Orthodox Reflections

Jeffrey Epstein is not an historical anomaly. In a fallen world, Jeffrey Epstein is the norm. You know sexually abusing children is wrong because Jesus Christ and His Church told you so.
https://orthodoxreflections.com/orthodoxy-must-still-defend-women-and-children/

The Christian Faith so totally transformed classical society, that today we take completely for granted such things as the full personhood of women, the value of all human life, charity, legal protection of children, and marital fidelity. To us, all of these are normal. But they aren’t normal in a fallen world. Everything good in our society flows directly from the cultural influence of the Christian Faith. To borrow a well-worn phrase often used by the media, as Christian cultural influence declines – women and children are the hardest hit.

https://orthodoxreflections.com/orthodoxy-must-still-defend-women-and-children/

It is absolutely immoral and so totally contrary to the teachings of the Orthodox Church to force, directly or indirectly, patients to submit to vaccination against their will. Given the current political climate, affirming this basic right should be the starting point for any discussion of vaccines within an Orthodox framework. A patient should receive a vaccine only if, after reviewing all the information available, he or she believes that the vaccine will be medically beneficial to him or her.

https://orthodoxreflections.com/the-hard-sell-on-covid-vaccines/

As a son, I have watched how obsession with preventing death is killing our elderly. As a dad, I have seen the mental damage done to my children. To preserve “fragments of life,” we are turning Earth into Hell and people into zombies.

https://orthodoxreflections.com/saving-the-world-from-the-fear-of-death/

Bishop Benjamin enforces unpopular policies. In a letter, he told his clergy to blame him: “That horrible bishop makes me do it.” There is indeed a lot of horror going on and many things that should rightly terrify faithful Orthodox Christians

https://orthodoxreflections.com/why-we-fear-the-horrible-orthodox-bishop-and-his-brethren/

Saint Theophan regarded the Jesus Prayer stronger than all other prayers by virtue of the power of the Holy Name of Jesus. It is a weapon against the demons and a key to unceasing prayer.
https://orthodoxreflections.com/how-and-why-the-jesus-prayer/

Climate change is real. Just not caused by man's activity. Despite record cold and the mounting evidence of a cooling Earth, believers in the religion of climate change can't let go of their models. "Science" was not meant to be a religion.
https://orthodoxreflections.com/orthodoxy-belongs-in-religion-not-science/

Now is absolutely not the time to tell the Faithful to blindly “trust the bishop” concerning a high-profile priestly suspension.

https://orthodoxreflections.com/fr-mark-hodges-and-orthodox-transparency/

The first major financial collapse in North American Orthodoxy is now happening and churches are up for sale. Orthodox Christians and leaders need to shake off complacency as our spiritual heritage is at stake.

https://orthodoxreflections.com/defend-the-orthodox-faith-or-go-broke/

All of our blog contributors (representing families with 10 kids) cancelled Disney+. Last straw.
#CancelDisneyPlus

Masks and social distancing as policies are predicated on the danger of “asymptomatic” spread.
Before things went crazy, asymptomatic spread had never been taken seriously as a driver of transmission.

https://orthodoxreflections.com/orthodox-bishops-join-politicians-in-covid-hypocrisy/

Either man is made in the image and likeness of God, in which case his well-being is cosmically important and he possesses some measure of inalienable rights, or he is simply a clever ape with no more value or rights than any other beast in the jungle.

https://orthodoxreflections.com/only-orthodox-christianity-can-defend-human-freedom/

An group of OCA clergy provides a devastating, insider critique of the bishops’ leadership during the past year. All Orthodox Christians in the United States and Canada should read this article today, and share it with everyone they know.
https://orthodoxreflections.com/orthodox-priests-joining-the-fight-will-change-everything/

Why did Gamestop happen? Why is the stock market completely untethered from the real economy? Why is income inequality accelerating as money pools at the top while middle and working class families struggle? One word - inflation. #GME
https://orthodoxreflections.com/the-theft-that-theologians-always-overlook/

To read St. Dionysius’ Paschal Encyclical (261 AD) describing the Church’s response to the persecution and the plague that followed is to be confronted with the tragic reality that the Hierarchs of the Orthodox Church, in responding to the virus, have followed the path of the heathens, not the Christians, as described in St. Dionysius’ Encyclical. https://orthodoxreflections.com/st-dionysius-paschal-encyclical-orthodox-faith-in-time-of-plague/

To read St. Dionysius’ Paschal Encyclical (261 AD) describing the Church’s response to the persecution and the plague that followed is to be confronted with the tragic reality that the Hierarchs of the Orthodox Church, in responding to the virus, have followed the path of the heathens, not the Christians, as described in St. Dionysius’ Encyclical.

With the suspension of Fr. Mark Hodges being attributed to "guilty by association," are we seeing the birth of an Orthodox cancel culture? What would happen if we applied that standard not only to priests, but to bishops?
https://orthodoxreflections.com/guilty-by-association-the-persecution-of-fr-mark-hodges/

#economia

CNN takes down its death counter. WHO recognizes false positives on PCR and changes guidelines 1 hour after Biden takes over. Lock downs are getting negative press coverage. Biden acknowledges he can’t stop a virus. Face it - we were played.

https://orthodoxreflections.com/orthodox-bishops-accept-you-were-duped-on-covid-and-move-on/

Fr. Mark Hodges has now become a international story. We have already called the diocese to share our support. Please call and/or email.
Diocese of the Midwest
5037 W 83rd St
Burbank, IL 60459
Phone: +1 (312) 202-0420
chancery@domoca.org