By Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23) The unmistakable sign of God’s enduring presence is the Incarnation of the Son of God, namely, the eternal Son of God taking on human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary.  The eternal God assumes a permanent, eternal dwelling in a human body in the Person of Jesus Christ our Savior.  As Christ declared to His … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher “You were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence…” (Troparion [hymn of the day] for St. Nicholas) Having just once again celebrated the feast day of Saint Nicholas of Myra in Lycia (Dec. 6), it is crucial for us to reflect on the meaning of this great saint’s life in the Church.  Though most depictions of St. Nicholas in our popular culture are mere caricatures of reality – e.g., Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, etc. – the fact that St. Nicholas … [Read more...]