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HomeWelcome to the OCIC Web site, one of the largest and oldest sites on Orthodox Christianity. Think of the OCIC as a vast online article repository, with over 700 articles and 6,000 printed pages. This site has been online since 1996 and receives over 36,000 unique visitors per month, according to Google Analytics. * Commonly called the "Old" Calendar, but properly understood as the traditional and canonical Church Calendar, in use by most Orthodox Christians, if not the majority of Orthodox parishes around the world. Recent Additions to the Site
January 19 / February 1, 2012, Venerable Macarius the Great of Egypt (390). A Review of The Crazy Side of Orthodoxy, by Charles Shingledecker. Published by Regina Orthodox Press (2011). Reviewed by Patrick Barnes. The Canons of the Church: Changeable or Unchangeable?, by Nicholas N. Afanasiev. On Penances and their Use, a short compilation on this important topic. Excerpts from Greece’s Dostoevsky: The Theological Vision of Alexandros Papadiamandis, by Anestis Keselopoulos. This is a superb new book available from Protecting Veil Press. Photos of the Consecration of St. Andrew Antiochian Orthodox Church in Riverside, CA, by Patrick Barnes. This newly built church, consecrated on December 3, 2011, is among the most beautiful Orthodox Churches in America. Video Tour Series of St. Andrew Orthodox Church, by Fr. Josiah Trenham. September 11 / 24, Saturday before the Universal Elevation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord. Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos. Orthodox-Reformed Bridge , a solid blog with the tagline "A Meeting Place for Evangelicals, Reformed & Orthodox Christians". A good resource for Reformed Protestants who are inquiring into Orthodoxy. January 26 / February 8, St. Xenophon and his wife, St. Mary, and their two sons, Sts. Arcadius and John, of Constantinople (6th c.). Reason and Speech: Timeless Truth and Secular Echoes. The Introduction to Ancient Christian Wisdom and Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Therapy: A Meeting of Minds, by Father Alexis Trader. This book “details a colorful journey deep into two seemingly disparate worlds united by a common insight into the way our thinking influences our emotions, behaviors, and ultimately our lives. In this innovative study about mental and spiritual health, readers are not only provided with a thorough introduction to the elegant theory and practical techniques of cognitive therapy, they are also initiated into the perennial teachings of ascetics and monks in the Greek-speaking East and Latin-speaking West whose powerful writings not only anticipated many contemporary findings, but also suggest unexplored pathways and breathtaking vistas for human growth and development. This groundbreaking interdisciplinary volume in the art of pastoral counseling, patristic studies, and the interface between psychology and theology will be a coveted addition to the working libraries of pastors and psychologists alike. In addition, it is ideal as a textbook for seminary classes in pastoral theology and pastoral counseling, as well as for graduate courses in psychology dealing with the relationship between psychological models and religious worldviews.” (Book Synopsis). It is available from Amazon.com or Peter Lang Publishing. Cultivating the Garden of the Heart: Patristic Counsel and Cognitive Techniques for Schema Reconstruction. Ch. 9 from Ancient Christian Wisdom and Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Therapy: A Meeting of Minds, by Father Alexis Trader. Do not be put off by the academic title of this chapter. This beautifully written piece is one of the finest writings on how to live a spiritual life and cultivate the virtues that I have ever read. It will be of interest to all Orthodox Christians. On the Gift of Speaking in Tongues, Ch. 15 from The Hidden Man of the Heart, by Archimandrite Zacharias. A Catholic Hermit Converted To Orthodoxy, By Konstantin Matsan. “A well-known theologian, hieromonk Gabriel Bunge, rarely gives interviews. He leads a hermit’s life in a small skete in Switzerland, never uses the Internet, and the only means of communication with him is the telephone. The latter works as the answering machine in a distant room. If you want to talk with him, you have to leave a message with the time when you are going to phone again, and if Father Gabriel is ready to talk, he will be near the telephone at the time you specified. We were lucky not to go through this complex operation because we met Father Gabriel in Moscow. On August 27, he converted to Orthodoxy from Catholicism.” St. Innocent Liturgical Calendar. This is a new publication that will be of interest to all English-speaking Orthodox Christians who follow the Church (“Old”) Calendar. The general editor is Fr. John Whiteford, a ROCOR Priest who has for years maintained these invaluable liturgical texts and resources. December 25 / January 7, The Nativity of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Troy Polamalu says 'Kala Christougena!'. Christmas arrives today for many [most] Orthodox Christians around the world. October 30 / November 12, Hieromartyr Zenobius and his sister Zenobia of Aegae, Cilicia (285). Three homilies from an excellent new book entitled Of Whom the World was not Worthy: Sermons on the Lives and Works of the Patriarchs and Prophets of the Old Testament, by Protopresbyter James Thornton:
How to Give Alms to the Poor, by Teimuraz Kristinashvili. This is the best article I've ever read on this subject. The Acts and Decrees of the Synod of Jerusalem, a Synod held in 1672 concerning a work entitled The Eastern Confession of the Christian Faith, which attempted to express Orthodox beliefs in Protestant terms, specifically Calvinism. It was allegedly written by the former Patriarch of Constantinople, Cyril (Loukaris). The "Confession of Dositheos" starts at the bottom of p. 110, and remains an excellent expression of Orthodox theology vis-à-vis Calvinism. Protopresbyter James Thornton offers further historical insights in this excerpt from his book The Oecumenical Synods of the Orthodox Church. Pope & Patriarchs: The 1848 Letters of Pope Pius IX and the Orthodox Patriarchs. Thanks to Dave Brown from St. Gabriel Orthodox Church (OCA) in Ashland, Oregon for putting this together. God and Modern Culture, a stimulating and edifying lecture using the writings of C.S. Lewis, presented by Fr. Andrew Cuneo at the Serbian Diocesan Days 2010. The Arena, a highly recommended new podcast on Ancient Faith Radio, which presents the homilies of Fr. Josiah Trenham. September 10/23, Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora at Nicomedia (305). Fr. Paul Tarazi: From Study to Heresy! A Critique of his Book Introduction to the New Testament: Paul and Mark, by Archimandrite Touma (Bitar), Abbot of the Monastery of St. Silouan in Douma, Lebanon. A Critical Commentary on the book On the Nature of Christ by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, by Seminarian Nicholas Vester, St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Autumn 2005. The History and Development of the Orthodox-Oriental Dialogue, a multi-part series by Minas Monir. March 3/16, Martyr Eutropius of Amasea, and with him Martyrs Cleonicus and Basiliscus (308). The following was sent to the OCIC by Fr. Peter Heers, an American serving as a Priest in the Church of Greece near Thessaloniki. The commentary is his, but the quotes (in Greek) were taken from the blog of Panagiotis Televantos, a Cypriot living in Astoria, NY who often writes about the dangers of ecumenism. Father Peter comments: I think most people know that the famous "Fr. Maximos" in The Mountain of Silence: A Search for Orthodox Spirituality
His Eminence gives talks almost weekly and these talks—in the thousands—have now circled the globe, being reproduced by his spiritual children. In one of his talks, which was recently cited in a much-discussed article, the Metropolitan had this to say of ecumenism and the dialogues between the "churches."
Fr. Peter's translation: "...There are some things about which we must be clear. And this clarity of thought is not bigotry. This idea of dialogue between Churches...A! It is. . . I will say it, ok. . . forgive me for the phrase. . .I will say it. I shouldn't say it? I'll say it. It is a satanic idea. You know that. . . these supposed dialogues will come to nothing; they are, in other words, a sham, fraud. What to say?: they gather together, talk, go to hotels, eat, drink. Nothing [of meaning], essentially nothing. They are a sham, heresy, that is, [the idea] that we are all the same. If we were all the same, then where is the truth....?" (Recorded talk of Metropolitan Lemesou, no. 1028: "The importance of self-knowledge"); For those who loved The Mountain of Silence, it is important to realize that such spiritual life, such wisdom, does not "walk together" with heresy and delusion, cannot conscience any compromises in matters of Faith. It is easy to be "wowed" by the elders, it is quite another thing to mature spiritually and crucify one's mind to this world and its delusions (like ecumenism). The former—spiritual maturity and wisdom—doesn't come without the latter—crucifying our mind to the world and its lusts and deceptions. December 18/31, Martyr Sebastian at Rome and his companions: Martyrs Nicostratus, Zoe, Castorius, Tranquillinus, Marcellinus, Mark, Claudius, Symphorian, Victorinus, Tiburtius, and Castulus (287). John the Blessed, a special story by Photios Kontoglou for the Civil New Year and Feast of St. Basil. Translated by Archbishop Chrysostomos of Etna, who noted elsewhere: "The story, whatever the time of year, is a charming statement about those who, so rare in today's world, sense the presence of God, live simply in concord with the world as He created it, and show that joy which comes from a wholly natural and simple way of life." If you enjoy this story you should also read the short stories of Alexandros Papadiamandis: The Boundless Garden. December 5/18, Venerable Sabbas the Sanctified. A Strange Miracle of St. Nicholas, translated by Moses Hawk. Holy Scripture and the Church, by New Hieromartyr Hilarion (Troitsky), Archbishop of Verey. This is an especially important article for Protestants to read. From The Orthodox Word, Issue #264-265, Jan-Apr 2009. Preaching the Gospel of Christ in the Modern World, by Hieromonk Damascene. From The Orthodox Word, Issue #250, Sep.-Oct. 2006, Vol. 42, No. 5. Edifying Blog on the Writings of Elder Paisios the Athonite and Living an Orthodox Life. Fr. Luke Hartung is translating some of the writings of Elder Paisios as well as posting helpful comments about life in the Church. Well worth reading and following. |
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is the Metropolitan of Lemesou, Athanasios. He was a monk on Athos, who had the opportunity to spend time with such holy elders as Elders Paisios and Ephraim of Katounakia and others. He was, at the time of the writing of the book, the Abbot of the Monastery of the "Panagia Machera". Since then he was consecrated Bishop of Lemesou (or Limassol).