By Father Daniel Rentel Belief leads to life! Through belief, I belong to something greater than myself. Through belief, my life has purpose, structure and meaning—it is life itself. . Through faith, my senses and my intellect have been nourished abundantly. Through faith I have been called in the most personal...
'The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.' Last fall, we introduced a monthly Moleben, primarily to St. Nectarios, with the opportunity to be anointed with oil. This simple prayer service was very meaningful to me as a young adult. We prayed it every summer when I attended Camp,...
We cannot go anywhere, even in our secular society, without seeing a cross. In any town we go through, we will no doubt see at least one Christian church, with a cross sitting atop it. Yet, for the early Christians, they must have been met with maybe strange looks, or...
'but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.' (Mark 10:40) These are the words of our Lord to James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They asked Christ if, in His glory, they...
In writing about the Dormition fast and the Feast itself nearly two weeks ago, I referred to this feast as the Summer Pascha. Just as the Passion, crucifixion and death of Christ, and ultimately, His glorious resurrection on the third day, are preceded by a rigorous period of fasting, so...
Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here.' Matthew 17:4 These words were spoken by St. Peter as he witnessed the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as He was transfigured before him and Sts. James and John on Mt. Tabor....
"O marvelous wonder! The source of life is laid in the tomb, and the tomb itself becomes a ladder to heaven. Your glory is full of majesty, shining with grace in divine brightness." Vespers Stikhiri Today, we begin the two week fast in preparation for the final feast of the...
Observations by Subdeacon John Historically, we see the mentioned use of subdeacons in the mid third century (e.g. writings of St. Cyprian of Carthage), and their initial use was to assist deacons (to release deacons from some of the deacon’s ever increasing duties during the third century). Pragmatic liturgical duties of the...
Marking the 25th anniversary By Father Daniel Rentel Think about it: Fewer than three decades ago, there was no parking problem, no out buildings, no upper room for gatherings, no Saturday lunch program. The first parishioners comprised a group of believers from disparate backgrounds: large parishes, small ones, Slavs, Greeks, Syrians, Lebanese, Romanians,...
by Father Daniel Rentel In celebration of the Parish's 25th Anniversary We know that the Holy Evangelist made reference to a meeting with the Resurrected Lord on the road to Emmaus. We know the “breaking of the bread” to be the Eucharist. Note if you will, the inherent strength imbedded in the actions...