(Feast Day ~ February 26) The responsibilities of political leadership are great. Whether a public official is elected or receives his position through inheritance, his (or her) duty to protect, defend, and guide the people in his charge must be taken very seriously. The world has known many leaders who yielded to the temptation for […]

(Feast Day ~ February 25) The saints of God show us, time and time again, that holiness “runs in families.” There are numerous stories of how a saintly parent’s prayers brought a son or daughter to righteous living [such as St. Monica and St. Augustine], or how a devoted brother or sister influenced a sibling […]

(Feast Day ~ February 24) How often have we come to the end of a good novel and wished that there was more to the story? The characters presented in the book remain alive in our minds and we want to know what would have happened next. Greater than any novels we could ever read […]

(Feast Day – February 22) All four Gospels relate the story of Joseph of Arimathea, who provided a tomb for the body of Christ following the Crucifixion. Joseph is variously described as a rich man, a counsellor, and as a follower of Christ. The picture we get is of one who was highly regarded in […]

(Feast Day ~ Feb. 18) In the Orthodox Church, we emphasize that decision-making by councils is the historic method begun by the Apostles themselves in Jerusalem and we honor the seven Ecumenical Councils for the decisions regarding the theological truths of our faith which were made in those meetings. Even though we are amused by […]

Feast Day ~ February 19 Although there are many stories of group and even mass baptisms both in holy Scripture and in the lives of the saints, the conversion of the Roman Empire and beyond to Christianity was, for the most part, not smooth sailing! There are many instances of areas which had become Christian […]

(Feast Day ~ February 18) In our time, old age is not considered a good thing. We do everything we can to minimize its effects (wearing youthful clothes, dying our hair, even having plastic surgery) and, when the effects of old age have become a burden, some would even advocate euthanasia or assisted suicide. But […]

Among the prominent Russian missionaries, St. Nicholas Kasatkin (1836-1912) was the tireless evangelist to Japan during that nation’s dramatic transition from feudal isolation to its emergence as a Westernized and modern society. In the mid-19th century, no traces of the 16th century Spanish and Portuguese missionary efforts remained in Japan after 250 years of persecution […]

(Feast Day ~ February 11)   Witiza, the son of Count Aigulf of Maguelonne, a Visigoth, was born around the year 747. As a boy, Witiza was sent to the court of the Frankish king, Pepin, for education and training as a courtier. The boy did well at court, serving as cup-bearer to Pepin and […]

(Feast Day ~ February 11) Pope Gregory II shares many characteristics with his namesake (and our patron), Pope St. Gregory I. He was born in the year 669 of a noble and wealthy family and his rise to the papacy followed a typical pattern. As a young man, he was ordained Subdeacon and given responsibility […]