Writing an Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, Healer of Hardened Hearts
I had to write it three or four times, each time healing somewhat from my own hardened, bitter heart and getting closer to what I wanted to say in it.
Tag: spiritual journey
Writing the Akathist to St. Mary of Egypt
St. Mary of Egypt is one of the most important saints on the calendar – so important she gets an entire Sunday in Lent dedicated to her, in addition to her feast day of April 1. She’s a major part of the Canon of Repentance that’s said at the beginning and ending of Lent. So why write an Akathist to her, since we already have so much about her? Around the turn…
Time and Despondency: Yes, it is about you!
This was to be a book about other people. Not about me. I am an Orthodox Christian with a strong tendency to get involved in activism. Being a woman with children, my special interests are women and children. Let me tell you some of the things that keep me awake at night. We are seeing unprecedented rates of anxiety and depression amongst children and teens. Porn use is sky high for boys…
Journey to Pascha 2019 Chart
We’re delighted to share this year’s edition of Fr. Jonathan Bannon’s wonderful “Journey to Pascha” chart. This chart can be used like a map of Lent, marking off the milestones along the way and providing a suggestion for personal spiritual practice for each week. Last year, the original edition of this chart traveled around the world. It was even translated into other languages. Glory to God! Fr. Jonathan came up with the…
Choosing to Read The Wilderness Journal
I was scared of this book. It arrived, fresh and lovely…and thick. I thought, “Oh, I will never find time for this. I am already so busy with work, with children, with church, with life…” The book continued to sit at my desk, and I continued to avoid it. Then, things got worse.
A Letter to Saint Philonella
I wonder many things about your life. I am thrilled to know as much as I do, since there is very little on so many saints that have passed through this life. I contemplate what your life must have been like, to be both educated and come from a family with means, and also to have a heart for those who struggle, including those who couldn’t afford to see a physician. What was it like to work closely with your sister? Did you face trouble from your family for choosing this life over, say, marriage and children? What opposition did you face from male students and teachers as you studied and worked?
3 Ways to Manage Imposter Syndrome as an Orthodox Writer
One morning earlier this week, I woke up to four or five messages from new readers who had some positive things to say about my work at Ancient Faith, specifically my book, Time and Despondency: Regaining the Present in Faith and Life. There was nothing excessive about these notes–they were polite and positive and encouraging, by all accounts just the kind of thing an author likes to receive from time to time.…
Memory Eternal, Kevin Allen
With sadness and in the hope of the resurrection, we honor the repose and remember the life of our dear friend, Kevin Allen. Kevin was born on December 11, 1949 and reposed on August 7, 2018. He served faithfully as a board member of Ancient Faith Ministries as well as a member of St. Barnabas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Costa Mesa, CA. He is best known for his outstanding content on Ancient Faith…
Schedule for the Ancient Faith Women’s Retreat
The first-ever Ancient Faith Women’s Retreat will take place at Antiochian Village in Bolivar, PA on November 15-18, 2018. You can see a complete list of our speakers and topics here. For the purposes of this post, just remember that our speakers are Elissa Bjeletich, Nicole Roccas, Melissa Naasko, Molly Sabourin, and Melinda Johnson, and we’ll be joined by Barli Ross from the Antiochian Village staff. All sessions will run twice, and…
The Chamber Choir of St. Tikhon’s Monastery Sings Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil
If you attended the Chamber Choir of St. Tikhon’s performance of Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil on May 26, you will find these words a poor substitute for your memories of the event. If you did not, let me try to describe for you what it was like. We sat in rows of wooden chairs under the steep arc of a mosaiced cathedral ceiling. The lights were on. We were all awake, and…