June 12, 2017 An Explanation of the Sunday of the Synaxis of All Saints The Sunday following Pentecost is dedicated to All Saints, both those who are known to us, and those who are known only to God….
June 12, 2017 What Is the Fast of the Apostles and How to Follow the Fast? Orthodox Christians around the world observe four fasting seasons during the year. Two of these—the Great Fast for the forty days…
June 9, 2017 10 Things to Know Preparing for Holy Communion 1. The most important “thing” about preparation for preparing for communion is that one must strive to be a Christian. If you are not…
June 8, 2017 Why Do Orthodox Christians Pray Facing East and Why Does the Priest not Face the People When He Prays? I have a pet saying that I like to tell to my parishioners: “The priest prays for the people, and with the people,…
June 8, 2017 The First 40 Days after Death Explained by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco Limitless and without consolation would have been our sorrow for close ones who are dying, if the Lord had not given us eternal life….
June 7, 2017 Why is John the Baptist Shown in Many Icons with Wings? As well as “the Baptist”, John is also known as “glorious prophet and forerunner of Christ”. Therefore, the presence of the wings is to…
June 7, 2017 The Untold Story of the Uncovering of the Head of St. John the Baptist Holy Scripture tells us that after St. John the Baptist was beheaded, the impious Herodias forbade the prophet’s head to be buried together with…
May 31, 2017 Quick Facts About the 7 Ecumenical Councils There have been seven Ecumenical Councils in the true Orthodox Christian Church: 1. Nicea; 2. Constantinople; 3. Ephesus; 4. Chalcedon; 5. the second…
May 31, 2017 The Iconography of Christ “Christ is the icon of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Col 1:15) It is only fitting that the first icon…
May 30, 2017 How Many Orthodox Christians are There in North America and the World? Question: Can you tell me how many Orthodox Christians there are in North America and throughout the world? Answer: While it is somewhat…
May 30, 2017 The Rite of Consecration of a New Bishop By the laying on of their hands on those chosen from among the faithful, the Apostles consecrated bishops, priests and deacons. It is evident…
May 27, 2017 What Does This Hand Gesture Mean in Orthodox Iconography? Origin of the hand gestures In ancient Greece and Rome, there was a well-established system of hand-gestures used in oratory and rhetoric. Some of…
