It is never right to take vengeance. Even when a nation takes military action, that action should not be for vengeance, but to protect oneself, or to execute justice, or to protect the innocence. A private individual does not have the right to take vengeance, no matter how aggrieved they may feel. The slaying of […]

Like every other Sunday, I went to church yesterday. I am not the proistameos (priest-in-charge) of a parish. I work in a hospital and am attached to a parish. I am blessed to work under a wonderful archpriest named Paul Costopoulos. He has been an example to me, and apparently to the entire archdiocese. Why […]

In this country, we are very strongly divided politically. But, we do agree on some ideas, even though we often forget that in the heat of battle with each others. One of the ideas that is most strongly supported by both sides is that “these colors don’t run.” It refers to the idea that when […]

The comic above does not need comment.

One of the ongoing discussions in Orthodox worship in the USA, is the use of other languages in worship. I understand the argument. However, I consider this to be an argument that is ultimately correct, but missiologically mistaken. I absolutely agree that English should be the standard language of worship in English-speaking areas. I also […]

Every Christmas (or Thanksgiving, or Veteran’s Day, or …) we encounter the same tactic from marketers. We are presented with specials that give us the expected message of that particular holiday. Mind you, there are some specials I have seen that have been reworked to give a particular politically approved message (sometimes conservative and sometimes […]

Another December 7th has come around. This is one of the every few years when it falls on a Sunday. I have recently woken up and am getting ready to go to church. Seventy-three years ago, 10 years before I was born, many soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen were doing the same thing on Pearl […]

One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. – Psalm 27 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. […]

  “And sure enough, I will contradict tomorrow what I said today. The reason is simple. The facts coming from Staten Island in the case of Eric Garner’s tragic death differ as much from Michael Brown’s shooting in Ferguson as Mr. Brown’s death differed from Trayvon Martin’s. As I have said for months, I believe […]

The following is quoted from the English version of the press release today: We, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, express our profound gratitude to God for the gift of this new encounter enabling us, in the presence of the members of the Holy Synod, the clergy and the faithful of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, […]