Commenting on the epistle reading of Paul to the Colossians, the Very Rev. Dr Bogdan Bucur concentrates on the idea that the passions we struggle with also lead us into idolatry. For “when Christ who is our life appears,” we either die to the passions, or we choose them over Him.This is a battle which happens in our hearts every day, as Christ has already appeared to us through our baptism, and continues to appear to us through our every encounter with Him spiritually and physically in the sacraments and the body of the Church.

The Feast of Theophany is an occasion to meditate on the cosmic nature of Christ’s entering into the waters of the Jordan, preaches the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield. By entering the water to be baptized, Christ shows us the way we must also follow, and sanctifies all of creation, the cosmos itself. We are then sanctified and born anew in the waters of baptism, and sealed with the sign of the Cross as we join Christ’s flock, anticipating His coming again.

On the feast of St Herman of Alaska, His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth, Auxiliary to the Diocese of the South (OCA) calls us to consider how St Herman embodied the fruit of the Spirit described by St Paul: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, and self-control. Raising many examples from St Herman’s life about his enaction of these qualities, Bishop Gerasim exhorts us to follow his lead in serving the Church lovingly and beautifully.

During the Nativity Fast, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield points out, four recurring themes stand out in the hymnography: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. We must be especially watchful during the fast, striving to pay special attention to our relationship with the Living God, lest we move away from Him, which is self-destruction. Referring to the baptism of a seminary baby earlier in the service, Fr Chad emphasizes the freedom that comes from being born in Christ, breaking the chains of sin and death.

On the feast of St Nicholas of Myra, the Rev. Dn Dr Vitaly Permiakov describes the venerable hierarch as a “living image of that one and only High Priest, according to the order of Melchizedek...our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave his life on the tree of the Cross.” For St Nicholas, the life of a bishop was not one of high position or honor, but that of service in unceasing intercession. St Nicholas is remembered not only for his charity and care for his flock, but also for his boldness and courage in interceding for those who were wronged, for denouncing injustice and corruption, and for doing everything in his power to protect his people.

The story of the young rich ruler who could not distribute his wealth and follow Christ reminds us that we are all guilty of a similar failure to recognize that all things ultimately belong to God, says the Very Rev. Vincent Temirov. The lesson in this gospel account is not that the wealthy are inherently unable to reach the Kingdom of Heaven, but that anyone who clings to treasure on earth rather than building up treasure in heaven is in danger of shutting themselves out of the Kingdom. We must trust that everything we receive in this life is to be offered back to God for His glory.

In examining the healing of the woman who had been bent over for 18 years, the Very Rev. Dr Bogdan Bucur asks us to consider the symbolism behind her unique ailment. For almost two decades, she was only able to see the ground beneath her; she was unable to lift her gaze and look toward heaven, suggesting that she was also spiritually unable to look toward God and offer praise. The first thing she did upon receiving the Lord’s healing was give thanks and praise to the Lord. Conversely, the first thing the surrounding Pharisees did upon witnessing the miracle was dispute the timing of the healing, as it had happened on the Sabbath. Fr Bogdan urges us to avoid the “religious” tendency to regard the letter of the law over mercy toward our fellow brothers and sisters.

Upon hearing the parable of the rich man who only thought of building himself bigger barns for his crops, Fr Vincent Temirov asks us to consider the ways in which we also worry about gaining wealth and security in this life, rather than striving to build up treasure in heaven. We all have responsibilities in this life, says Fr Vincent, but it is imperative that we “always trust our Father who provides us with every good gift from above” and share what we have been given with those in need.

On the last Sunday before the start of the Nativity Fast, Fr Vincent Temirov preaches on the parable of the Good Samaritan, read during the Divine Liturgy. The lawyer who asks the Lord Jesus Christ, “Who is my neighbor?” certainly didn’t expect to be told that a Samaritan would also be considered his neighbor. And yet, our Lord challenges him, and us, to share the love of God with any and all who are in need, regardless of ethnic or religious background. Fr Vincent calls on us to examine our hearts for any hardness or unwillingness to pray for or come to the aid of any of our neighbors. “As we see evil in this world increasing,” he says, “our only response can be to show mercy to those around us.”

On the local feast of St Vladimir, established at the seminary in 2014 in commemoration of the reception of a portion of our patron saint’s relics, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield reviews the legacy of St Vladimir as a missionary saint. Over the course of his life, St Vladimir went from a bloodthirsty pagan king to a deeply committed Christian ruler, determined to spread the True Faith to those in his kingdom. Fr Chad urges us to find and root out the worldly and anti-Christian influences in our own hearts, just as St Vladimir strove to cleanse himself from his early delusions.

The Gospel account of the man possessed by a host of demons in the country of the Gadarenes gives us great hope and assurance in the unsurpassed healing power of our Savior, preaches Fr Bogdan Bucur. However, there is another, more hidden message for us to glean from this reading: the so-called “normal” people living in the community near the demoniac were also afflicted by the evil spirits, just in a less obvious way. This is clear from their response to Our Lord’s healing of the possessed man; rather than give thanks and praise, they were afraid of losing their wealth and way of life and asked the Savior to leave. Fr Bogdan calls us each to examine ourselves for our own attachments to sins and unwillingness to trust the Lord.

On the feast of the Great Martyr Demetrios, the Rev. Demetrios Harper makes a clear distinction between love as it is understood in the worldly sense and love from the Christian point of view. To truly understand what real love is, we must look to Christ and His saints. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not seek the affirmation and worship that is His due–He concealed His divinity, denied himself, and took up the Cross. Martyrs like St Demetrios do not seek glory or worldly attention for their love of Christ–they sacrifice everything for their love.

The gospel parable about Lazarus and the rich man, preaches Fr Vincent Temirov, reveals several key points: first of all, earthly success and wealth in no way equate to holiness or a special relationship with God. Fr Vincent reminds us that the rich man’s sufferings after death were a direct resulty of his own lifelong refusal to receive God’s love and follow His commandment to love your neighbor. The rich man spent a lifetime loving only himself and his riches, rather than loving God and his neighbor Lazarus; therefore, his heart was hardened and he became incapable of accepting or perceiving God’s love.

In this homily, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield relates the baptism of a seminary newborn to the parable of the Sower read during the Liturgy. We as Christians are all reborn in Baptism; said another way, we are planted as seeds, and nurtured by the love, truth, and community in the Church. We must all also be willing to accept the pruning as well as the nurturing that we experience in the spiritual life in order to attain to the Kingdom of God.

The Feast of the Holy Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God on Oct. 1 coincides with the Church’s commemoration of St Romanos the Melodist, which is why, the Rev. Dn Dr Harrison Russin points out, the OCA has recently designated the Sunday closest to Oct. 1 as Church Musician Sunday. Dn Harrison gives three examples in the Scriptures where women with the name of Miriam (Mary in modern English) offered praises to God in song at key moments in our salvation history.

His Eminence, Metropolitan Saba (AOCANA) spoke from the ambo of Three Hierarchs Chapel about the lessons from the life of St Isaac the Syrian, whose memory was commemorated on the day of his archpastoral visit. St Isaac the Syrian’s writings cover a range of topics in the spiritual life, but above all, he exhorted Christians to pursue the virtue of humility, without which none of the other virtues can exist.

In considering the Gospel reading about Our Lord Jesus Christ calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be His disciples, Fr Vincent Temirov asks us to ponder the great obedience and humility they showed in this encounter. In our lives, we must always turn to God and learn to trust Him unconditionally.

On the Feast of the Conception of the Honorable Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield points out the singular importance the Church places on celebrating the moment of conception–marking feastdays to celebrate this event in the lives of John the Baptist, the Mother of God, and of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the Feast of Annunciation. The Church instructs that from the moment of conception, we are human.

On the Sunday after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, Fr Vincent Temirov calls our attention to the paradox of the Christian Gospel: that the very instrument of Christ’s death becomes the means of His victory over sin and death. In this way, Christ can transform any of us, no matter how sinful or weak, if we take up our own crosses and follow Him.

The very first thing that the priest does when bringing a new believer into the Holy Church through Baptism is to make the sign of the cross on their head. In this way, says His Eminence Archbishop Daniel (OCA), the Church is claiming that individual for Christ, the Crucified Savior. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is a great reminder for us that all of Christian life embraces the Cross, which leads us to the empty tomb and our Lord’s Resurrection.

In this homily from the Rev. Dn Dr Vitaly Permiakov, we are called to remember and be mindful of our need for salvation. It is sometimes easy to lose sight of this fact, especially if we are closely involved in service to the Church. Dn Vitaly encourages us to continually call on God and to take up our crosses in humility as we journey towards His Kingdom.

Following the Divine Liturgy, for the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, Primate of the OCA, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon addressed the student body for the opening of the academic year. In his address, His Beatitude called on students to follow the example of Christ’s Most Pure Mother, filling themselves “with the sacrifice of prayer, songs, and praise offered unto the God of all.”

On the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, Primate of the OCA, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon calls us to look to the example of all the righteous forebears in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, culminating in the person of His Mother, the ever Virgin Mary. His Beatitude encourages the faithful to act as gardeners and “contribute to the upkeep of paradise… by making ourselves receptive to God, and this receptivity is exemplified by the practice of humility.”

The story of the rich young man who approached Jesus is told several different ways in the Gospels. The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield identifies the main theme which unifies the various versions: although the rich young man thought he had done everything he needed to do to please the Lord, he was actually missing the most important thing–total dedication of himself and his life to God.

On the patronal feast of St Vladimir’s Seminary, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield hearkens back to the original reason why St Vladimir was chosen as the namesake for our school–his missionary legacy, and more than that–his great journey of conversion. In his lifetime, St Vladimir went from committing human sacrifices to becoming the means by which an entire nation and their descendants would have the opportunity to embrace Christ and His Church. Fr Chad calls us to also consider how to not only mentally embrace the ideals of our Faith, but how to be converted in our own lives and actions, as well.

On the feast of Sts Peter and Paul, the Very Rev. Dr Alexander Rentel calls us to give thanks for the great work of these two apostles, who taught the Faith so loudly and persistently that we still receive it today, 2000 years later. Fr Alexander also reminds us that Sts Peter and Paul never stopped struggling with their own temptations and failings, but they were made perfect by Christ in their weakness. Likewise, we are called to put our trust in Christ, emulating the great apostles Peter and Paul in relying on Him for our salvation.

On the third Sunday after Pentecost, Dn Mark Therrien (Th.M. ‘24) focuses on two key words in the Epistle reading:”justified” and “stand”. As we now settle into a more “normal”, post-Paschal and post-Pentecost season of the year, the temptation is to relax into complacency or lukewarmness towards our faith. Dn Mark shows how the Epistle reading holds a pointed instruction to the faithful to continue to remember Christ’s saving Resurrection, in which he justified the faithful by restoring all the disorder and death of the fallen world to harmony and life. We must stand in this knowledge and hold fast to our faith and to Christ, even when it becomes easy to be forgetful or disengaged.

At the end of the week-long Diaconal Liturgical Program and the 2023 Summer Music Institute on June 23, 2023, His Grace, Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth (OCA) encouraged all participants to heed Christ’s call to live a life of service to others. By turning away from self-centeredness to God-centeredness, we can follow Christ’s example and become transformed by the relationships we build based on service, respect, and communion. As an illustration of a life dedicated to service to others in Christ, His Grace recounted the life of St Jacob Netsvetov, missionary to Alaska in the 19th century.

In this homily for the great feast of Pentecost, Fr Vincent Temirov demonstrates how Pentecost, like Pascha, is about the transformation of the human condition. In Christ’s Resurrection, we die and are resurrected with Him; at Pentecost, our new resurrected nature is shaped and molded by the Church and is filled with the Holy Spirit. It is our responsibility then, to ensure that we continually open our hearts to this transformation of the Holy Spirit, so as not to let our Orthodox faith become a mere intellectual assent to religious tenets.

On this Sunday before Holy Pentecost, the Rev. Dr Bogdan Bucur gives some historical background on the feast of Pentecost and how it was celebrated in ancient Israel, primarily as a celebration of the giving of the Law. Connecting this to the feast of Ascension, Fr Bogdan points out how Moses ascended Sinai to bring back the gift of the Law to Israel, and Christ ascended to Heaven to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield opens his sermon on the feast of Holy Ascension by calling us to recognize how unique and powerful the Orthodox view of the human body really is. The accounts of our Lord during the 40 days after His Resurrection leading up to His Ascension all involve physical actions–partaking of food, traversing a road, touching the wounds left by the nails and the spear, and finally, Christ ascending bodily up to heaven. Fr Chad encourages us to meditate on three themes in the Gospels having to do with the body: Christ our God becoming incarnate as a human with a body, inviting us to partake in His Body through our physical partaking of the Holy Eucharist, and promising the resurrection of all believers into His Heavenly Kingdom.

The story of Christ’s healing of the man born blind, read on the last Sunday of Pascha, is far from a simple account of one of the many miracles our Lord performed. The Very Rev. Alexander Rentel explains that this story is also a radical warning to the spiritually blind, those who are incapable of seeing the glory of the Lord because of their blind belief in their own knowledge and righteousness. We must take extreme care to always submit ourselves to the Lord in humility and faith.

On the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, Fr Vincent Temirov highlights how gentle the Lord’s interaction with her was–He called her to purify herself first by confessing her sins, and then offered her “living water”. In this same way, we are called to repent of our sins to remove all obstacles which hinder us from partaking in the life of Christ.

At the Divine Liturgy on the day of Commencement for the Class of 2023, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon (OCA) called all in attendance, especially those preparing to begin their ministry to always accept the will of God. This acceptance is the beginning of humility, a virtue that enables us to escape the sins that ensnare us.

Why does the Orthodox Church take care to note the exact midpoint between Pascha and Pentecost? Fr Bogdan Bucur shows us how this celebration is meant to help us understand the deep connection between Christ’s Resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit. We cannot truly taste the resurrected life of Christ without the Holy Spirit working in us. Father Bogdan invites us to consider what it means to live the life of Christ through receiving the Holy Spirit.

The Sunday of the Paralytic coincides with the commemoration of Saint Alexis Toth this year, and the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield weaves together the missionary work of St Alexis, the need for help expressed by our post-pandemic catechumens, and the healing help our Lord gave to the man lying by the pool for 38 years, encouraging us to see the common thread of the Lord’s great saving work for His people.

When we look at the story of the Myrrhbearing Women, we see that they offered the best of what they could to the Lord, despite the detraction of the disciples. Likewise, advises Fr Bogdan Bucur, we must always strive to offer the best of ourselves—even if it feels like we don’t have much to offer to God, inviting Him to move and work in us. The Lord accepts us even in our sinfulness, turning our humble offerings into something greater and more whole to fulfill His purpose.

On Thomas Sunday, Fr Vincent Temirov encourages us to remember the apostle Thomas not only for his initial doubt in the Resurrection of Christ, but more so for the heartfelt confession he made upon encountering the risen Lord. “My Lord and my God” is one of the most complete acknowledgements of Christ and His nature in the Gospels; we are called to contemplate our Lord’s Resurrection, so that we too may confess Christ like Thomas, in fullness of faith.

The Paschal Sermon by St John Chrysostom highlights a central tenet of our faith as Christians, that death has been overcome by Christ’s Resurrection. For we Christians do not take the popular stance that somehow death is just a natural part of life or something to just be accepted, says Fr Bogdan Bucur. Death is most unnatural and most certainly not God’s ultimate intention for us—instead, He invites us to eternal life with Him. Our faith and hope in the resurrection unto life is what truly sets us apart as Christians.

When we hear the Gospel readings and sing the hymns of Holy Thursday which say so much about the betrayal and inhumanity of Judas, we must also heed the inherent warning, says Fr Bogdan Bucur–without humility of heart and trust in the glory and goodness of God, we too fall away from Him as did Judas. We must lament our sinfulness yet approach with hope, knowing that the Lord’s mercy overcomes all sins when we repent with our whole heart.

On Palm Sunday, we see our Lord arrive in Jerusalem as king - not as an earthly king, exulting in his own power, but as our Lord, God, and Savior, humble yet mighty, fulfilling all prophecy about the Messiah. The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield points out that the disciples spread their coats on an unbridled, wild foal, which was considered unclean by Jews of that time, and Jesus enters Jerusalem on this foal. We are to identify with this unclean, wild young animal - tamed and honored to bear our Lord in triumph.

We hear the story of the raising of Lazarus and are encouraged, says Fr Bogdan Bucur, to see it as a sign: the Lord has come to raise all of us from the grave. This is the saving plan of God from all eternity, that we would come to know Him and live. In spite of our hardness of heart, forgetfulness, and frequent unbelief, our Lord, Jesus Christ weeps with us, mourning the broken state of creation, and goes on to endure His Passion, crucifixion, and death–all so that we may rise with Him unto eternal life.

The life of St Mary of Egypt is awe-inspiring, but also, Fr Vincent Temirov says, comforting. A woman who had immersed herself into a life completely alien to the life in Christ was still able to hear, be changed, and come to repentance. There is no sinner that the Lord would not forgive, as long as we ourselves are willing to clear away any obstacles to our own repentance. We must each identify our own obstacles, emptying ourselves so that we can truly grow and live in Christ.

By the time we come to the Sunday of St John Climacus, the priest’s petitions for the catechumens have expanded to include prayers for those preparing for holy illumination. The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield points out how the themes for the Lenten Sundays are a guide and instruction to those preparing to fully join the Orthodox Church, culminating in the ultimate lesson, that the only way to become perfect as God is perfect is to embrace His suffering and take it upon ourselves. By doing so, God works in us for our salvation.

On the feast of the Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon gives a powerful homily highlighting the true meaning of the role of the Most Holy Theotokos in the lives of all people. As we ponder the self-emptying act of the incarnation of the Son of God as man, we also ponder her self-emptying willingness to bear God in her womb. The feast of Annunciation is a reminder for all Christians to “redouble our filial devotion to our Mother, the Most Holy Theotokos, from whose womb our Life was born.”

In his homily for the Sunday of the Cross, the Very Rev. Alexander Rentel summarizes the first half of Great Lent, demonstrating how the the first two Sundays celebrated the beauty and truth of Orthodox theology, as taught by St Gregory Palamas and the defenders of Orthodoxy against the iconoclasts. This theological reflection leads us to the Cross, the most perfect revelation of God. From here on out, the Sundays of Great Lent emphasize action - the saving action of taking up one’s cross, shown in the examples of St John Climacus and St Mary of Egypt.

When Orthodox Christians gather to pray for their beloved friends and family who have fallen asleep, we are encouraged to meditate on the words of our Lord, “the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live” (John 5:25). The Very Rev. Alexander Rentel explores this Memorial Saturday gospel reading and reminds us to hear the voice of God and do good while we live, so that we may be raised to the “resurrection of life”.

On the Sunday of St Gregory Palamas, the gospel reading relates the story of the paralytic who, after being lowered through a roof by his friends to be healed by Jesus, was told, “Your sins are forgiven you.” The Pharisees grumble inwardly, thinking “Only God can forgive sins.” Fr Bogdan Bucur points out the irony of their complaint - in their lack of faith, the Pharisees are not able to see that it is, in truth, the Living God who stands before them, working wonders and forgiving sins as only God can. Fr Bogdan relates this gospel reading to the key teachings of St Gregory Palamas, and exhorts us to interact with God in faith through prayer, that He may work in us.

On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, Fr Vincent Temirov reminds us that the triumph of Orthodoxy is not a triumph over other people, but the triumph of the divine truth in the hearts of those who belong to the Orthodox Church, who proclaim the truth revealed by God in its integrity. There is more to being Orthodox than simply holding the right doctrine; we carry out our Orthodoxy, our right glory and worship by orthopraxis, the right way in which we strive to live out our lives every day.

Preaching on Cheesefare/Forgiveness Sunday, the Very Rev. Alexander Rentel imparts a message that we would all do well to bear in mind for the entirety of Great Lent - fasting is about growing in love for others. We give up our focus on food and entertainment and strive to grow closer to God and our fellow man.

The gospel reading for the Sunday of the Last Judgment, or Meatfare Sunday, contains the Lord’s clear message for us: the way of salvation is partaking in the love of God through love of one’s neighbor. In telling us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick, Christ is calling us to follow His example, as he has fed and clothed and nourished us with His own Body. Dn Vitaly Permiakov encourages us to have faith: by the grace of God, we can be given the strength to love and serve one another as Christ does.

Pride, anger, lust, envy, gluttony, avarice, sloth - the classic list of “seven deadly sins”, or passions. These passions, according to the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield, are not something “injected from the outside”--they are misused, distorted versions of the virtues we all seek to make our own. As we prepare to enter the season of Great Lent, Fr Chad urges us to contemplate the myriad ways in which Scripture shows how the Lord restores our broken and damaged versions of His creation, so that we too may be restored by Him.

The Sunday of the Publican of the Pharisee marks the beginning of the incorporation of the hymns of the Great Triodion in our church services, leading us through Great Lent to Holy Week and Pascha. Fr Vincent Temirov tells us how the Church prescribes specific Gospel readings to prepare our minds and hearts in the three weeks leading up to the beginning of Great Lent, starting with the story of the lowly tax collector and the exalted religious leader. These two diametrically opposed figures paint a clear picture of pride versus humility. Fasting as the Pharisee did without love and humility brought him no benefit; the suspension of the usual Wednesday and Friday fasts during the week after this Sunday is the Church’s way of illustrating this point. It is only through true humility, i.e. putting God before all else, that our prayers bring us into communion with the Lord.

On the feast of The Meeting of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield leads the hearer through the journey the Mother of God has taken thus far in the Gospel narrative in becoming the God-bearer. We are encouraged to join her in pondering the events of the Gospels in our hearts. As St Maximus the Confessor says, we look towards the Cross, longing for it as “the sign of our salvation and the seal of our Lord”.

The Epistle reading for this Sunday Liturgy contains Paul’s reminder to Timothy that as Christians, “we have set our hope on the Living God” (1 Timothy 4.10). Fr Bogdan Bucur cautions us to remember that even with the best of intentions, any concept we have of God in our minds may be an idol if we are not completely giving ourselves over to God in joyful trust and faith.

In a pastoral visit to St Vladimir’s Seminary, His Eminence Archbishop Mark preaches on a recurring theme found in the Sunday Gospel readings leading up to and through Great Lent: when people encounter the Lord, they choose to either turn away or draw near. Those who drew near in the Gospels – Bartimaeus, Zaccheus, the Prodigal Son – saw the Lord as their Savior and left their old lives behind to follow Him. Archbishop Mark challenges us with the question, “As we approach Great Lent, is our encounter with Christ one that is life-changing, or is it one that we simply have become immune to?”

The story of the rich young man who couldn’t bear to give up his wealth is often interpreted to say that wealth can be nothing but an obstacle to serving and following Christ. However, Fr Vincent Temirov asks us to consider a different understanding: the rich young man was not hindered by wealth in and of itself, but by his attachment to it and by his own self-reliance. What is hindering us from trusting everything to God? What do we need to give over to Him in our own lives?

A careful reading of the Gospel texts and the related commentary of the Holy Fathers reveals that the mystical events recorded at the Baptism of Christ were not perceived by the people present, save John the Baptist and the Lord Himself. Even the disciples were not able to see or hear what had happened; the revelation of the true glory of the One they followed came gradually, over time, as they followed Him and gave their hearts over to Him. Fr Bogdan Bucur enjoins us to strive to identify fully as “the people that sat in darkness”; only with a true understanding of our dark and sinful condition can our hearts be prepared to also be ones who “have seen a great Light.”

In this homily given on the secular New Years Day, on which the Church celebrates the feastday of St Basil the Great and commemorates the Circumcision of Christ, Fr Vincent Temirov exhorts us to consider St Maximus the Confessor’s words on acquiring a “circumcision of our hearts”. What can we learn from the Lord’s circumcision? How can we orient our hearts so as to cut off our inclinations towards sin, following the example of holy people like St Basil?

In his sermon for the great feast of Theophany, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield emphasizes the significance of water in the scriptures, and how it appears again and again as an instrument in God’s saving actions towards creation and humanity. All of creation is touched and healed by the blessed water of baptism, and Fr Chad exhorts us all to take part and glorify God.

The Gospel narrative about the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ contains many elements for our meditation and reflection. Among these, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield asks the listener to consider two questions: What do we mean when we pray, Most Holy Theotokos, save us? What is the significance of the continuous recurrence of bread as a theme in the history of God’s plan to bring about salvation for the human race?

On the Sunday of the Fathers, Dn Vitaly Permiakov reminds us to consider why the Gospel reading lists all the names of the ancestors in the flesh of Christ, including those who lived more obscure, or in some cases, questionable lives. How does the Lord call us, also deeply imperfect people, to participate in his salvation of the human race? How are we to become part of his family, a new and consecrated humanity?

In this homily given on the feastday of St Herman of Alaska, The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield relates anecdotes and personal details about the life of St Herman, passed down by generations of native Alaskans. Although he was a humble man who never assumed the priesthood, St Herman’s impact on the indigenous populations in Alaska and on American Orthodox churches cannot be understated.

As we prepare for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, the gospel reading of the parable of the wedding banquet appears for our contemplation. Fr Alexander Rentel counsels us to consider who we are most like in this story - are we the preoccupied farmers tending to their fields, the busy husband or wife preferring to stay home with a spouse? And furthermore, how are we to relate to the poor, the blind, the maimed, the lame - those in the highways and hedges?

Where we place our attention tells about what we value and love. In this fallen world, it is very easy to give our attention away to people or institutions, only to realize that none of these can really fulfill us. Fr Alexander Earl calls us to re-focus on Christ, to patiently trust him to grant us the eyes to see his care and love for us, and to understand that our true fulfillment is in him.

Fr Bogdan Bucur delves into the gospel account of the ten lepers who cried out to Jesus from afar, Lord, have mercy on us. We all marvel at the nine who did not return to thank Jesus, when, on the way to show themselves to the priests, realized they had already been healed by Jesus. We hope that we would all have the decency to go back and thank Jesus, like the one Samaritan. Fr Bogdan expands on the implications of the Samaritan's choice to return to Christ and give glory and thanks, and encourages us all to follow his example.

God is not limited in his love for his creation in any way, and is always revealing his care for us, sometimes even in tangible healings and miracles. However, if we are focused on the wrong things, Fr Vincent Temirov says, we can miss these revelations in our lives entirely, just as the ruler of the synagogue did when he objected to Jesus healing the woman with a "spirit of infirmity" on the Sabbath. When we follow the outward rites of the church, do we feel anything beyond the physical realm? Are we trying to conform to God's commandments, or are we hiding behind them?

On the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield summarizes the wisdom of the fathers regarding this feastday. Drawing on the writing of St Gregory Palamas, Fr Chad invites us to consider the account of Zachariah leading the child Mary up into the Holy of Holies - how did this "setting apart'' prepare her for her future role as the Mother of God and intercessor for the human race?

How do we prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord? The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield explores some of the obstacles we encounter in our lives today, highlighting the increasing levels of anger in our society and our reluctance to acknowledge and counteract the devil's influence. How do we avoid choosing the path of sin, which is death, and move towards the Lord, who is Life?

Fr Bogdan Bucur hones in on the question at the core of the parable of the Good Samaritan - and guides us in unpacking not only the character of the Samaritan, but the innkeeper, as well. What can we learn from the way the Samaritan entrusted the wounded traveler to the innkeeper, and can we see a model of the Church in the inn, where healing and care is taking place?

On the feastday of the Great Martyr Demetrios, Fr Alexander Rentel exhorts the faithful to hear the same call St Demetrios heard - to be martyrs, that is, witnesses to the death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. While we may not be called to a brutal death in an arena, we are always called to witness to the love and life found in Jesus Christ alone.

The gospel account about the driving out of the legion of demons into a herd of pigs is read multiple times at Divine Liturgy throughout the year. In light of the baptism of a newborn earlier in the service, The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield asks us to consider this passage afresh. We all undergo an exorcism in baptism - what does this mean for our lives and how must we engage in spiritual warfare?

The great chasm in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man looms large in our imagination - what is it made of? Why does Abraham tell the rich man that it cannot be bridged? Fr Vincent Temirov explains that this chasm was created by the rich man himself, through his indifference to God and his neighbor throughout his earthly life. Fr Vincent cautions us to examine ourselves and to identify any growing gaps between our own hearts and the Lord.

How can we receive and understand the Word of God? Is it enough to just sit down and read the Bible? In this homily given on the Sunday of the Commemoration of the Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical council, Fr Alexander Rentel challenges us to cultivate our faith and knowledge of God’s Word in patience and endurance, so that our hearts may be truly ready to receive the seed sown by the Sower.

When Our Lord Jesus Christ beheld the funeral procession for the widow’s son in Nain, we read that He was “moved with compassion.” Fr Bogdan Bucur invites us to consider the Lord’s love for us in answering the age-old question - why does God heal some, yet allow others to suffer and die? How can we learn to see God’s promise to us that reaches beyond this life?

On the feast day of St Innocent of Alaska, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield reviews the life and personality of St Innocent, including many little-known details which paint a picture of who he was as a person. Fr Chad shares the key tenets of St Innocent’s missionary vision, and relates how St Innocent tirelessly engaged the Alaskan natives he worked with in conversation, inviting them to fall in love with the Orthodox faith and make it their own.

The Golden Rule - a classic maxim adhered to by Christians and non-Christians alike. However, the meaning of this commandment is often misunderstood; we are often motivated to do good to others in the hopes that they will respond in kind, whereas Christ calls us to give love freely, even unto those who will respond with hate and enmity. How exactly, Fr Vincent Temirov asks, are we to love our enemies? What does that look like in day-to-day life?

At the Vigil for the Feast of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos, Fr Bogdan Bucur dispels the false idea of divine protection from any and all suffering. The protective veil does not work magic - sometimes we suffer terribly, and the problems we pray about are not solved. The Mother of God herself experienced pain and agony when she witnessed her beloved Son and Lord crucified. To what end, then, do we seek the protection of the Mother of God? How does the Lord call us to know him through suffering in this life?

Amidst the increasing number of “Nones” (those who do not identify with any religion), and “Dones” (those who identify as “done” with religion), there are still plenty of seekers - what are they looking for? The inquirer is looking for the pearl of great price that they must have - the light of God, the Glory of God. The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield exhorts Christians to take up our responsibility to cultivate the light of Christ within our lives so that it reflects upon those around us.

Meditating on a hymn from the Exaltation of the Cross, The Rev. Dr Bogdan Bucur asks us to investigate its words: "But the Tree of the Cross, which grants unto mankind the robe of life, has now been fixed in the midst of the earth, and the earth is now filled with boundless joy." How do we understand this "robe," what kind of "life" are we talking about, and how exactly is the world filled with "boundless joy" because of the cross—especially as we look around and see a world that doesn't seem so joyous?

Christ has his cross, and we have ours. All of us become crucified on either side of him, like the thieves on Golgotha. On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, The Very Rev. Archimandrite Maximos Constas explains why life's many crosses and crucifixions are not merely valuable, they are essential for our salvation. When we endure these crosses, on which side of the Lord's cross will we find ourselves?

Nicodemus' question to Jesus, how someone could be born again, is one that can help us understand the message of the cross. On the Sunday before the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, The Very Rev. Prot. Vincent Temirov offers this meditation on the cross, the sign of God's boundless love for humankind.

Our reverence for the Theotokos is not merely about what happened through her, but also about what she did with what she had received. On the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr Bogdan Bucur tells us she is the exemplar of our Lord's words "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it."

Following the baptism of a baby boy at Three Hierarchs Chapel, Fr Chad Hatfield opines that—while the baby is certainly cute—there's nothing "cute" about the beginning of the baptismal rite. Rather, that part of the service points us to a stark reality: "It's a fight!" for the child as well as all of us.

King Herod heard "gladly" the words spoken by John the Forerunner, he knew John was righteous, and he "kept him safe." So why, then, did Herod not refuse the request to take John's head? The Rev. Dr Bogdan Bucur, on the feast of the Baptist's beheading, speaks to us about Herod's choice and what the king's "exceeding sorrow" reveals about our own hearts and the choices we make throughout our lives.

"But how many times, Lord?" The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield warns us that we, like the apostle St Peter, too often get caught up in distortions, details, and chasing after our own voice. In so doing, what Christ is actually saying to us is in danger of being lost completely.