Tag Archives: Orthodox Life

The Story of Righteous John the Hesychast of Romania

By Fr. Luke | Published: March 2, 2011

There have been people throughout history and across the world who have sustained themselves by God alone, having lived for years with neither food, shelter, nor clothing. We are far from the experience of such ascetics; however, stories of them reach us from time to time. The following account is a true story about an [...]

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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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More on Church Attendance

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 24, 2009

Don’t be tempted to indulge yourself in not coming to church at the beginning of the service or leaving before it is over. Remember, each service is a complete unit and it can provide its full benefit only in its entirety. Just as food is tasty only when it is fully seasoned, so the service [...]

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Church Attendance

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 14, 2009

When the time comes, and especially the time put aside for God and His temple, a Feast Day or the hour of Divine Services, hurry to tear your self away from business and worldly cares and voluntarily and zealously offer yourself to God in His church. When you enter the church bring to mind the [...]

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The Virtue of Punctuality

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 5, 2009

The time to arrive for any Divine Service is before it is scheduled to begin. Sadly, it has become the custom of most Orthodox Christians to come to Church late. We are not speaking here, about occasional tardiness due to unforeseen circumstances, but the habitual practice of being late due to a lack of concern [...]

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Disposing of Religious Refuse

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 5, 2009

As a general rule, things that are blessed or otherwise considered “holy” are never to be thrown away.  They are to be disposed of properly and respectfully, usually by burning. The following is a brief summary of how various holy things should be properly disposed of. Holy Communion: Any porous material that gets Holy Communion [...]

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