In what is believed to be the first such service in Enid, the congregation of St. Nino Equal-to-the-Apostles Orthodox Christian Church conducted an Orthodox blessing of the waters Sunday, at Government Springs Park. Worldwide, it is traditional for Orthodox Christians to bless natural bodies of water on the Orthodox Feast of Theophany, which celebrates Christ’s
Continue Reading »
What Is The Difference Between The Good Soil That Bore Fruit And Those Barren Places?
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (8:5-15) One of my greatest joys as a priest is seeing people grow in their faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is also a great joy to bring people into the Holy Orthodox faith. We train them and instruct them and receive them into
Continue Reading »
Searching for God In The Depths
The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (1:21-2:4) and the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (5:1-11) When I was a young man in school, I remember one of our teachers telling us something that we thought was strange at the time. She said to us, you shouldn’t be upset
Continue Reading »
Losing Life In Order To Find It – Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. (2:16-20) and The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (8:34-9:1) Today we celebrate the Sunday after the elevation of the cross. The story of the elevation of the cross is a very important one in the life of the church. It
Continue Reading »
I Am Descending Deep Into My Heart – + St. Nikolaj Velimirović
I am descending deep into my heart, to see who is dwelling in it besides me and You, O Eternal God. And I am filled with fear as I find legions of strangers fighting over portions of my heart. I found as many of them in my heart as time contains human and inhuman souls
Continue Reading »
With Faith Like A Mustard Seed
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (17:14-23) In today’s gospel reading we see a picture of faith, but it is not yet perfect faith. We see a picture of incomplete faith in the actions of the man on behalf of his son, who is possessed of a demon. At the outset
Continue Reading »
The Kursk-Root Icon – 224 Page Book
This book contains the story of the wonderworking Icon, accounts of its past and recent miracles, narratives of celebrations and pilgrimages in its honour, and a number of articles concerning the Orthodox Church’s teaching regarding the veneration of the Most Holy Theotokos and of the holy icons. Also included are two colour lift-outs of the
Continue Reading »
Saratov, Russia: Wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God welcomed in Holy Protection Church – 08/20/19
Saratov, Russia: Wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God welcomed in Holy Protection Church – 08/20/19 More pics of the visit here: https://eadiocese.org/public/ss/gallery.php?ssid=1013&s=1 St Nino Is Listed In The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops Directory of Parishes Orthodox Church – Stillwater OK Orthodox Church – Enid, OK Orthodox Church –
Continue Reading »
Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica – Homily on the Transfiguration
For an explanation of the present Feast and understanding of its truth, it is necessary for us to turn to the very start of today’s reading from the Gospel: “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John his brother, and led them up onto a high mountain by themselves” (Mt 17:1). First of
Continue Reading »
The Saint, the Priest, and Face-tattoos
Some years back, there was a point in my life when I didn’t give a second thought to the Saints. I really didn’t see how they had any place within my faith. In Bible College and in Protestant seminary, I was fed the idea that saints were either a type of good luck charm to
Continue Reading »