Orthodoxy in the World
Christians and the Egyptian Revolution: a positive contribution and future inquiries
In a fabulous scene not often witnessed in Egypt, Muslims formed a barrier around them to protect Christians as they prayed. This mirrored the gesture of Christians protecting Muslims at prayer in the same square during the 18 days of demonstrations.
Feb 17, 2011, 12:03

Orthodoxy in the World
Canada Just Right For Western Rite Monks: an Interview with Hieromonk James Deschene
But I had still no experience of eastern liturgy - Orthodoxy came to me through books. Nor did what little I had seen of Orthodoxy liturgy attract me. It was certainly splendid and beautiful, especially in its Russian forms. But I had been deeply rooted and grounded in the solid and traditional liturgy of the Roman church from my earliest years. As a Roman Catholic seminarian in the years before Vatican II, I had discovered and fell in love with the services of the liturgical year and its cycles.


Feb 8, 2011, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
One Can't Learn to Pray Sitting in a Warm Armchair
When I was in Greece and started turning towards Eastern Christianity, I began to perceive the schism between the East and the West very painfully. It stopped being an abstract theory or a plot in a Church history book, but rather something that was directly affecting my spiritual life. This is why the conversion to Orthodoxy started looking like a very logical step.
Jan 26, 2011, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Father Gabriel (Bunge) “Orthodoxy is the Fruit of My Whole Life as a Christian and a Monk”
St. Theophan the Recluse, who is very popular in the West, by the way, understood the matter of western mystics very subtly. Once he exclaimed: “Oh, these Western people, they cannot distinguish between psychic and spiritual!” And really, when I talk to people who come for confession, I see how often they mix these things.
Jan 25, 2011, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
The Monks of the Arizona Desert
As our two small buses rolled through the arid desert, my mind wondered “where on earth have they come to live?” Then, the oasis appeared suddenly ahead of us transforming the “coldness” of the land to a warm and welcoming embrace; I felt the heartbeat of the monastic prayer rising around me “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner,” and my heart was filled with joy of anticipation.
Jan 20, 2011, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Death to the World!
We like to speak of things how they are, life should not be sugar coated. Both joy and suffering should be acknowledged as part of our journey toward salvation. Suffering is a part of our life that should be embraced by us more often, not ran away from, but unfortunately we who have grown up in a very comfortable and relaxed society have a very hard time with this and it is to our own detriment.
Dec 20, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
The Orthodox Church of Finland
The “Scandinavian countries,” are usually thought of as being Lutheran, and this holds true when speaking of the nation of Finland, which has just over 80% of its inhabitants professing the Lutheran faith. It usually comes as no surprise that Lutheranism is an official state religion.
Dec 16, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
The Murder of Father Daniel Sysoev: Let us Be Silent in Surprise
In the face of holiness and eternity it is difficult to say anything definite in the language of mass-media journalism, or in that of politics. That is because there is too much that is amazing and inconceivable to say.


Nov 20, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
For Martyrs, Death is a Joy
Like everyone else, Fr. Daniel was a sinful person, but he possessed amazing zeal; he greatly desired that all people should learn about Christ. He had a great desire to tell about Christ to those who did not yet know about Him. He wanted to share with others the joy of his faith
Nov 19, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Surviving as a Christian
The more experience I was getting in these trips, the more humble I was becoming. Sometimes I would meet all locals and baptize about sixty people… Once in a while a lot of people would come to service, or I would go to school and tell both students and teachers a lot, which made me feel good. I would do ‘the whole program’ and leave feeling satisfied. Six months later I come to this village again and it looks like everything was in vain. The only good thing is that they greet me like someone they know.


Nov 9, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Do You Know the Way to the Holy Hill?
Unless you are Greek Orthodox or attend an Orthodox Christian seminary in or near New England, it is unlikely that you have heard of the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and the undergraduate institution that shares its classrooms, Hellenic College.
Oct 29, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
In Different Countries Mission Has Different Approaches
Missionary work in different places varies. Different countries require different approaches: the ever-wondered “Russian Soul” will more likely respond to deeper spirituality and spiritual enrichment, when, at the same time, so called “Western Soul” might require broader explanation of some religious thoughts.
Oct 11, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Martyred Priest Daniel Sysoev & American Orthodox Missionary Work
When many Orthodox Christians are Christian in name only, the Church’s witness to the Gospel is undermined. Whether we are looking at the experience of "cradle" or "convert," this commitment is absent for many American Orthodox Christians. A credible witness is possible; we have the promise of Christ of this. But it requires from all of us a personal commitment to Christ.
Oct 6, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
An Interview with an Orthodox Christian Chinese
My family belongs to the lineage of Albazinians and for a long time has been connected with Orthodoxy. It was very hard time for my relatives when there was no Orthodox Christian church in China but nevertheless they stayed by their faith. I want to pass our Orthodox traditions down to new generations. The mission of Orthodoxy is very generous and kind.
Sep 17, 2010, 04:26

Orthodoxy in the World
On Orthodox Pastoral Work in the Western World and its Differences with Contemporary Russia
The most common attitude of Western people to Orthodoxy (if they know what it is at all), is that it is ‘foreign’, ‘for Greeks and Russians only’. They say: ‘I cannot become Orthodox because I am English/French/Italian/American etc’. Sadly, this attitude is much reinforced by ecumenistic and nationalistic Orthodox bishops and priests who say publicly that Orthodoxy is only for Russians, Greeks etc and that Western people must be Catholics or Protestants.
Sep 4, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Back in its place
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia consecrated the icon of Our Saviour on the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin. This icon had been bricked up for 80 years until it was recovered and restored.
Aug 31, 2010, 04:21

Orthodoxy in the World
Parallels between Fr. Daniel’s Parish and Missions in North America
Many Orthodox Christians have learned of Fr. Daniel Sysoev’s murder. One of the thingst that stood out about Fr. Daniel was his missionary efforts and the missionary impulse of his parish. Like parishes in North America, their parish had started small as well. As a priest in North America who is indebted to the Russian Mission that began in North America in 1794, I thought I would reflect briefly on the Fr. Daniel’s missionary methods in a comparative way.
Aug 26, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Anyone, however, who has the slightest historical knowledge of Orthodox missions, will know that evangelisation lies at the very heart of the Church's life. Any local church that has lost its heart and soul for mission is dysfunctional, disobedient to Christ (Matthew 28:19-20) and an occasion for great sorrow. We must not let the heterodox, who copy our own historic methods, undermine our missionary zeal from within.

Aug 17, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Patriarch Kirill's Appeal Concerning the Drought and Forest Fires in Russia
A disaster has come to our people. In the terrible drought and large-scale fires, people have been lost and hundreds have been left without shelter and thousands without livelihood. Many victims are elderly people who all their lives have lived on land in their modest households. But there are also many children as whole villages have burnt out.


Aug 5, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Priest Daniel Sysoev: Even Provincial Imams Come to our Church
These days we hear a lot of different discussions whether it is possible to create such a missionary parish as the one described in the Missionary Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church or not. I would like to share my experience of organizing such a parish.


Jul 10, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
The Black-and-White Sisters
The Community of St. Elizabeth in Minsk spiritually ministers to the patients of Europe’s largest hospital for the insane, rehabilitates alcoholics in its metochion, and at the same time earns money by its own independent activity. Our report from Minsk is about this unique Sisterhood, where black and white sisters of charity – nuns and the laywomen – work.


Jun 26, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
The Second Theological Convention in the Patriarchate of Alexandria
Together with Archimandrite Elias Habib, the pastor of Archangels Church, I established the idea of convening a periodic theological conference. We felt that there is an urgent need for a public and influential voice for the Orthodox Church in a country like Egypt because of the massive challenges the country is facing.
Jun 10, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Murders and Assaults on Priests in Russia in 1990-2010: A Reference
Archpriest Alexander Men was murdered on the morning on September 9, 1990, on the path to the Semkhoz railway station. An unidentified person struck him on the head with a heavy object (probably an axe).
May 28, 2010, 10:20

Orthodoxy in the World
The Earthquake in Chile:
”Everyone Around Seemed to be Orthodox.” A letter from Father Alexey Aedo
On the early morning of Saturday, February 27, the city was still asleep, not paying any attention to the music heard from far away – a celebration of the passing summer before the lessons at school and university began next week.
May 27, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Fyodor Konyukhov, the world famous traveller and explorer - ordained as deacon of the Russian Orthodox Church
Fyodor Konyukhov, the world famous traveller and explorer ordained as deacon in his native Zaporozhye on May, 23, 2010. "I have given served my country a lot as a traveller, now it's time to serve God and the Orthodox Church", - Fyodor said.
May 23, 2010, 15:23

Orthodoxy in the World
Pontian Genocide
The Pontian genocide of 1916-1922 is the most tragic page of Pontian Greek history. The Pontians had suffered a lot throughout their history of nearly 3.000 years, but the genocide was the most terrible of their misfortunes, for it deprived the Greeks of the Black sea not only of their friends and relatives, but also of their native land.
May 19, 2010, 14:45

Orthodoxy in the World
Images of Orthodox East Africa
We finally arrived in the small town of Kayanga located in the district of Karagwe in the northwestern tip of Tanzania, which was to be our temporary home. Karagwe is near the scenic southwestern shore of Lake Victoria. Our task was twofold: first, to teach courses on Orthodox faith and theology to one hundred students of various ages at a special seminar organized by the local Metropolitan, Jeronymos of Mwanza; and secondly, to be 'eambassadors of good will' to the people of Tanzania as we travelled with the Metropolitan to various communities throughout his diocese.
May 11, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
May They Be Remembered, Good Lord, Forever
Thousands of haggard, dirty, hungry and sick soldiers stood and listened to the service, tears running down the faces of many of them. They repeated the words of prayer voiced by Father Kirill, would led the service, and genuflected. They all asked for salvation, some out loud, others in their minds… And mother told me about how they would cut out of Orthodox journals icons and images of saints, glued them to cardboard, had them blessed at church and then passed them along to the camps together with the food.
May 8, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
I Didn't Even Need a Passport!
I said, "You mean there are Eastern Orthodox Christians in Alaska?" And he said "Yeah, remember ... Alaska was part of the Russian Empire until 1867." Well, I kind of vaguely remembered that … and I decided then and there that Alaska was for me. Here were the two most passionate interests of my whole life and they actually overlapped on American soil. I didn't even need a passport to get there!


Apr 29, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Patriarch Kiril's visit to the Patriarchate Of Alexandria: Joy and Aspirations
With joy, the Orthodox faithful in Egypt received the news of Patriarch Kirill's visit to the ancient patriarchate of Alexandria. The primate of the world's largest and most influential Orthodox Church began his trip with the See of St. Mark and will finish it in Damascus, Syria. The news was quickly circulated in the parish, and preparations for the great spiritual event soon began in both Alexandria and Cairo.
Apr 12, 2010, 02:54

Orthodoxy in the World
My First Visit to an Orthodox Christian Church
As I stood listening and reading along during the Matins service, in the back of my mind I tried to think of the one or two words I would use to describe the experience. The first word that came to mind was “Beautiful”. The richly colored mosaics set against the pure white open space of the Sanctuary, and the melodic sing-chanting of the prayers, scriptures, and hymns, was in all an absolutely beautiful experience. And as I stood there, I felt a sadness that only a handful of people were even there to appreciate it. I almost wanted to go out into the streets and tell everyone what they were missing.


Mar 18, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
A Visit to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
This morning I drove about 35 minutes to St. Louis’ Central West End for my first experience in a Greek Orthodox church service. Since my wife and son were out of town and I had no responsibilities at our church I thought I’d take the opportunity to do something totally out of the ordinary. Plus, this fall I’m teaching a course on worship history and theology, and it’s important that I experience worship in other traditions firsthand rather than just reading about them.


Mar 13, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
A Pilgrimage to Orthodox Georgia
Georgia is a country that is often overlooked or only very briefly dealt with in English-language publications about Orthodoxy, but it is a country that can teach us a great deal about our Faith. It is a country that has had to fight for its Faith almost from the time of its conversion. But during the course of its troubled history, the Church in Georgia has managed to keep its traditions, Church music and buildings of great beauty and grace.

Jan 29, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Canadian Describes Experience as Missionary in Zimbabwe
When we were preparing to go, we didn’t know much about this southern African country. We only had a few weeks’ notice and no time to research. The news we heard from others painted a bleak picture. We were starting to get nervous. We were pleasantly surprised to find a very different picture when we arrived.
Jan 26, 2010, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
You Wish to See Many Miracles – You Should Become a Missionary or a Martyr
Fr. Daniel's Autobiography and the Interview with Him on the Occasion of the Opening of the Missionary Centre
A young missionary should certainly be prepared for his words to arouse scandal and indignation. But he should not be afraid of that. Our mission consists in saying unpleasant things. Have you noticed that when reading the Bible you feel uncomfortable? The Book begins to judge you! But that does not mean that the truth should be kept away. The Lord Himself said: Woe to you, when all men speak well of you.

Nov 25, 2009, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
The murder of a priest in the Church is a challenge to God's law
We all must keep firmly in our mind that the way to serve Christ and His Church is always ñonnected with the confession of faith and even martyrdom. The tragic death of Father Daniel should not place in our hearts fear and faint-heartedness, and weaken our zeal in carrying out God’s work.
Nov 23, 2009, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Father Daniil Has Gone from us to God as a Confessor
He had a special gift of love for God which gave him fearlessness. Neither external authority nor power, nor money or public opinion, could shake his determination to always assert God's truth, which, as we all know now, cost him his life. He was fascinated by Christ's Truth, not merely intellectually, of course, but also the Truth of Love as a principle of life.


Nov 22, 2009, 00:13

Orthodoxy in the World
Patriarch Pavle of Serbia Reposed in the Lord
His Holiness, Patriarch Pavle, is a unique phenomenon for our times; therefore, of course, it would be pointless to make him the measure for other patriarchs, just as it would be, for example, to make St Philaret the Merciful or St Alexei the Man of God the measure for the majority of contemporary laypeople. Everyone has his own standard and his own kind of podvig. It seems to me that one should simply rejoice that in our lifetime such a person was and is in the Orthodox Church.

Nov 15, 2009, 19:08

Orthodoxy in the World
Where God Walked on Earth
Anyone who has visited St. Catherine’s Monastery on the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, can attest to the remoteness of its location. From Cairo, it takes between 6-9 hours depending upon the means of transportation. Once there you realize that it is surrounded by mountains on three sides creating a box canyon, leaving you only one access in and out from the main road. However isolated this holy place may appear to the naked eye, the road leading up to St. Catherine’s is like a welcome mat, a red carpet rolled out before you by God who invites all to partake of this jewel of the desert.
Jul 24, 2009, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Pilgrimage to Mount Athos
As so often happens with a pilgrimage, one must be ready for all kinds of obstacles and changes of plans. This is not just because we are sinners, which is true, and our sinfulness sometimes impedes blessings. It is also because sometimes the Adversary sends obstacles to our intention of doing what is right and pleasing to the Lord.
May 15, 2009, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Metropolitan Jonah of All America and Canada: "It takes personal sacrifice to be an Orthodox Christian"
We have to churchify our lifestyle and to bring our life into conformity with Jesus Christ and the Gospel. And this is the great strength of Orthodoxy. This is not about simply believing in the Orthodox manner, it is not about the services. It is about how do we live as Christians, how do we love one another, how do we forgive one another, how do we embrace and raise those who fall, and restore them and share with them salvation, so that their lives are full and happy.

May 4, 2009, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Communion is not a Reward for “Good Behavior”
Average Americans do not know much about Orthodoxy, as a rule. They treat it as a sort of exotic, ethnic version of Catholicism. There are a lot of various confessions and streams of Christianity here. This issue is a personal one; it is not accepted to discuss individual faith. Americans regard this as a subject one should not pry into.
Mar 27, 2009, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
He Who Conquered with Love
(In memory of Metropolitan Laurus)
Suddenly I felt “it was good for me to be there”, my heart started singing with joy, feeling peaceful. At the same time I realized that the reason and the source of this joy was this laconic old man sitting across the table. I felt this spiritual joy the whole day. I’d been at church meals lots of times, but I had never before, nor anytime after, felt anything of the kind. On this very day it became clear to me that Vladyka Laurus was not an ordinary man, but a man who carried in him the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Mar 16, 2009, 10:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Metropolitan Kirill is elected to the Moscow Patriarchal Throne

The Chairman of the Counting Committee, Metropolitan Isidor of Yekaterinodar and Kuban, announced that 702 delegates had voted by secret ballot. The number of ballot papers after voting was 700, including 677 valid and 23 invalid ballots.
Jan 30, 2009, 00:27

Orthodoxy in the World
His Holiness, Patriarch Aleksy II of Moscow and All Russia: A collection of his photos

Dec 8, 2008, 05:00

Orthodoxy in the World
Memoriam: His Holiness, Patriarch Aleksy II of Moscow and All Russia
Like the captain of a great ship, he guided the Russian Orthodox Church through troubled waters, rejecting those who would take the Church backwards to pre-revolutionary monarchist times, and at the same time rejecting those who would liberalize the Church and make it something other than it had always been.
Dec 6, 2008, 05:25

Orthodoxy in the World
On December 5, 2008, the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Alexei II, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Reposed in the Lord
On Friday morning, December 5, 2008, His Holiness, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Alexei II, departed to the Lord, after governing the Russian Orthodox Church for eighteen years. The Patriarch was eighty years old when he reposed his Patriarchal residence located in the Moscow suburb of Peredelkino.


Dec 5, 2008, 20:27

Orthodoxy in the World
Journey to the Promised Land
I have tried to find some type of meaning in my life living in war and unemployed and living as a foreigner in a country that I never really wanted to come too and can list at least fifty reasons why I do not want to live in a Palestinian village. But the one reason overshadows all the others and that is my faith in God. I make every effort to trust in the Lord's plan for me and to understand why certain things have happened to me thus helping me take my next breath in moments when I felt like dying.


Sep 18, 2008, 10:09

Orthodoxy in the World
Western Europeans in Search of Truth. The Nativity of the Mother of God Convent, Asten, the Netherlands
The sunsets and sunrises in this rural, southern part of Holland emanate mystical shades of effervescent pink, a manifestation which has drawn many an artist to these lowlands. And if one were to search all over Holland, it would be difficult to find a place more suitable for a monastery than this patch of land, an unusual expanse in a densely-populated country.
Aug 25, 2008, 10:38