January 11, 2023 Was John the Baptist a Member of the Qumran Community? The similarities between what we know about John the Baptist and the activities of the Qumran community beg the question: Was there not a…
December 21, 2022 Unusual Types of Asceticism and Ascetic Practices The word “saint” is usually associated with an image of an elder, proficient in fasting and prayer. At the same time, today it is…
October 19, 2022 Gifts from the Mother of God: 2 Stories of Miracles from Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain Elder Paisios shared this story. “It was the Dormition Fast. The liturgy was over, and my elder sent me on an obedience. I was…
October 9, 2022 Saving the Honourable Head of Saint Sergius of Radonezh – a 20th Century Adventure The relics of saints are evocations of eternal life for believers and mysteries for scientists. Christians have collected them, often at risk to their…
September 14, 2022 An Orthodox Student Who Defied Hitler and Was Glorified by the Church To many, World War II is about victory over Nazi Germany, military prowess, battles and heroes. But the spiritual aspects of this war are…
September 11, 2022 Why Does Saint John the Baptist Appear in Icons with Two Heads and a Pair of Wings? In icons, Saint John the Baptist often appears with wings behind his back and his severed head in his hands. What is the meaning…
September 2, 2022 How Emperor Constantine Challenges Our Conception of an ‘Ideal’ Saint People like to idealise, and it is hard not to, especially if the person is a saint and an emperor. Among the multitude of…
August 11, 2022 “She Stopped at Every Grave in the Entire Cemetery, Praying for Her Fallen Lieges.” Memories of the Royal Family Daughter of the physician in ordinary E. Botkin, Tatiana Melnik (born Botkina) recalls: “Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna was weakened physically and mentally. Although she…
August 11, 2022 St. Paisios of the Holy Mountain: “The Love of Christ Was Ignited in Me so Strongly that My Bones Melted” Unspeakable Fragrance Two students visited the Elder in his cell of the Holy Cross and spoke with him for many hours on various spiritual…
August 5, 2022 A Visit to Saint Elisabeth’s Hometown Darmstadt For the sisters of Saint Elisabeth Convent, missionary visits to Western Europe are an opportunity to explore the sites connected with the life of…
