by Fr. John Whiteford If we look at the Scriptures and to Jewish custom, the answer is clearly “No.” Another grand slam from the Bible – from Fr. John’s “Stump the Priest” column Question: How would you answer a Protestant who considered our veneration of the Cross (bowing down before it and kissing it) to be idolatry? First we should consider whether or not bowing down before something or kissing it entails the worship of adoration that is due to God alone. If we look at the Scriptures and to Jewish custom, the answer is clearly “No.” Abraham bowed himself before the people of Hebron (Genesis 23:7, 12); Joseph’s brothers bowed before him (Genesis 42:6; 43:26, 28); and many other … [Read more...]
Why Did Christ Need Baptism?
A question asked by many is, “Why did Jesus need to be baptized?” To answer this, let’s first explore the nature of baptism as explained by Saint John Chrysostom. Jewish Baptism Saint John Chrysostom points out that the Jewish Baptism was one of cleansing. He says, There was a Jewish baptism, which cleansed from bodily impurities, but not to remove sins. Thus, whoever committed adultery, or decided on thievery, or who did some other kind of misdeed, it did not free him from guilt. But whoever touched the bones of the dead, whoever tasted food forbidden by the law, whoever approached from contamination, whoever consorted with lepers — that one washed, and until evening was impure, … [Read more...]
ASONA Rector Elevated to Archpriest
Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen! On Sunday, May 12, 2024 at the new Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, his eminence Archbishop Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America elevated the rector of ASONA, Priest John A. Peck to the rank of Archpriest. Archpriest, (Greek: πρωτοπαπᾶς, protopapas) or protopresbyter (Greek: πρωτοπρεσβύτερος, protopresbyteros), is a clerical rank, a title of honor given to non-monastic priests and is conferred by a bishop with the laying on of hands and prayer. The ceremony for making an archpriest is analogous to other clerical promotions bestowed with cheirothesia: at the Little Entrance of the Divine Liturgy, the candidate is conducted … [Read more...]
On the Essence of Icons, by St. Photios
by St. Photios the Great St. Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, preached a sermon on the day the icon of the Theotokos was dedicated in Hagia Sophia, 29 March 867. In the notes introducing the English translation of the sermon, we find this comment: “In the eyes of Photius, painting is the most direct form of instruction, for a picture that is in agreement with religious truth contains the eidos, or essence, of the prototype, which is in turn apprehended by the faculty of sight and indelibly imprinted upon the mind. A painter is guided by divine inspiration, so that his work is not merely mimetic, but contains an actual share of the prototype. One would look in vain for a better … [Read more...]
Who Invented Church Bells, and What Are the Rules for Ringing Them?
On February 5, the Church celebrates the memory of St. Paulinus the Merciful. The appearance of church bells and bell ringing in Europe is associated with his name. In Russia, where bells came along with Christianity, the art of bell ringing acquired its own specific characteristics over time. Saint Paulinus the Gracious lived in the 5th century. He received a good education, at the age of 20 he became a senator, and a little later the proconsul of the Campania region in Italy. Subsequently, for the sake of serving God and his neighbors, the saint decided to abandon his public career: he accepted holy orders, and then was elevated to the rank of bishop and became the bishop of the city of … [Read more...]
Inaugural Arizona Liturgical Practicum Accomplished
On Monday, January 29, Hiermonk Peter (Karakazoff) inaugurated the Arizona Liturgical Practicum at All Saints of North America Orthodox Church, in Sun City, Arizona. Sponsored by the GreatMartyr Euphemia Orthodox Theological Academy, this weeklong event ended Thursday night, February 1st. The practicum was attended by local clergy and laity alike, and provided a unique opportunity for a deep dive into Orthodox liturgics. Hieromonk Peter is the priest at the Old Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, CA, and was the Archdeacon of the Western American Diocese for many years. He is a walking encyclopedia of liturgical history, symbolism, knowledge, development, and practice. His … [Read more...]
Mt. Athos: We are Absolutely Opposed to Any Form of Marriage or Adoption that Contradicts the Gospel
Amidst the controversy surrounding the Greek government’s proposal to legalize gay marriage and adoption by same-sex couples, the Holy Mountain has raised its voice. The bill put forth by Greece’s New Democracy government is likely to come up early next year, follows on the legalization of gay civil unions in 2015. Several hierarchs of the Greek Church have spoken out against the bill and the Holy Synod recently announced that it is closely following the situation. And like many hierarchs, the Sacred Community of Mt. Athos—the representative body of the Holy Mountain—has denounced the proposed legislation. The Community’s statement, issued yesterday, reads: Following recent statements … [Read more...]
REPORT: Hundreds Of Gazans Convert To Christianity Overnight After Dream Of Jesus
Christian missionaries in the Gaza Strip are reporting that hundreds of Muslims are converting after experiencing a shared dream where Jesus Christ appeared and comforted them amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. According to The American Tribune, Christian professor Michael Licona, who teaches the New Testament at Houston Christian University, received word from contacts serving war refugees that the conversions may have taken place among 200 Muslim men who claimed to see the son of God in their dreams on the same night. Posting on Facebook, Licona recounted the miraculous occurrence. “God is working in the midst of war! This news coming out of Palestine from underground … [Read more...]
A New American Saint – Olga of Kwethluk
The Synod of the Orthodox Church in America will officially glorify Matushka Olga Michael of Kwethluk, Alaska as a saint. The Proclamation of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America on the Glorification of the Righteous Servant of God Matushka Olga Michael In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. To the beloved Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America God is wondrous in His Saints November 8, 2023 Chicago, IL The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America has heard the petition of The Right Reverend ALEXEI, Bishop of Sitka and Alaska, expressed in his November 2, 2023 letter to His Beatitude … [Read more...]
The Month of October in the Orthodox Church
by John Sanidopoulos October is the tenth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and the sixth of seven months to have a length of 31 days. The eighth month in the old Roman calendar, October retained its name (from the Latin ôctō meaning "eight") after January and February were inserted into the calendar that had originally been created by the Romans. October is commonly associated with the season of autumn in the Northern hemisphere and with spring in the Southern hemisphere. The month of October in the Orthodox Church is perhaps the least eventful as far as great festivals and themes in the calendar are concerned. Nothing related to the life of our Lord Jesus Christ or … [Read more...]
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