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Welcome to the OCIC Web site, one of the largest and oldest sites on Orthodox Christianity. Think of the OCIC as a vast online article repository, with over 700 articles and 6,000 printed pages. This site has been online since 1996 and receives over 36,000 unique visitors per month, according to Google Analytics.
Orthodox Calendars
An integrated calendar may return in a future version of this site. It was, however, not as functional as these other online options:
Recent Additions
June 7/20, Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra (303).
A Hermenueutic of the Old Testament (MP3), Three Audio Lectures by Archpriest Joseph Hirsch. A superb set of talks on the Orthodox principles of interpretation of the Old Testament.
Spiritual Study, By Elder Paisios the Athonite (+1994). An Excerpt from Spiritual Awakening.
Connecticut's 5th Century Church, By John Gallager. A fascinating article about Orthodox Christians in North America over 1500 years ago. From Ancient American, Issue #54.
A Lenten Commentary on Humor, Laughter, and Frivolity, By Archbishop Chrysostomos of Etna.
The Person of the Theotokos in Protestant Theology, By Presbyter Basileios A. Georgopoulos, Th.D.
Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television, by George Karras. This is a summary of the classic book by Jerry Mander.
Photos of the Holy Monastery of the Theotokos, the Life-Giving Spring. See also the new pictures in the photo album for Saint Anthony the Great Monastery, especially those of the recently built Chapel of the Holy Prophet Elias.
March 24/April 6, Forefeast of the Annunciation. Venerable Zacharias the Recluse of Egypt (4th c.).
A Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week, by Father Alexander Schmemann.
On the Priesthood (MP3): Three Audio Lectures by Fr. Josiah Trenham.
Embracing the Cross of Christ (MP3): Four Audio Lectures by Fr. Paul Jaroslaw.
Saint John Chrysostom for the 21st Century, by Fr. Josiah Trenham. See especially Part IV.
Safely Home to Heaven, A Letter from an Orthodox Nun to a Former Calvinist. From
Road to Emmaus.
Raising Children According to Saint John Chrysostom, by Protopresbyter Theodoros Zisis.
The Lord’s Prayer Interpreted according to Saint Maximos the Confessor, by Protopresbyter Theodoros Zisis.
Announcing a new book: Solovetski Patericon: The Holy Fathers of the Solovetski Isles (Gozalov Books, The Hague).
November 24/December 7, Afterfeast of the Entry into the Temple. Great-Martyr Catherine of Alexandria.
Shine As the Sun: C.S. Lewis and the Doctrine of Deification, by Chris Jensen (Road to Emmaus). One of the best articles I've ever read on C.S. Lewis.
Notes on the Jesus Prayer, by Fr. Artemy Vladimirov (Road to Emmaus).
What Beef Have Women Theologians with Divine Order? Orthodox Theologies of Women and Ordained Ministry, by Rebecca Herman. A response to Dr. Valerie Karras’s argument for women Priests in
Thinking Through Faith—New Perspectives from Orthodox Christian Scholars (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2008).
Photos from Feast Day of St. Paisius Convent in Safford, AZ, November 28, 2008. These photos show the tremendous progress the nuns have made in building their beautiful Byzantine-style church (modeled after St. Nicholas Church at St. Anthony's Monastery in Florence, AZ). They need a plasterer! The convent is in great need of a real plasterer (i.e., not a stucco man—there is a difference). The plasterer does not need to have any experience with limestone plaster specifically. They just need to be able to screed a wall flat (using beads is normal), watch the curing in order to add a second color coat on top of the first at the right time, etc. Anyone who has experience with traditional plaster should be able to learn how to apply the product they are using. The convent is willing to pay for travel. If you can help or know of anyone that can, please contact them.
July 27/August 9, Holy Great-martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Buddhism and Eastern Asceticism Compared to Orthodox Christian Asceticism. An excerpt from The Hidden Man of the Heart: The Cultivation of the Heart in Orthodox Christian Anthropology, by Archimandrite Zacharias.
The Origins of Christianity, by Archbishop Chrysostomos of Etna.
From the Little Mountain: Reflections on Orthodox Christian Monasticism (DVD). This is a superb 32-minute movie that all Orthodox Christians should watch. I was very impressed with the content and production quality. Help support Hermitage of the Holy Cross and buy this DVD!
A Second Debate with a Reformed Protestant. Although this debate is entitled "Is Protestantism Heretical?", it quickly turned into a debate on epistemology before reaching an impasse. Perry Robinson also commented on the debate.
June 20/July 3, Hieromartyr Methodius, Bishop of Patara.
My Debate with a Reformed Protestant. On July 2, 2008 I was invited to participate in a three-way discussion with two brothers, Robin (Protestant) and Patrick Phillips (a convert to Orthodox from Protestantism). We had a friendly exchange that, I hope, clarified Robin's understanding of the Orthodox Church and Her claims. Thank you, Robin and Patrick, for this opportunity.
May 24/June 6, Afterfeast of the Ascension. St. Symeon Stylites (the Younger) of Wonderful Mountain.
“Beloved brother, after the recently celebrated Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, after the joy of Christ’s Resurrection, now that the path of asceticism has opened up also for you, you should likewise continue in prayer in anticipation of that great and crowning feast of Holy Pentecost. Of course, ever since that first Pentecost in the time of the holy Apostles, the Holy Spirit has continuously and consistently been and ever will be in the Church, and His grace, without ever diminishing, performs all the Mysteries through the course of the year. But know that on the Feast of Holy Pentecost, when the Holy Church triumphantly celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church, this is not only a remembrance of a past event—even though this particular event in time was of great significance both for the past and for the present and for the future (all feasts and mysteries celebrated by the Church possess significance for the future)—but this is also a special and most abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Church, when His grace is signed most powerfully upon all those who on that day come to church with prayer, and, bending their hearts and knees, pray to receive the Holy Spirit into their souls and a blessing upon their lives.
“The holy Apostles, as we said, continued in prayer and supplication, awaiting the descent of the Holy Spirit. So likewise do you, following their example, pray in advance and with fervent prayer prepare yourself in such a way that the grace of the Holy Spirit not only touch you but that it come to abide constantly in your heart. Do not think that the time between Ascension and Pentecost is some kind of empty space. No, this time is given to us with a purpose, that we might prepare ourselves to receive a great gift and mystery. Further, it does not say in Scripture that, awaiting the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles continued in prayer and fasting, as they did on other occasions (Acts 13:3; 14:23; I Cor. 7:5; II Cor. 6:5, 11:27). It says simply that they continued in prayer and supplication, and that their waiting for this great gift (Acts 11:20) was not joined with any labors or difficulties; their ascesis in this case was only spiritual. The descent of the Holy Spirit was the beginning of a New age, the foretaste of a blessed life in heaven, where there will be rewards for ascetic labors but not the labors themselves; it will be a time of rest and tranquility, not labors and battles... And of you is required, now, no fasting or prostrations, but only the joyous anticipation of grace and an abiding in prayer. Take care that you are not negligent in this regard. Like Christ’s holy disciples in ancient times, so too, you, who are also Christ’s disciple, remain in church, praising and blessing God (Luke 24:53).
“And so, after the Lord’s Ascension in the flesh and until Pentecost, the holy Apostles awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit had not yet descended, the Church had not yet received that invaluable, precious gift. The Body of the Church was still soulless, inanimated, as it were. The Holy Spirit had not yet come to give life to and to animate the Church of Christ; the heart of the Church had not yet begun to beat.
“O Holy Spirit, come and enter into the heart of the Church of the Son of God! O Holy Spirit, come also into our earthly temples and into our hearts! Yes, brother, the Holy Spirit will come into God’s temples. Take care that He likewise come into your soul and body. You know that the Church is there where the Holy Spirit dwells; without the Holy Spirit there is no Church. For this reason heretical assemblies cannot be called the Church, even though their external form might resemble the Church. Know that this is merely a corpse without life. The Holy Spirit is there where there is correct faith and unyielding confirmation in virtue and truth. It is about such a Church that the Lord testifies as of His Bride, addressing her prophetically: Thou art all fair, My companion, and there is no spot in thee (Song of Solomon 4:7).” (From Reflections of a Humble Heart, pp. 33-35)
May 22/June 4, Apodosis of Pascha. Martyr Basiliscus, Bishop of Comana.
Memorandum on the Participation of the Orthodox Church in the World Council of Churches (18 February, 2007), by The Theological Committee of the Sacred Community of Mount Athos. These are the newly translated conclusions of this committee from an approximate sixty-page report sent secretly to the Oecumenical Patriarch last year.
Saint Anthony the Great and Ecumenism, by Protopresbyter Theodore Zissis.
A Homily on Abortion, by Bishop Basil of Wichita.
An Interesting Interview with the new First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion.
Photos of Recent Pilgrimages to Holy Archangels Monastery (near San Antonio, TX) and the Convent of Saint Paraskevi (near Houston, TX).
May 2/15, St. Athanasius the Great, Patriarch of Alexandria.
Consider attending one or more of these summer conferences:
April 16/29, BRIGHT TUESDAY. Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene of Lesvos.
Announcing another important new book: Patristic Theology - The University Lectures of Father John Romanides. Read the following excerpts:
On "Scientific" Theologians, by Photios Kontoglou. An excerpt from Meetings with Kontoglou, by Constantine Cavarnos.
Against Materialism. An Excerpt from Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene, by Constantine Cavarnos.
April 9/22, GREAT AND HOLY TUESDAY. Martyr Eupsychius of Caesarea in Cappadocia.
The Paschal Canon, by St John of Damascus. Translated, with extensive notes, by Archimandrite Ephrem.
March 10/23, Second Sunday of Great Lent (St. Gregory Palamas). Martyrs Codratus (Quadratus) and with those with him.
Announcing an important new book: The Boundless Garden: Selected Short Stories, Volume I, by Alexandros Papadiamandis. Read the
Introduction and one of the stories entitled "A Village Easter: Memories of Childhood".
Another noteworthy new book is The Life and Teachings of Saint Seraphim of Sarov. With thirty-one short chapters on a variety of topics, such as peace of soul,
the light of Christ, tears, repentance, fasting, guarding the mind, etc., this book is sure to have a little something for everyone. Here is an excerpt:
13. On feats.
It is not advisable to undertake excessive feats but to do one's best to make our friend – our flesh – loyal and capable of performing virtues.
It is necessary to follow the middle path, 'turn not to the right hand, nor to the left.' (Prv., 4, 27): to give the spirit the spiritual nourishment, and the body – the bodily nourishment, which is needed for the maintenance of this temporary life. One should not reject the lawful demands of the public life, following the words of the Scripture: 'Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.' (Math. 22, 21)
One should be lenient towards the weaknesses and imperfections of one's own soul and endure one's own shortcomings as we tolerate the shortcomings of our neighbours, and at the same time not become lazy but impel oneself to work on one's improvement incessantly.
Whether you have eaten too much or you have done something else of this kind, because of the weakness of human nature, do not become indignant, do not add another harm to the harm which has already happened, but impel yourself manly to correct it and at the same time to preserve peace of soul, following the words of the Apostle: 'blessed is he that condemneth not himself ….' (Rom. 14, 22). These words of the Saviour have the same meaning: 'Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.' (Math. 18, 3)
A body which is exhausted by labour or illness should be fortified by moderate sleep, food and drink, without even taking into account what time of the day it is. Jesus Christ, immediately after He raised Jairus' daughter from the dead, ' he commanded to give her to eat.' (Lk., 8, 55)
We should refer any success in anything to God and say with the Prophet: 'Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory' (Ps. 115, 1).
Before the age of 35, that is, the middle of his life, man needs to undertake heroic efforts in order to preserve himself, but many at this age stray off the path of virtues, and become corrupted and follow their own wishes. Saint Basil the Great attests this (Homilies): many have collected a lot in their youth, but when they reached the middle of their life and the cunning spirits attacked them, they could not stand the tumult and lost everything they had collected.
In order not to experience such a transformation, one should examine oneself as one measured by ordeals and pay heed to oneself during one's entire life, following the words of Saint Isaac the Syrian: 'Everyone should weigh his life as if on the scale.' (Homily 40)
A Guide to Confession. A set of questions to help one prepare for the Mystery of Confession.
The Lord's Prayer: A Homily by Archimandrite George, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. Gregoriou, Mount Athos. Available in four Languages!
Thoughts on Fasting and Temperance, by Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich.
The Condition of Society, by Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich.
Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich: Honoring an American Apostle, by Hieromonk Damascene.
Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia: May his memory be eternal!
Extensive coverage of his repose and life can be found on the Ora Et Labora blog.
The Monk's Mission, by Elder Paisios the Athonite.
A grassroots movement to establish a unified and autocephalous Orthodox Church in North America seems to be gaining momentum. I was awakened to this by the outstanding series of interviews that Kevin Allen conducted on his engaging and informative "Illumined Heart" podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. I have gathered the key resources I could find in order to learn more about this challenging problem. Find them in the new section on the "Orthodoxy in America" page.
In the last update I neglected to add a link to this article by Fr. Theodore Zissis, which he wrote after the Letter from Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus (Church of Greece) was published.
February 22/March 6, Opening of the Relics of Holy Martyrs at the gate of Eugenius at Constantinople.
Feasts and Holidays. An Excerpt from With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man, by Blessed Elder Paisios the Athonite (+1994).
Liturgy and Spirituality, by Hieromonk [now Bishop] Athanasije JEVTIĆ. Chapter 8 from Christ: The Alpha and Omega.
Theosis: The True Purpose of Human Life, by Archimandrite George, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. Gregorios of Mount Athos. Available in nine Languages!
The Rule of Fasting in the Orthodox Church, by Father Seraphim (Rose) of Platina.
A Study of English Orthodox Theological Terms Compared to the Original Greek, by the Holy Monastery of St. Gregoriou, Mount Athos.
Saint Seraphim of Viritsa's Spiritual Testament: "This Was From Me", by Metropolitan Manuel Lemeshevsky. An edifying message for handling trials and temptations.
Photos from My Recent Pilgrimage to Greece and Romania, by Patrick Barnes. Enjoy hundreds of new photos from Greece and Romania in the newly overhauled OrthodoxInfo Photo Albums on Picasa. Prints of select photos are available for sale. Please inquire if interested.
Lenten Resources, a superb collection from Monachos.net.
Letter from Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus (Church of Greece) to the Papist Bishop of Syros Island. Translated from the Greek newspaper Orthodox Press, November, 2007. In these confusing times of "ecumenical dialog," thank God for Orthodox Hierarchs who clearly state the Church's position viz-a-viz Roman Catholicism. This Bishop knows and acts upon what another Bishop recently and so eloquently stated: "True love for a Christian is to secure eternal life for one's neighbor, which means you straightforwardly say he is in error, and try to return him to the truth, directing him onto the path of salvation."
Postcards from Greece, a podcast by Fr. Peter Heers. I highly recommend this superb new podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.
Ora et Labora. This is the best blog I've seen on Orthodox Christianity. The blogger, a Russian Orthodox clergyman who wishes to remain anonymous, posts frequently and with considerable insight and erudition.
October 31/November 13, Apostles Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles and Aristobulus of the Seventy.
On Miracles and Signs. From the Essays of Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).
Visions Outside the Church, by Monk Gorazd.
A Private Letter Concerning Ecumenism, by Blessed Elder Paisios the Athonite.
Introduction to The Oecumenical Synods of the Orthodox Church, by Fr. James Thornton.
Is There Spiritual Life and Sanctity Today? A talk given by the Very Reverend Archimandrite Kyrillos, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Essex.
On Television: Comments by Various Saints and Holy Elders.
September 28/October 11, St. Chariton the Confessor, Abbot of Palestine.
Marriage: The Great Sacrament, by Archimandrite Aimilianos of Simonopetra, Mount Athos. This is an excerpt from The Church at Prayer: The Mystical Liturgy of the Heart. Many consider this to be the best statement on Orthodox marriage they've ever read.
Excerpts from Family Life, by Elder Paisios the Athonite. This is a selection of passages translated by Fr. Luke Hartung, never before seen in English. It is a work-in-progress.
Confession and Repentance: A Talk Given by Fr. Josiah Trenham at the 2006 Antiochian Clergy Conference (Diocese of the West).
Interpretation of the Prayer - Lord, have Mercy!. An excerpt from the fifth volume of the Philokalia (not yet published).
Homily for the Sunday of Orthodoxy, Given in the Cathedral of Trebinje, 2007, by the Most Reverend Atanasije, Retired Bishop of Zahumlje and Herzegovina.
Deaconnesses. From The Veil, Pascha 1998.
Holy Monastery of the Pantokrator, Thessaloniki, Greece. A wealth of traditional articles and books!
The Papacy and Its Unholy State: A Worldwide Wake-up Call to Orthodox Leaders, By Raphael Masterjohn, from "The Light of Orthodoxy," Vol. 1, No. 1 (07/15/2007).
Ecumenism and the Orthodox Church, by Protopresbyter Theodore Zissis. This article by one of the foremost theologians and professors in Greece rightly criticizes the 2006 meeting in Constantinople of Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Benedict XVI.
Ostrov (The Island), (DVD) NTSC version with English subtitles (2006) . I keep running into people that have never heard of this movie, let alone seen it. This is a must-see Orthodox movie! Ecumenical News International wrote: "Patriarch Alexei II, and other senior clerics, praised Ostrov for its profound depiction of faith and monastic life. Addressing a church conference on 29 January, the Patriarch called Ostrov a 'vivid example of an effort to take a Christian approach to culture'." Here's a good review of the movie by Fr. Stephen Freeman.
Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West (DVD) . This movie was released September 11, 2007. Buy a copy or two and share with friends. Help the West wake up to the reality of Islam. Yes, there are moderate Muslims; but there is no moderate Islam! Learn more about why we are not at "war with (nebulous) terror," but rather at war with an imperialist political ideology that is Islam.
Days Made of Fear (DVD), Ninoslav Randjelovic. This is an important collection of short documentary films on war-torn Kosovo. Buy this video and help spread the word about the tragic things that have happened, and are still happening, to the suffering Orthodox people in this Serbian Holy Land. To order contact Most Holy Theotokos Church, 2148 Michelson Dr., Irvine, CA 92612.
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