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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

Our ASONA Ready Page contains more than in this article. Click here to see the ASONA  Ready Page. September is indeed National Preparedness Month, and this year recommended tasks have conveniently broken down our activity into four simple tasks - 1 per week! The Time to Make a Plan is Now Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find. The Basics Remember, when trouble hits, you can't rely on your local stores. Remember stores running out … [Read more...]

by Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) Orthodox Divine Services are an enormous treasure, one which we must carefully keep. Whether in the Liturgy, Vespers, Matins, the Hours, Midnight Office, or Compline, from the very opening exclamation we immerse ourselves into our element, into prayer, that nothing is capable of interrupting. One after another, psalms, litanies, sticherae, troparia, prayers and exclamations by the priest: the entire service moves like a single, constant, unfolding mystery, breathing as one, everything in one rhythm, nothing distracting from prayer. Byzantine liturgical texts, filled with the most profound theological and mystical content, alternate with the prayerful … [Read more...]

by Archpriest Victor Potapov Incense symbolizes prayer. That is pointed out in Sacred Scripture: And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5: 8). As sweet-smelling smoke lightly rises up, so true prayer coming from a purified heart, should rise up to God. As incense has a pleasant aroma, so prayer, done with love and humility, is pleasing to the Lord. The Holy Apostle Paul says, Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children: and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us … [Read more...]

by Abbott Tryphon The Old Testament is filled with the image of God’s people being a holy people, set apart. The ancient Israelites were not like their neighbors. Their values and their faith impacted everything about them. They dressed differently than many of their neighboring pagan tribes. Their worship was centered on the God that had revealed himself to them and made them his chosen people. Their spiritual and moral views reflected this relationship with the One God that had entered into communion with them and who had revealed Divine Truth through the prophets. The Church is the continuation of the Church of the Old Testament and as such, we are the chosen people of God. Our lives … [Read more...]