Archbishop Paul's Reflections

Last week’s post told the wonderful story of a monk who both cursed and praised a tomb of a dead person. The point was to show what it meant to acquire a spirit of dispassion in living the spiritual life. The writer of last week’s story said something important: “Indeed, I would go even further and say that acquiring dispassion … Read More

Here’s a story from a Desert Father that helps us to understand Dispassion: There was an elder living in the desert. One day, a young man came to visit him and asked, “Abba, what can I do to be saved?” The old man thought for a moment, and then said, “Go to the cemetery and curse the gravestones.” The young … Read More

How do parents help their children make sense out of what is going on in today’s world? What do I mean? Children, when they are younger, ask innocent questions. When they ask, they expect to get a truthful answer from their parents, and they (children) want to do the right thing. We have all been taught in the Orthodox Faith … Read More

Hymn of the Resurrection Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We venerate Your Cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify Your holy Resurrection; for You are our God, and we know no other than You; we call upon Your name. Come all you faithful; let us venerate Christ’s … Read More

On April 13th I had a Zoom Meeting with some parents from the Diocese to discuss their experiences working with their children in becoming “a Little Church” during this time of the pandemic. Many of the parents who joined the meeting asked for some guidelines (not directives) from me for ordering their home life during this time relative to prayer, … Read More

Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to … Read More

Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain … Read More

To all clergy, monastics and laity of the Diocese of the Midwest, The blessing of the Lord be upon you. The following is an update to the directives issued by the Holy Synod last week in response to the Coronavirus. The Holy Synod met yesterday to further discuss this situation and we are still deliberating on the guidance to give … Read More

Beloved Faithful, We have entered the most profound season of Great Lent when we concern ourselves with repentance and good works.  During this sacred time, we look at every way in which we can draw closer to our loving Savior. This takes a great deal of attention. We are striving to simplify our diets and our daily activities. We are working … Read More