The Orthodox Vine

Suffering is not meaningless but meaningful and necessary for our salvation. Just as Christ suffered, died and resurrected, so our suffering can help us repent by putting to death the spiritual illness within us so that Christ will resurrect us also.  

God tested the heart of Abraham. The corona virus pandemic is testing our hearts. What will we learn about ourselves and God?

Meditation on how we can overcome the restraints of social distancing by coming closer to God and one another spiritually. In this way, we experience the touch of Christ.

Mediation on how illness and death is a result of sin. What does the current crisis of the corona virus tell us about God’s chastisement and our need for repentance.

Meditation on Isaiah 25:19, Genesis 9:8-17, Proverbs 12:8-22

In these days where we are experiencing the threat of illness and death, we must remember that the Cross of Christ has transformed death into the door to true and eternal life. 

A meditation continuing on the theme of last Sunday’s sermon.

We may be driven to fear and anxiety over the threat of dying from the corona virus. Rather than just listening to the media and being filled with anxiety, let us turn to Christ and be filled with his peace and strength. If we have the fear of God, we will not have the fear of Death.

Daily Meditation on the words of Isaiah, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil"

Daily Meditation for March 10.  The danger of pride and self-reliance how thinking about the deeds of the Lord can help us live up to our purpose and identity. 

Daily Meditation for March 9.  What the martyrs teach us about faith, perseverance, sacrifice and reward. 

Sermon on the Sunday of Orthodoxy where we declare and rejoice in the triumph of Truth and how we are accountable to attain and remain in it as well.  

In this meeting, we discuss the role of humility in our restoration to our original identity and purpose as created by God.  Based on Isaiah 2:11-21, Genesis 2:4-19 and Proverbs,  3:1-18 

How should I prepare for confession? What should I confess? This episode offers answers on the importance of coming to confession and how to prepare for it. 

The apostle Jude warns the believers to remain in the correct, apostolic faith and not be misled by heresies and false teachers who will only lead a person to spiritual death.  How can we remain there as well but also live out our faith instead of existing in a duality, i.e. I act one way in church and different at home or in public. How can Christ remain within me and live in me always?&nbsp...

As we prepare to begin our journey to Pascha (Easter) during Great Lent, we hear the words of the Prophet Joel telling us how and why God commands us to practice fasting.

In this meeting, we look at the themes of the Triodion as they prepare us for the journey of Great Lent. In this meeting, the readings from the Gospel of Mark 15 and St. John first epistle depict the incomprehensible and radical love of God and how we must strive to love in that way if we are to be called his children.

In this session, we discussed the ending petitions of the first part of the Divine Liturgy called the Liturgy of the Catechumens, specifically the petitions asking for help, safety, salvation and the role of Grace. The commemoration of the Holy Virgin and the meaning of her many titles that are mentioned in the petition. The significance of committing ourselves and our whole life to Christ.  ...

In this episode, we cover a few of the petitions at the beginning of the liturgy, during the great litany, such as the meaning of "for this holy house" and the "fear of God" as well as praying for good weather and the connection between sin and environmental calamities.  About this series: We are devoting ourselves to learning about The Divine Liturgy . What is the meaning, the divine phenome...

In this session, we discuss how making contact with God is the ultimate purpose of our life and how this happens in the Divine Liturgy. 

The icon of Christ enthroned reflects how we will be judged at his second coming.

Christ is a mirror that reveals the truth of who we are. Are we one of his disciples or one of his betrayers?

Most of the time we behave like God doesn't see us.  But today's reading from St. John's Epistle tells us that "God knows everything,"  and he wants us to know this as well.  But that's not all.  If we want to truly know him, we have to know ourselves first. 

What are the rules of the spiritual life? Today's daily meditation is on St. Paul's words to Timothy, "An athlete is not crowned unless he competes by the rules. 

Sermon on the Parable of the prodigal son.