Recently I listened to a podcast in which Larry Chapp (a universalist Roman Catholic) interviewed Dr. David Bentley Hart. In the course of the interview Dr. Hart asserted that, unlike Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy does not have an official and authoritative Magisterium. By this he meant that Orthodoxy possesses no institutional organ (such as the papacy and the episcopate dependent upon it) that can routinely and authoritatively declare what is or is not the official teaching of the Church when consulted.

Today we begin a series on Old Testament saints in their context: surveying major figures of the Old Testament to better understand their lives, their words, and the lessons they can teach us - for, though dead, they still speak. We begin with Abraham: the father of the faithful, and the friend of God.

I have just read two fascinating pieces about Pope Francis’ recent and controversial document Fiducia Supplicans, which officially allows Roman Catholic priests to bless persons in same-sex relationships, one by an Orthodox and the other by a Roman Catholic.

Every so often one encounters something that breaks the head as well as the heart. By that I refer to things that not only wring the heart with grief, but also confound the head because they are so perversely stupid. One such thing is the recent conversion of a Tasmanian Orthodox priest by the name of David Gould who had been Orthodox for 45 years and who then converted to Islam two years after becoming a priest. He now goes by the name of Abdul Rahman.

The method by which the Orthodox Church receives converts is a very controversial topic, and one which has provoked much online discussion. Should a convert be received by baptism, by chrismation alone, or perhaps simply after a recantation of previously-held errors? All three methods have been used in the past. And which groups should be received in which ways? Should the Oriental Orthodox (such as Copts and Armenians) be received in the same way as Pentecostals? What about Roman Catholics? The issue is far from clear, and has usually generated much more heat than light.

Protestant critics of Orthodoxy fault us for many things, but one of the foremost of their objections is our devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Hostility to Roman Catholicism is built into Protestant DNA, so anything in Orthodoxy that resembles something in Roman Catholicism will be subject to criticism, including such more or less innocuous things like clergy wearing cassocks and calling themselves “Father”. Our Orthodox devotion to Mary (whom we call “the Theotokos”) often heads the list of Protestant objections, since it features so prominently in Roman Catholicism.

A story is told of the final temptation of Christ. Satan had been trying to tempt Jesus to sin, to compromise, to abandon His divine mission (see Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13), and according to this story, Satan tried one last time to deflect Jesus from His goal. Jesus had been arrested, interrogated, condemned by the Sanhedrin, brought before Pilate, again condemned, mocked and flogged. He carried His cross along the way from the Roman praetorium to the place of execution and was nailed to the cross. His adversaries continued to mock Him, even unto the end: “He saved others, He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel; let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him!” (Matthew 27:42). And it was then, the story goes, that Satan whispered into His ear the words of the final temptation, intended to convince Jesus to give it all up and indeed come down from the cross. Satan said to Him, “They’re not worth it, Lord”.

Referencing the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Fr. Apostolos shares about suffering. "Suffering can make no sense to us unless we view it from an eternal perspective. Our suffering is made worse because we have lost the vision of the goal of suffering."

Fr. Apostolos shares about sexual purity. "We cannot, we dare not, manufacture a false gospel that dismisses chastity and sexual purity because maintaining them is difficult."

Fr. Apostolos Hill dives into what we mean when we say, "Christ is born, Glorify Him" as well as other Orthodox Christmas meanings.

Fr. Apostolos Hill delivers a homily on Zaccheus' response to Jesus proclamation of salvation, the giving away of his earthly wealth and the restoration of those he had swindled.

Fr. Apostolos Hill speaks about the Canaanite woman as an example of urgent prayer.

Fr. Apostolos Hill provides a straightforward expository of the peace that Jesus provides.

Fr. Apostolos Hill shares a homily about the Apostles' Fast and the command to share the Gospel.

Fr. Apostolos Hill delivers a homily on the Sunday of Orthodoxy and provides an examination of what our faith is and is not.

In this introductory episode to a new series on the inner person in the Orthodox tradition, Fr. Maxym discusses the meaning of the soul and the relationship between the soul, the heart and the mind.

In this second episode on the inner person, Fr. Maxym discusses the powers of the soul: nous, word and spirit. He shows how these powers were placed in us by God, reflect His image and demonstrate what a whole, balanced and healthy human being is meant to be.

On this first Sunday of Lent we celebrate the historical Triumph of Orthodoxy over the Iconoclasts. Fr Tom reminds us that we also need an ever-present Triumph of Orthodoxy in our lives to fulfill the evangelical call of Christ. (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

It's becoming more and more common today for some people to leave the religion of their childhood and explore other faiths. While Orthodoxy has recently gained a tremendous number of converts from this movement, admittedly, "the door swings both ways." Fr Thomas teaches about why the Church is one and gives an impassioned and compelling presentation on the remarkable uniqueness of the Orthodox Faith. (Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council/7th Sunday of Pascha)

Orthodox Churches are often culturally rich and sometimes churches hold festivals to showcase their delicious ethnic foods. Fr Thomas reminds us that, while there is nothing wrong with ethnic foods or festivals, we should ensure that our emphasis is on the Faith and that our focus is on Christ. (Eighth Sunday after Pentecost)

Today, many view religion with a consumerist mentality in a marketplace of choices. Fr Thomas enumerates three Orthodox distinctives to encourage and challenge us and those who are seeking the true faith. (Gal 1:11-19)

The Christian life is surely a paradox. Our Lord teaches those who love Him that if they want to be exalted, they must be humble; if they want to be great, they must be a servant. Fr Thomas leads us into Holy Week by telling us that the Lord Jesus Christ not only teaches this paradox, but He lives it, and by so doing, He wins our salvation.

The question, "What must I do to be saved?" is usually interpreted of as, "How can I get to heaven?" Fr Thomas teaches us that eternal life is defined by Jesus as something we can have here and now and He teaches us what we need to do to experience it.

Fr Thomas shares a powerful message, correcting those who make themselves the measure of faith, and encouraging all of us to remember that Orthodox Christianity is the ideal we are striving for.

The Gospel reading for the fifth Sunday of Lent relates the story of the audacious question posed by the apostles James and John, who asked for glorification without first drinking the cup of humiliation. Fr Thomas reminds us that this basic principle of the Christian life proves true even for seemingly mundane things that we might mistakenly think are unimportant, like going to church to worship.

On the Feast of All Saints of North America, Fr Thomas reminds us of our Apostolic mission and how to meet the unprecedented challenges facing us in the 21st century.

On the first Sunday of Lent, we celebrate the triumph of Orthodoxy over the icon smashers. Fr Thomas gives us some straight talk about the Orthodox Christian faith, the nature of truth, and our relationship with world religions. (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

Fr Thomas teaches us that a Triumph of Orthodoxy is when we persevere in practicing the fullness of the Faith.

Fr. Tom calls us to consider the invitation of the Gospel: union with one another and union with God Himself. Invariably, we all make excuses to God's invitation - what's yours?

As we inch closer to Holy Week, Fr. Tom recenters us on Christ and His humble death's effect on our humanity

We all have fears, worries, and anxieties - but, what do we do with them? Fr. Tom focuses on the Existing One and what that means for the difficulties of life.

We've all heard the saying "paradoxy is Orthodoxy". Fr. Tom discusses the path to salvation found by embracing the paradoxy of life and choosing to bear our cross.

In the third of his Holiness Month series, Fr Thomas encourages us to not only spread the good news of Jesus Christ but to live out the law of Christ. (Matthew 4:18-23) All Saints of North America Sunday, June 18, 2023.

Lessons from the story of Zacchaeus.

Fr. Gregory speaks about the Woman at the Well who we know as St. Photini. As surely as Photini means “enlightened” it is our calling also to enlighten others with the Light of Christ.

Fr. Deacon Emmanuel gives the sermon on the Feast of the Annunciation.

Fr. Dn. Emmanuel gives the sermon about the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord.

We are in the fast which is the preparation for the feast of the Nativity of Christ, Christmas. In their wisdom our forefathers chose the parable of the banquet for this season. As we approach a major celebration and feast, we read this parable about invitations to a party, which is about how people respond to being invited to such a special occasion.

Fr. Gregory Hallam begins with the children then Fr. Emmanuel Kahn gives the sermon and says St. John Chrysostom reminds us that if we wish to sit with Christ in heaven after we die, we need to prepare ourselves by first walking with Him on earth.

An anxious person needs a particular kind of repentance in order to get better, and since getting better is a progressive and slow process, so also must repentance be continual and measured.

Salvation for a Christian is God making good that deficit from perfection that we discover when we attempt to serve God, a falling short.

Fr. Gregory Hallam preaches on Pascha Sunday 2019.