By Theodore Shoebat The title is misleading. The Communist buildings were built upon monastery churches that the communists demolished in 1929-30. Restoration is what is being suggested! Putin has suggested removing two old Kremlin buildings that were built over monasteries destroyed by the communists. As we read from one report: Russian President Vladimir Putin […]
The Best Church For American Christianity In Exile
By Rod Dreher Carl Trueman states plainly what many of us American Christians see: that we are living through the sending of the Church into internal exile. Excerpt: We live in a time of exile. At least those of us do who hold to traditional Christian beliefs. The strident rhetoric of scientism has made belief in the […]
Why Church?
by Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) Many people who rarely attend church have a kind of consumer’s attitude towards church. They come to church, for instance, before a long trip – to light a candle just for the sake of it, so that nothing would happen on the road. They come for two or three minutes, hurriedly […]
Too Much Beauty In The Church?
by Rod Dreher Anastasia, who is Orthodox, writes to caution that too great a focus on beauty in church worship can be spiritually harmful: Well, yes, beauty is important. The Orthodox Liturgy is very beautiful, and the Catholic mass can sometimes sound like a stripped down McDonald’s version of prayer. But there’s danger lurking here! […]
On The Nature Of The Church
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 […]
Formed In The Tradition
by Fr. Stephen Freeman Thinking of raising Christian children (in the light of St. Silouan’s family experience), I offer these few thoughts. The Nativity season offers many opportunities for families to be guided by Holy Tradition – just as we are also swamped by the distorting demands of commercial culture. May God guard our children […]
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 Church Is The One Thing Needful
By St. John of Kronstadt Here in church is the one thing needful; here is a refuge from vanity and the storms of life; here is the calm harbor for souls seeking salvation; here is incorrupt food and drink for souls; here is the light, which enlightens every man who comes into the world; here […]
On How Merely Entering An Orthodox Church Alters A Person
by St. John Chrysostom Our father among the saints John Chrysostom (347-407), Archbishop of Constantinople, was a notable Christian bishop and preacher from the 4th and 5th centuries in Syria and Constantinople. He is famous for being one of the most powerful preachers of the Gospel in history and his denunciation of abuse of authority […]
The Perils of ‘Wannabe Cool’ Christianity
I can say with confidence that when it comes to church, we don’t want cool as much as we want real.