Newsletter November 20, 2025

On Converts to Orthodoxy

Youth admire the authenticity, dignity, and spirituality they find in Orthodoxy. They discover an ascetic and moral seriousness that offers them an alternative to the relativistic, fragmented culture they experience in society. In addition, many young Americans now long for Christian community and seek it in traditional churches. It is no exaggeration to say that mysticism is what most strongly draws them to Orthodoxy: they are captivated by the mystery they experience—whether in the various liturgical services or in the sacred arts such as architecture, icons, and music. Any visitor to Orthodox monasteries in America will notice the abundance of monks and nuns who are themselves young.

Their model is holiness and the Church as a eucharistic communion in which they find the family they have missed. They are tired of ideology; they seek holiness, serious faith, and love. They do not want a faith that is merely reactionary, nor a lax religion. Their seriousness can push them toward rigidity and extremism if they do not have mature and balanced spiritual fathers. The same internet that plays a positive role in introducing them to Orthodoxy also plays a negative role if they encounter rigid and fundamentalist Orthodox preachers. Despite the existence of extremism, they remain in the Church because of the peace they feel there. They accept rules and boundaries that heal them, while at the same time rejecting other rules that they think shackle them and block their freedom. Accompanying these young people shows how great their need is for genuine, pure discipleship.

Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2620

Please remember that our full calendar continues to be available at our parish web site. Here is a link:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Calendar/calendar.php

Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Prosphora/Docs/prosphora sched 2025 web.pdf

Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2025.pdf

Epistle: ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 2:14-22

Brethren, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Gospel: LUKE 12:16-21

The Lord said this parable: “The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” As he said these things, he cried out: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Let Us Sanctify the Body!

Hieroschemamonk Iulian (Lazăr)

Teach yourself first. Man, tell me how you live, that I may believe what you’re trying to prove to me;” “instructing with your life is the best proof;” “if you’re talkative—live first, and only then teach;” “above all, live according to the Gospel that you preach.” Zeal for God takes up residence in you and then grows within you! There are certain people who, it seems, speak only in order to glorify God, for only God can accomplish anything. Without God you can do nothing! And this is true.

Now, returning to the body, the Gospel of John says: It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (6:63). Scripture also says: I do nothing of myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things (Jn. 8:28). These words are from Heaven, this is the action of the Holy Spirit: “What the Father has told Me, that I speak to you.” And He says, meaning: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing.” It doesn’t say that it profits, but that in comparison with the soul, the body is nothing. “We are the temple of the Holy Spirit” (cf. 1 Cor. 6:19). We must sanctify the body with our deeds, prayers, and good works. Let us sanctify the body! We have the relics of the saints who sanctified their bodies all their lives. They sanctified this flesh with the soul! We must sanctify it. That’s why I say that the body is a good servant but a bad master. May it not become the master! For in order to sanctify the body, we must treat it as a servant. If it becomes the master, then the servant is the soul!

Read the entire article: https://orthochristian.com/173813.html