There are stupider things to do than arguing with a culty fundamentalist. As the late great Jim Croce reminded us, you don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, and you don’t pull the mask off the ol’ Lone Ranger. Arguing with a culty fundamentalist is, I admit, not as stupid as any of these things, but it is pretty stupid nonetheless, for it is a waste of precious time and utterly futile.

As reported in the Byzantine Texas blogsite, the Ecumenical Patriarch is calling for a unified observance of Easter by next year, 2025, to coincide with the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea. In a sermon he said, “We beseech the Lord of Glory that the forthcoming Easter celebration next year will not merely be a fortuitous occurrence, but rather the beginning of a unified date for its observance by both Eastern and Western Christianity.” Patriarch Bartholomew went on to declare that it was “a scandal to celebrate separately the unique event of the one Resurrection of the One Lord”.

Thousands of years ago when I was an Evangelical Protestant in the Anglican Church, I never prayed to the saints or asked for their intercession. It was made quite clear to me by those around me that obedient Christians never did that and that prayer to the saints (especially to Mary) was idolatry of the worst sort and consequently provoked the ire of the Most High. Catholics, of course, prayed to Mary and the saints, but real Christians didn’t. Even when I got out more and grew a bit and realized Catholics were real Christians, I still was convinced that they shouldn’t pray to saints, and that prayer to the saints ran the risk of traffic with demons. So much for ecumenism!

Fr. Apostolos shares about myrrh in the Old Testament, New Testament, and today. "We must become emblems of hope as we bear that sacred myrrh, that oil of healing to a broken world."

Fr. Apostolos shares about the flash mob that gathered on Palm Sunday and at the trial of Jesus.

Fr. Apostolos shares from St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, "We are the temple of the living God."

Fr. Apostolos shares about the ministry and mystery of motherhood.

Fr. Apostolos Hill reflects on the verses of the Gospel of Matthew about the eye as the light of the body and how we might dispel the darkness around us with the Light of Christ.

Fr. Apostolos Hill shares a short homily reflecting on the Gospel theme of the second Bridegroom Matins service.

Fr. Apostolos Hill delivers a homily that is focused on the Epistle reading from Colossians. The newness of the year should remind us that we serve a loving and merciful God, whose mercies are new every day.

Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday of Zacchaeus

Beginning of the Lenten Triodion

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Sunday before the Beginning of the Great Fast

Third Sunday of the Great Fast

Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem

In the gospel reading for the second Sunday of Great Lent, Christ heals a man of debilitating paralysis. But Fr Tom reminds us that Jesus reveals something even more important, that He forgives sins as the eternal Son of God. (Second Sunday of Great Lent - Healing of the Paralytic)

On the Third Sunday of the Great Fast, the Church places the precious cross of our Lord in the midst of the temple for our veneration and contemplation. Fr Tom reminds us that the scriptures present the cross as a sign both of comfort and of judgment, encouraging us to fulfill the Lenten effort to take up our cross and follow Christ. (Veneration of the Precious Cross)

On the Sunday after Pentecost, we commemorate all of the men and women who attained holiness through obedience to the commandments of Christ. Fr Tom reminds us that it is within our free choice to love God above all and to follow His will for our lives. (First Sunday after Pentecost)

Before we enter into the Passion Week, the Holy Church gives us the festal celebration of our Lord's Entrance into Jerusalem. Fr Tom reminds us that, like Christ, we are to remain faithful and joyful on the way to, or in the midst of, the various crosses that we might face in our life.

In the parable of the Rich Fool, Christ warns us of the dangers of acquiring too many material possessions. Fr Tom reminds us that our life should always maintain an eternal perspective, focusing on love of God and of neighbor. (Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost)

On the great feast of Theophany, God shines the light of the Truth, in the person of Christ, to the whole world. Fr Tom reminds us that we also are individually given the gift of this light through our renewal, by virtue of our baptism.

The feast of Theophany heralds the light which overcomes all darkness. Fr. Thomas reminds us that this darkness, which is present in many places in our life, is destroyed by the truth and life of Christ himself.

The most endearing secular holiday in the American calendar is Thanksgiving Day. It was set aside by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father." Later, the modern culture invented Black Friday, driving consumers to the stores in a buying frenzy. Fr Thomas reminds us that "covetousness is idolatry" (Col 3:5), that everything we have belongs to God, and should be used for His glory.

On the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, Fr Thomas reminds us that every Sunday, the Lord's Day, is set apart for us to sacrificially offer our time to worship the Risen Christ.

As soon as our Lord is born in Bethlehem, the Scriptures record that the evil one is working through Herod to destroy him. Fr Thomas reminds us that the darkness will always fight against the Light, but we can choose our path wisely.

As we enter into Holy Week via the Triumphal Entry, we are reminded that there is cause for great joy - Jesus Christ is the King over all and ever shall be!

On the eighth day of Pascha, Fr. Tom reminds us to heed the signs which point us to the Eternal Day.

As we approach the Great Lenten season, we first hear about Zacchaeus. Fr. Tom reminds us that the same message harkening to Zacchaeus to hasten and come down to receive Christ is being spoken to us now.

Listen as Fr. Tom unpacks the overflowing implications of Pascha - the eternal eighth day, the resurrected body, and St. Thomas.

On the Sunday of the Blind Man, Fr. Tom discusses what it means to walk in darkness and in the light, and how we must have the truth born in us by being made a new creation in Christ.

We are to point to Christ and not ourselves as we prepare the way for others to receive Him; we decrease that Christ might be glorified in and through us.

Fr. Dn. Christopher preaches on the life of St. Aidan, the Patron Saint of the parish in Manchester.

Fr. Deacon Emmanuel is the preacher at the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts - Repentance Series for Great Lent. March 27 also marks the celebration of Deacon Emmanuel's 75th birthday - May God grant him many years.

Fr. Christopher gives the homily on the patron saint of the parish - St. Aidan.

Fr. Gregory preaches on All Hallows Eve or Hallowe'en taking his text from the rich man and the poor beggar in the Gospel.

Fr. Christopher preaches on the Sunday of the Paralytic.

Fr. Gregory talks about the life of St. Aidan, patron saint of St. Aidan's Orthodox Church.

Fr. Gregory speaks with children and adults about Palm Sunday and the preparation of our hearts to receive the risen Christ.

Fr. Gregory preaches on the feast of St Aidan, patron saint of the parish.

Fr. Emmanuel gives the Holy Saturday homily.

Fr. Emmanuel gives the sermon on the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Great and Holy Saturday.

Fr. Emmanuel Kahn gives the sermon on the Feast of Ascension.

Fr. Gregory gives the sermon on the Nativity of the Theotokos.

Lesson from the Good Samaritan by Fr. Emmanuel Kahn.