Orthodox Christianity & Theology

`Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God, consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.' (Heb.13:7)

A devastating account of Sergianism in eschatological terms written by a confessor of the catacomb church who suffered in Stalin's gulag.

St. John explains the great sacrifices of the Tsar and the Royal family for Russia, and the great sin incurred by the Russian people in the murder of their God-annointed sovereign.

The "Serbian Chrysostom" explains the Orthodox position on causes in this memorable lecture. A good outline of Bishop Nikolai's thoroughly Orthodox worldview.

Bishop Theophan explains how "St. John the Evangelist does not allow one to say: Believe any way you wish, only love" in a clarifying analysis of St. John's theology of love and belief. This essay is especially relevant to the current debate on ecumenism.

This paschal sermon originally composed by St. John Chrysostom is read at all Orthodox paschal services.

This work is based on the holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church and consists largely of direct or freely rendered extracts from their writings, together with some necessary interpretation and practical application.

A homily from St. Petersburg, 1874, filled with stirring insight into the spiritual meaning of our Lord's ascension.

St. Innocent's book "Indication of the Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven" was originally written in Aleut in 1833, as part of the missionary endeavours of St. Innocent in North America. Later, it was translated into Russian and was immensely popular, resulting in forty-six editions between 1839 and 1855.

In this text, St. Innocent explains the Christian life and the path to salvation in an easy to understand way. This book was originally intended to educate those new to Orthodoxy, but as a sincere and compelling call to repentance and the heavenly kingdom, it is good reading for everyone.

Fr. Michael's erudition and sharp insight into the folly of Western civilization takes convincing form in this lecture delivered in Ontario in 1978.

Fr. Michael's expose of secularism should be read as a critique of Western culture as established by the Western intellectual tradition. It is, essentially, an introductory Orthodox worldview that can serve to introduce us, products of the west, to the error of our own society.

A remarkable prophecy of the future persecutions of the Russian Church and the apocalyptic ascent of Antichrist.

An ecclesiastical writer who flourished about 270, and who suffered martyrdom probably in 303, under Diocletian. His commentary on Apocalypse is a sound, fundamental, exegesis for understanding this exceedingly symbolic book.

The words of St. Clement, who wrote to the disrupted Church of Corinth, can also be applied to the sad situation of the Orthodox Church, wherein many have risen up against their elders, living and departed, and tried to seize control of the Church and pervert it to their own opinions.

Fr. Justin Popovich, the renowned Serbian theologian, was a great friend of the Russian Church Abroad. A patristic scholar, poet and true philosopher, who had command of several languages, he devoted his many talents to defending the Faith against ecumenism-for which he was called "the conscience of the Serbian Church"-and unmasking the true face of humanism as a regression to ancient paganism. As an antidote he vigorously preached the eternal truth of Christ the God-man. Appropriately, this "holy messenger of glad tidings" was born and died on the Feast of Annunciation.

"You are an experienced gardener, and you know how much work is required to grow even one vegetable. You wouldn't leave even one plant without some attention. How, then, can we not labor on our soul, our unique treasure, which the grave itself cannot destroy?"

" He wanted to remind them that while they carried the burden of their own transgressions, they shouldn't be strict judges of the transgressions of others. This alone did the Lord desire. And when this was done, the dust was again smoothed over, and that which was written disappeared. "

Addressing the relationship between Church and state, Fr. Michael delivers an essay that makes several very important points about the role of Christianity in the world and the function of the state. Historically grounded and philosophically informed, Fr. Michael opposes secularization and segregation of Church and state with a well reasoned argument in favour of Sacred Monarchy. While this might seem an anachronism in our post-monarchical world, it is nothing of the sort - Fr. Michael explains the implications of this reality for the unique struggle of Christians living after the fall of the "third Rome".

One of the great works of the twentieth century, "The River of Fire" is an inspired look at the Love of God and the rejection of this love by blind mankind - our hope, and our historical folly. Dr. Kalomiros explains the reality of judgement and free will, and creates a tremendous image of the last judgement in the river of fire, which we can endure only if we will it:

"My brothers, unhappily for us, paradise or hell does not depend on God. If it depended on God, we would have nothing to fear. We have nothing to fear from Love. But it does not depend on God. It depends entirely upon us, and this is the whole tragedy."

In this article, Metr. Anthony explains that the sacraments of the church are not mechanical and formulaic, but something entirely different. The Metropolitan upholds the Orthodox position against the Latin scholastic position, explaining the logic behind the canons and rules regarding the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation. Metr. Anthony simultaneously and inherently defeats the radical neo-orthodox who attempt to apply the principle of 'economia' without regard for tradition, by clearly explaining the Orthodox reception of heretics and schismatics. This is a tremendously important article to the contemporary Church, faced with ecumenism and relativism, heresy and schism.

This article contains an old tale, of bandits who captured a boy and killed his mother, and attempted to subsitute the immoral partner of the bandit chief in her stead. Monk Zachary uses this story to explain the current situation of the church, and calls Christians to not give in to the temptations of false churches, however much we may want to believe that they are the Church. This article is a consolation for those who are separated by great distances from churches, living in exile from their homeland, or separated from family and friends by the rift between the false church and the true Church.

A excerpt from The book Against False Union by Alexander Kalomiros, containing a warning against ecumenism and an anticipation of the struggle for truth in the time of the apocalypse.

The real reasons the communists won.

About the importance of St. Vladimir's accomplishment.

This article deals with the scriptural concept of heresy in the context of modern ecumenism and "world orthodoxy"

This article speaks against the ambitions and motivations of the global Ecumenical movement.

An article by one of our churches' most respected departed hierarchs, Archbishop Averki of Jordanville, talks about the meaning of True Orthodoxy in the modern world. For more information on Archbishop Averki, click here.

It is not uncommon for judaisers to post anti-Christian messages on Orthodox Newsgroups and Messageboards. There is a missionary movement among some Jews to attract non-Jews away from Christianity and into a pro-Jewish "Noachide" religion which supports Judaism. The author of the following article is an Orthodox Christian who was educated in Orthodox Jewish institutions and had a first hand education in Orthodox Judaism. Hopefully this article will clarify what some of the issues are and provide answers that a non-Christian may be able to hear.

Originally Published in "The Heavenly Abode"