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Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church held a special service March 8 to pray for the safety of Ukraine's population. Rain did not prevent around two dozen people
Barnabas Powell One of the most difficult struggles we face in life is the struggle to forgive. That’s why the Eastern Christian tradition places forgiveness at the forefront of the Lenten journey. Given that Ash Wednesday came several weeks ago for Western Christians, it may surprise you to know that Orthodox are only just beginning. For us, Lent starts Monday. But before that comes Forgiveness Sunday. The gospel for the day provides a framework. Jesus warns his disciples, in the Sermon on the Mount, that if they (we) don’t forgive others their trespasses, neither will our Heavenly Fathe...
Rev. Barnabas Powell It was 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve. We’d finished our Vigil service and I was closing up the church when a parishioner I’d just said goodbye to came back inside. His face, radiant with joy only minutes earlier, was covered now with pain. His car had been broken into, he reported through tears. A window was smashed. A bag was taken. “Did you have anything valuable inside?” I asked, figuring he may have lost a Christmas present he’d planned to deliver, or some groceries. Instead, it was $2,000 cash newly withdrawn from the bank, plus his passport, credit cards, work l...
The Orthodox Church, like liturgical churches of the West (Roman Catholic, Anglican, etc.) follows a cycle of Scripture readings for the year. And tomorrow’s gospel happens to be the very first one that got me in trouble as a preacher. It concerns a banquet, where all who were invited begin making excuses as to why they cannot come. One has bought a field. Another, some oxen. A third has gotten married. As they bail on the feast, the angry host sends his servant to invite others to partake. And for my first time preaching on this gospel, the application was clear: it was directed toward t...