Fr. Michael examines Jesus's exhortation to "take heed that the light in you is not darkness."

Fr. Michael examines Jesus's exhortation in Matthew 6:1-3 to "take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men."

Fr. Michael shares his reflections from Abbess Thaisia: An Autobiography. Visit his blog.

Fr. Michael examines Jesus's exhortation to "take heed that you do not despise the little ones."

It’s another crossover episode of PCCH! This time Christina and Christian take on one of their favorite shows: Parks and Recreation! They discuss the interplay between communion and otherness, the theological value of beauty, and the redemption of all things, including our own pasts. They close with the Top 5 Parks and Recreation Quotes.

This week, the guys discuss the frantic comedy game show, Billy on the Street! They discuss how important a name is, the abnormality of social distancing, and the desire to return to life.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reflects on the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus during his baptism and upon His followers as beautiful epiphanies in the world.

Fr. Philip LeMasters explains how we can become fully alive through taking up our cross and following Christ.

We do not have to burn incense on the altar of a Roman god in order to show that we are ashamed of the Savior. All that we must do is to refuse to take up our crosses as we serve the false gods of this world. It does not take much spiritual insight to see that worshiping idols is quite common and easily done in our time and place.

Let us become transfigured in holiness as we pray, fast, repent, and give generously to our neighbors as we become living icons of the Savior’s fulfillment of the human person in the likeness of God.

Our songs, processions, and prostrations before our Lord’s Cross are the beginning, not the end, of our discipleship.

Only we can unite ourselves to Christ in His Great Self-Offering for the salvation of the world.

If we refuse to deny ourselves even in small ways this Lent, then we will become even more accustomed to serving ourselves instead of God and neighbor.

Like St. Mary of Egypt, let us refuse to let anything keep us from confronting our personal brokenness with brutal honesty as we take up our own crosses in faithfulness to the Savior Who offered up Himself on the Cross for the salvation of the world. He alone is our hope and the Victor over death.

If we dare to call upon God’s forgiveness for our sins, we will condemn only ourselves as hypocrites when we refuse to forgive others.

St. Basil the Great, who gave away his great wealth to found philanthropic ministries for the sick and needy, taught that the Lord’s strict words to this man revealed his lack of love for his neighbors. Basil wrote that “Those who love their neighbors as themselves possess nothing more than their neighbor; yet surely, you seem to have great possessions! How else can this be, but that you have preferred your own enjoyment to the consolation of the many…For the more you abound in wealth, the more you lack in love.” The young ruler had laid up treasures for himself on earth and had given his heart to them. (Matt. 6: 19-21)

In order to take up our crosses, we must choose to embrace the struggle of dying to our vain illusions about ourselves and our world. Our hope is not in spiritual or moral perfection acquired merely by our own willpower, but in the gracious mercy of the One Who offered up Himself for our salvation purely out of love.

We look to this week’s readings, 2 Timothy 4:5-8, and Mark 1:1-8 (with the help of the prophecies of Malachi 3:1-5, 4:2-6), as an encouragement to put off the Old Man, and to put on Christ. The conjunction of Nativity with the beginning of our remembrance of Theophany leads us to dwell upon the themes of old and new— of the new covenant by which we have been embraced, of how it fulfils promises of the old covenant, and of how Christ himself is the Alpha as well as the Omega.

This weekend, as we take our leave of this dramatic time of year, we consider readings from several Orthodox jurisdictions, amplified by passages in the Psalter and the Torah. Ephesians 4:7-13, Psalm 67/68:18, Matthew 4:12-17 and John 21:1-14 show us both the global and the intimate, or personal nature, of the Light that has made its mark upon the entire cosmos, and on each one of us.

On this first Sunday after Pentecost, we clarify and amplify the readings from Matthew and Hebrews by looking to the story of Solomonia and her seven brave sons (2 Maccabees 7). This woman, known in the early Church as a prophetess, spoke clearly of God’s creating and resurrecting power, and so inspires us, in our challenges today, to follow Christ to glory.

Fr. Ted explains that, because we are hypocrites, we are in danger of losing God's grace.

Fr. Ted reminds us that struggle is an essential component of Christianity.

Fr. Ted encourages us to fully experience the lenten struggle and all that it entails.

We must choose Christ over the secular world.

Fr. Ted speaks about the importance in our participation in Holy Communion when coming to the House of God.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos speaks about the most important call for us in this life.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos calls us to take up our cross and actively follow Christ through the second half of Great Lent.

He served in war-torn Bosnia and Kenya before he turned 40! Now he heads Orthodoxy’s largest charitable and humanitarian aid organization – International Orthodox Christian Charities. Meet Constantine M. Triantifilou, IOCC’s Executive Director, as he speaks about a career and vocation of service. (Don’t hold it against him – he’s also a Boston Red Sox fan!)

In this final lesson of his teaching through Time and Despondency by Dr. Nicole Roccas, Dn. Michael Hyatt reflects on the practical take away value of the book. He identifies three implications for living in the present moment.

On the Sunday of the Cross in Great Lent, Fr Thomas teaches us that the power of God is found in the righteous actions required of us when we take up our own cross to follow Christ.

Fr. Christopher is the homilist today and he says that historically Christianity has not picked fights but we do know when to draw the line.

There is a phrase one hears; “It is a cross I have to bear”; which usually means something that causes pain or grief or some sort of problem. Fr. Christopher says that is not quite what Christ meant in today's Gospel.

Fr. Emmanuel preaches about the meaning of "taking up the cross."

This week, Archimandrite Irenei examines a text by St. Mark the Ascetic in which the Christian is enjoined to "give himself entirely to the Cross," undergoing "with joy" the abasement that it brings. Do we live our lives in this way? Can we claim to be what St. Mark terms "true Christians"?

Shortly after the new complete Orthodox Study Bible came out, Fr. Peter Gillquist, Randy Elliott from Thomas Nelson Publishers and John Maddex from Ancient Faith Radio traveled together to the three major Orthodox seminaries to give complimentary copies to the seminarians. This is the story of that trip. If you haven't ordered your copy of the new Orthodox Study Bible yet, we encourage you to do so today! Click HERE for more information.

An interview with Dr. Richard Toensing, composer of a new CD from Cappella Romana which includes 12 NEW Orthodox Christmas carols!

Half way! Keep on taking up you Cross and following. Third Sunday in Lent. At this stage we can begin to get tired. Mark's Gospel encourages you to keep on taking up your Cross and following Christ. Be encouraged!