A Morning Spiritual Strategy: Preparing for Daily Temptations

The morning is a sacred time for Orthodox Christians, a moment to dedicate the day to God and prepare spiritually for the challenges ahead. The Church Fathers teach us that vigilance at dawn is essential for spiritual warfare, as the mind is most receptive to divine grace when unburdened by worldly distractions. As Lorenzo Scupoli writes in Unseen Warfare:
“Fight daily with great determination. Do not let the weakness of your nature be an excuse. If your strength fails you, ask more from God. He will not refuse your request. Consider this—if the fury of your… Continue reading →

The question of whether guardian angels are assigned at birth or baptism occupies a significant place in Orthodox Christian theology, reflecting broader themes of divine providence, human dignity, and sacramental grace. Two primary perspectives emerge: one emphasizing angelic guardianship as inherent to human nature from the moment of birth, and the other linking it to the transformative grace of baptism. The former underscores the intrinsic worth of every person as an image-bearer of God, while the latter highlights the sacramental renewal of that image through incorporation into the Body of Christ. Both traditions coexist within the Church’s understanding of God’s loving care, inviting pious reflection… Continue reading →

The Importance of Daily Examination of Conscience
The Church Fathers emphasize the necessity of a daily examination of conscience as a powerful tool for spiritual growth. St. Paul commands Christians to examine themselves before receiving Holy Communion, warning that unworthy reception leads to judgment (1 Corinthians 11:28–31). Early monastic figures like St. Anthony, St. Augustine, and St. Bernard practiced this discipline nightly, reflecting on their actions to grow in virtue and avoid sin.
Before confession, self-examination intensifies contrition and prepares the soul for repentance. By identifying sins committed since the last confession, penitents can approach the sacrament with humility and clarity. Regular self-reflection not only… Continue reading →

The Fulfillment of the Law in Christ: An Orthodox Christian Perspective
A comment on social media recently caught my attention: “Christ said He didn’t come to abolish the Law, but He totally did abolish (fulfill) the Law, and there is no remnant of the Law left, clearly.” This statement reflects a common misunderstanding of Christ’s relationship to the Law and its ongoing significance within Christianity. From an Orthodox Christian perspective, this issue is far more nuanced and profound. Rather than being abolished, the Law has been fulfilled in Christ and transformed into its mature, spiritual reality within the life of the Church.

The Law as… Continue reading →

Introduction to St. John of the Ladder and His Work

St. John of the Ladder, a prominent figure in Orthodox Christian spirituality, is best known for his profound work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. Born in the early 6th century, he became the abbot of the monasteries on Mount Sinai and dedicated his life to asceticism and spiritual guidance. His feast day, celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, invites the faithful to reflect on the teachings encapsulated in his iconic text, which serves as a spiritual roadmap to achieving union with God.

The Ladder of Divine Ascent has exerted a significant influence on Orthodox… Continue reading →

I decided to do a review of the Book of Romans during the second half of Lent in anticipation of the resumption of teaching Bible study classes in my parish after Pascha.
This morning’s review brought me to chapter 3 of Romans and a passage that has had a lot of traction in the West since the Reformation:
“we previously warned both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written,
There is no one righteous; no, not one.
11 There is no one who understands.
12 There is no one who seeks God.
They have all turned aside.
They… Continue reading →

A lot of ink has been spilled among Western Christians in the debate concerning Faith vs. Works. What place do works, if any, have in our salvation?

From the Protestant “faith alone” side, it is insisted that works have nothing to do at all with our salvation, we are saved solely by believing in Christ apart from how we live. One of their primary proof texts is, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)

From the Roman Catholic side, it has often been… Continue reading →

The daily readings during Lent are from the Old Testament. Specifically, from Genesis, Proverbs, and Isaiah.
I have been thinking about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. What does it signify? Why was eating of it bad?
If we read the other extant creation stories of the Middle East, the Tree of Life appears in them, which represents God’s intention, and Man’s desire for immortality. But, interestingly, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil only appears in the Hebrew story of Creation.
Many interpretations of this Tree exist, but the one that seems to most plausible to me is that… Continue reading →

As an Orthodox Christian who holds a deep appreciation for the Christian Roman Republic while also cherishing the principles of Jeffersonian federal democracy, I find myself reflecting on the complexities of governance in both contexts. Many in the Orthodox community tend to romanticize monarchy, often overlooking the fact that the Christian Roman Empire was fundamentally a republic—a monarchical republic, to be sure, but one that most Byzantines viewed as a system of shared governance rather than an absolute monarchy. This system was not solely sacred; it also embraced secular elements, balancing divine authority with practical administration. Moreover, the dangers of democratic majoritarian rule were recognized… Continue reading →

As we approach Great Lent, the Orthodox Christian Church offers a series of Sundays that lead us into this sacred season. Each Sunday serves as a poignant reminder of our spiritual journey and invites us to reflect on our lives, our relationship with God, and the call to repentance and humility. Through the stories and teachings of these Sundays, the Church emphasizes themes of redemption, self-examination, and the love of Christ, encouraging us to prepare our hearts for the transformative experience of Lent.

Zaccheus Sunday introduces us to the story of Zaccheus, a tax collector who climbs a sycamore tree to see Jesus as He… Continue reading →

Yesterday, February 23, we celebrated the feast day of St. Polycarp, a revered Bishop of Smyrna and one of the earliest Church fathers and martyrs, who lived from 69 to 155 AD. His significance as a witness to the faith is profound, particularly because he was taught by the original Apostles, especially St. John, and had conversed with those who had witnessed Jesus Christ. St. Polycarp received his episcopate directly from the Apostles, making his teachings a vital link to the early Church.

As an Orthodox Christian, I find great inspiration in Polycarp’s writings, especially his Epistle to the Philippians. His insights were pivotal in… Continue reading →

In the life of the Church, controversies often arise that can be challenging to navigate, especially for those without access to a library filled with the writings of the Church Fathers and the rich history of the Church. One such pressing issue is how to receive converts who have been baptized in heterodox communions into the Orthodox Church. This question raises fundamental concerns: Should these individuals be baptized again? Should they be received through chrismation? Or is it sufficient for them to confess their faith, renounce their previous beliefs, and partake in the Eucharist?

Historically, the Orthodox Church has maintained the norm of receiving those… Continue reading →

In the realm of Orthodox Christianity, discussions surrounding baptism and the nature of sacraments can be deeply polarizing. A particularly contentious issue arose within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) during the leadership of Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky), who was First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia from 1964 until 1985 regarding the practice of corrective baptism. This practice involves rebaptizing individuals who were previously received into the Church through chrismation, often due to concerns about the validity of their initial reception.

The Context of Corrective Baptism

Corrective baptism, in this instance, refers to the rebaptism of those who had been chrismated,… Continue reading →

In American Orthodoxy over the last several decades, a contentious issue has emerged regarding the reception of converts from other Christian communions into the Orthodox Church.

Some individuals advocate for the baptism of virtually every Christian, while the majority of Orthodox Christians in America adhere to the traditional belief and practice upheld by nearly all Orthodox jurisdictions worldwide. This practice has deep historical roots, dating back to the earliest centuries of the Church. The issue was notably settled in the third century during the debates between Sts. Stephen and Cyprian. It was further solidified when the phrase “I believe in one baptism” was added to… Continue reading →

This last Sunday was the Feast of St. Luke. It was more than coincidence I think that I happened across a couple of verses from his Gospel that I look at very differently now than when I was a Protestant.

The verses in question are Luke 11:27-28, “As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you nursed!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’”

In my Baptist days, I was taught that this cut across Roman Catholic… Continue reading →