Posts Tagged ‘calendar’
Christ is STILL Risen
What an amazing week we all had together. Even if we were in different cities on different continents, our journey through Holy Week and Pascha was a common journey together in Christ. We fasted together and then we celebrated together. Now, we’re exhausted. For our lack of sleep and celebration yesterday, Christ is STILL Risen…
Read More2026 Daily Lenten Journey Day 22 – Do You Have a Plan for Pascha?
Today we start our fourth week of Great Lent and the Church turns everything up a notch. After the celebration of the Holy Cross yesterday, we begin to look in earnest at Holy Week and Pascha. Pascha will ‘be here’ before you know it. Today’s reading reminded me that God always had a plan. Ever…
Read MoreThe Twelfth Day of Christmas We Fast
Forget about calling birds, French hens and goose eggs! Today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas, but instead of partying we are fasting. Today is a strict fast in preparation for the Feast of Holy Theophany, also known as Epiphany. For nearly two weeks the Church feasted. If you didn’t fast before Christmas, the past…
Read MoreOne Door Closes and Another Door Opens
Transitions can be difficult. We transition from childhood to adulthood, from single life to married life, from job to job, and eventually from life to death. With each transition, a new existence begins. Even in death, we begin our eternal life with God in heaven. That’s how I feel every year on New Year’s Eve.…
Read MoreNo Shame about Christmas
When everyone around you seems to have forgotten why Christmas is important, it can be awkward keeping focus. We are fasting. ‘They’ are feasting. We are praying. They are shopping. We are serving others. They are demanding special treatment at the checkout lane. Being a Christian is hard enough in modern America. Being an Orthodox…
Read MoreMary in a Martha World
From an early age we are taught to stay busy. Whether it is ‘morning work’ before school is even in session, or ‘working lunches’ looking for that promotion, taking a few moments for our soul is often the last thing on our minds every day. Today that changes. Today is the day we allow the…
Read MoreO God Save Your People
The Church teaches that everything in life is about our salvation. Our job, our free time, even the food we place in our stomachs are about our salvation. It isn’t because God cares what we eat, but because God wants to save us from ourselves. So, today we begin the fast. Today is also one…
Read MoreWhat is Your Plan?
As the saying goes, ‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.’ Nothing is truer when we speak about our spiritual life. We simply will not make much progress in our journey to God if we wake up every morning and just ‘do life’ as it comes. We need a plan if we want…
Read MoreBlessed Month
One of the sweet traditions of the Greek culture is the custom of wishing people a “Blessed Month” or Καλό Μίνα in Greek. This custom isn’t just empty words, but a prayer that is influenced by the traditions of the Church. During the Byzantine Empire it was customary for the clergy and people to process…
Read MoreChrist is Always Risen
Today is the Leave-taking of Pascha. It is the last day of Pascha for this year. It is the last day on which we greet each other with Christ is Risen. That does not mean Christ is not risen. He is always risen, but today we move on to the next feast of the Church.…
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