Tag Archives: Family

Nativity Fast and Thanksgiving Turkey

By Fr. Luke | Published: November 23, 2010

On November 25 America celebrates Thanksgiving Day which has a very significant role in American families because it is one of the few times a year that the family gets together. Thanksgiving Day is also called a Turkey day because it usually involves a meal with turkey or at least a more elaborate meal. Most [...]

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The Orthodox Way of Life

By Fr. Luke | Published: October 4, 2010

Orthodoxy is not merely a ritual, or belief, or pattern of behavior, or anything else that a man may possess, thinking that he is thereby a Christian, and still being spiritually dead. It is rather an elemental reality or power which transforms a man and gives him the strength to live in the most difficult [...]

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Behavior During Divine Services

By Fr. Luke | Published: March 3, 2010

Q: “How should Christians stand in church during services, how should they pray, and what duties do they have when they go to church?” A: Christians should stand in church with faith, fear of God, and attention. They should force themselves as much as possible to pray without distraction and with feeling of heart. Also, [...]

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Why do we have our homes blessed?

By Fr. Luke | Published: January 19, 2010

Orthodox Christians have prayers of blessing for just about everything. From religious articles such as icons and vestments, to things like fields, flowers, barns, and animals. We even bless cars, boats and journeys. It is also our custom to bless our homes each year. Buy why? Certainly everything that our All-good God created was good—in [...]

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Things to remember for house blessings at Theophany

By Fr. Luke | Published: January 18, 2010

If possible every member of the family should gather, properly attired, for the Priest’s visit. At your home altar, or on the dining room table place a clean cloth, a lit candle and a Theophany icon or icon of Christ. You may also have incense prepared and ready if you like. Many people also like [...]

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Cases of Childlessness

By Fr. Luke | Published: October 14, 2008

—Geronta, a husband and wife that both have Mediterranean anemia [1] asked us if they should try to have children. We told them to ask their spiritual father. —Spiritual fathers should not tell such couples not to have children. They must guide them in philotimo, so as to struggle in abstinence (to abstain), and with [...]

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Human Logic and the Will of God for Childbearing

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 13, 2007

Oftentimes couples express to me their insecurity regarding the topic of childbearing, and they ask my opinion. Some only want one or two children, while others want to have many. It would, however, be to their advantage to leave the issue of childbearing to God—to entrust their lives to divine providence and not try to [...]

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Saints Joakeim and Anna are the Most Dispassionate Couple

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 6, 2007

—Geronta, tell us about Saints Joakeim and Anna, the ancestors of God. You once started to speak of them. —Since I was little I’ve had a great veneration for the Holy Ancestors. Surely I’ve told one of you about wanting them to give me the name Joakeim when they made me a monk. We owe [...]

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Relationships with Relatives and Friends

By Fr. Luke | Published: September 26, 2007

—Geronta, a certain woman asked what to do with her two cousins who have been freeloading off her for years. —What does she want? To write a new Gospel now? God asks of her to help them and He will do whatever helps their souls. —Geronta, when there is a misunderstanding between relatives, should someone [...]

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Children and the Spiritual Life

By Fr. Luke | Published: September 20, 2007

—Geronta, if a mother gives holy water to her child and he spits it out, what should she do? —She should pray for her child. Maybe the way in which she gives the holy water to her child causes a reaction. For the child to be on the path of God the parents must also [...]

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