(Feast Day ~ February 9)  While some saints are revered for their gentle natures and charity and sweetness toward others, there are some whom God has required to be in the forefront of battle with the enemy. These are the saints who have had to defend the Orthodox faith against heresy, perhaps chosen for their […]

(Feast Day ~ February 7) We hear much in our day about torture and mob violence. Fallen, sinful man will always resort to this kind of behavior when he allies himself with the forces of evil. Devout Christians can expect to be frequently on the receiving end of this behavior. This was certainly true in […]

(Feast Day ~ February 7) In the more than 1700-year history of Christian monasticism, there have, no doubt, been many reasons why a young person has decided to leave the comfort and pleasures of the world and take on the ascetic life of a monk or nun. Murder has not usually been one of them. […]

(Feast Day ~ February 5) Holy Scripture records very clearly our Lord’s warning to those who would corrupt the young: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth […]

(Feast Day ~ February 4) On February 4, we commemorate St. Joseph of Aleppo (in northern Syria), who lived in dangerous times. Syria had been invaded by Arab Muslims in the 7th century, followed by Turkish Muslims, who for centuries attempted to wipe out the Christian religion in the Middle East. The Ottoman Turks had […]

(Feast Day ~ February 3) Every housekeeper knows the feelings of frustration and failure while scrubbing, mopping and dusting to clean the house, when a set of muddy paws or an accident of spilled food spoils all the hours of labor. These feelings – greatly magnified – must have been experienced by many of the […]

(Feast Day ~ February 3) One of the virtues which all Christians are called to strive for is that of “selflessness” – concern for others more than for self, attention to the needs of those around us before our own needs. St. Blaise (Blase, Blasius) showed such unselfish pity and concern that we look to […]

(Feast Day ~ February 1) Throughout history, man has needed heroes – those who stand out in special ways, who inspire, whose behavior we want to imitate. Often, man has chosen the wrong heroes – those whose behavior is notorious or who inspire only to selfish materialism. But if we cooperate, God leads us to […]

(Feast Day ~ February 1) Technological advances in genealogical research have enabled many more people, in recent years, to discover the details of their family heritage. They are able to learn, not only of the lines of descent and relationships (the “begats”) of ancestors, but also to gain information about the occupations, travels, habits, and […]