And the series on the Church Fathers (in many ways a continuation of the series on the Apostolic Tradition):

1. 7 March 2007, Saint Clement, Bishop of Rome

1. 14 March 2007, Saint Ignatius of Antioch

1. 21 March 2007, Saint Justin, Philosopher and Martyr

1. 28 March 2007, Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

1. 18 April 2007, Clement of ( Read more... )

Happy St. Nicholas Day everyone!

I have a question on patron saints, and asking saints for intercession. I get the general idea of this I think, that namely not even death can break the communion of saints. But this is where it gets tricky for me: saints are canonized by the church, correct? Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholics have those saints in common from before the ( Read more... )

I know that this post, along with my last one about the historical existence of Jesus, may bee seen by some as an attack. I assure you it is not! I am genuinely trying to get a better understanding of Christian thought. I just want it to be very clear that I'm not trying to troll or harass anyone, I have a true interest, and I would really ( Read more... )

January 28th
Memory of St. Ephraim the SyrianEphraim, a humble monk of Syria around the middle of the fourth century, was in fact a prominent theologian, much appreciated and loved by the holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church. His contemporaries were St. Athanasius of Alexandria (ten years his senior), the younger Cappadocian Brothers (St. Basil of ( Read more... )

January 21st
Memory of Maximos the ConfessorMaximos was born in a family of high rank in Constantinople (c. 580). As an adult, he was chief personal secretary to Emperor Heraclius (610-641)--a position from which he resigned. Renouncing all advantages of civil life, wealth, and prestige, he entered a monastery near the capital. There he ( Read more... )

January 17th
Memory of the Holy Monk Anthony the GreatI would have posted a report on this saint, but I don't believe I could have done the original source justice. St. Anthony founded the monastic life, and his struggles in his own wilderness were so immense he was even physically beaten by demons, leaving him almost at the point of death, ( Read more... )

Here are photos of icons (from the monasteries' web sites) that I have on my walls (this isn't all of them, though :-(:

Theotokos/Ever Virgin Mother of God with Christ Child (Vladimir)
Christ (Sinai)

Icons I have ordered that are currently on their way:

Nativity of Christ
Baptism of Christ (Epiphany)
Presentation and Appearance of Christ in ( Read more... )

I don't think he has mentioned it here yet, but December 22nd (IIRC) was marked with the birth of Wing's second child, a daughter. She was named Ia (is that spelled correctly?) after St. Ia, one of the many saints martyred during the Boxer Rebellion.

God grant Ia many, many years!