The Fast of the Nativity is the Church's wise solace and aid to human infirmity. We are a forgetful people, but our forgetfulness is not unknown to God; and our hearts with all their misconceptions and weakened understandings are not unfamiliar to the Holy Spirit who guides and sustains this Church. We who fall far from God through the magnitude of our sin, are called nonetheless to be close to Him. We who run afar off are called to return. Through the fast that precedes the great Feast of the Incarnation -- which itself is the the heart and substance of our calling -- the Church helps draw us into the full mystery of what that call entails. Like Great Lent, the fast of the Nativity is a … [Read more...]

The River of Fire is "an all-consuming fire and an illuminating light" Upon Christ's Second Coming, everyone who has ever lived will see Him in His uncreated light, forever. For "those who worked good deeds in their lifetime will go towards the resurrection of life, while those who worked evil in their lifetime will go towards the resurrection of judgment (John.5:29)".  All will be separated at the moment of the final judgement, with the good experiencing paradise as exceedingly good, and radiant, while those who have rejected His love, and whose lives ended without repentance, will look upon Christ as hell, the "all-consuming fire" spoken of in Hebrews 12:29. It is from Christ's … [Read more...]

Not sure what to do about those whose fate we are unsure of? Now you know what to do. “The Liturgy is our family, our gathering, our house. And what a spacious house it is! Together with us are those who are absent, along with sinners, and the wicked, and the dead, indeed, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE IN HELL, but who may yet remember something about God. And who knows how many of these will find relief, be drawn out of Hades, and even dragged up from the depths of hell, thanks to the prayers of the Church, her memorial services, and Divine Liturgies.” ~ Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra, Θεία Λατρεία [Divine Worship], pp. 214, 222-224. … [Read more...]

by Natalia Mihailova  Happiness is often elusive, especially in our daily work. Life involves many temptations and unexpected troubles. With a solid faith and proper way of life it is possible to find joy in everything you do or are faced with. The following seventeen points will bring God into your life each hour of your day allowing you will become more effective and true to your deepest values. Implement them and you will find they also will lead to a life based on joy. Remember your power to choose. You make the choices in your life. You can choose to act with God or to ignore His grace. You were created in God’s image and have free will. If you feel unhappy remember that you are … [Read more...]