By Philip Kariatlis The most basic questions in life occasioning answers so that we can have peace of mind and happiness are often related to discovering our distinct ‘identity’. Those who have not found answers to such questions are said to be suffering an “identity crisis” which can lead to much anxiety and unhappiness. For this reason, it is not …

By Guy Freeland* Pilgrimage to Skellig Michael From my perch along the gunwale of a fishing boat I look out across a gently heaving Atlantic Ocean towards the soaring needle-sharp pinnacles of two rocks on the very Western limits of Europe: Skellig Michael and Small Skellig. Two red sandstone and slate islets 12km off a small island (Valentia), off a …

Foreword In the early formative years of the spread of Christianity beyond its Palestinian-Jewish context, there lived a Greek who was a presbyter (priest) that ministered to the Christian congregations of Imperial 3rd century Rome. It seems that the Faith was growing within this great and powerful city, and it seems that like any good minister of Christ, Hippolytus sought …

Here in New Zealand, and in places where the other Orthodox Christians (the Antiochians, Russians, Serbs, Romanians, etc) do not have churches and priests of their own as (well as) in the Fiji Islands, we the Greek Orthodox cover their devotional needs. So well-pleasing and very beautiful are our shared feelings every time and whenever all we Orthodox attend the …

With the conclusion of the year 2012, an entire Seven Year Period (a Sabbatical) closes of modest ministry and humble offering within the Sacred Metropolis of New Zealand and by extension to the entire Orthodox Church and People: “The gift is God’s so that none might boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9). We glorify God for whatever good has occurred, and those …

“We swear you by Almighty God that in no way should you detract from the worth, greatness and importance of our reconciliation. Let not one empty and unverified word pass over your mouths. Let our reconciliation be an example for all the other Serbs, wherever they may live. Do not allow any one of us by our actions to hinder …

In our struggle against the demon of anger, we must, with God’s help, eradicate his deadly poison from the depths of our souls. So long as he dwells in our hearts and blinds the eyes of our heart with his sombre disorders, we can neither discern what is for our good, nor achieve spiritual knowledge, nor fulfil our good intentions, …

At Christmas time in year four of primary school, I was officially crowned the most unpopular pupil in class. The reason for earning this rather dubious title, is that in response to my teacher’s question as to whether we were cognizant of the identity of Santa Claus, I stated: “Yeah, I know, he was an old Greek priest who lived …

A Christian woman activist in Pakistan longs to speak out against oppressive “blasphemy laws” but is hindered by a climate of intimidation. I see myself as an extrovert person and cannot stop speaking out against injustice and inhuman practices that suppress women and religious minorities in Pakistan. Being a member of a minority community I have always felt I must …

  INTRODUCTORY REMARK AND THOUGHTS Women are honoured in God’s family, but tragically the experience of many Christian women around the world does not reflect this. Our sisters in Christ who live in places of persecution and pressure may experience a double problem of ill-treatment, in which they suffer for both their faith and their gender. For example, under Islamic …