Light of the East

Summertime can feel like a desert. But, the desert is more than a hot, dry place. It is something we encounter on various levels and in every aspect of our lives.

People often look for that one book where they can learn more about the Eastern Churches. While this requires more than just one book, there is one particular place that has much to offer.

The examples of the saints point to our true human origin and our true human destiny. Among the many virtues of the saints are seven that can be particularly helpful to our own growth and holiness.

Our joy in the glorious feast of the descent of the Holy Spirit is yet tinged with a bit of sadness to see the conclusion of the Pascal season. None the less, the Spirit still breatheslife into the Church.

From our most glorious actions to acts of terrorism, all behaviors are ultimately determined by the correct or incorrect understanding of God and our relationship and his creation.

he question of which calendar ought to be followed to the date of our Lord's resurrection is a complicated issue. So we turn to a liturgical theologian of the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church.

All baptized Christians have been given the mandate to preach the gospel to the whole world. Father Thomas Loya and Father Joseph Loya together discuss their thoughts on the necessity and techniques of effective preaching.

As this week of mid-Pentecost unites the Resurrection with the Ascention of our Lord, our special guest will unite Christians who are free with those who are persecuted.

The examples of Joseph and Nicodemus together with the ointment baring women call us to renew our own approach to the Body of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

The Church, East and West breathes with the breath of mercy this day, Divine Mercy Sunday. For the Eaast, it is Thomas Sunday which springs from the side of Christ.

The fragrances of the the blessed foods collide the frangrance of incense. The faithful sing in jubilation; shout one to another, Christ is Risen, Indeed He is Risen!!

We have come to the week of the Bridegroom in which we witness not only Christ on the Cross, but individuals who themselves are willing, in their own time, to go to the cross on behalf of the Bride of Christ.

Pope Francis has called for a heightened emphasis and availability to the sacrament of confession and for us to have a deeper understanding of sin and to understand the relevancy of confession which can help us to confess the best and far surpass the rest

During the 4th week of Lent we climb the Ladder of Divine Ascent through the wisdom and examples of 3 great ascetics: St. John Climacus, St. Andrew of Crete and St. Mary of Egypt.

Mysticism is something that keeps men sane. This is something the Eastern Churches have known for centuries. But a sense of the mystical is not the only gift of the Eastern Church.

On the 2nd Sunday of Lent, St. Gregory of Palamas will help us retrieve an indispensible virtue of the spiritual life, but one that is far too rare in today's modern world.

The Crusades is a highly explosive word that comes up from time to time. And it is of special interest to the Eastern lung of the Church. But what exactly does this word Crusades mean?

The journey through the Great Fast has begun. And, the liturgical life of the Church will fill our nap sacks with everything we need including a recipe from Theodore the Recruit.

The journey through the Great Fast has begun. And, the liturgical life of the Church will fill our nap sacks with everything we need including a recipe from Theodore the Recruit.

It is like a liturgical baton, the approaching season of repentance has already started running while the end of the season of Christ's Incarnation runs to catch up to hand off the liturgical baton.

Ahh, the good ol' days when people argued about something it was about who was the greatest saint or what was the true nature of Christ. To keep peace, the Church came up with an interesting proposal.

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

Mysticism, it's what keeps men sane and this is something the Eastern Churches have known for centuries. But, its sense of the mystical is not the only gift of the Eastern Church.

In the Eastern Churches, Epiphany is the observance of the baptism of Christ; it is called Theophany. And water is blessed on these days and is used to sanctify many things.

The coming of the Prince of Peace into the world was contrasted by violence and bloodshed for innocent children. But what is happening in our times make the bible story, indeed our story as well.