Personal Tribute to St. Sophia Seminary

I wrote this for the "Tuesday of Giving" development effort at St. Sophia's.   V. Rev. Anthony Perkins, rector of St. Mary Protection of the Holy Theotokos Cathedral, Allentown PA.Vocations Director, Associate Academic Dean, & Adjunct … [Continue reading]

The Good-Idea Fairy has Run Amok

Full disclosure: I am a retired CW-3 (Military Intelligence, USAR).  I spent most of my time post-9/11 providing intelligence support to warfighters in Afghanistan.  It was important work.  However, colleagues and friends would be quick to point out … [Continue reading]

Homily on Unity: How to Fix the World

Ephesians 4:1-6.  I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of … [Continue reading]

The Holodomor, Lazarus, and the Rich Man

Holodomor (dedication and blessing of the Holodomor Memorial in DC). Background info: the Holodomor (i.e. murder by starvation) was an intentional policy of the USSR under Stalin.  In 1932-33, the Soviet regime killed upwards of ten million people … [Continue reading]

Homily Notes: Tending the Garden of our Souls

November 1st;  Tone 5, The 22nd Sunday after PentecostSt. Luke 8:5-15: The Gospel of the SowerGalatians 6:11-18: Boasting on nothing but the Cross "Have you rejected Satan and all his works and all his pomp and all his pride? Have you rejected Satan … [Continue reading]

20151008 – Youth, Orthodoxy, and Social Media (and PKs)

In this episode, I interview Joshua Oryon, Orthodox Christian, grown-up PK, and social media power user and content provider.  We discuss the dangers of social media for our youth and how priests' families can nurture faith in "the … [Continue reading]

Homily Notes: The Widow of Nain (Tears, Childolatry, and the Resurrection)

Homily Notes: St. Luke 7: 11-16 (The Raising of the Nain Widow’s Son) Warm-up.  The Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils and the revelation of the Harmony of God. The ContextScriptural Context:  Because the Lord, while not even present, had … [Continue reading]

Homily Notes: Giving the Gift of Your Patience

Homily Notes:  St. Luke 6: 31-36 And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.  If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what … [Continue reading]

Homily Notes: On the Proper Response to Meeting God

2 Corinthians  11:2, 5-6. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I … [Continue reading]

From the Archives: An Explanation of the (Christian) Heresy of Islam for Orthodox Believers

A friend of mine has been encouraging me to put something together on this for a church publication.  I wanted to write so much more (e.g. presenting more of the patristic work on the subject), but time and space didn't allow for it.  I am guessing … [Continue reading]