War and Peace in the teachings of Christ

I’ve often seen people reacting strongly to a certain message delivered from the pulpit. Some identify themselves with the circumstances brought into discussion in the sermon and feel exposed, as if the priest purposely reveals their secret to the entire congregation. Others respond negatively to any message that is delivered in a more compelling and direct way, feeling personally attacked and hurt by the less subtle preacher.

This is not necessarily the fault of the priest nor of the people.  We are the product of a society that lives and breathes political correctness, where all religious are considered equal and the truth is relative. A powerful message is perceived therefore as too strong because is often compared with the… Continue reading

The Perfect Gift for Christmas

Please take a look at these two wonderful books by Niko Chocheli.

Mr. Choceli was born in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, where he graduated with honors from Tbilisi Nikoladze Art College and Tbilisi State Academy of Fine Arts. Awarded permanent residency status by the U.S. government as Alien of Extraordinary Abilities, Niko has received numerous awards for is artistic achievements. He has illustrated three other children’s books for SVS Continue reading

Daily Bible readings and the Holy Fathers

I recently came across this impressive book that features a collection of daily Bible readings according to the Orthodox Ecclesiastical Calendar.

So far nothing exciting, there are many like this. What is unique about this book is that it features commentaries from the Orthodox Fathers. This makes it a unique daily companion for the Orthodox seeker of divine knowledge. Continue reading

No Bible in the Orthodox Church

“Strictly speaking, there never was a Bible in the Orthodox Church, at least not as we commonly think of the Bible as a single volume book we can hold in our hand. Since the beginning of the Church, from the start of our liturgical tradition, there has never been a single book in an Orthodox church we could point to as the Bible. Instead, the various Books of the Bible… Continue reading