good Archives - Page 3 of 3

The Cross. The Universal Pattern: Loss and Renewal

08/27/2018

I believe that the Mystery of the Cross is saying that the pattern of transformation is always death transformed. Death and life are two sides of one coin, and you cannot have one without the other. The theological term for this classic pattern of descent and ascent was coined by Saint Augustine as “the paschal mystery.” We now proclaim it publicly at every Eucharist as “the mystery of faith.” But why? The pattern of down and up, loss and renewal,

The Fast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin (Part II)

08/09/2018

By Father Leonidas Contos, LOS ANGELES, August 2, 1962 Orthodox theology refuses to see Mary as only the physical instrument of Christ’s birth. She is seen as a cooperating instrument in the work of redemption. Christ did not save the world, so to speak, automatically. He was not on earth as an alien thrust in, but lived as part of humanity, sharing its weakness, knowing its need. The grace He released into the world became

Reach out to the Good in the Freedom of Love. Choosing Life.

10/03/2017

Reach out to the Good in the Freedom of Love Evil as a thing in itself does not exist. It has no being, if we think of it as completely separated from the highest Good. Nothing exists that does not participate in the Good. Evil is only a lack of Goodness, and nothing exists that is completely lacking in Goodness. Divine Providence affects every being; there is no being that is outside its influence. When

LESSONS FROM GROUND ZERO

09/11/2017

LESSONS FROM GROUND ZERO It is a common observation for events that are sudden, shocking, and heavy events that we not only remember the event, we remember where we were when we heard about the event. Senior adults who were alive during the 1940’s not only remember the attack on Pearl Harbor, but they also remember where they were when they heard about the attack. People alive during early 1960’s not only remember the assassination

Orthodoxy Versus Christian Materialism (Part I)

06/14/2017

By Father Stephen Freeman Over the years I find myself coming back to a number of ideas within the modern world that differ markedly from Orthodox thought. These are ideas that are imbedded so deep within our culture that they seem self-evident to most people. Many Orthodox believers hold to one or more of them, distorting their understanding of the faith. This article is an effort to create a list and address each one. If

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent. Having the Right Values

03/01/2017

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 (Epistle of Palm Sunday) I could write an entire week of reflections on this verse alone! It mentions virtues that are quickly disappearing from our world today. As we reflect on this verse today, think of the

The Second Wednesday of Great Lent: How can we Satisfy our Need to Know? & Knowledge is no Good without Charity

03/23/2016

How can we Satisfy our Need to Know? True knowledge is the light whereby we can infallibly distinguish good from evil. That limitless light illumines the way of righteousness which leads the mind towards the Sun himself. In that light the mind strives with all its energy after divine charity. Our longing for true knowledge is satisfied by spiritual discourse, provided it comes from God through the exercise of charity. The intellect ceases to be

The World—Is it Good or Bad?

07/14/2015

By Father Stanley Harakas One of the most confusing words in the Christian vocabulary is the “world.” Sometimes it seems to have good meanings, sometimes neutral and sometimes the word “world” has bad meanings. How can we make sense of this? The World as the Creation is Good: In the story of the creation of the world by God, repeatedly we see that world is described as good (Genesis 1). Because God is goodness itself, the

Father Maximos on Fanaticism and Delusion

09/09/2013

Fr. Maximos continued. “I am reminded of what Elder Joseph the Hesychast wrote in a little booklet about this matter. The title of his essay was ‘Delusion.’ In it, he clearly identifies delusion with fanaticism. The fanatic is under the spell of delusion. The person who is monolithically dogmatic, absolutistic in his views, and dismissive of others who profess different opinions is under the spell of ‘plani’, of delusion.” “Religious people often consider such characteristics

“. . . BUT BY PRAYER AND FASTING” (Part II)

03/22/2013

What then is fasting for us Christians? It is our entrance and participation in that experience of Christ Himself by which He liberates us from the total dependence on food, matter, and the world. By no means is our liberation a full one. Living still in the fallen world, in the world of the Old Adam, being part of it, we still depend on food. But just as our death—through which we still must pass—has

Archive

The Cross. The Universal Pattern: Loss and Renewal

The Fast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin (Part II)

Reach out to the Good in the Freedom of Love. Choosing Life.

LESSONS FROM GROUND ZERO

Orthodoxy Versus Christian Materialism (Part I)

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent. Having the Right Values

The Second Wednesday of Great Lent: How can we Satisfy our Need to Know? & Knowledge is no Good without Charity

The World—Is it Good or Bad?

Father Maximos on Fanaticism and Delusion

“. . . BUT BY PRAYER AND FASTING” (Part II)

Categories

Archives

View Our Live Stream Services

Keep In Touch

Stewardship Application

Daily Meditations

Worship Schedule

Light a Virtual Candle

Text-to-Give in 2 easy steps!

1) Text 202-899-7801 to include your donation amount

2) Follow the link to complete the one-time registration