by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon With respect to the life in Christ it is important to keep in mind two aspects of freedom: First, a correct concept of freedom disinclines us to reduce it to the mere ability to make choices. Thus reduced, indeed, freedom looks more like a potential than a reality. Freedom is counted, after all, as a great human blessing. But how can the mere capacity for choice be—without reservation—a blessing? Is that man to be called blessed who chooses to fling himself into a fire? Is freedom truly a blessing if someone deliberately enslaves himself? If freedom is to be counted a blessing, choice must in some measure be qualified by its object. This is why we sensibly … [Read more...]
On the Revocation of Metropolitan Onuphry’s Citizenship
by Metropolitan Ambrose of Tver “The Church is not measured by passports.” Friends, today the news agencies reported that, by decree of the President of Ukraine, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine has been stripped of the citizenship of the very country in which he was born and to which he has devoted his entire life. I must confess that such news always sounds like an echo of well‑known pages of Church history, when a secular power, translating spiritual matters into the language of passports and legal statuses, tries to mark out the borders of the Church. History has known many persecutors—from Nero, who mixed theatrics with bloody reprisals against … [Read more...]
Links to the Live Streamed Glorification Services for Matushka Olga of Kwethluk, AK
Below you will find the links to the live streamed services of the glorification of Matushka Olga Michael - these services officially declare her to be a saint of the Orthodox Church! Here are the links to the LIVE services (times in Arizona are in parentheses): Primatial All-Night Vigil for the Glorification of Saint Olga – Kwethluk, Alaska Date: Thursday, June 19 Time: 4:00 PM AKDT (5:00 pm AZ time) Livestream link: https://youtube.com/live/iUpL1KWTgxc?feature=share Primatial Divine Liturgy for the Glorification of Saint Olga – Kwethluk, Alaska Date: Friday, June 20 Time: 9:00 AM AKDT (10:00 am AZ time) Livestream … [Read more...]
What is Apostles Fast?
by Priest Brendan Pelphrey "The Apostles almost always fasted." St John Chrysostom, Sermon 57 on the Gospel of Matthew In America the Fast of the Apostles is probably the least well known, but is among the oldest of Christian traditions. It is mentioned by St. Athanasius in the fourth century, and there are other testimonies to its existence very early in the history of the Church. Orthodox Christians around the world observe four fasting seasons during the year. Two of these—the Great Fast for the forty days of Lent, and the Dormition Fast during the first fifteen days of August—are considered “strict” fasts. The other two are generally observed as “lesser” … [Read more...]
Statement by the Synod of Bishops on the Renewal of 20th-century Ideologies in Russia
NEW YORK: 5 June 2025 The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia finds it necessary to raise its voice out of bitter necessity, for we find that in a time of crisis and growing confrontation amongst nations, aspects of the Russian state and society are wandering onto an extremely dangerous path: instead of the promulgation of Christian repentance and purification, we observe in certain circles a return to a false, God-opposing ideology that prevailed in the last century. This return is fraught with harmful consequences. Should it continue, we fear that modern Russia risks being considered a dark stain amongst the nations, marked by a revival of spiritual … [Read more...]
Christ is Ascended in Glory! And We With Him!
by St. Cyril of Jerusalem Let us not curiously pry into what is properly meant by the throne; for it is incomprehensible. But neither let us endure those who falsely say, that it was after His Cross and Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, that the Son began to sit on the right hand of the Father. For the Son gained not His throne by advancement; but throughout His being (and His being is by an eternal generation) He also sitteth together with the Father. And this throne the Prophet Isaiah having beheld before the incarnate coming of the Savior, says, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up (Is. 6:1), and the rest. For the Father no man hath seen at any … [Read more...]
The Feast of Mid-Pentecost
by Vladimir Lossky The feast of Mid-Pentecost occupies a place (Wednesday of the fourth week after Pascha) between the Resurrection of Christ and the Descent of the Holy Spirit [Pentecost], and thus it is adorned with the especial glory characteristic of “the root of the greatest feasts” (see Matins, the canon of Theophanes, Ode 5). Just like the majority of “ideological” feasts, this mysterious celebration of grace (unknown in the West), apparently dates back to deep antiquity. In fact, our present-day feast of Pentecost contains, besides the stichera of a later period (early eighth century), liturgical elements ascribed to Holy Hierarch Elias of Jerusalem (494–513) or Holy Hierarch … [Read more...]
2025 ASONA Paschal Parish Picnic!
On Thomas Sunday, the parishioners of ASONA and guests travelled to Gateway Park to celebrate our annual parish picnic. The day was in the low 70's with an occasional stiff breeze, but the comfort and happiness of the day prevailed. We greeted each other with the Paschal Greeting, "Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!", and sang the Paschal Troparion to bless the food. What a feast was provided! And part from this bubbles, tug-of-war, and an ASONA-style Easter Egg Hunt all took place with joy. See the gallery below for highlights from our picnic. … [Read more...]
ASONA 2025 – Great Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha
Great Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha have passed, and ASONA is continuing the Paschal celebration. As a part of remembering our heart warming journeys, here are some photo galleries to remind us all what we have just been through. Glory to God! Christ is Risen! Great Lent Lazarus Saturday Baptisms Holy Week Pascha … [Read more...]
Paschal Epistle of the Ruling Hierarch of the Western American Diocese
“The angel cried unto her that is full of grace: O Pure Virgin, rejoice, and again, I say rejoice; for Thy Son hath risen from the grave on the third day…” Paschal Matins – 9th Irmos To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics and Laity of the Western American Diocese CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! The day of Christ’s Resurrection, Pascha, is a time of joyousness, light and new life – I am come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10). A life in Christ is a life centered not on something transient and fashionable, but it is a life focused on the stability of eternity in God. It is a life of happiness and joy free of the passions and temporal … [Read more...]
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