especially difficult for me. I’m so conditioned to move away from people, sit in a corner and watch from a distance. I’m challenged in this now though, I feel I have some imaginary deadline to meet. I feel that I don’t have the luxury of time. Perhaps it’s not a bad thing to move out of my normal,…
The Morning Offering
Friday December 31, 2010 / December 18, 2010
·
A Washington State Ferry, arriving on Vashon Island. 32nd Week after Pentecost. Tone six. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits) Martyr Sebastian at Rome and his companions: Martyrs Nicostratus, Zoe, Castorius, Tranquillinus, Marcellinus, Mark, Claudius, Symphorian, Victorinus, Tiburtius, and Castulus (287). Martyr Victor (1936). New Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky), archbishop of Tver (1937). New Hieromartyrs…
The Morning Offering
Thursday December 30, 2010 / December 17, 2010
·
Father Moses, the youngest member of our community. 32nd Week after Pentecost. Tone six. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Food with Oil Holy Prophet Daniel (600 B.C.) and the Three Holy Youths: Ananias, Azarias, and Misael. New Hieromartyrs Alexander, Nicholas and Sergius priests (1918). New Hieromartyrs Peter and John priests (1937). Venerable Daniel the Confessor (in schema Stephen) of Spain and…
Glory to God for All Things
Between Christmas And...
·
The Feast of Christmas has, for many, come and gone. The eagerness of children for the day of their presents has now passed and, with it, some of their anxieties. Far from marking Christmas as “Twelve Days” (as the old English Christmas carol notes) many parts of the culture hurry forward, eager to put Christmas in the past. In my childhood, it was generally held within the surrounding Protestant culture that a…
The Morning Offering
Wednesday
·
Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Moscow, Russia December 29, 2010 32nd Week after Pentecost. Tone six. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits) Prophet Haggai (Aggaeus) (500 B.C.). New Hieromartyrs Priest Vladimir (1918) New Hieromartyrs Arcadius, bishop of Bezhetsk, and Priests Elias, Paul, Theodosius, Vladimir, and Alexander priests, Martyr Makarius (1937). New Hieromartyr Peter priest (1937).…
The Morning Offering
Tuesday December 28, 2010 / December 15, 2010
·
Cross designed by Madeline Rippo of Vashon Island 32nd Week after Pentecost. Tone six. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Food with Oil Hieromartyr Eleutherius, bishop of Illyria, and his mother, Martyr Anthia and Martyr Corivus the Eparch (126). Venerable Paul of Mt. Latros (956). St. Stephen the Confessor, archbishop of Surozh in the Crimea (790). Synaxis of All Saints of Crimea.…
Nearly Orthodox
chotki...
·
My sister in law saw my prayer rope on my wrist the day before yesterday. I had just put it back on moments earlier. I had lost track of it in all the cooking and dish washing and for a moment I thought I had tossed it out by accident.  I found it deep in my pocket when I was alone in my room. I sighed audibly in relief and then I…
The Morning Offering
Monday December 27, 2010 / December 14, 2010
·
Looking South, Toward the Monastery 32nd Week after Pentecost. Tone six. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). By Monastic Charter: Food without Oil Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius, and Callinicus of Apollonia (250). Martyrs Apollonius, Philemon, Arianus, and Theoctychus of Alexandria (ca. 305). New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1937). St. Bassian confessor, archbishop of Tambov (1940). Sainted Ilarion, Metropolitan of Suzdal’ and Yur’ev (1707). St.…
The Morning Offering
Sunday December 26, 2010 / December 13, 2010
·
Holy Father Herman of Alaska, Pray to God for Us. 31st Sunday after Pentecost. Tone six. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Fish Allowed Week of Holy Forefathers Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes at Sebaste (284). Venerable Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska (1836) and Synaxis of the First Martyrs of the American land. Virgin-martyr Lucy of Syracuse (304). New Hieromartyr Alexander…
The Morning Offering
Saturday December 25, 2010 / December 12, 2010
·
31st Week after Pentecost. Tone five. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Fish Allowed St. Spyridon the Wonderworker of Tremithon (348). Venerable Therapontes, abbot of Monza (1597). Hieromartyr Alexander, bishop of Jerusalem (251). Martyr Synesius of Rome (3rd c.). Venerable Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska (1836). Synaxis of the First Martyrs of the American land: Hieromartyr Juvenal, Peter the Aleut, and New Martyrs…
Praying in the Rain
A Christmas Prayer
·
This Christmas night bestowed peace on the whole world; So let no one threaten; This is the night of the Most Gentle One – Let no one be cruel; This is the night of the Humble One – Let no one be proud. Now is the day of joy – Let us not revenge; Now is the day of Good Will – Let us not be mean. In this Day of Peace…
Glory to God for All Things
Christmas Time
·
The feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, draws near and the anxiety of the world increases. There are those who worry that the feast is surrounded by too much commercialism. Others fear that religion will once again invade their safely guarded secular spaces. These are only the most vocalized anxieties – busyness consumes our lives. I think of the words from the Dr. Seuss character, the…
The Morning Offering
Friday December 24, 2010 / December 11, 2010
·
31st Week after Pentecost. Tone five. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits) Venerable Daniel the Stylite of Constantinopole (490). New Hieromartyr Theophan, bishop of Solokamsk (1918) and with him 2 Hieromartyrs and 5 Martyrs (1918). New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1937). New Hieromartyr John priest (1941). St. Kuksha (Velichko), hieroschemamonk of Odessa (1964). Venerable Nicon…
The Morning Offering
Thursday December 23, 2010 / December 10, 2010
·
31st Week after Pentecost. Tone five. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Food with Oil Martyrs Menas the Melodius, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus of Alexandria (310). St. Ioasaph, bishop of Belgorod (1754). New Hieromartyr Jacob and Alexander priests, Hieromartyr Eugraph and his son (1918). New Hieromartyrs Anatolius, Alexander, Eugine, Constantine, Nicholas priests and with them Martyrs Peter, Michael, Dorotheus, Laurentius, Gregory and Virgin-martyrs…
The Morning Offering
Wednesday December 22, 2010 / December 9, 2010
·
31st Week after Pentecost. Tone five. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits) The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos. New Hieromartyr Vladimir priest (1919). New Hieromartyr Vladimir priest and Virgin-martyr Ephrosia (1920). New Hieromartyrs Basil and Alexander priests (1937). New Martyr Priest Sergius Mechev of Moscow (1941). Prophetess Anna (Hannah) (1100…
