We want to welcome two new catechumens preparing to join the Holy Orthodox Church: Steve and Dorothy. May Christ our God keep and protect them during their catechumenate.
Category: Article
Welcome New Catechumens: Craig, Tomas, and Tammy
We would like to welcome and introduce you to our latest addition to the catechumenate, the servants of God Craig, Tomas, and Tammy. Please pray for them as they prepare themselves to be received into the Holy Orthodox Church. If you are interested in becoming Orthodox and joining the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church […]
Modesty, History, Veils, and Head-Coverings
The following is a very informative article by His Grace Bishop Alexei of the Diocese of Alaska (OCA). Our parish encourages the traditional use of head coverings for women, but neither enforces nor demands it. Humility, chastity, and modesty are virtues that especially adorn the Most-Pure Virgin Mother of our God. Modesty is itself one […]
No, Christmas is Not Pagan. Just Stop.
By Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick Well, it’s time for a good Christmas rant. This requires a rant, because every year, we see the same ignorant silliness. (Sorry, but it’s just true.) Supposedly, Christmas is secretly pagan, secretly syncretist, secretly a co-opting of pagan stuff and ignorantly claiming it to be Christian. But the truth about […]
Acedia: The Two-Faced Demon
This article is originally written by Fr. Jeremy McKemy. Most of us struggle with “acedia” without knowing it. This sinful passion quietly contributes to both spiritual and mental unwellness. There are two opposite ways in which it acts, either through activity or inactivity. That is, either through vain, restless movement or slothfulness and sadness. What Is Acedia? The […]
The Four Stages of Orthodox Life
I am reposting an article here, written by Dn. Jeremiah McKemy, from St. Tikhon’s Seminary. The original post can be found here. I think this will provide a helpful perspective for many people in our convert-heavy church today. In C.S. Lewis’ essay “Talking about Bicycles,” there is a useful illustration of the four ages (or […]
Meet the Everetts
As childhood friends we became high school sweethearts, got married early after high school and began our lives together in downtown Portland. We took turns completing college as we grew our family with four children: James, Mary (Haydee), Maximus (Ron), and Isaiah. After several years growing tired of the rain in northern Oregon, we pursued […]
The History of the “Christmas Tree”
The history of the Christmas tree goes back to St. Boniface of Germany (AD 675-754). Although the account below draws from Western sources, they are not contradictory to what has come down to us in our own Orthodox tradition regarding St. Boniface (who is commemorated in the Orthodox Church on June 5). The story of […]
What Does the Chant “Eternal Memory” Mean at Memorial Services?
By John Sanidopoulos (Source) When we chant “eternal memory” (“αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη”) at the end of Memorial Services and Funerals, it is often falsely assumed that this memory of the departed be preserved on earth not only in the minds of loved ones, but even for many generations after. In fact, however, this hymn is not […]
Insights into Marriage from the Saints through the Ages
Here is the recording of the talk “Insights into Marriage from the Saints through the Ages” by Dr. David Ford (June 20, 2017).