From the UOC-USA: Human Dignity and the Basic Rights of Freedom Must be Preserved

Council of Bishops of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Human Dignity and the Basic Rights of Freedom Must be Preserved  Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ! It has been only a few weeks, and most recently just two days since the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA expressed its […]

From the UOC-USA: The use of force, confrontation, and violence will fail to resolve political issues!

The use of force, confrontation and violence will fail to resolve political issues! Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ! The events of the last several days and especially the last several months in the life of independent Ukraine have caused the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA to call upon […]

Four Orthodox Christian Lessons from MLK Jr

 This is a nice article by Andrew Estocin. Here’s a quote; “Martin Luther King Jr. and Archbishop Iakovos both knew that the human person as the image and likeness of God was a truth worth breaking the law, fighting and (in Rev. King’s case) ultimately dying for. Orthodoxy in America needs this type of courage […]

Homily – “What do you want?” vs. “Who are you?”

Homily for the Sunday after Christmas [“On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…”] It is common for us to lament the commercialization of Christmas, complaining that we have lost the “reason for the season.”  I think this is true.  Many of us are thankful that we are on the “Old […]

Orthodox Help on Keeping Resolutions (from Sunday’s bulletin)

As Orthodox Christians, we can draw on a lot of wisdom on how to improve our lives.  As we go into the New Year and all its hopes, let me share some nuggets that I have found useful. Resolution (i.e. “willpower”) is not enough.  Our faith is built around this reality.  If we want to […]

20140110 Preble on Monastic Vocation

Christ is born!  Glorify Him! Social Media Maven and Monastic, Fr. Peter Preble (Shepherd of Souls) talks with me about the vocation of monasticism in 21st century America.  I also snuck in another story by my son, Nicholas.  In this one, Kira is engaged in some serious spiritual warfare.  Enjoy the show! Check out this […]

2013 Nativity Epistle from the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops outside Ukraine

PERMANENT CONFERENCE OF UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX HIERARCHS BEYOND THE BORDERS OF UKRAINE Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ 2013/2014 To the Venerable Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church beyond the Borders of Ukraine and to our Brothers and Sisters of the Faith in Ukraine: The people who […]

Patriarch Bartholomew, 2013 Nativity Epistle

I love it when our hierarchs write homilies for us! – Fr Anthony + BARTHOLOMEW, By God’s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical PatriarchTo the Plenitude of the Church: Grace, mercy, and peace from the Savior Christ, born in Bethlehem Beloved brothers and sisters, children in the Lord,“For to us a child is born, […]

Guest writer: “Come When Called” by Nicholas Perkins

Skeletons danced in silver mist, and Kira wondered whether he was dreaming.  He pinched his arm and gasped.  Nope; definitely still awake.  There really were dancing skeletons, and the cavern floor really was covered in a swirling layer of silver mist.  His breath was hot and stifled behind his mask, and his robes were starting to stick to his […]

Waiting Tables, Nepsis, and Diaconia

A few days ago, I wrote about how much we are like the toy monkey with the cymbals: our buttons get pushed and we start to clang.  It’s as if everything were pre-programmed.  Psychologists have found that this isn’t far from the case.  My favorite political psychologist Jonathan Haight puts it this way when summarizing […]