Feast Day ~ May 1 It is almost impossible for Americans to conceive of a saintly ruler. We are taught from early childhood that it is only right to maintain a separation of Church and State, to keep religion out of politics and politics out of religion, that our Constitution mandates it. We also live […]

(Feast Day ~ April 28) In the early days of the Church, when Christians were being persecuted and put to death for their religious beliefs, information about those who were martyred passed quickly through the Christian community. Sometimes, eyewitnesses were able to record the words spoken at the trial and execution, but in other cases, exact […]

(Feast Day ~ April 25) As part of our 10th anniversary celebrations in 2006, some of us wrote descriptions of our journeys into Orthodoxy – the stories of our conversion to this faith and way of life. Many of these stories reveal a slow, gradual path (some with detours and tangents along the way) before […]

Feast Day ~ April 24 The Church honors saints who fall into many different categories – first the martyrs, who were killed for being Christians; then Popes, Bishops, Priests, and monastics who were spiritual leaders for the faithful; and many others, including devout rulers. The most unusual category is that of fool-for-Christ, one who gives […]

(Feast Day ~ April 24) Those of us who live in the Washington area are accustomed to seeing careers rise and fall with changes in the political climate, and it is not surprising to us when someone who was in favor is suddenly sent packing with a change in administration. What we may find surprising […]

(Feast Day ~ 23 April) There are few post-apostolic saints who have had the renown of the Holy and Great Martyr George. He is called saint not only because he gave up his life rather than renounce his Lord, but also because of the holiness of his life and the miracles associated with his relics […]

(Feast Day ~ April 23) The conversion of Eastern Europe toward the end of the first Christian millennium is a story of many different elements vying with one another for prominence in the history of this area. While the work of such missionaries as St. Boniface and Ss. Cyril and Methodius had brought the Christian […]

(Feast Day ~ April 22) Those who do genealogical research in an effort to learn more about their family heritage know that there is often not much information about their ancestors. A birth certificate, record of baptism, register of marriage, and a death notice are often all that can be learned about numerous souls whose […]

Feast Day ~ April 21 The wife of a ruler – whether president, prime minister, king or emperor – can lead a difficult life. She is expected to be diplomatic at all times, to be unmoved by the criticisms given her husband, to be a gracious hostess, and to support worthy charitable causes. She is constantly […]

(Feast Day ~ April 19) How many of the saints of God have lived their holy lives in the terrible atmosphere of war, with the constant threat of attack and violent death? Perhaps it is this very atmosphere of terror that causes some Christians to follow the path of our Savior in sacrificing their lives […]