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Documents posted in July | June
May 31, 2001
A Visitor's Question Concerning Saint Barbara
I've read conflicting stories on the life of
this virgin and martyr.
What information about her is reliable ? Where was she born and martyred ?
Where is she buried today?
Are there any relics of her?
I know that she was one of the saints removed from the Roman Calendar in
the 60's.
I'm a Roman Catholic and I remember that my late grandmother had a statue
of her. My grandmother was Cuban and she once told me that Spaniards and
Cubans are very devoted to her. I can see that the Spaniards even named a
city in California after her, centuries ago --- SANTA BARBARA.
A co-worker of mine said that she is highly revered in the Orthodox
Church.>>>see
answer
May 30, 2001
The
Sword of the Spirit: 1,700 years of Armenian Christianity
This year, the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church marks 1,700 years
from the time when Armenia became the very first state to accept
Christianity as its official religion.
In addition to being a vibrant and spiritually rich Church, the
Armenian tradition is also an integral in other countries where Armenians
have made their home, including Ukraine.
But just who are these interesting people and what are they all
about?>>>more
May 29, 2001
The
Oil of Gladness: Getting into the Spirit of things . . .
The icon of Pentecost that is displayed here is a classic example of
New Testament teaching in mystical symbolism.
At its centre, is a darkened area with the Prophet Joel (not the
"Cosmos") who is holding a script on which are written the
words from his book, "The days are coming when I will pour out My
Spirit upon all flesh . . .".
The icon is therefore a kind of "self-fulfilling prophecy!">>>more
May 28, 2001
A visitor's question on Ikon Corners
What are traditionally in Ukrainian/Russian Orthodox
ikon corners. Such as the ikon corners you might find in the VILLAGES
over in the Ukraine and Russia. Any information you can give me will be
really appreciated! Do "worry beads" have a significance in
the Ukrainian/Russian culture?>>>see
answer
The
Coming of the Holy Spirit: Pouring oil to overflowing
It has been said that the Orthodox Church is the Church of the Holy
Spirit, so great is its devotion to the "Comforter, the Spirit of
Truth" Who proceeds from the Father, as Christ described Him during
the Mystical Supper in the Gospel of John.
Every prayer, every liturgical and sacramental action of the
Eastern Church is done through an invocation to the Holy Spirit.
His Presence and Activity is felt everywhere in Orthodoxy which
is truly the original "Pentecostal Church."
But can we experience the Presence of the Holy Spirit in our
lives today?
>>>more
May 27, 2001
Summary of Articles on Culture,
Language and Nationalism on this site
May 26, 2001
Download June Church
Calendar for installation into Outlook
May 25, 2001
Thou
wilt not let Thy Holy One see corruption: Relics of the past - and
present
When the New Testament talks about us being the "Temples of the
Holy Spirit," it means it!
On Mount Tabor, Christ showed His disciples a glimpse of the
glory of transfiguration/deification that He came to impart to us by
means of the Holy Spirit.
Not only are our souls transformed, but also our very bodies as
well. This
truth is visibly celebrated through the miracle of the incorruption of
Saints' relics or bodies.
There are no bones about it . . .>>>more
May 23, 2001
Our
Cyrillo-Methodian Heritage:
Making sense of Slavic culture
Before He
ascended to His Father, our Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His Apostles to
go into the world and teach all nations.
How appropriate then that, this year, the Feast of the Ascension
falls on that of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the Apostles to the Slavs!
But what is all the fuss over these two Greek brothers about?
What's the big deal?>>>more
May 22, 2001
Orthodoxy,
Icons and the Incarnation: Ascending to God
After
His Resurrection from the dead, Christ walked among us for forty days,
showing Himself to His followers and preparing them to be His witnesses
and His Church.
Having deified human nature in His Incarnation and His
fulfillment of the prophecies concerning His mission, Christ ascended to
the Father before sending His Spirit on His Apostles and, through them,
onto us.
So now what?>>>more
May 18, 2001
A Visitor's Question on the Tetrapod
Where and when did the use of the
"tetrapod" in eastern-rite churches originate? I have noticed
that the tetrapod in the Russian Orthodox church is placed almost central
in the church and ALL the faithful venerate the icon immediately upon
coming into the church. It seems that this is a dying tradition in the
Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic churches. What is your view on this?>>>see
answer
May 16, 2001
A Visitor's Question on Orthodox Weddings
I am Ukranian orthodox but I do not know
much about the wedding ceremony. Can you please send me all steps
and its significance?>>>see
answer
Timothy McVeigh and
capital punishment: A die
for a die
The pending execution of one of America's most notorious mass
murderers who was responsible for the deaths of 168 people, the wounding
of many others and the ongoing suffering of the victims' families and
friends has brought tremendous focus to the issue of capital punishment.
But is capital punishment justice, or is it justifiable revenge,
or both? Will the death of
Timothy McVeigh bring closure to the horrible episode of American
history he helped write?>>>more
May 15, 2001
Catholics and Orthodox: Who does the West like better?
In
the aftermath of the papal visit to Greece, and by way of the controversy
being generated by the upcoming visit to Ukraine, there has been a flurry
of western journalistic activity in which the Orthodox Church figures
prominently.
What a number of these articles show is a lack of real
familiarity with Orthodox faith, history and tradition.
Why is Orthodoxy seemingly on the losing end of a Western public
relations battle it did not want to enter in the first place?>>>more
May 14, 2001
Additional comment
regarding St. Peter as the Head of the True Church
May 11, 2001
St. Peter as the Head of the True Church
A visitor's question:
I am an Orthodox christian and have a
question for you. My Catholic friends and I were discussing the issue of
the Papacy. While the Orthodox church gives the Patriarch (Pope) of Rome a
primacy of honour, we do not recognize the Pope as the Head of our church,
the way the Catholic church does, even though our churches were the same
until the great schism of 1054 declared in Constantinople. My Catholic
friends indicate that proof that the successor of St. Peter be the head of
the true Church is given by the very words of Jesus Christ, (though art
Peter, the rock, and on this rock I shall build my Church, etc). Do you
have any comments on this issue from an Orthodox viewpoint?>>>see
answer
May 9, 2001
National
Culture, Nationalism and the Eastern Churches: Defending People's Rites
In a recent communication, someone asked why the Ukrainian Church is
so nationalistic.
Why is there so much emphasis on Ukrainian this and Ukrainian that?
Is the Ukrainian Church only for Ukrainians?
What is the background to all this?
Well, since you asked . . .>>>more
May 7, 2001
Summary of Articles on this Site on
the Orthodox-Catholic Question
Of current interest there are also
several commentaries on the upcoming visit of Pope John Paul II to
Ukraine.
May 4, 2001
Religious
pluralism in Ukraine:
The Old Believers of Bila Krinitsa
The story of the Old Believers or Old Rite Orthodox is an intensely
fascinating one that also punctuates Ukrainian Church history since the
seventeenth century when the movement first began.
The members of what was formerly a schism within Russian Orthodoxy
found a safe haven in Ukraine where they live to this day.
But what was so special about Ukraine for these Christians?
Apart from the wonderful food , warm people and beautiful scenery,
what otherwise served to pull them there?>>>more
May 3, 2001
Pastoral Letter (Fourth Sunday After Pascha: The Paralyzed Man)
In today’s Epistle we read about the
healing of a man called Aeneas who had lain paralyzed for eight years.
Peter told him: "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make
your bed".>>>more
May 2, 2001
The
Pope in Athens: Bewaring Greeks . . .
As the weather begins to warm with the coming of summer, it would
appear that Pope John Paul II will experience "heat" of a
different kind beginning with his visit to Orthodox Greece on Friday.
There have been demonstrations by Orthodox groups calling on the
Pope to stay home (as well as some nasty names).>>>more
Pastoral letter (Fourth Sunday of Pascha)
Please note that these letters in
Ukrainian are now available in PDF format for reading by Acrobat Reader.
May 1, 2001
Answers to two questions on baptism
Documents posted in July | June
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