Meditations
A monthly newsletter from the Metropolis of San Francisco
The Theotokos - the Mother of All
Christos Anesti!
As the month of May comes around, the thoughts of many of us drift to a special day – the second Sunday of the month in which we honor very special women in our lives – our mothers. An old Jewish proverb states: “God couldn’t be everywhere so He created mothers.”... read on »
From Darkness to Light
Comes Eternal Life
It happens in all but an instant. After weeks of intensely rigorous prayer, fasting and spiritual challenge, the pious period of preparation has given way to fulfillment and celebration. From the darkness, a single light from the top of the Altar is lifted, transmitted and multiplied as the... read on »
A Time of Preparation
The period of Great Lent before the celebration of Easter is a time for self-examination by all faithful Orthodox Christians. It is a time for prayer and almsgiving, of knowing and applying the deep meaning of repentance, and of atonement and reconciliation with Almighty God. Lent consists... read on »
The Journey of Life
Life is a journey. Our journey, of course, began at our birth. Like every other journey, one day ours will come to an end and, like our birth, we won’t have a choice about that either. What matters the most is not the beginning or even the end of our journey, but what happens in between. ... read on »
A Resolution to Return to the Father
At the beginning of a new year, many people make resolutions to improve their lives by adopting healthy and positive habits. By making a clean break from the past and getting a fresh start, they hope to make these good new habits permanent. While the New Year is not a feast day in the... read on »
Receive the Gift of All Gifts!
Icon of the Nativity used with permission from Conciliar Press“A multitude of angels assembled in Bethlehem to behold the unapproachable nativity; and seeing their creator lying in the manger as a babe, they were filled with awe.”—From the Akathist Hymn to the Nativity of Christ
The... read on »
The Fear of God
Μετα φοβου Θεου, πιστεως και αγαπης προσελθετε.
With the fear of God, faith and love, draw near.
The priest, holding the life-giving chalice, invites the faithful in every Divine Liturgy to come forth and receive the precious Body and Blood of our Lord... read on »
Don’t Run Away from Your Real Self
In the Gospel of Saint Luke we find Jesus taking time out from His busy teaching and healing ministry in order to be with his Heavenly Father. He withdrew to quiet places, such as the desert and the mountains, to be by Himself in communion with His Father. Sometimes He took with Him His... read on »
