Tone 4 To the Theotokos, let us run now most fervently, As sinners and lowly ones, Let us fall down in repentance, Crying from the depths of our soul: Lady, come and help us, Have compassion upon us; Hasten now … Read More »

I attended the OCPM Convocation in Minneapolis, MN last week.  It was an inspiring meeting of many faithful Orthodox Christians from around the country.  We gathered to learn and share our experiences with prison ministry. His Grace Bishop Demetrios of … Read More »

There is a small book by Pope Shenouda called The Spirituality of Fasting.   The book is an excellent book and can be read online at:  http://tasbeha.org/content/hh_books/fasting/index.html. Pope Shenouda is the Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa of … Read More »

Sad as it is to see St. Nicholas transformed into the red-suited Santa Claus of the secular winter “holidays, ” it is easy to understand why the holy bishop has become so closely connected with the festival of Christ’s birth. … Read More »

Holiday movies and TV programs often have a crisis that entertains and is familiar to us – holiday stress. The stories go like this: a family enthusiastically gears up for a memorable Christmas experience. Next, they over extend themselves and … Read More »

November 21st is the feast of the Entrance into the Temple of Mary, the mother of our Lord. The event is not found in the bible; its celebration belongs to the tradition of the church and takes place every year … Read More »

The Nativity Fast is with us. Two things generally mark this Nativity Fast for us: A normal dietary fast as prescribed by the Church. (There are four fasting seasons in the church year. The fast included meat, dairy, fish, wine … Read More »

A challenge of modern life is that we easily become self-centered and self-focused consumers—the world  encourages us to be so.  Then, the principles and language of scriptural Stewardship sound odd and foreign.  To make sense of it, we twist Stewardship … Read More »

The Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is said frequently during the services of Great Lent. It can be included—with prostrations—in one’s daily personal prayers as well. It is customary to follow the prayer with 12 metanias and the … Read More »

We fast to build a healthy spiritual life. In our tradition, fasting is not regarded as “giving up” certain foods or obsessively following dietary rules and regulations. It is “making room” in our oversaturated lives of endless consumption for the … Read More »