"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register."  - Luke 2:1–3 On the Dateline NBC’s “The Birth of Jesus” episode, Dr. John Dominic Crossan, co-founder of the wildly popular Jesus Seminar, called into question the historical veracity of Holy Scripture. Said Crossan: “Luke tells us the story that at the time Jesus was born Augustus had decreed a census of the whole earth. Now, every scholar will tell you there was no such census ever.” Is Crossan correct? Is the Canon corrupt? Did Dr. Luke make a … [Read more...]

by Fr. Stephen Freeman I do not believe it is possible to exhaust this topic. I have set forth a few suggestions of how we might build and maintain a life of thanksgiving. Particular thought is given to those times when giving thanks is difficult. 1. I must believe that God is good. I struggled with this for many years. I believed that God was sovereign; I believed that He was the Creator of heaven and earth; I believed that He sent His only Son to die for me. But despite a host of doctrines to which I gave some form of consent, not included (and this was a matter of my heart) was the simple, straight-forward consent that God is good. My father-in-law, a very simple Baptist deacon of … [Read more...]

Two of our most popular booklets, the ASONA Prayerbook and the Door to Paradise, are back in stock at ASONA. The ASONA Prayerbook is, of course, our parish published Orthodox Prayer book, containing all the necessary prayers for one's prayer rule, as well as a special prayer for peace, the Prayer Rule of St. Pachomius, and an Examination of Conscience in preparation for Confession. Prayerbooks are available for a donation of $10. The Door to Paradise is a booklet, published by St. Hermans Press, that we offer for free to first time visitors, or other visitors who have not had the chance to be offered a copy. It is an excellent introduction to the Orthodox faith and spiritual way of life. … [Read more...]