By the Very Rev. John Ealy
It is always difficult in these relativistic times, when the only heresy is to speak of heresy, to present the Orthodox teaching about the completeness of our faith. It comes across often as arrogance when in fact we do not mean that we are anything special at all, we readily [...]
In Defence of the Christmas Tree
By Father Daniel Daly
Several years ago during the Christmas season, a religious program on television caught my attention. The program featured a discussion on the dangers of cults, especially to young people. I found myself agreeing with the panelists as they warned young people about the hazards of involvement in [...]
What is performed in the Altar?
How do we relate the present day Altar to the Old times? ”
1. The altar was a place of sacrifice
2. The cross is a place of sacrifice
3. A blood sacrifice was required, the New Testament, our blood atonement is Jesus instead of animals
A.. The altar was a place of sacrifice
Lev [...]
Many Protestants say our Infant Baptism is not enough and that it is invalid.
They say one must be “Born Again” to be truly Baptised.
If you ask them what Born Again means, they will tell you it is the Intellectual Conformance to the Gospel.
For them it is a mere mental/intellectual process that flows from Man to [...]
1)Orthodox Christianity is the True Biblical Faith having the Right Interpretations of Scripture(ORTHA_DOXA meaning “Right Doctrine”) given to us by the Early Church Fathers before 400 Ad, when the Christian Church was One/Single and United!
We follow ancient biblical practices like Infant Baptism, Intercession of Saints, Infant Communion, Icons, 7 Sacraments, Christian Prayer Cycle etc.
Any Protestant [...]
Should women be allowed to serve at the altar? (Dec. ’01)
He Said by Denny Bojrab
Should women be able to serve at the altar? “Oh boy” was my reaction. Should I be liberal or follow what my grandfather had taught me — how should I base my opinion? I turned to Scripture and tradition to come [...]
On many occasions I was asked about the significance of the skull cap worn by the priests of the Syrian Church, both in the Middle East and in India. Recently there were some inquiries about it by our readers. Hence we are trying to educate our readers about the relevance of skull caps worn by [...]
Why do we have Easter Eggs?
ANSWER:
Faith is always enriched by symbols taken from God’s creation – think about water, blood, fruits, grains, bread, lamb, smoke, color, gold, light; all these things have been used in Biblical worship, including at the time of Christ. Eggs are of course a natural symbol of life and in some [...]
Do you Orthodox believe in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin which is a Roman Catholic dogma?
ANSWER:
Orthodox Christians observe the feast of the Dormition or Falling Asleep of the Theotokos on the same day (adjusted to calendar if applicable) as the Roman Catholic Church, and some Orthodox parish are named “Assumption of the Virgin / [...]
Orthodox bishops have a strange staff with two snakes around a cross. What does it mean? Is is not an evil symbol?
The episcopal staff has the cross of Christ with two snakes and this may seem disconcerting. There are actual two explanations for this symbolism. The staff reminds us to the brass serpent erected by [...]