From Old Testament times, the people of God prepared for holy occasions with fasting and prayer, and the New Testament continued this holy tradition. The Lord Himself fasted for forty days before beginning His earthly ministry, demonstrating the importance of fasting before starting any spiritual task. Christ even went so far as saying, “When you […]

In the Christian life, there are two paths to salvation, and whichever road you choose must be embraced with your whole being. The married state and monasticism both have as their primary means of aiding in our salvation the acquisition of a humble and a contrite heart. Without having attained humility, there is no salvation. […]

As we finish celebrating the cycle of feasts that comprise forty days of the life of Christ, from His Nativity to His Baptism to His Presentation in the Temple, we reflect on the meaning of candles in our pious practices. It is often customary to bless candles at the end of the Liturgy celebrating the […]