by Fr. Christopher Foley I came to discover Orthodoxy during a time in my life where I was very heavily involved in performing and writing music. Growing up as an Evangelical Christian and attending a small liberal arts Evangelical College in Northeast Georgia, I struggled for a number of years … [Read more...]
Preaching The Gospel In The Modern World: Pt. 1
by Hieromonk Damascene (Christensen) Since it is the primary duty, and most basic skill, of the competent priest to preach the Gospel with excellence, we are republishing this excellent article in three parts. This is from a talk given at a conference sponsored by the Northern California … [Read more...]
Between Heaven and Earth: Pastoral Reflections on the Psychodynamics of the Clergy Family
by the Rev. Vasileios Thermos, M.D., Ph.D. Our family is a special gift of God in our lives. It is through our family that we struggle for salvation, for personal integration, for well-being. The apostolic tradition of a married priesthood should be considered an invaluable blessing of God in … [Read more...]
On The Priesthood
by Fr. Aris Metrakos Even after two thousand years of Christian history, the ordained priesthood remains a "mystery" in every sense of the term. Why do some men who are called to this role fail miserably while others succeed? Can seminarians be prepared for the presbytery in a way that is … [Read more...]
The Priesthood As Vocation
". . . the priesthood unites all of the callings to which man may respond and cannot be thought of as just one of them. " INTRODUCTION Since it is the divine grace that elevates a man, through the laying-on-of hands, to be a priest, it is clear that the priesthood is unlike any other vocation … [Read more...]
Priests and the Importance of Fatherhood
Many thoughtful people today recognize that the United States—and indeed much of Western society—is in a cultural crisis. It takes little reflection to note that this crisis is centered in the family. The increase in divorce, the decrease in the number of marriages, increased numbers of … [Read more...]
Why I Wish I Were A Priest
By Andrew McDermott Learning that a shortage of priests is a serious problem threatening the welfare and future of our Orthodox Church undoubtedly has caused considerable concern in many people. With me this alarming news immediately sparked some serious, earnest, but generally ineffective thinking … [Read more...]