Wisdom From Above
Today in the Orthodox Church we recall St Siluoan the Athonite, who reposed September 24 1938. A Russian, he came to Mount Athos at the age of twenty-seven, where he practiced the spiritual life…
St Columba Antiochian Orthodox Church – Lafayette Colorado
A Western Rite Orthodox Church
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Thoughts on St Theodore
Today we remember St Theodore, who died September 19 690. Born in Tarsus, he was a monk in Rome, and became Archbishop of Canterbury in England. As such, he is an icon of the…
The Ember Days
Today we celebrate the first of the September ember days, the quarter days as we also call them, the days of fasting and prayer by which the church sanctifies the four seasons of the…
East and West
What is the above image a depiction of? Our Lady of Sorrows? Or, the Theotokos, Softener of Evil Hearts? Many people like to speak of the differences between East and West, but, in fact,…
Hail Cross, Our Only Hope!
In 614, the Holy City of Jerusalem fell to the Sassanians, the Persians, and the True Cross venerated in the Holy Sepulchre was carried off as plunder. It was a devastating blow for the…
The Nativity of the Theotokos
Today (September 8) we celebrate the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an event which the liturgy calls ‘exordium salutis,’ the dawning of salvation. For just as when we see the rays of dawn…
Indestructible!
Every night before Compline, I read the martyrology, the list of saints whom we celebrate the following day. These saints bear witness to the promise of the Lord that the gates of hell will…
Loving Our Enemy
Today we read at Morning Prayer of how David lamented for Saul (2 Samuel 1), Saul who had hounded and persecuted him, Saul who had sought his life (1 Samuel 21, 1). Is this…
The Vexed Question of Masks
I know that for many of you wearing a mask is difficult. So remember, by wearing a mask you are being humble and obedient to our hierarchs, and respecting them, just as by wearing…
The Redemption of the Tears of Eve
So the Akathist hymn hails Our Lady, as the Redemption of the tears of Eve. It is a common theme throughout the history of Christianity, beginning with the Annunciation story in Luke 1, which…