by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher [This article is the second of four explaining the Orthodox Christian meaning of important topics and practices commonly misunderstood by the non-Orthodox.  The four topics are: 1. Praying to Saints, 2. Prayers for the Departed, 3. The Veneration of Icons, and 4. The Sinlessness of the Virgin Mary.] Prayers for the Departed are prayers offered to God on behalf of persons departed this life, that is, they have died a bodily death.  Bodily death occurs when the soul, or spirit, of a person departs their body and … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher [This article is the first of four explaining the Orthodox Christian meaning of important topics and practices commonly misunderstood by the non-Orthodox.  The four topics are: 1. Praying to Saints, 2. Prayers for the Departed, 3. The Veneration of Icons, and 4. The Sinlessness of the Virgin Mary.] Much of the misunderstanding of the practice of Praying to Saints comes from a restriction of the definition of the English word “pray.”  For instance, in Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary the verb “pray” means the … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher Fasting heals gluttony.  This is a spiritual law.  Because gluttony is an ever-present temptation and common malady among us sinners, fasting must be an ever-present practice in the war against sin.  Make no mistake about it, as Christians we are engaged in a war against sin, and this is a struggle to the death, either the death of sin or our spiritual death and separation from the eternal life given by God in Jesus Christ. “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war … [Read more...]

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by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:31-32, 34-36) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law … [Read more...]

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  from Homily 39, “On the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” by St. Philaret of Chernigov When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the Man were a Galilean (Luke 23:6). Pilate had no doubt of Jesus’ innocence.  But at the same time, not only did personal advantage mean far more to him than Divine truth, but his own personal peace and quiet was dearer to him than people’s rights.  He was happy to grab onto anything, if only to cease his struggle with the Sanhedrin over the truth.  “Is He a Galilean?” asked Pilate, … [Read more...]