Sermons from St. Herman's

On the 1st Sunday of Luke, Fr. Matthew Howell opens with a story about his pilgrimage to the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Essex. While there, Fr. Melchizedek taught him there is only one shortcut on the path to salvation: obedience. He calls it "the rocket ship of salvation" because it breeds humility in the soul. He then turns to today's gospel reading from Luke, in which a...

On the Sunday after the Holy Cross , Fr. Timothy Kolb reflects on Christ's call to "take up your cross and follow me" through a meditation on the two main trees in the Garden of Eden. Drawing on St. Maximus the Confessor, he explains the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil as representing the knowledge of pleasure and pain. To live a life that is governed by seeking pleasure and t...

On the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross , Fr. Timothy Kolb reflects on the paradox that the cross, though full of suffering, brings joy into the world. He opens with a story of an abbess who tells visitors that what feels like heaven to them is closer to hell for the monastics who live out its daily struggles, using it to illustrate how joy and hardship are bound together through the cross...

On the Forefeast of the Elevation of the Cross , Fr. Matthew Howell traces the history of this feast from St. Constantine entrusting his mother, St. Helen, to search for the true cross of Christ, through its discovery and eventual return to Jerusalem. He explains that there is power in the cross through the grace of Jesus Christ, and this is why we display it so prominently in our lives: it symbol...

On the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos , Fr. Matthew Howell reminds us that this day honors not only the Theotokos, but her parents, Joachim and Anna. They endured years of public shame and ridicule due to their lack of children, remaining faithful through prayer. Along the way, he references an old commercial from Burger King , advocates for mothers to receive presents on their children&#3...

On the 14th Sunday of Matthew, Fr. Matthew Howell preaches on the parable of the Great Supper. He walks us through the spiritual implications of the King's invitation, the excuses of those who refuse, and the wedding garment worn by those who are gathered in. And he urges us to view ourselves as the villains in these parables so that their words can penetrate our hearts. Along the way, he chec...

On the 13th Sunday of Matthew, Fr. Timothy Kolb walks through the parable of the wicked vinedressers verse by verse, drawing on the Fathers' interpretation of each detail. He explains the vineyard as Israel, the hedge as the Law, the winepress and tower as the altar and temple, and the vinedressers as the scribes and Pharisees entrusted with tending God's people. He traces how the prophets...

On the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist , Fr. Matthew Howell uses the story of Herod's downfall as a case study on the importance of fasting. He explains how Herod let his body override his soul, first through adultery, then a drunken vow he refused to break even to save an innocent man's life, and argues that fasting's purpose is to keep the body from drowning out the so...

On the 12th Sunday after Pentecost and the 12th Sunday for the readings from the gospel of Matthew, Fr. Matthew Howell talks about the ridiculous debt of the wicked servant and how it relates to our sinfulness toward God. He also discusses forgiveness and tithing and their importance to one's spiritual life. Previous homilies for this gospel reading: August 24, 2025 -- Repentance is the Seed;...

On the 11th Sunday of Matthew, Fr. Matthew Howell shares a smattering of thoughts about forgiveness after giving a bit of context for the parable of the wicked servant. Less cohesive and linear in thinking than typical homilies, he hopes that the listener can hold onto one or two thoughts that might be helpful. He does harp on the fact that forgiveness is difficult but necessary for Christians. Pr...

On the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos , Fr. Matthew Howell couples a children's nursery rhyme to a quote from St. Anthony of Optina to describe the disposition of Mary, the Theotokos. He points out that she had not only had a lamb, but had  the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world who was slain before the foundation of the world. He then uses the description of lambs by S...

While serving at All Saints of North America Mission in Homer, Alaska on the 10th Sunday of Matthew and the feast of the glorification of St. Herman and the translation of his relics , Fr. Matthew Howell discusses the importance of asceticism (prayer and fasting) as acts of faith in the Christian life. He uses St. Herman as an example about how to be ascetic and the fruits of asceticism. Fr. Matth...

On the feast of the Transfiguration , Fr. Matthew Howell discusses the grace of God and how it shines through the bodies and even the clothes of the saints. He ties in a Kathisma Hymn from the previous Sunday to use as a springboard and reminds listeners that we are all called to make ourselves pure vessels so that we can shine with the grace of God and to glow with His uncreated energy. Eighth To...

On the 9th Sunday of Matthew and the feast of the translation of the relics of St. Stephen the Protomartyr , Fr. Timothy Kolb talks about how Jesus approaches his disciples on the water and encourages them. He mentions how Jesus proclaims that He is the "I AM" on the water, just as he did to Moses in the burning bush. Fr. Timothy offers the lessons of prayer, courage, and humility from t...

Fr. Matthew Howell preaches about prayerfulness in all our labors on the feast of St. Panteilemon the Unmercenary Healer and Martyr. Previous Homilies for St. Panteleimon: July 27, 2025 - “Freely ye have received; freely give” Epistle: 2 Timothy 2:1-10 Timothy, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who...

On the 8th Sunday of Matthew and 8th Sunday after Pentecost, Fr. Matthew Howell preaches about faithfulness to God's calling to be generous. He explains how five loaves and two fish were not enough to feed the thousands of people who followed Jesus that day. Nevertheless, once everything was gathered by the disciples and offered to the God-man, then the miracle occurred. Fr. Matthew touches on...

On a rainy Sunday in July on which the Orthodox Church commemorates the 630 holy fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council , Fr. Timothy Kolb talks about the importance of letting Christ's light shine through us to bring joy to those around us. He points out that Christ calls Himself the Light of the World (see John 8:12) but in this Gospel passage He calls His disciples the light of the world....

On July 12, Fr. Matthew Howell preaches about the commemoration of St. Paisios (AKA Elder Paisios) the New of Mount Athos. He shares a few stories about St. Paisios and points out that his life of prayer for others, openness to Christ's light, and humility are attainable for us, too. Previous Homilies from the 6th Sunday After Pentecost (6th of Matthew): July 20, 2025 - Fiery Faith and Frequen...

On the final night of the Antiochian Village Camp's Arch Week Program , Fr. Matthew Howell wraps up the week with his encouragement to the Archers to live in reality. He points out that they can do everything at college or the next phase of their life that they did during Arch Week, but just in smaller doses. He also points out that Arch Week is a new beginning to their adult chapter of life r...

On the third Sunday after Pentecost (third Sunday of readings from Matthew) Fr. Matthew Howell threads together the epistle, the gospel, the one year anniversary of St. Olga's glorification , the summer solstice, Father's Day, and his mother-in-law's birthday. He draws from Revelation 21 and 22 lay out that the Heavenly Jerusalem is the place where the day does not end because "th...

On the second Sunday after Pentecost (2nd Sunday from the readings of Matthew), on which the Orthodox Church celebrates the local saints (i.e. All Saints of North America ), Fr. Matthew Howell preaches in Homer, Alaska at All Saints of America Orthodox Mission. He highlights how the icon of the North American saints still has room for all of us. He points out that the icon of the saints of Russia...

On the first Sunday after Pentecost known as the Sunday of All Saints , Fr. Matthew Howell spends some time explaining the different elements of the festal icon for the day. He then posits that there is room in the icon for each and everyone of us because we are all called to become saints. He compares the spiritual life and the process of sanctification (becoming holy) to a crockpot rather than a...

On the day of Pentecost , Fr. Timothy Kolb preaches about the life of the Christian imbued with the Holy Spirit. To do so, he compares the third Old Testament reading from Vespers on the eve of Pentecost to St. Paul's epistle to the Ephesians (5:11-20).    Previous homilies for the feast of Pentecost:  June 8, 2025 - Every Liturgy is Pentecost June 23, 2024 – Hospitality for the Holy Spirit —...

On the day before Pentecost following a baptism of an adult and an infant, Fr. Matthew Howell preaches about the beginning of the new Christian life for the newly illumined and how they are called to put off the stench of sin while becoming fragrant vessels of grace through virtue and selflessness. He starts with stories about St. Paisios of Mt. Athos and includes a quote from St. Herman of Alaska...

On the 7th Sunday of Pascha on which the Orthodox Church commemorates the holy fathers of the first ecumenical council , Fr. Matthew Howell preaches about the difference between knowing  about God versus knowing God through experience of relationship, using the Prophet Moses in the cloud as an example. He gives a brief context and history of the first council, and illustrates the council's the...