by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher “The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.  Jesus answered him, ‘I spoke openly to the world.  I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.  Why do you ask Me?  Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them.  Indeed they know what I said.’” (John 18:19-21) Christianity, like many religions, can be characterized by its doctrine, its particular teaching(s).  One of the earliest Christian documents beside the … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher The term dormition is one of those words commonly used in the Orthodox Church which is very uncommon anywhere else.  Other examples include Theotokos (lit., Birthgiver-of-God, a title of the Virgin Mary) and consubstantial (of the same essence, referring to the three Persons of God the Holy Trinity). Dormition comes from a Latin root – dormio – meaning “asleep.”  Thus the English word dormitory means “a place for sleeping”; it’s English equivalent from a Greek root is cemetery (lit., koimētērion, from koimēsis … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher Metamorphosis (Gk., met-a-MOR-phō-sis) refers to a process of change from one form to another, that is, a transformation.  Most school children are familiar with this process as illustrated in the life cycle of a butterfly: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (cocoon), adult.  The organism that emerges at the end of the cycle differs dramatically from the organism that begins the process, usually changing from a non-descript entity to a highly specialized, intricate, and beautiful creature. God designed life in this … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan Cholcher “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23). This particular word translated “self-control” (Gk., enkrateia) literally means to be “in-control” of oneself, the opposite being out-of-control. As a fruit of the Holy Spirit, self-control exhibits a godly way of life in control of the will of God, the opposite of which is “to fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). What does an … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan Cholcher Forgiveness depends on two things: first, the ability of the one forgiving to let go of any offense, or moral debt, of sin; and second, the ability of the one being forgiven to correct any offense incurred by their sin. Therefore, forgiveness is the exercise of mercy on the part of the forgiver, and the exercise of genuine repentance in the forgiven. Apart from mercy and repentance there is no forgiveness because at its root forgiveness expresses a peaceful exchange, or relationship, of give and take. The giving … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan Cholcher The concept of morality comes from the Latin word “mos” (pl., mores), meaning “will, or inclination,” as to comply with one’s wishes, or to humor someone. The concept of morality applies especially to how the will, or inclination, of individuals or a group takes shape as customary usages, regular practices, and laws which define such accepted practices. The analogous Greek term is “ethos,” from which we have the concept of ethics, or ethical behavior. The opposite concepts are immoral (lit., contrary to moral … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan Cholcher Mention of the word “politics” produces an almost immediate reaction in anyone who hears it. Either defensive or eager to engage, this reaction is seldom if ever neutral or unaffected. The famous saying of Aristotle (3rd c. B.C.) still holds true: “Man is a political animal.” Politics cannot be ignored among thinking human beings, although it is frequently avoided because the meaning and aims of the subject are so commonly ill-defined between those who would consider and discuss it. This lack of definition leads to … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan Cholcher Saint John of the Ladder (Gk., Klimakos) begins the classic Orthodox exposition of the Christian journey to heaven with this first step: Renunciation (of the world). In this, he is repeating the Apostolic teaching, for instance: “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal. 6:14) “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan Cholcher “[F]or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:23-24). Sin is a catch-all term characterizing our fallen human condition before God. God is sinless, just, righteous, holy, and we have not, do not, and cannot now attain to that divine state of existence (i.e., glory) on our own. We were created to participate in God’s glory, but we fell away from that glory. That fall is sin. Saint Paul goes on to explain: … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan Cholcher The subject of gender pervades civil discussion in our society, in recent years expressed with meaning foreign to an understanding common to most people just a decade or two prior. In January 2017, the “National Geographic” magazine identified 29 different “genders,” carefully distinguishing between the terms “gender” and “sex.” Whereas “sex” is traditionally restricted to just two biological possibilities: male, or female (that is, binary; XX or XY chromosomes, specific reproductive organs), “gender” is now used … [Read more...]