The world went dark on Tuesday. It did not start out that way. Indeed, the day dawned bright and joyful. A number of us celebrated Divine Liturgy to begin the first academic year of the St. Sophia Orthodox Academy (the new Orthodox school established by the Cathedral and other area Orthodox Churches). I remember looking down with happiness upon the shining faces of the pre-school and kindergarten children - children who comprised the very first student body of the Academy. Read more...

Truly He is risen from the dead, Beloved! He has become the first-fruits of them that slept. He has burst apart the gates of Hades -the cruel gates of Hell -and from the moment of His glorious Resurrection, they can no longer prevail against us, Who are the Church and the New Israel of God. He is risen from the dead, and He has granted life -eternal life, to those who sleep in the graves. And not only to our beloved family and friends who sleep in the grave under the gentle blanket of earth, He gives life to us who slumber in self-made mausoleums, of misery, vaults of vanity, pits of self-pity, charnel houses of strife, jealousy and hatred. Read more...

The season of the Holy and Great Fast is now overtaking us, like a king's herald bringing us the. Good News of victory and freedom. Unlike commonly held first Impressions, the season of the Fast is not a time of constraint and inhibition. It is a time of liberation and release from cares, a time of extraordinary blessing and grace. Read more...

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ--born as a Child 2000 years ago-was ushered into this world surrounded by the murder of thousands of children by King Herod. This deranged despot was concerned more with his own political survival than the lives of the people who were entrusted to his care. According to the writings of the Evangelist Matthew, as well as the sacred tradition of our Holy Orthodox Church, some 14,000 Holy Innocents were slain by Herod in a diabolical attempt to keep his power and continue with the lifestyle of excess that marked his reign of terror. These senseless slayings stand in stark contrast to the "self-emptying" of the Son of God, Who became Man for the sake of our salvation. As St. Paul reminds us: "The Son of God emptied Himself and took on the form of a ser- vant and humbled Himself, even to the point of death (Philippians 2:7). Herod sacrificed so many children for himself-Christ sacrificed Himself for all mankind. Read more...