Fr. Steve Zorzos, Author at Saint Sophia

The Third Day of Christmas Advent. Broken Communion

11/17/2025

~Father Stephen Freeman, November 25, 2022 The holidays can make it all too poignant: the terrible fact of broken communion. Often, our festivities bring us into close contact with some (few or many) whom we most commonly avoid. An uncle, an aunt, a brother, a parent whose relationship is marked with pain, misunderstanding, shame, and various other torments. Statistics say that these times (particularly Thanksgiving to Christmas) are frequently marred by things we would otherwise

The Second Day of Christmas Advent. Memory of Apostle and Evangelist Matthew

11/16/2025

The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, was also named Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he was one of the Twelve Apostles (Mark 3:18; Luke 6:45; Acts 1:13), and was brother of the Apostle James Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). He was a publican, or tax-collector for Rome, in a time when the Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire. He lived in the Galilean city of Capernaum. When Matthew heard the voice of Jesus Christ:

The First Day of Christmas Advent. Fasting from the Sentiments of the Feast

11/15/2025

By Father Stephen Freeman I have a favorite Joni Mitchell song. In her very mournful style she sings about the season before Christmas: It’s comin’ on Christmas, They’re cuttin’ down trees, They’re puttin’ up reindeer and singin’ songs of joy and peace. Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on…I would teach my feet to fly! It is a melancholy tune, echoing the bittersweet experience of the culture Christmas. We love

On the Feast of St. Philip the Apostle

11/14/2025

~By S. Michael Phillips, November 14, 2004 In the Name of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Glory to Jesus Christ! “Philip ran to [the Ethiopian eunuch], and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.” [1] Introduction Before it was a

St John Chrysostom: The Golden Trumpet

11/13/2025

~ By John Athanasatos St John Chrysostom is celebrated in the Orthodox Church three times a year. His repose is on September 14 but since that is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Feast was moved to November 13th. In addition, Chrysostom is celebrated on January 27th and again on the Feast of the Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs (Jan 30th), along with St Basil and St Gregory the Theologian. On

The Stewardship of St. John the Merciful

11/12/2025

“We will soon see, Lord, which of us two will win the contest: You, Whoever gives me good gifts, or I, who will never cease distributing them to the poor. For I know well there is nothing of mine that is not owing to Your mercy, which upholds my life.” (Prayer of St. John the Merciful) Born in the year 555 on the island of Cyprus, the saint we remember on November 12 is a

Remembering our Veterans

11/11/2025

By Archpriest Theodore Boback, Syosset, NY Two holidays are brought to us in the Orthodox Church in America on November 11—Veterans Day in the United States of America and Remembrance Day in Canada. In the United States, Veterans Day originally was celebrated as Armistice Day beginning in 1918, celebrating the end of World War I, the “War to end all Wars.” In 1954, the emphasis changed and the celebration and remembrance became known as Veterans

The Hidden Gospel

11/10/2025

~By Father Stephen Freeman, July 20, 2023 There is a genre of Scriptural writings that are described as “apocalyptic.” The book of Revelation, in Greek, is called “The Apocalypse.” Ezekiel and Daniel also have very strong passages described as apocalyptic. The term is very straightforward: it means “revealing what is hidden.” These books are described as “making known hidden things,” because their message is disguised under rather outlandish descriptions: beasts with ten horns, heavenly cities,

Feast of Synaxis of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel

11/08/2025

On November 8th the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Synaxis of the Supreme Commanders Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, and of the other bodiless and heavenly orders, the Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Archangels and Angels. The Synaxis of the Chief of the Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers: Archangels Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, and Jeremiel was established at the beginning of the fourth century at the Council of

Traveling the Old Roads

11/07/2025

~By Father Stephen Freeman, July 22, 2023 In C.S. Lewis’ book, That Hideous Strength, the character of Merlin (the ancient “wizard” of Romano-Celtic Britain) is awakened from a timeless slumber in an underground chamber. There is a group of evil men who are searching for him, thinking they can use his magic for their own schemes. As it turns out, Merlin is a Christian, albeit a very ancient one. He becomes an ally of the small

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The Third Day of Christmas Advent. Broken Communion

The Second Day of Christmas Advent. Memory of Apostle and Evangelist Matthew

The First Day of Christmas Advent. Fasting from the Sentiments of the Feast

On the Feast of St. Philip the Apostle

St John Chrysostom: The Golden Trumpet

The Stewardship of St. John the Merciful

Remembering our Veterans

The Hidden Gospel

Feast of Synaxis of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel

Traveling the Old Roads

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