February 23, 2017 Maslenitsa: The Cheesefare Week Maslenitsa, also known as Butter Week, Pancake week, or Cheesefare Week, the Russian religious and folk holiday. Perhaps the most cheerful holiday in…
February 23, 2017 The relationship between saints and animals “Pacify yourself and heaven and earth will be pacified for you”. Abba Isaac The relationship of men towards animals perhaps should be presented under the…
February 22, 2017 The orthodox tradition of exorcising The doctrine of evil To understand the Orthodox view and practice of exorcism, one must know the Orthodox presuppositions of evil and its…
February 22, 2017 Is an Icon Painted or “Written”? Is an icon painted, or “written”? That may seem an odd question, because as any sensible person can see, icons are painted; they are…
February 19, 2017 Why Go to Church if I Have God in My Heart? Each one of us has some acquaintances, or even relatives, who regard our gathering in church with puzzlement. Profound lack of understanding is written…
February 15, 2017 Iconographic Analysis: The Meeting of the Lord at the Temple The LORD said to Moses, “Consecrate to me all the first-born; whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel,…
February 14, 2017 Saint Valentine and Orthodoxy The ancient martyrology of the Church of Rome marks February 14th as the remembrance of “the martyr Valentine, presbyter of Rome” (Valentinus means “vigorous”…
February 13, 2017 Matushka: A Wonderful Title, and No Real Job Description? What does it mean to have a wonderful title, and no real job description? The position of the wife of a priest is exactly…
February 13, 2017 The Meaning of the Deaconate in the Orthodox Church The diaconate has been a little understood ministry, in fact, often a misunderstood ministry. Although it is one of three ordained orders, most lay…
February 10, 2017 The Nisibene Hymns of Saint Ephrem: What Can Death Say to Christ? St. Ephrem the Syrian (306-373) was born in the region of Nisibis. He eventually found himself later on in life in the region of…
February 8, 2017 How to Greet a Monk or Nun 1) In the Russian Church: Only tonsured nuns are addressed as “Mother”—the others are addressed as “Sister.” This is exactly the same as the…
February 8, 2017 An Orthodox perspective on yoga Physical Exercise Yoga was first presented in the Western world as a kind of “physical exercise”, a method of relaxation and psychological calmness….
