Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed′nego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnez′zar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.[a] 18 But if not, be … Continue reading Between joy and sadness: Hail New Martyrs! →

He stood, watching and waiting for the moment his son would come home. He ran to him, burst into tears, embraced him in his filth. Hugged his child that smelled like swine and that had wished his own death. It’s Lent. This past Sunday was the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Often we talk about … Continue reading The Lost Kid →

I am not a morning person. When someone says, “Good morning!” to me, I’m usually thinking, “What’s so good about it?” Usually, however, I don’t articulate that aloud. It’s not polite. I’m also stubborn and obstinate. Then, there’s my mother. She’s obsessed with cleanliness. If she could choose one superhero ability, it wouldn’t be invisibility … Continue reading Sorry, mom: On Lenten Warfare. →

Recently, I had the blessing of sitting in on a college youth meeting in which they were discussing the sanctity of marriage in the Church and society. Not surprisingly, the issue of same-sex marriage came up and the servant asked the youth, “If you were invited to the same-sex wedding of a close friend, would […] The post If You Love Me, Speak Up appeared first on Become Orthodox.

In 384 A.D., our father among the saints, the Holy Gregory the Theologian (Nazianzus) composed the following 111-line poem to Olympiatha, a young bride, on the occasion of her crowning and marriage to Nevrithios, an illustrious youth and official of the imperial city. Although the saint wrote this poem as advice to a young bride, […] The post Advice to Women from St. Gregory the Theologian appeared first on Become Orthodox.