The Orthodox Vine

Sermon on the Sunday gospel reading from Matthew 6:22-33. What is the purpose of our eyes? How do we use them to increase our spiritual vision? How does that affect our daily lives?

Today's Sunday Gospel reading is from Matthew 4:18-23.  At that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other...

The Sunday of All Saints Gospel reading and sermon.

Pentecost is the day when true unity between human beings was made possible through The Church and through the Holy Spirit our path to reunion with God was opened.

The Gospel reading and Sermon on John 17:1-13. At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on...

From our bible study discussion on St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 6. God's purpose for marriage is hidden in the mystery of Christ's love for the Church. 

The more we repent the more we receive God’s mercy and the greater our capacity to love becomes.

How do we follow Christ in an authentic way? Not out of religious obligation. Not out of fear or pressure. Not because we want a reward. The secret is to first really know Jesus Christ. Epistle Reading The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 15:39-45 Brethren, not all flesh is alike, but there is one kind for men, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish....

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few," our Lord Jesus Christ tells his disciples in the gospel reading today. What is the harvest? Who are the laborers? Epistle Reading The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16 Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels an...

It's so easy and even enjoyable to talk about Orthodoxy. I can meditate on all the interesting theological truths, the mystery of faith, the sacraments, repentance, the journey of Theosis and all the beauty and struggle it entails. I could do this all my life and feel like I really understand it all. But if I haven't actually applied or experienced it, I will quickly collapse when t...

As Orthodox Christians, it's so important for us to always be discerning about what is happening around us in our society. There are forces at work whose only goal is to sow division and destruction. Divide and conquer, is the oldest tactic in the book. As long as we seek peace, justice, fairness, equality, according to the standards of an ever-changing and flawed humanistic agenda inste...

The epistle and gospel readings from Ephesians 4:25-32 and Matthew 6:24-30 give us rules for the Christian way of life. If we look at them closely, we'll quickly realize that we all fail to live up to these standards from time to time. But let us not be discouraged and lose hope. Instead, let us ask God to give us his grace to inspire and encourage us in the struggle. Epistle Reading The...

Let us imitate the faith and patience of the saints before us who received the prize of eternal life.

Has the Covid 19 pandemic done any good?

Saint John Maximovitch

The central message of the gospel and the purpose of the Christian life is to be reunited with God and to know and love him. This is only possible through repentance without which we can never truly know and love God and thereby others, including our enemies.

Christ warns his disciples not to follow after strangers but to always hear the familiar voice of the Good Shepherd and follow only him. Who is this stranger? What is this voice?

The importance of being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit so as to remain in the Truth and not fall for the deception of our times. 

After the resurrection, the apostles understand the hidden meaning behind Christ's words and what is prepared for those who love God.  

Celebrating the feastday of our church, honoring our patron saints Constantine and Helen and their testimony on the power of the Holy Cross.

The more that we remain in Christ through repentance, confession and prayer along with the healing and sanctification through God's Grace in the Holy Sacraments, the more we will remain in Truth and have power to discern what is right from wrong, what is godly or evil, within a world where falsehood and deception are ubiquitous and relentless.

The people wanted to see signs and wonders performed by Christ and his apostles. We often desire the same thing in order to believe. The solution is to see what’s always been there all along.

The Holy Tradition is a fire that we must preserve burning within our lives. In this way, we can be disciples who are the light of the world.

The difference between seeking the glory of the world and the glory of God. John 5:30-47 and John 6:1-2, and the difference

The post-resurrection appearances of Christ and the courage and power given to the apostles.