by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow “It is a mistake to understand the Church merely as a hierarchy: the bishops, priests, deacons, or other people who work in the Church. The Church is the entire people of God. The Church reveals itself when it celebrates the Divine Liturgy around its bishop or priest, and everyone has […]
“The Lord Showed Me the Way In the Afternoon of my Life”
It’s never too late to obey your conscience. Mikhail Kalashnikov, designer of the legendary AK-47 assault rifle, turned to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in the months before his death to express remorse for those killed by his invention. Kalashnikov, who died in December at the age of 94, in April wrote a […]
Merry Christmas! Christ is Born!
May our Lord Jesus Christ richly bless you and all those you love, care and pray for during the season of His holy Nativity in the Flesh. Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Met. Hilarion Calls for Prophetic Witness Against Radical Islamism, Militant Secularism
by Nathaniel Torrey Addressing the World Council of Churches (WCC) this past Friday, Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev, the public face of the Russian Orthodox Church, says the continued relevance and existence of the WCC depends on how effectively it addresses challenges facing Christians throughout the world. He identifies two major challenges: militant secularism and radical […]
2013 New Testament Challenge
Beginning Nov. 15th (that is, in just a few weeks at the beginning of the Advent/Nativity Fast), we will once again be embarking on our annual challenge event to read through the entire New Testament (aloud) by Christmas! This is a great endeavor and exercise and you should join it! Read with your spouse as […]
New Martyrs of the East and Coming Trials in the West
by Srdja Trifkovic Persecution and martyrdom of Christians under 20th century totalitarianism–mainly of Russian Orthodox Christians under Bolshevism–is by far the greatest crime in all of recorded history. It is several times greater than the Holocaust in terms of innocent lives brutally destroyed. It has killed more Christians in a few decades than all other […]
Is Music The Key To Success?
By Joanne Lipman As the father of a very musical family (vocalists, bagpipers, pianists, etc.), I agree that there is something very powerful to creating music – for everyone, at any age. Multiple studies link music study to academic achievement. But what is it about serious music training that seems to correlate with outsize success […]
Orthodox Leaders Celebrate 1700 Years of Christian Legalization
As a priest of the most persecuted religion world, I remind others that for over 300 years it was not even legal to be a Christian. We celebrate the anniversary of the Edict of Milan which legalized Christianity, and changed the world forever. For some incredible photos, see THIS LINK. Please note how they celebrated […]
Priests Should Return To Chinese Orthodox Churches
The recent visit to China by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has exceeded even the most ambitious expectations, Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, said. “Even a year or two ago, only a few people could have imagined that Patriarch Kirill would visit China, that it would […]
How To Preserve The Joy Of The Resurrection
By Bishop Benjamin (Milov) of Saratov and Balashov (+1955) A HOLY SATURDAY SERMON Perhaps, beloved brethren, it would be better to keep silence, because the Holy Church today sings: “Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and in fear and trembling stand, rendering nothing earthly-mined. For the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, comes […]