November 11, 2025, I have written about this Monastic Gem in the New Mexican Canyons in the past. Today, I come to you with a request from the Brotherhood of Holy Archangel Michael and their holy, yet ailing Abbott who have come to a crossroads. It is always wonderful to see missions, parishes, and[…]
Author: Chris Purdef
Self-Giving or Other-Enabling? What’s a Husband Supposed to Do?
October 29, 2025, this past Saturday I was honored to speak at the second annual meeting of the Orthodox Canon Law Society of North America (OCLSNA) on the campus of Hellenic College near Boston, Massachusetts. I was scheduled to give the same talk at the society’s first annual meeting last October, but, alas, that[…]
Holy Hieromartyr Paul the Confessor, Archbishop of Constantinople
November 6, 2025, Saint Paul was from Thessaloniki. He became the secretary of Alexander, Patriarch of Constantinople (Aug. 30), ordained a deacon and presbyter, and then became the successor of Saint Alexander in about 337 as Patriarch. When Patriarch Alexander lay on his deathbed, the sorrowing faithful asked him who he would have follow[…]
October: Day 28: Teaching 1: Holy Great Martyr Paraskevi of Iconium
(Consolations For Those Persecuted For the Sake of Righteousness) By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko I. Saint Paraskevi (3rd century), whose memory is celebrated today, was the daughter of pious parents who lived in the city of Iconium (in Asia Minor). They died when Paraskevi was still very young. Paraskevi used the rich inheritance left by[…]
The Deep Well of Your Heart
November 4, 2025 “A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.” I asked God to give me my place in this life. To find where I will be most useful, most fulfilled within myself. Where the confines of my sinful bonds will loosen, and the[…]
