Be attentive, and you will learn the deep mysteries available to you in pastoral work. By Father Steven Belonick Over the course of thirty-four years as an Orthodox priest, I have visited countless people with varying degrees of sickness—some with curable ailments and others with grave … [Read more...]
Why Smaller Churches are Making a Comeback
by Thom Rainer Smaller churches are poised to make a comeback. I’m serious. I see too many signs and indicators to believe otherwise. For certain, I know the bad news. The median size of a church has declined from around 100 to 70 in worship attendance in a decade. That means one-half of … [Read more...]
Astonishing Church growth in Russia Sees Record Number Training for Priesthood
The Russian Orthodox Church is seeing the highest numbers ever training for priesthood , according to an independent Russian news agency. The sharp rise in seminary admissions across the church's 261 dioceses, known as eparchies, means 1,593 ordinands are expected to begin studies this summer, a … [Read more...]
Do Clerical Dress and Monastic Habits Really Matter?
by Fr. Lawrence Farley I am a great fan of the BBC series “Call the Midwife”, which features a group of Anglican sisters working among the poor in a London neighbourhood as midwives. Their order is fictional, but is based upon the actual order and London experiences of the Community of St. … [Read more...]
What is it that Priest does that is not done by Another? – Part 1
An excellent presentation by Bishop Alexander (Golitzin) … [Read more...]
The Meaning of the Diaconate in the Orthodox Church
The diaconate has been a little understood ministry, in fact, often a misunderstood ministry. Although it is one of three ordained orders, most lay people have little or no contact with a deacon, no idea of the history of the diaconate or what it entails today. We hope to clarify some of the … [Read more...]
13 Obstacles on the Way to Becoming a Priest
Ecclesiastical hierarchy plays a very important role in the life of the Church. The Church cannot exist or perform Her salvific ministry in the world without the hierarchy that traces its origins to the holy apostles and was laid out by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. That is why it is vital that … [Read more...]
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