FOREWORD Dearly beloved readers and subscribers of Mode of Life, we regret that this week we have diverged from our usual schedule of article publications to bring some troubling news from our fellow Orthodox Christian brethren in Syria.  Many things have been reported within the Western media which are not detailed or objective, with preference given to the rebels who …

“And when the demon had been cast out, the mute spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, ‘Never was anything like this seen in Israel.’  (Matt. 9:33) This Gospel refers to two miracles: the healing of two blind men, and a demon-possessed deaf and mute person, by Jesus Christ. Authority over life and death is in the hand of God alone …

Upon an initial reading of the Genesis account of Cain and Abel (Gen 4:1-7), one would superficially conclude with the question of why God did not accept Cain’s sacrifice, which may seem to be undue preference of a petty and jealous God. Quite often Cain’s overreaction by killing his brother out of jealousy and envy, is often overlooked and explained …

This Gospel reminds us more or less of our own troubled time where people who by following their own imagination and individual notions of life, create huge problems in the peaceful course of humanity. It would be no exaggeration to state that Church life in today’s world has become irrelevant. This is why as mature and serious Christians, Christ’s presence …

Q. According to your thoughts and meditations Holy Elder, who was the first pious person to show genuine faith in God? A. As you may recall, in spite of what had transpired, people had become immensely savage and barbarian turning to all forms of idolatry. It seems that within this spiritually historical context, that Abraham was the first, some 2,039 …