I held off talking about this miracle by Elder Paisios publicly until the miracle was complete, which it nearly is. I was asked to write an account of the miracle to be included in the papers sent to the Ecumenical Patriarchate where a decision will be made soon on the canonization of Elder Paisios as […]
Fr. Thomas Hopko: 55 Maxims for Christian Living
Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary and teacher of seminarians and priests for decades passed away in 2015. Fr. Tom was first a pastor, a man with a generous heart and burning love for Christ who directed many towards our Lord.
Dachau 1945: The Souls of All Are Aflame
Source: Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese In 1945, a Paschal Liturgy like no other was performed. Just days after their liberation by the US military on April 29, 1945, hundreds of Orthodox Christian prisoners at the Dachau concentration camp gathered to celebrate the Resurrection service and to give thanks. By Douglas Cramer The Dachau concentration camp was […]
Orthodox Pascha (Easter) in Dachau
The last transport of prisoners arrives from Buchenwald. Of the 5,000 originally destined for Dachau, I was among the 1,300 who had survived the trip. Many were shot, some starved to death, while others died of typhus…
St. John Maximovitch and the Dove
When I came to San Francisco to be close to the saintly Archbishop John Maximovitch, I heard a lot of fascinating accounts of his ascetic life. Frequently I visited St. Tikhon’s Orphanage, founded by this Saint, and run then by his long-time assistant, Mrs. Maria Alexandrovna Shakhmatova (+1967). Archbishop John was a very busy man, […]
Elder Pophyrios: One Should Feel Sorry for the Person Wounded by a Criminal
Excerpt from the book Elder Porphyrios: A Spiritual Child Remembers by the late Constantine Giannitsioti, translated by Marina M.Robb. Painting on Home page: “The Prodigal Son” by Vincent Van Gogh (Detail) Elder Porphyrios, an Athonite monk, was a spiritual father and confessor in the center of Athens for over 30 years, helping thousands of people […]
The Meaning of Dostoevsky’s “Beauty Will Save the World”
By Vladimir Soloviev “Beauty will save the world” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Idiot Dostoevsky not only preached, but, to a certain degree also demonstrated in his own activity this reunification of concerns common to humanity–at least of the highest among these concerns–in one Christian idea. Being a religious person, he was at the same time […]
Staying Afloat on the Sea of Life
Sometimes a good steward husbands a resource. Sometimes, however, a good steward makes
Mark 4:35-41 — Jesus Calms the Storm
Jesus’ calming the storm by rebuking the powers of nature (vv. 35-41) demonstrates His divinity and authority. We learn from St. Mark that, in the words of the St. Athanasius the Great, “The Lord Who rebuked (the storm) was not a creature, but rather its Creator.” St. Basil the Great further teaches us that “by […]
Ten Steps to a Better Prayer Life
Author Unknown If you want to improve your prayer life, start now. These ideas may seem of little significance, but can help you make leaps and bounds in the intensity and consistency of your prayer. 1. Designate A Prayer Space Whether it is in the corner of your desk or a little stand in your […]