On Saturday, February 2nd, 2019 the inaugural Mission Development Conference and Satellite Training workshop was held in Glendale, AZ. The conference was sponsored by St. Lawrence Orthodox Church in Felton, CA, and their priest, Fr. Thaddaeus Hardenbrook, was one of the conference speakers and leaders. Fr. John A. Peck led the sessions by identifying important mission growth principles. Fr. Thaddaeus discussed the relationship of anthropology and Orthodox phroenema to mission work. A break for lunch at the local Buffalo Wild Wings was a happy success, and after lunch, Paul Rathbone, of the Theotokos "Joy of All Who Sorrow" and St. John Maximovitch Orthodox Mission spoke about Home Fellowship Groups. Conversations were lively, and continued … [Read more...]

In light of the terrible earthquake in Anchorage, Alaska, we offer this homily by St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on the occasion of an earthquake in his day.  Have you seen God’s power, have you seen God’s love for mankind? His power, because He shook the world; His love, because He made the tottering world firm again; or rather, you saw both His power and His love in both. For the earthquake showed His power, and its cessation showed His love, because He shook the earth and made the world fast again, because He set it upright when it was rocking and about to fall. The earthquake has gone by, but let the fear remain; that tossing has run its course, do not let discretion depart with it. We spent three days in prayer; … [Read more...]

We just today received this note from his eminence Amfilochios, Metropolitan of Kissamos and Selinon. Let's continue to pray for him, and for the faithful of the new St. Nikiphoros the Leper Church!   … [Read more...]

On Wednesday, September 26, 2018, the holy relics of St. Nikiphoros the Leper were brought to the Hermitage Chapel of St. Nikiphoros for a special blessing. The Paraklesis service to St. Nikiphoros was celebrated, and the holy relics were made available for veneration. On Sunday, September 30, the holy relics will be brought to All Saints of North America Orthodox Church for veneration, two days before the Church of St. Nikiphoros will be consecrated by several hierarchs and many faithful, including the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Jerusalem, and many more hierarchs.  The parishioners of ASONA made a special gift to help the building up of the Church of St. Nikiphoros, and we are doubly blessed to have a portion of his … [Read more...]

I must say, this was simple, but impressive in its scope and treatment. Enjoy!  … [Read more...]

  Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we celebrate this blessed Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, “in radiant joy with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs together with the angels and the apostles,” we give thanks to God for the revelation of His abundant grace and glorious power through the life and witness of the Virgin Mary. In our commemoration of her and the holiness of her life and service, we are reminded of the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, All things are possible to the one who believes. (Mark 9:23). This assurance of Christ, that through faith the impossible becomes possible, that as people of God we can move beyond limitations to accomplish great and marvelous things in His name, was the focus of the … [Read more...]

Fr. Michael Oleksa is the former Dean of St. Herman Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kodiak, AK.  Fr. Michael's words echoes what St. Justin Martyr wrote about the ancient Greek philosophers in his First Apology: "Those who lived in accordance with the Logos are Christians, even though they were called godless, such as, among the Greeks, Socrates and Heraclitus and others like them... So also those who lived before Christ and did not live by the Logos were ungracious and enemies of Christ, and murderers of those who lived by the Logos. But those who lived by the Logos, and those who so live now, are Christians, fearless and unperturbed." … [Read more...]