by Fr. Stephen Freeman Few things are as awkward (and even painful) as “feeling like a fool,” whether it is the mild thing we call “embarrassment,” or the stronger things that make us want to disappear or run away. No one wants to be the fool. Nevertheless, I have come to see God as a “fool,” and those rare saints whom we name the “holy fools,” to be amazing exemplars of this way of being. I do not mean to scandalize anyone by saying that I’ve come to see God as a fool. I mean, rather, to suggest that we seem to constantly ignore His abiding foolishness and, as a consequence, fail to understand His love. St. Isaac of Syria wrote about God’s “manikos eros” (literally, “crazy desire”) for … [Read more...]
To Sincere Converts to the Orthodox Faith, and those who are Seeking
by Fr. Thomas Soroka To sincere converts to the Orthodox Faith and those who are seeking: I descend from a very long line of Orthodox Christians by the mercy of God. I also descend from generations of Orthodox clergy. My father, two uncles, my grandfather and great uncle were all priests, having been raised in a pious lineage of Orthodox Christians. Our family life in the church goes back for generations upon generations. I want you to know that you are valued as a convert by those of us who were born into the Church and seek to maintain Her Tradition. No matter your ethnic background, family lineage, previous religious affiliation, or educational level, you are a full member of the … [Read more...]
Metropolitan Hilarion Reposes in the Lord
Today, May 16, 2022, the feast day of St Theodosius of the Kievan Caves, at two o’clock New York time, following a lengthy illness, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, reposed in the Lord, in a NYC hospital. His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, performed the “Canon of Supplication at the Parting of the Soul.” His Grace was joined by Archpriest Serafim Gan and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin). A pannikhida will be performed at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York at 7:30 pm tonight. Further information will be provided … [Read more...]
Ninety Percent of Orthodoxy Is Just Showing Up
by Fr. Stephen Freeman Sometime back, I was asked about “being present.” The question was rooted in the problem of a “wandering mind.” My answer was simple and straight-forward: “You are always present. It comes with having a body.” We speak of the mind “wandering,” and it is a colorful metaphor, but it’s not true. The “mind” hasn’t gone anywhere else, it is simply thinking about something other than where your body is, or, it’s not “thinking” at all. Many times the noise in our head is just an artifact of other things, including our bodies. If we define “thinking” as a rational, intentional act in which we attend to something (whether physical or mental), then we actually think far less … [Read more...]
On the Feast of the Myrrhbearing Women
by St. Theophan the Recluse O tireless women! They didn’t let their eyes sleep and their eyelids close until they found the Beloved One! It seemed that the apostles balked at it. They went to the tomb and saw that it was empty, but they were puzzled and unable to tell what it could mean because they hadn’t seen the Risen Lord. Does it mean that they had less love than the women? No, but theirs was a mindful love, afraid to err because the stakes were too high and the Object of love was so exalted. As soon as they saw and touched Jesus with their own eyes and hands, then each of them professed with their hearts and not just with their mouths like Thomas, "My Lord and my God," (John … [Read more...]
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