As sin is separation from God, repentance then is returning to God. God says: "Return to me, and I will return to you" (Malachi 3:7). When the prodigal son repented, he returned to his father (Luke 15:18-20). True repentance is a human longing to return to the origin from which it was taken. It is the desire of a heart that stayed away from God, and felt that it stay away any longer. As sin – …

Family Planning means that the family plans to have children according to its economic and social conditions, as well as according to its ability to care for the children spiritually, economically, and socially. The family’s role is not limited only to having children, but more essentially to raising the children well. The family’s awareness of her responsibility towards raising her children is essential. For the Church, the core of family planning is centralized in the – …

There is an increase in the number of individuals, who pose as monks, and despite being stripped of their monastic order, persist in wearing the monastic garments. Therefore the committee recommends “that the fathers the metropolitans and bishops should make their priests and flock aware that these individuals should not be dealt with nor accepted in the homes. It is also necessary to confirm who the person wearing the monastic or clerical garment really is. – …

Offering praise is the work of angels who constantly love to be before the Throne of God. They praise Him zealously since all their pleasure, satisfaction, and comfort is in the praise of their Creator. Offering of praise is the most sublime type of prayer, for it is conversing with God. When we praise, we are likened with the heavenly hosts who praise God incessantly. As St. Gregory the Theologian says, “He who has granted – …

1. When the holy Abba Anthony lived in the desert he was beset by ‘accidie’ – lethargy – , and attacked by many sinful thoughts. He said to God, ‘Lord, I want to be saved, but these thoughts will not leave me alone. What shall I do in my affliction? How can I be saved?’ A short while afterwards, when he got up to go out, Anthony saw a man like himself sitting at his – …

An excerpt from Origen’s Commentary on the Gospel According to St. John, Book I, Ante-Nicene Fathers v. 10. Christ as the Resurrection. Now He is called the light of men and the true light and the light of the word, because He brightens and irradiates the higher parts of men, or, in a word, of all reasonable beings. And similarly it is from and because of the energy with which He causes the old deadness – …

How many times have you admitted that you love God but: · When you stand up for prayers, you do not feel His presence? · When you open the Bible to read, you feel it is puzzling? · When you enter the church, you feel no spiritual awe? · That you find no comfort in any kind of worship? · Neither do you find it easy to keep the commandments. What is the solution to – …

Coming to a neighboring city, after having made a discourse, he observed a young man in the company of a fair stature and pleasing aspect, and being much taken with him, he presented him to the bishop whom he had ordained for that see, saying, "In the presence of Christ, and before this congregation, I earnestly recommend this young man to your care." The bishop took the trust upon him and promised to discharge it – …

The saints and those who truly practice virtue, "put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire (which is idolatry)." [Col. 3:5]. As the result of this, they are pure and without spot, confiding in the promise of our Savior, who said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." [Matt. 5:8] Having died to the world and renounced the merchandise of the world, they gained an – …

“And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve, whom He also named apostles.” (Lk 6: 13) Our Lord Jesus Christ spent the night in prayer, conversing with His Father and God in heaven in a way indescribable and beyond our powers of understanding, a way which is solely known to Himself. He thus makes Himself an example to us of that which is necessary for salvation, – …

The subject of Halloween is something that has caught my attention over the last few weeks. Some might ask Why? As this is a natural part of life in America, they may add that: “this is the second important occasion on our yearly calendar after Christmas. Its a fun time for us and our children, who dress up in a scary clothes and go around trick or treating and having lots of fun” Fun? I – …

‘Euthanasia’ is a Greek word that means ‘happy death. It is used to signify the medical intervention in discontinuing the life of patients with complicated diseases, or those who suffer sever pain from incurable diseases. This intervention is seen as stemming from the doctor’s mercy and pity on his patients. The concept also calls for discontinuing the lives of children or infants who suffer from mental retardation or complicated diseases, thus having mercy upon them – …