On the last couple of Sundays, our gospel readings have reminded us what not to do if we want to prepare to welcome Christ into our lives and world at His Nativity. The rich fool was so focused on money and possessions that he completely neglected the state of his soul. The rich young ruler walked away in sadness when it became clear that he loved his wealth more than God and neighbor. The weeks before Christmas are the most commercialized time of the year when we are all bombarded with messages that the good life is primarily about having a lot of money and being able to buy whatever we want. Since the Lord warned so clearly of the folly of giving our hearts to the false god of riches, it is sadly ironic that the celebration of His Nativity so often occurs in ways that contradict the blessedness of His Kingdom.

Fr. John discusses the ways in which iconography was defined and produced in Byzantine Christendom.

Having related the fall of Byzantium to the Turks, Fr. John now begins a reflection on the only remaining Orthodox state in eastern Christendom, Muscovite Russia. In this introductory anecdote he tells of an event in the history of this "Third Rome" that signaled the coming decline of ecclesio-political symphony, and with it the experience of paradise.

Fr John reflects on Dr. Peter Bouteneff’s podcast concerning “Post-Episcopalian Stress Disorder,” and suggests a course-correction.

Dr. Humphrey takes us to the letter to the Hebrews for the Christian Hall of Fame as we approach the Sunday of Orthodoxy.

In Revelation 19:11-21, the heavens are opened, revealing the mounted Word of God, and His final conquest over evil. We are helped with this exhilarating and disturbing passage by seeing echoes in Psalm 72/71:2, Psalm 44/5:3-5, Isaiah 63:1-3, and listening to the wisdom of ancient commentators.

We read the fourth of the six Orthros psalms of penitence, Psalm 87 (LXX)/88 (MT), looking to Jesus as the “perfect Die-er” who brings light to the whole world, showing wonders even to the dead! This heavy psalm is understood through the similarly difficult passages of Luke 2:29-35, 2 Cor 5:21, Gal 3:13, John 12:20b-36, and Psalm 21(LXX) /22 (MT).

In this episode we read Esther 3:13a-g, 5:1-13 LXX, and 8:12a-I, considering the royal decrees of the king, the dramatic scene where Esther enters his presence without invitation, and the misinformation about the Jewish people which he finally rejects. We are helped in seeing the significance of these fascinating scenes by recourse to Psalm 85/6, Phil 2:5-11, and 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Children's Bible Reader, part two, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Adam and Eve turn away from God" "Cain and Abel" "The wickedness of people destroys the earth"

Children’s Bible Reader, part three. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "People continue to sadden God" "A shepherd trusts in God" "Abraham and Sarah have a son"

Children’s Bible Reader, part four. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Isaac marries Rebecca" "Two different brothers"

Children’s Bible Reader, part five. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Jacob has a strange dream" "Jacob marries Rachel" "Jacob leaves Laban"

Children’s Bible Reader, part six. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Jacob wrestles with God" "The two brothers reconcile" "Joseph and his brothers"

Children’s Bible Reader, part seven. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Joseph is sold by his brothers" "Joseph arrives in Egypt" "Joseph interprets dreams"

Children’s Bible Reader, part eight. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Joseph and Pharaoh" "Joseph's brothers come to Egypt"

Children’s Bible Reader, part nine. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Joseph's brothers return to Canaan" "Joseph welcomes his brothers"

Children’s Bible Reader, part ten. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "The silver cup" "Joseph forgives his brothers"

Children’s Bible Reader, part eleven. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "The people of Israel suffer in Egypt" "A mother saves her son" "Moses must leave"

Children’s Bible Reader, part twelve. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "God calls Moses" "Moses returns to Egypt" "Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh"

Children’s Bible Reader, part thirteen. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "God sends disasters to Egypt" "God sends the worst plague of all"

Children’s Bible Reader, part fourteen, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "The Israelites leave Egypt" "The Israelites cross the Red Sea" "God provides for His people"

Children’s Bible Reader, part fifteen, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Water from the rock" "Moses on Mount Sinai" "The Ten Commandments" "The golden calf"

Children’s Bible Reader, part sixteen. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Moses speaks again with God" "The tent of meeting and the Ark of the Covenant" "Aaron and his sons become priests"

Children’s Bible Reader, part seventeen. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Moses is near Canaan" "Forty years in the desert" "The healing snake" "Moses dies"

Children’s Bible Reader, part eighteen. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "The walls of Jericho fall" "The Promised Land" "Judges" "Deborah"

Children’s Bible Reader, part nineteen. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Gideon" "Samson"

Children’s Bible Reader, part twenty. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Ruth and Naomi" "Samuel the prophet"

Children’s Bible Reader, part twenty-one. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Saul becomes a king" "Saul and David" "David and Goliath"

Children’s Bible Reader, part twenty-two. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "David and Jonathan" "David saves Saul's life" "David the King" "David's Psalms"

Children’s Bible Reader, part twenty-three. 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "King Solomon" "The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon" "Wise Words of Solomon" "The prophet Elijah"

Children’s Bible Reader, part twenty-four, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Elijah and Baal's prophets" "The prophet Isaiah" "The prophet Jeremiah" "Jonah and the big fish"

Children’s Bible Reader, part twenty-five, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Jonah goes to Nineveh" "Daniel and his friends" "The three friends are thrown in the furnace" "Daniel in the lion's den" "Daniel tells of the coming of the Savior"

Children’s Bible Reader, part twenty-six, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Expecting the Savior" "Elizabeth and Zechariah" "The angel visits Mary" "The angel visits Joseph" "Mary visits Elizabeth" "The birth of John" "The birth of Jesus"

Children’s Bible Reader, part twenty-seven, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "The wise men" "Simeon and Anna" "The escape to Egypt" "Jesus comes to the temple" "John the Baptist" "The Baptism of Jesus"

Children’s Bible Reader, part twenty-eight, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Jesus is tempted by the devil" "Jesus in the synagogue" "Jesus and His disciples" "The wedding in Cana" "Jesus heals a paralyzed man" "Jesus and the daughter of Jairus"

Children’s Bible Reader, part twenty-nine, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Jesus and the centurion of Capernaum" "Jesus and the storm" "Jesus and John" "The Sermon on the Mount" "Jesus blesses the children" "Who is the greatest?"

Children’s Bible Reader, part thirty, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Jesus and the Sabbath" "The Good Samaritan" "God Wants to Save Everyone"

Children’s Bible Reader, part thirty-one, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Jesus feeds five thousand people" "Jesus walks on the water" "Jesus heals sick people" "The bread of life" "The great feast" " 'You are Jesus' " "God shows who Jesus is"

Children’s Bible Reader, part thirty-two, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Two of the disciples want the best places" "The Good Shepherd" "Jesus heals ten sick people" "Jesus heals the blind beggar" "Jesus comes to Zacchaeus" "Mary and Martha" "Lazarus"

Children’s Bible Reader, part thirty-three, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Mary anoints Jesus" "The entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem" "Jesus drives the merchants out of the temple" "Jesus speaks about the end of the age" "The betrayal by Judas" "Jesus celebrates Passover with His Disciples" "Jesus washes the disciples' feet"

Children’s Bible Reader, part thirty-four, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "The mystical supper" "Peter's promise to Jesus" "Jesus prays in the garden of Gethsemane" "Peter's denial" "Jesus is questioned" "Jesus is brought to Pilate"

Children’s Bible Reader, part thirty-five, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Judas regrets his betrayal" "Jesus dies on the cross" "The burial of Jesus" "The Resurrection of Jesus"

Children’s Bible Reader, part thirty-six, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "On the road to Emmaus" "Jesus appears to the disciples" "Jesus and Thomas" "Jesus appears again at the Sea of Galilee" "Jesus and Peter" "Jesus ascends into Heaven"

Children’s Bible Reader, part thirty-seven, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Pentecost" "Stephen and Saul" "Saul goes to Damascus" "Ananias helps Saul"

Children’s Bible Reader, part thirty-eight, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Saul preaches about Jesus" "Saul has a new name" "Paul travels to Greece" "Paul casts out an evil spirit" "Paul and Silas in jail"

Children’s Bible Reader, part thirty-nine, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "Paul travels from place to place" "Paul comes to Athens" "Paul returns to Jerusalem" "Paul is arrested"

Children’s Bible Reader, part forty and CONCLUSION, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "The trip to Rome" "Paul writes many letters" "God's new world"

St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, written by Lily Parascheva Rowe, illustrated by Roland J. Ford (St. Stylianos Books, 2012)

St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, by Lily Parascheva Rowe, illustrated by Roland J. Ford (St. Stylianos Books)

Saint Felix and the Spider, by Dessi Jackson, illustrated by Lydia Grace Kadar-Kallen (Quis Ut Deus Press, 2013)