by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher Believe it or not, Halloween originated as a Christian observance emerging from its western European, Roman Catholic cultural context.  Halloween is literally the eve of All Saints (Hallows) Day kept on November 1, a tremendously important day in the medieval western European Church calendar.  Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses on the Wittenberg church door on Halloween (October 31, 1517) because he knew most people would be in church to see them the next morning for All Saints Day.  Thus the Lutherans … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher The goal of the parish is to contribute to the salvation of souls.  Because there is a correlation between salvation and spiritual health, a parish is “successful” if it is conducive to spiritual health.   How much the people love God: how well they keep Christ’s commandments, and how strong their faith, prayer, humility, and reverence are;   How much the people love their neighbors: in the degree of unity in the parish so that “one soul is seen in many bodies” (St. Basil the Great), and in … [Read more...]

By Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher This liturgical phrase occurs in the closing prayers of the services of sunset (Vespers) and early morning (Matins), and as a refrain in certain Canons (i.e., extended prayers based on nine Biblical songs).  It is both a statement and a petition for the Virgin Mary to help us. Consider that God is not the only subject of the verb to save.  St. Paul writes: “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:22).  To Timothy: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.  Continue … [Read more...]