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Palm Sunday

11 April 2009

Here’s a story about my favorite Sufi, Mullah Nasruddin. He was once asked why he never got married. He said, “I went to Damascus and found a wonderful woman: smart, beautiful, almost perfect, except ...

Lazarus Saturday

11 April 2009

It is interesting, too, to look at, and remember the words of those sisters of Lazarus today. Usually when we are thinking about Mary, and Martha, we think only about the passages that are read at ...

Living Liturgy: the Liturgical Method of the Fathers

07 April 2009

The Deacon says to all present, “In the fear of God and with faith, draw near!” and Eucharistic participation is expected from all—if not in fact, then at least in theory. (The Fathers, being ...

On Saint Mary of Egypt

03 April 2009

For in that single moment on the steps of the church, Mary was both changed in herself, and found worthy in the eyes of the Lord. Her response was entirely in character: with perfect freedom and ...

Preparing for Confession

02 April 2009

Often, when children play in competitive games, one will call out “that’s a do over!” Haven’t we all, at more than one time in our lives, wished for that chance to undo the past and start over? This ...

Acquiring a Penitential Feeling

30 March 2009

The priest is waiting for the person to confess, but the latter is waiting for the priest to ask him questions. It is time to confess, but the person is silent, so the priest starts asking, “So, what ...

Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross

20 March 2009

“Disowning the self” is a very difficult concept let alone a very difficult act. We live in a culture that focuses on the self. We live in a culture that thrives on selfishness. We have to be careful ...

What Do the Converts Want?

11 March 2009

If they stopped and thought about it, most Orthodox converts would call themselves premodern, since the modern world has not served up a wide array of dependable answers. They are looking for beauty ...

About the World Crisis

26 February 2009

In earlier times Europeans used the word “judgement” instead of the word “crisis” to explain the reason for any disaster. Nowadays the word “judgement” has been replaced with the word “crisis” and ...

Life as suffering or life as pleasure?

22 February 2009

Suffering is not the main theme of Christianity, the main theme of Christianity is joy. A person gets obsessed with suffering because of his pride, “Why do I feel worse than the others?” – and ...

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