Category Archives: Blog

The sign of the cross is one of the earliest Christian traditions.  We find very specific guidelines for its use dating back to the 2nd century (Hippolytus of Rome “Apostolic Tradition”), but it was obviously used before the guidelines were set down.  Over time the various Churches and Rites have developed slightly different forms of making the […]

Prayer for the Morning: We thank You, Lord our God, for You have wakened us from sleep, and have filled our lips with praise that we might worship You and call upon your holy name. We beg of your compassion that you have always shown towards us, hear us now and send help to those […]

(The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is September 14th) We see images of the Cross of Christ so frequently, that for many of us it has lost the power behind its meaning.  For those who loved Christ, or anyone who was executed on a cross, this image was incredibly traumatic; it immediately brought […]

The great feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos (September 8) is one of the 12 great feasts of the church year. You will often find these 12 feasts represented by icons on the second layer of the church iconostasis.  Pascha, The greatest feast of the year, is in a class all its own and so […]

As I write this it is the feast of Abba Moses the Ethiopian (Aug. 28). He has become one of my favorite saints. The longer I lead communities (I’m going on 16 years as a pastor) the more I realize that true leadership comes from trusting and loving both courageous vulnerability and deep strength. Christ […]

God’s Mouthpiece The full title for John the Forerunner (feast of his beheading is August 29th) is “The Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John”. (Not to be confused with John the Theologian also called the Apostle, Evangelist and/or “Beloved.”)  We call him “Prophet” because of the various ways that he carried out his vocation to […]

Historical: The ecclesiastical year begins on September 1. This is an ancient Constantinopolitan custom. In ancient times, the year in Constantinople began on September 23. This date marked, from its institution by the Emperor Constantine (in 313), the beginning of the indiction, i.e., the establishment of the annual land tax. This date was chosen because […]