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May 31, 2004
The Fire of the Holy Spirit: Do we grasp
the real meaning of Pentecost?
For years now, I’ve always
known when the feast of Pentecost is approaching. This is because my
parents and others began to prepare to visit the cemeteries so that the
priests may serve requiem services on the graves of family and friends.
But if this is the “highlight” of Trinity Sunday, is it because we’ve lost
the sense of what Pentecost is all about? Isn’t there more to this
important feast-day?
May 27, 2004
A visitor's question
What is a parastas
service? My grandfather is having one at his wake tonight.
see answer
May 23, 2004
Why do we believe that Jesus is God incarnate?
The most important reason
to believe anything is that what we believe in is true. There are those
who feel that if one believes something that sort of makes it true – in
other words, once you have decided to believe something the evidence for
it will follow. It goes something like: if you decide to believe in God
than God will become real for you and you will derive benefit from that
faith. More in Ukrainian and English
May 18, 2004
An answer
to a question from a visitor concerning the taking of photographs of
the deceased during a funeral.
May 17, 2004
On Cremation
Most Archpastors and Pastors in the
Orthodox Church view cremation as an unacceptable way of dealing with the
mortal remains of a person who has reposed (the prefered term for the
state of the departure of the soul from the body of a human being). This
is because it seems to detract from the conviction - based upon Divine
Revelation - that the human body is just as important as the soul.
more
May 15, 2004
My husband (Jewish) is in the hospital,
and while his condition is serious, I was startled to hear from my
godmother that I should consider making arrangements for a layman's
baptism. I am certain he would be against it. She writes that according
to her information, it is an Orthodox Christian's duty to perform such.
Could you please give me your learned advice regarding this? I am of the
opinion myself that no such conversion should be attempted without the
potential baptismal candidate's absolute agreement. What do you think?
see answer
April 29, 2004
Two questions
from visitors.
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What is the
difference between how an "Old Believer" sees Orthodoxy compared
to Orthodox Christians that are not Old Believers. I understand
that in the past, some Old Believers did not recognize priests
but this was not the case with my grandfather. Can anyone help
me with some information or websites/books to read?
See answer
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I was
reading about how after the Russian Revolution, the Ukrainian Church
declared its independence from the Russian Orthodox Church, and that they
proceeded with highly irregular activities. For example, since no bishop
was willing to participate in this activity of independence, priests of
the church "ordained" an archpriest to be a bishop! When I read this it
struck me with such sadness, anger, and confusion. And they proceeded
afterward to ordain an adition 30 bishops and many priests. How could
Orthodox priests do something so heretical and blasphemous to God's
Church? I don't understand why they would commit this kind of sin?
Please, help me understand this in any way you can. I hope that the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church today has fixed this problem and repudiated such
a sacrileges action. See answer
April 25, 2004
Bilingual verion of The Healing of
Doubt
(see April 18, below)
April 22, 2004
Download May and
June Church Calendars
for installation into Outlook.
An answer to a question
from a visitor concerning points of contact amoung Orthodoxy, Islam
and Judaism.
April 18, 2004
The name of
today’s Sunday “Anti-Pascha” sounds a little strange. It sounds as though
something were opposed to Pascha. It is also called “The Second Sunday of
Pascha” – as though there had been a Sunday in between. Very strange
indeed! What is going on? more
April 17, 2004
Answers to two questions from visitors:
April 15, 2004
At this time of year
many Orthodox Christians like myself partake of the Sacraments
of Confession and Communion. The following questions arise and
somehow they are linked insofar as one's spiritual growth and
maturity are concerned.
see answer
April 14, 2004
I've noticed that most Orthodox refer to
Easter as "Pascha" which is Greek for "Pesach" or "Passover." This is
appropriate since we celebrate Christ's passing over from death to life.
But there are Ukrainians who prefer to use "Velykden" or "Voskresinnia"
instead of "Pascha" which they say is the Russian usage. How would you
respond? see answer
April 8, 2004
I am a Lutheran and
I am considering coverting to Russian Orthodoxy. Will I have to
give up on my own values to do this and what would I have to do
to change my denomination?
answer
April 6, 2004
Two questions from visitors
How does the
Orthodox Church view civil marriage of an Orthodox man and
women? While they are not considered married within the Church,
do the individuals remain in good standing?
see answer
A question that deals with the
Apostolic Founder of the Church of India and the Indian Church's autonomy
as an Apostolic Church as a result.
see answer
April 5, 2004
A question from a visitor regarding practices during the
Transfiguration Feast Day see
answer
April 3, 2004
Some Thoughts on the Film "The Passion of the
Christ"
I went to see the film with some
trepidation since I had heard about the horrible brutality of which the
media spoke. I was certainly not expecting to literally see Holy Scripture
on film. I knew it would be another retelling of the Story from the point
of view of the film’s producers. more
in Ukrainian and English |
