626. Mystical Prayers of Saint Symeon the New Theologian

Who? I fear that is the reaction of many Orthodox, till lately including myself. The Orthodox Church has given the title “Theologian” to only three men: 1)  Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist, 2) Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, Patriarch of Constantinople, one of the great Fourth Century Cappadocian Fathers, defender of the Holy Trinity against […]

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617. What ever happened to the Virgin Mary?

  Years ago an Episcopalian professor friend of mine was considering Orthodoxy. * He told me the defining “test issue” for him would be: What does the Orthodox Church officially teach about the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary? Was she taken bodily into Heaven or was she not? I responded: “Well, … …” which […]

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616. The Feast of the Transfiguration: Glory!

But first: Ukraine This is an Orthodox issue: one Orthodox nation making war against another Orthodox nation, bringing shame on the Orthodox world. I dislike preceding the glorious topic of the Transfiguration with such a dreadful subject as this. However, the US war on Iran has captured the headlines. Ukraine and its 25 million Orthodox […]

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605. Idolatry? Polytheism? Irrational nonsense?

 Please pray for the innocent suffering people of Ukraine, the Palestinians of Gaza and the West Bank, and of Iran and Sudan.   Holy Pentecost The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ’s Apostles On Penteost, the Holy Spirit came with power, sending the Apostles out to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the […]

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602. The Skull of Saint Titus, and some other Heads I have venerated.

Please pray for the innocent suffering people of Ukraine, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank, and Iran.  Christ is risen! Truly He is risen! __________________ I had arrived on Crete and was staying in Heraklion overnight. I got up early and went around the corner to the Church of Saint Titus to say my prayers. […]

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