The Great Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos is the celebration of the presentation of Mary, the Mother of God, who was brought by Joachim and Anna (her parents) to the Temple in Jerusalem to live and serve until her betrothal to Joseph. We deeply cherish this feast because we honor Mary as "the abode of heaven" (from the Troparion of the Feast) and "the heavenly tabernacle" (from the Kontakion of the Forefeast). On this day we bask in the glory of Mary who "let it be don

Mary, the Mother of God, the Most Holy Theotokos, died to herself at a very early age in order to serve God. Have you ever thought about what that was like? It was a total gift of body, soul, and spirit. Not one part of her was reserved for something selfish. That is why in death she was assumed, soul AND body, into heaven. Do you meditate on her life? Do you ask her intercession? Do you ask God for the strength to emulate her? Die to yourself. Live in God and God alone. An i

In order for a person to serve others authentically, they must first be at peace with God and themselves. An icon of Moses at the Burning Bush If you have a question or prayer request, please reach out here. If you can donate, please click here.

The Divine nature of Jesus was revealed on Mt. Tabor; Peter, James. and John were transfigured because of it. These three Apostles saw Jesus for what He has always been, still is, and shall be: the Eternal and Primordial Image of God. We know Sacred Scripture. We have the Sacraments. Why are we not transfigured? Because we have not fully committed ourselves to love God, to desire God, and to strive toward God. For this we must purify our worldly eyes, train our distracted min

Pandemics, protests, storms, and stress, no matter what you are personally facing right now, please know in your heart that God is with you. He has never left you. You have left Him. Seek Him again. Or, rather, open yourself up to understand who He is and where He is and what He is doing. Unclench your fists. Relax your shoulders. Close your eyes. Sit. Take a deep breath. Breathe again. Breathe ever more deeply the third time. Recite the Jesus Prayer: "Lord, Jesus Christ, Son

"1. Blessed Abba Paul the Simple, the disciple of Abba Anthony, told the Fathers that which follows: "One day he went to a monastery to visit it and to make himself useful to the brethren. After the customary conference, the brothers entered the holy church of God to perform the synaxis there, as usual. Blessed Paul looked fully at each of those who entered the church observing the spiritual disposition with which they went to the synaxis, for he had received the grace from t

"I am descending deep into my heart, to see who is dwelling in it besides me and You, O Eternal God. "And I am filled with fear as I find legions of strangers fighting over portions of my heart. I found as many of them in my heart as time contains human and inhuman souls from the Fall of Adam. "And then I understood why my heart has become weary, and cannot receive either You or me into its chambers, but instead shoves us to the outer perimeter – pushing the proprietors out t

St. Basil the Great (329-379), one of the Early Church Fathers who lived in the Cappadocian Region (which today is central Turkey), defined for the Christian Church the theology of the Holy Spirit. Take a moment now to consider what he writes in Chapter 9, No. 23, in On the Holy Spirit*, about how the Third Person of the Trinity changes the Baptized and Chrismated. First, the Holy Spirit consoles, lifts up, and illuminates. Second, He provides us with supernatural spiritual g

St. Symeon the New Theologian (949–1022) is one of three saints of the Orthodox church to have been given the title of Theologian (the others are St. John the Apostle and St. Gregory Nazianzen). Born in Galatia and educated at Constantinople, he became abbot of the monastery of St. Mamas. His feast day is celebrated by some on March 12, the date of his repose, while others commemorate his feast on October 12, because March 12 falls within Great Lent. St. Symeon was a theologi

According to Sacred Scripture, the holy Apostle Thomas did not believe the reports of the other disciples about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). On the eighth day after the Resurrection, the Lord appeared to the Apostle Thomas and showed him His wounds. "My Lord and my God," the Apostle cried out (John 20:28). "