Eyeing the Catacombs – Again

paris catacombs

by Fr. Lawrence Farley There are excellent insights about the future of Christianity in the USA in this article, and before I post some of what I’ve been saying for years, I felt that republishing Fr. Lawrence’s excellent article was the right place to start. Fr. Alexander Schmemann, in his essay “A Meaningful Storm”, described [...]

The Bible’s Ultimate Party Boy

samson graphic

by Fr. John A. Peck A sermon written in 1999. “Father, I have a question. It’s about the Bible. Why is Samson such a highly praised figure in the Bible? I mean, he certainly wasn’t an image of virtue, and he didn’t deal well with his own passions. Why is he even in there?” “Well,” [...]

Handwritten Alutiq Bible Rediscovered

Handwritten Alutiq Bible

On this, the feast day of St. Yakov of Alaska, we have some great news from St. Herman Seminary and proof of why the Russian mission in Alaska was more successful than other missions (and why some missions still fail). For those who don’t know, Alutiq is the term for the native people of Kodiak, [...]

St. Yakov (Jacob) Netsvetov Day

St. Yakov Netsvetov: Enlightener and Baptizer of the Native Peoples of Alaska

Today, July 26th, is the feast day of St. Yakov/Jacob Netsvetov, the Enlightener and Baptizer of the Native Peoples of Alaska. His story is inspiring. His Journals are amazing. He is a magnificent example of priestly, missionary zeal, spiritual warfare and love for the lost souls. Holy Father Yakov, pray unto God for us! Our [...]

Gay Is Not The New Black

voddie-baucham-300x220

by Voddie Baucham It’s hard to deny that homosexual marriage appears to be a foregone conclusion in America. This is a frightening prospect not only for those of us who understand marriage to be a testimony of the relationship between Christ and his bride, the church, but also for all who value the family and [...]

Prayer in Time of Drought

drought everywhere

Preach on this topic this weekend. O Master, Lord our God, Who didst hear Elijah the Tishbite because of his zeal for Thee, and for a time didst command that rain be held back from being sent unto the earth, and again at his prayer didst grant it fruit-bearing rain: Do Thou Thyself, O Master [...]

To Hear

To Hear

It’s a rare man who wants to hear what he doesn’t want to hear. What do you not want to hear?  What do you need to hear?

In Each of You There Exists a Future Priest

vocation

When a saint speaks, it’s usually worth listening, especially when he is speaking to future clergy! The following is taken from an address given by St. Nektarios when he was first assigned dean of Rizarios Ecclesiastical School. “My children, in each of you there exists a future priest, an important element of the history and [...]

The Effective Missionary

Go - make disciples of all nations...

I saw this today and could not let it pass without a repost. Our brethren in Orthodoxy here in America should pay close attention, as this article presents what was done right, and what was never done right, with the Orthodox church in the United States.  The Effective Missionary: St. Nicholas of Japan Foundations: In [...]

The Beginner’s Guide to Interior Prayer

help afloat

By Fr. John Peck Things in the world seem to be accelerating and not in a good way. Sometimes, it’s hard to get any consolation at all. At times like this, it is crucial – even necessary, for Christians to gather their powers, and labor on the interior life, seeking repentance, dispassion and love.  All [...]