Alexandros Christodoulou, Theologian   After those who entered the ancient Church had been baptized, the whole of their life was imbued with the sacred desire for Holy Communion. The places of worship, especially the catacombs, were full of allegorical symbols of the heavenly nourishment of the faithful. Images of the...

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When we speak about religion, we need to understand what we mean by it. Organized and established religions? Spirituality? Traditional faith? Belief systems? Etc. This diversity of perception and interpretation is a real challenge, even for us Orthodox. Is Orthodox Christianity a religion and a religion like any other? As...

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Protopresbyter Nikolaos Patsalos   After the middle of this period [Lent], then, the Church provides appropriate additional help in our ascetic efforts, which differ in accordance with the capacities of each one of us, by presenting the perfect figure of asceticism, Saint John of the Ladder, that great asceticwho really...

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 Online Church Services Streamed from Your Device OCN offers online streaming of Orthodox worship services throughout the world. These streamed services are especially beneficial as we all face the closure of many Churches. Watch them with your family or just have them play in the background to put you in...

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Archimandrite Georgios Alendas   Great Lent is a period of repentance, during which our stony hearts must become, through God’s grace, softened in the flesh, and move from being callous to being sensitive, from cold and hard to warm and open to others, particularly God Himself. Great Lent is a...

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Gero-Arsenios was always agreeable and gave out blessings very easily. One time, however, he strangely became so strict and unyielding that he upset one of the fathers. Afterwards, when he was asked why he had been so harsh with him, he answered: “Yesterday Geronda came and told me: Be careful,...

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‘When you come in power to judge the whole world, Word, do not publish my secrets, so that I may praise your great kindness’. (Matins, Ode 9). Source: pemptousia.com     ABOUT THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN NETWORK Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) is a 501(c)3 and an official agency of the Assembly of Canonical...

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http://radio.myocn.net/podcast/HOT/HOT_2013/HOT_130412.mp3 On Harmony of Thunder, for the Sunday of St. John Climacus, we hear a reflection from Fr. David Smith on the Ladder of Divine Ascent. Why would you work to assure your salvation?  The Ladder of Divine Ascent Kindle Edition

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Christ the Teacher How many teachers do you have? Do you have a teacher for math, another one for reading, another one for science or gym? Do you have a Sunday School teacher or a piano teacher? We look to our teachers to help us learn, so we can grow...

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Saint Gregory the Wonder-Worker, Bishop of New Caesarea (ca. 213-270)   Just as the pearl comes from two natures, from lightning and water, from the unfathomable parts of the sea, so also our Lord Jesus Christ proceeds, without confusion and without change, from the pure, chaste, undefiled and holy Virgin...

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#FaithOverFear: Let’s Talk LIVE Online Community Gathering this coming Thursday, March 26th at 4:00 pm EST. Join our free event from your home.  This is generously brought to you through the James and Joanne Mitchell Foundation, Inc.   Things have been changing so fast these past few weeks. We continue to...

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Saint Gregory the Wonder-Worker, Bishop of New Caesarea (ca. 213-270)   [The archangel continued]: ‘You alone, All-Holy Virgin, now receive the mysteries unknown to all of these and learn their origin. For where the Holy Spirit is, everything is already well-ordered. Where there is Divine Grace, everything is possible for...

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