Hope as a virtue is very particular to Christianity. In fact, without Christ, hope wouldn’t even make sense as a virtue. Because without Christ, hopes are mere optimistic ideals. And with Christ, our hope is firmly founded on faith and reason. Hope is necessary for our salvation. The one who has hope lives differently – …
The Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas On June 11th we commemorate the Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas. So to help us celebrate, let’s go through what we know about these two saints, and their prayers and tropars. Bartholomew Bartholomew is one of the 12 Apostles. There is a strong possibility that he is the same …
I am writing this article while all my children are three and under. And yet, the issue of screen safety for my child has haunted me since before my first child came out of my womb. One of the nice things about starting a family young, is that I have the fresh memories of how …
Trying to establish a prayer life while busy? As a mom, a wife, and a friend, I both know and witness how hectic life can be. And especially since becoming a mom, I know how easy it is to be forgetful. The to-do list is longer than a yardstick. And even then, some important tasks …
Mnohaya lita! Mnohaya lita! Vo zdraviye, vo spasenniye! Na mnohaya lita! Pentecost is one of my favourite feasts of the church year. Even more so now that I’ve been exposed to the Byzantine celebration of Holy and Glorious Pentecost. I love green, so the fact that the liturgical colour in the East for this day …
Before having kids, I’d never even heard of meal planning. But it turns out this is an essential skill for stay-at-home wives and mothers! And, not only did I not know about meal planning, I also couldn’t cook. Talk about being unprepared! Now here I am, after four and a half years of marriage, and …
St. John the Theologian John the Theologian is my favourite apostle, and Gospel writer! We celebrate his main feast day on May 8th. We also celebrate John during the Synaxis of the 12 Apostles, and on his dormition: September 26th. He is one of the sons of Zebedee (together with St. James). Tradition holds that …
Birthdays = super special days in my family. I grew up with the tradition that, on your birthday, you were basically royalty. Or at least, penniless royalty. But not having much money does not mean not having so much fun! So I am writing this blog article in the middle of global shutdowns. Children aren’t …
On April 25th we celebrate the Holy, Glorious, Apostle and Evangelist Mark. (Otherwise known as John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas). He is symbolized by a lion with wings. The lion represents the power and glory of the resurrection. Also, when you read the beginning of Mark’s gospel, it fits with the image of a …
Managing household items can feel like trying the tidy the sand at the beach. In an article in the Los Angeles Times (here) its says that “The average U.S. household has 300,000 things, from paper clips to ironing boards.” That is a lot of stuff to have careful stewardship over! So before you get down …
