Metropolitan Tikhon, Bishop Alexander and the OCA delegation drove yesterday to Sergiev Posad—about two hours from Moscow—to visit the Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra (founded by Saint Sergius of Radonezh), the Moscow Theological Academy and the ecclesiastical goods factory nearby at…
Yesterday, His Beatitude and our delegation were driven to Butovo on the outskirts of Moscow to see the notorious killing fields used by Stalin during the worst years of religious and political repression. August 1937 to October 1938, at the height of the executions over 20,000 were…
Greetings from Moscow! His Beatitude, Bishop Alexander and I were immediately plunged into the celebrations of the Russian Orthodox Church when we arrived at Domodedovo airport and were swept away by a welcoming delegation of bishops, representatives of the Department of External Church…
From now until August 1st I’ll be in the air, on trains and on the road with Metropolitan Tikhon and a small delegation from the Orthodox Church in America in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus at the invitation of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow to…
Something is missing.
If you look around at Orthodox Christianity in North America you will see a lot of inspiring examples of people, parishes, dioceses, projects, ministries, seminaries, monasteries, camps, all in their own way bearing witness to the light of Christ as we in the Orthodox…
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.
How can one recognize a false prophet?
It’s not apparent immediately. A prophet is a charismatic figure who draws…
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)
Maintaining the highest standards of sexual morality was one of the distinguishing features of both Judaism and early Christianity.…
I once had occasion to speak with a man and his wife, both Protestant missionaries, who had spent a year training Russian Protestants in Moscow. I met the husband first, and then later his wife, and was struck by how differently they…
Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding…
‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’ (Acts 25:16)
Felix, the procurator of Judea…
“…lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20)
Metropolitan Tikhon returned late Wednesday afternoon from his annual visit to the family’s ancestral home in the village of Les Contamines-Montjoie in south-eastern France, an hour from…
When Aquila and Priscilla heard [Apollos], they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (Acts 18:26)
Christ is risen!
It must have been tough for Apollos to accept the mentoring of Aquila and Priscilla. After all, he was apparently already…
…in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ (Acts 17:28)
In considering how we as Orthodox should reach out to the increasing numbers of people who classify themselves as…
As I’ve said before, the biggest question that faced the early church and threatened to tear it apart was what to do with Gentile converts. The Jewish elements within the Church insisted that Gentile followers keep the full Jewish Law, just as Jesus had and just as they did. Kosher laws,…
It’s a beautiful morning at the Chancery and I took the opportunity, before anyone arrived, to prepare this diary entry while sitting in the garden by the bell tower, surrounded by towering pines and cedars and the singing of at least a half-dozen kinds of birds.
My friend Father John…
“…[A]ccording to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior – Jesus…” (Acts 13:23)
“Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:14)
One of the facts of early Christian history is that…
Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. (Acts 13:8)
Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! (John 8:52)
The readings from Acts and John today both give me agita. I, and probably most of…
The Apostle Hermas is traditionally considered the author of The Shepherd, a work that had wide influence in the early church and was in some places bound with the books of the New Testament. It is a long series of visions and teachings centered on the…
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. (Acts 10:34-35)
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of…
Christ is risen! I’ve been at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery and Seminary since last Friday for the board meeting, commencement and pilgrimage (the 109th). The weekend started off wet and cold but became progressively warmer and brighter. Aside from the very…