As we near the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, we reflect on the significance of the incarnation.

Fr. John talks about the importance of marriage and family life. (Genesis 1:27; 2:18-25)

Fr. John Whiteford preaches from 2 Corinthians 12 verses 1-10.

The Synaxarion's account includes this tradition from the Protoevangelium of James: "When Joseph had found a place for Mary in Bethlehem, he went out to look for a midwife. On his way, he noticed that the whole of nature had suddenly become utterly still as though seized with astonishment: the birds hung motionless in mid-air, men and beasts stopped in their tracks, and the waters ceased flowing. The continuous movement that leads everything from birth to death and imprisons it in vanity (cf Pss. 38:6-7; 102:15. Eccles. 1) was suspended, for at that moment the Eternal entered within the heart of time. The pre-eternal God became a newborn child. Time and history now took on a new dimension."

The Synaxarion's account includes this tradition from the Protoevangelium of James: "When Joseph had found a place for Mary in Bethlehem, he went out to look for a midwife. On his way, he noticed that the whole of nature had suddenly become utterly still as though seized with astonishment: the birds hung motionless in mid-air, men and beasts stopped in their tracks, and the waters ceased flowing. The continuous movement that leads everything from birth to death and imprisons it in vanity (cf Pss. 38:6-7; 102:15. Eccles. 1) was suspended, for at that moment the Eternal entered within the heart of time. The pre-eternal God became a newborn child. Time and history now took on a new dimension."

The Synaxarion's account includes this tradition from the Protoevangelium of James: "When Joseph had found a place for Mary in Bethlehem, he went out to look for a midwife. On his way, he noticed that the whole of nature had suddenly become utterly still as though seized with astonishment: the birds hung motionless in mid-air, men and beasts stopped in their tracks, and the waters ceased flowing. The continuous movement that leads everything from birth to death and imprisons it in vanity (cf Pss. 38:6-7; 102:15. Eccles. 1) was suspended, for at that moment the Eternal entered within the heart of time. The pre-eternal God became a newborn child. Time and history now took on a new dimension."

On the feast of the Circumcision of Christ, Fr. Andrew talks about the New Covenant made in Christ and how Christians participate in it.

Fr. John explains how all the Church's words are full of grace and truth—an example for us all as we celebrate the birth of the Word.

As we begin the Nativity fast, Fr. Joseph has some helpful reminders for us. He's also looking for your questions on fasting - serious, humorous or otherwise. Write him at his email address above.

In order to follow our Risen Lord into the joy of the resurrection, we must also open our deepest personal struggles and wounds to Him for healing. Our bodies are not evil, but we have all distorted our relationship to them. Instead of pursuing a disembodied spirituality that ignores how God creates and saves us as whole persons, we must embrace the joy of His victory over death by living as those who are in a “one flesh” communion with the Risen Lord in every dimension of our existence.

Fr. Apostolos Hill addresses the difference between the view of the Church as a building and the view of the Church as souls.

Fr. Gregory first speaks to the children then reads a Nativity sermon from St. John of Kronstadt.

Bobby interviews Fr. Lawrence Farley, the host of the AFR podcast “Coffee Cup Commentaries,” and the author of the brand new AFP book One Flesh: Salvation Through Marriage in the Orthodox Church.

Fr. Pat reflects on the mystery of the Incarnation.

The sacraments are not just the sign that something is happening, they are the means by which it is happening; they are not just signs of an inner grace, but the effective means by which the grace of justification is imparted. Fr. Pat meditates with us on the thesis that holiness is something physical.

A meditation on Christ’s humanity for the Third Sunday of Lent; the Scripture readings are Mark 8:34-9:1 and Hebrews 4:14-5:10. Fr. Pat preached this sermon in 2011.

You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26 NIV) I think we all know that life on this earth is filled with hurts and sorrows. There’s no way to escape them, but we can choose how we will face them. As various hurts, wounds, and offenses enter our lives, I’ve noticed a few common ways of dealing with them:  We become a victim, live in constant pain, and grow ineffective. We build walls that...

NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings. Roxy CinemaIn honor of Ken Kelsch, Abel Ferrara’s The Blackout and The Addiction screen on 35mm; prints of Douglas Buck’s Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America and the 2006 Sisters remake screen Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Film ForumA 4K restoration of Michelangelo Antonioni’s Il Grido begins; 42 screens on Sunday. […]

The post NYC Weekend Watch: Ken Kelsch, Il Grido, Flesh for Frankenstein 3D & More first appeared on The Film Stage.

Following recent hurricanes, reports of "flesh-eating" bacteria in Florida have emerged, but these bacteria, which exist year-round, don't actually consume flesh.