by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher In Orthodox practice, the Dormition Fast is the two week-long fast beginning on August 1 which concludes with the Feast of the Dormition (lit., falling-asleep) of the Ever-Virgin Mother of God Mary on August 15.  The Dormition Fast is the fourth and final fasting season of the Church year (together with Advent/Nativity Fast [Nov. 15-Dec. 24]; Great Lent [40 days before Holy Week]; and the Apostles Fast [eighth day after Pentecost to June 29]); the Church new year begins on September 1. Saint Leo the Great, … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher The term spirituality is not a traditional Orthodox term, although it is a popular term in religious and Christian thought today.  Orthodox Christian terminology tends to be concrete and specific, whereas the term spirituality is abstract, meaning something like “generic qualities of the spirit” which can be perceived or applied in any context.  For instance, we hear the common phrase: "I'm spiritual, not religious," together with various qualifiers like Eastern vs. Western Spirituality, or Indian Spirituality, … [Read more...]