Metropolitan Athanasios of Lemessos Every time we stand before the Lord either in prayer or in celebration in Church of an event from the life of Christ, or we are in any other way experiencing the presence of the Lord, two basic things happen, which are attested by the Church...

Paraskevi, who out of sheer humility does not wish to reveal her full name, was among the first spiritual children of Elder Sophrony, during the time of her studies in England. She sent us a copy of two handwritten scripts by the blessed Elder.   The Christmas wish card (handwritten):...

http://radio.myocn.net/podcast/TT/TT_2012/TT_121214.mp3 Listen Now  as noted Orthodox scholar Fr. John McGuckin offers a fresh perspective on the chronic problem of celebrating an Orthodox feast amidst powerful secular influences. What is Christmas without Christ?  Hear his surprising interpretation of “Happy Holidays,” a phrase which is often criticized in Christian circles. Fr. John...

✠ Bartholomew By God’s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch To the plenitude of the Church Grace, mercy and peace from the newborn Savior Christ in Bethlehem Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, Having once again arrived at the great feast of the Lord’s Nativity, we glorify...

Listen Now For many people, Christmas comes every year as surely as the sun comes up. It’s like death and taxes – nothing could prevent it…or could it? When you look closely at the real story of Christmas, you will discover what a miracle it was. Fr. Chris Metropulos draws...

Christmas can be too comfortable sometimes.  As the Nativity Season unfolds, churches are celebrating the birth of Christ.   Gifts are being shared, kitchens are busy preparing traditional foods, and retreat speakers have returned home from their visits to parishes. While all these events may be well intentioned, they frequently point...

What do you do to get ready for Christmas? Do you buy or make presents? Do you help decorate? Do you go to Christmas parties? Do you make cookies? Do you get pictures taken with Santa Claus? This time of year, we have lots of things to do that help...

Georgios Arabatzoglou   Another blessed period of fasting begins, a time of spiritual struggle and an effort to turn our mind to God, each of us with the strength and spiritual ‘nobility’ at our disposal, and, as always, in conjunction with the advice of our spiritual guide. This fast begins...

Join is Saturday November 23rd in person at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC. OCN is LIVE with a talk by Dr. Robin Darling-Young professor of Early Christian History at Catholic University of America. Dr. Darling-Young transport you to Jerusalem when Christ was born. She will explore the...

Archimandrite Iakovos Kanakis   At this time of year, people often talk about the ‘spirit of Christmas’. But are we all talking about the same thing? I think not. It seems to me that if the ‘spirit of Christmas’ is only the presents, shopping in general, family meals, gatherings and...

Athanasios Moustakis     ‘When Abraham was called, by faith…’ As is the case every year, the Epistle reading for the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ focuses on faith. It consists of two excerpts from chapter 11 of Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews (verses 9-10 and 32-40) in which...

Watch Now.  Partners at Pan Orthodox United has shared this video from Orthodox Voices of America on the topic of  “Old Christmas vs. New Christmas & Epiphany.” ABOUT THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN NETWORK Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) is a 501(c)3 and an official agency of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops of the United...