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Christ the Conqueror of Hell

Christ the Conqueror of Hell

Mar 12, 2012

The descent of Christ into Hades is one of the most mysterious, enigmatic and inexplicable events in New Testament history. In today’s Christian world, this event is understood differently...

An Introduction to Lent

An Introduction to Lent

Feb 27, 2012

Contrary to what many think or feel, Lent is a time of joy. It is a time when we come back to life. It is a time when we shake off what is bad and dead in us in order to become able to live with all the vastness, all the depth, and all the intensity to which we are called.

Letter to a New Convert

Letter to a New Convert

Feb 13, 2012

I understand that you are on the way to becoming Orthodox. Before we go any further, there is one point I should make clear...

A place neither saves nor destroys: deeds do

A place neither saves nor destroys: deeds do

Feb 2, 2012

Neither all those in the desert were saved nor all those in the world were lost...

The relevance of Saint Silouan’s teaching for today

The relevance of Saint Silouan’s teaching for today

Jan 11, 2012

This widespread search for spiritual life, no matter how flawed or misguided, reveals the fact that an innate desire for participation in divine life is basic to the human being. Indeed, this is exactly the reason why man was created. Life in communion with God is man's natural orientation. When this spiritual need is not satisfied through conventional means, then its fulfillment is sought elsewhere...

Basil on repentance

Basil on repentance

Jan 2, 2012

Make the effort to rise from the ground. Remember the good Shepherd who will follow and rescue you. Remember the mercies of God and how He cures with oil and wine.

Death to the world

Death to the world

Oct 20, 2011

The world is the general name for all the passions. When we wish to call the passions by a common name, we call them the world...

Do the Psalms express my feelings?

Do the Psalms express my feelings?

Sep 12, 2011

It does not depend, therefore, on whether the Psalms express adequately that which we feel at a given moment in our heart. If we are to pray aright, perhaps it is quite necessary that we pray contrary to our own heart...

Sing the song you sang on high

Sing the song you sang on high

Sep 8, 2011

"Release me, Father, and let me go," pleaded the demon, "I will not come to tempt you again". "I will gladly do that, but on one condition: sing for me the song that you sang before God's Throne on high."

An Orthodox view of salvation

An Orthodox view of salvation

Mar 16, 2011

The person that is struggling to the best of his abilities, who has no desire to live a disorderly life, but who, in the course of the struggle for faith and life, falls and rises again and again, God will never abandon.