The Nativity of Our Lord 2016 Nativity To the Honorable Clergy, Venerable Monastics, and Pious Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America, My Beloved Brethren and Blessed Children in the Lord, Christ is born! Glorify Him! In recent years, we have been increasingly invited to immerse ourselves in a multitude of “universes” as an alternative […]
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!
Christians Should Share Their Faith At Christmas
Originally entitled “Atheists and Christmas” by Stephanie Samuel, Christian Post In a newly released Christmas guide, atheists recount stories of traditional Christmas celebrations despite secular leaders’ belief that non-believers should steer clear of the Dec. 25th holiday. The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas features 42 celebrity freethinkers in the United States and Europe who open up […]
In Defense Of The Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is completely biblical in origin.
The Christmas Tree and Orthodox Tradition
By Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos of Nafpaktos For more on the specific Christian origins of the Christmas Tree, see the article, In Defense of the Christmas Tree. I suspect that the custom of decorating a tree at Christmas time is not simply a custom which came to us from the West and which we should replace […]
Tradition & the Twelve Days of Christmas
by Fr. Hans Jacobse What happens when we try to secularize Christmas, and why Orthodox Christians need to remain faithful to their traditions. In the Christian tradition of both east and west, the twelve days of Christmas refer to the period from Christmas Day to Theophany. The days leading up to Christmas were for preparation; […]
How to Avoid Holiday Depression
by Fr. Nektarios Serfes Over the years, I’ve seen many of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer from ‘holiday’ depression. It is not uncommon. I have found that the Nativity Fast, when sedulously applied, lifts this spiritual malaise and depression with great effectiveness. Likewise, I have seen, and continue to see, those who complain […]
Calculating Christmas
William J. Tighe on the Story Behind December 25 In this, one of my favorite articles, William Tighe explodes the notion we were all taught in public school about the ‘Christianization’ of a pagan festival for the date of Christmas. He uses historical fact to prove his point, and has thereby offered all Christians that […]
A Suggestion: “Foretaste of Christmas” Sunday
Four weeks from this Sunday is the last Sunday before Advent, and I’ve got a wonderful, grinchy idea. In preparing for the Nativity Fast, I’ve discovered something that I think is worthy of sharing, and I offer it to you as an early Christmas present. As Orthodox Christians, we spend 40 days before Christmas fasting. […]
Why the Wilderness?
by Fr. John A. Peck A sermon from 2009. Often the wilderness is a dangerous place, frought with danger, anxiety, vulnerability. Out there, we are usually the prey or the victim, but it is also the place where we encounter God. Why are we meeting God in the wilderness (where else?) We are, generally speaking, […]