October 6, 2021 Exploring the Roots of Vanity, Man’s Formidable Enemy Vanity takes its roots in our inability to live before God and see Him as the living God. It comes from our unwillingness to…
October 6, 2021 If I missed a Fasting Day, Can I Fast on a Non-fasting Day Instead? The Typicon has no instruction to ‘make up’ for a missed fasting day, such as Wednesday or Friday, by fasting on another day. But,…
October 5, 2021 Fayum Mummy Portraits — The Antecedents of Christian Icons Icon painting has deep roots in the doctrine of the Orthodox Church, but its artistic tradition originates from ancient art. No cultural phenomenon begins…
October 5, 2021 Come with Me to Mount Athos. Part 23 Part 22 Holy Relics Everyone lined up in a certain order and followed Archimandrite Ephraim out of the refectory. At the exit the abbot…
October 4, 2021 The Brick and the Wheelchair A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for…
October 4, 2021 Learning the Language of Faith A child developmental psychologist once stated that if you don’t believe that a baby is a genius, then try learning a language. Having worked…
October 4, 2021 “Working Principle” of Spiritual Laws. Talks with Saint Paisios — Geronda, how do spiritual laws work? — I’ll explain: just as there are physical laws in nature, there are also laws in spiritual…
October 1, 2021 Come with Me to Mount Athos. Part 22 Part 21 Liturgy After venerating the icons I asked one of the singers where I could stand. I’m not sure how I did that. …
October 1, 2021 “I Am Waiting for You at Samtavro”: On a Miracle of Elder Gabriel (Urgebadze) I met Elena Getsadze at the Tbilisi airport purely by accident. The woman attracted my attention by crossing herself and venerating an icon of…
September 30, 2021 When the Prayer Is Right, All Is Right: 10 Selected Teachings on Prayer of Saint Theophan the Recluse 1. It is all very well to speak about forgiving other people’s wrongs when nothing goes against our will or hurts our self-esteem. Moreover,…
September 29, 2021 Come with Me to Mount Athos. Part 21 Part 20 Service in the Vatopedi Monastery My first night (or rather a few hours of sleep) on Athos was dreamless. At about three…
September 29, 2021 How to Desire and to Ask from God Only Most Essential Things? Matthew 18:18–22, 19:1–2, 13–15 1 Corinthians 12:12–26 The Lord made this solemn promise: “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree…
