Reflection on the Procession of the Life-Giving Wood
Today is the first of the three feasts of the Savior celebrated in August, and this feast has traditionally been a day for the blessing of freshly collected honey. There is a practical reason…
Reflections in Christ
Reflection on the commemoration of Holy Great Martyr and Unmercenary Healer Panteleimon
St. Panteleimon is a saint for all seasons: a martyr, a healer, a patron of Orthodox soldiers and sailors, an ally in spiritual warfare. And this befits his name, which means…
Reflection on the commemoration of Righteous Yakov (James), Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska
St. Yakov, the son of a Russian father and an Aleut mother, devoted himself to what was best in both his cultures: holy Orthodoxy and the time-hallowed native traditions that…
Reflection on the Dormition of Righteous Anna, Mother of the Most Holy Theotokos and Grandmother of Jesus Christ
The mystery of Christ’s Incarnation is fathomless; we can never exhaust our contemplation of the mystery whereby the Only-begotten of the Father became man in time. And as we celebrate…
Reflection on the commemoration of Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene
St. Mary Magdalene was full of tender love toward her Lord: it was that love that led her to the garden on Easter morning, where she hoped to anoint his Body with myrrh. And yet…
Sermon at the Divine Liturgy at the Assembly of the Archdiocese of Canada
In today’s brief Gospel, if we read it superficially, we come away with a quaint and softly comforting picture familiar from dated religious art of mediocre quality: a non-threatening Jesus sits…
Reflection on the commemoration of Holy Prophet Elijah
In the Byzantine period, it was customary to build chapels to St. Elijah in mountainous places, presumably so he could aid those who fared in those places by his prayers. In old Rus…
Address at the Assembly of the Archdiocese of Canada
The person, the family, the Church—the Body of Christ. The theme of this archdiocesan assembly is both profound and timely. Contemporary Western culture is fixated almost exclusively on the first of these categories, that of the person. ...
Reflection on the commemoration of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov
“Christ is risen, my joy!” St. Seraphim’s characteristic greeting is well known. Also well known is his love for animals and his friendship even with bears. However, we should not allow St. Seraphim…
Reflection on the commemoration of Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir
Prior to his conversion, St. Vladimir was an infamous polygamist, fornicator, and worshipper of idols. And indeed, we know from the story of Solomon that these behaviors—sexual incontinence…