Light of the East

LIGHTEAST635 - Pope Francis... Well He's Gone and Done It Again

A significant advancement has just recently occurred in ecumenical dialog between the Orthodox Churches and the Roman Catholic Church. Learn all about it right here on Light of the East with the help of a special friend.

The Byzantine preparation for the coming of our Lord is beginning. It is called the Phillip's fast. Perhaps now, mor than ever this preparation period must be taken very seriously.

Angels - What do we believe about them and what do we do with them? Another question is, "How do responsible citizens vote in this election.

Civilization will go by way of the family and the family will go by way of marriage. The Mystical, Liturgical and Ascetical gifts of the Eastern Churches have much to offer for holy and happy families.

Let's face it. We all need to read the Bible more and to actually become the Bible. The Liturgy, art and architecture of the Eastern Churches can actually immerse us into the Bible.

Every Eastern Christain church has its own ancient and indigenous chant which is sung by the faithful during liturgical services. This gives cantors a special place in Eastern Christian Liturgy.

We are going to throw our hat in the ring of the Presidential race and on the platform of the Eastern Lung of the Church to provide real solutions for our nation.

The very same churches that had the venerable custom of married priests are the same churches that gave the world celibacy. Marriage and celibacy are not diametrically opposed.

Fasting and penance is the way to prepare for any great feast. This includes confession which is similar yet different to the form practiced in the Latin Rite.

What is the difference between the Roman Catholic Church and an Eastern Catholic Church? This simple question cannot be answered simply. But there are some comparisons that can be helpful.

We go back to basics and answer questions like: What is an Eastern Catholic? Why are there Eastern Catholics, and are the Eastern Catholic services always longer than Latin Rite services?

The Liturgical life of the Church calls us to something that is vital to both the rhythms of our lives and to worship. It is the spirituality of preparation which even has its very own rite.v

Among the many gifts of both lungs of the Church, east and west, we here at Light of the East have our ten favorite gifts that the Eastern Churches offer to the whole Church and the world

Asceticism... a strange sounding word to our modern culture. I will take the desert monks of the Eastern churches to shed some timely light on the meaning and relevancy of asceticism.

The Feast of the Assumption, or as the East calls it, the Dormition is a magnificent event with beautiful liturgical customs. But why really do we have to go to Church on days such as these?

Two major feast days converge this week and they convey for us the true nature of our lives as human beings. An old but young friend will join us and give testimony to the process of divinization.

The question is often asked, "What is the place of Women in the Eastern Churches?" A perspective on this question itself and it's answers lies in the context of the Eastern Liturgy.

Teenagers hold a special place in salvation history and in the Church. In ministering to teens the Eastern Catholic Churches do best through their own liturgical and ascetical traditions.

The Eastern Catholic Churches are relatively small and few in America. There are ways to ensure their growth and vitality and the first place to look is to Liturgy.

As our nation celebrates the gift of its independence and freedom, we here at Light of the East are mindful of those whose story of persecution is not nearly enough.

Pope Francis made a few eye opening statements recently about the validity of many Christian marriages. The marriage ritual of the Eastern Churches can help us understand the Pope's message.

Fasting and Penance is the way to prepare for any great Feast day. This includes Confession which is similiar yet different to the form practice in the Latin Rite.

For the first time in 80 years the prayers of Islam will be permitted to take place in the mother of all Byzantine Christian Churches. This provides opportunity for awareness and enlightenment.

Our efforts extend to non-Christians such as the followers of Islam. Dialogue in thei area could be significantly determined by a single ancient building in the country of Turkey.