Antioch Alexander

Brethren, it is the God Who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. While we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that He Who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence. For it is all for your sake, so t...

Blessed are the rich,  for theirs is this kingdom. Blessed are they who bring death,  for they bring choice. Blessed are the strong,  for they shall take what they want. Blessed are the gluttons,  for they have their fill. Blessed are the vengeful,  for they bring about justice. Blessed are the warmongers,  for they create jobs and profits. Blessed are they who hound and persecute,  for they preserve our culture. Blessed are they who are loved and cherished by all,  rejoice, for they bring happiness to millions.* This is the lie of society: these are the blessings of the minority, the elite.  Our society has duped the masses top accept this lie even though it cannot happen, it cannot work, for the majority. The Orthodox Church proclaims differently, the blessings of God are available to all irrespective of circumstance.  God sees our sufferings and enters into them, endures them alongside us, that we may make ours...

Brethren, working together with Him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For He says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labours, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich;...

Love is a misunderstood term. When the world says love it means a feeling most commonly, though not exclusively, romantically. In these terms, love is the feeling I get when I'm with someone I care for, if I don't get that feeling then I don't love. For Christians, and in particular for Orthodox, love is not a feeling it is a commandment. Imagine how ridiculous it would be if when the Lord commands us to love one another (see John 13:34) he means we should have feelings for one another: were those feelings to disappear then we would no longer be his disciples. It is preposterous, it is unthinkable. We can think of many examples of what we do to love another – feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned (see Matt. 25:31-46) – but love has shown himself perfectly through suffering with all humanity on the Cross. To love is to suffer for, or rather co-suffer with, the other: to see the image of Go...

Brethren, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it is said, “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is He who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:7-13 At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by ...

We are converting [to the Orthodox Church]  from Protestantism. Our extended family and friends are showing us resistance and want to argue doctrinal issues. ... I would like to have healthy dialogue with others. How should I handle this? pray for them . They love you and want the best for you, they are worried that you might be leaving Christianity. don't argue . Few people are convinced because they lose a debate. listen carefully to their concerns . Give a defence of Orthodoxy if necessary but don't make an attack. let your life be a witness to them . A tree is known by its fruits. Are you more prayerful, more loving, more humble, more peaceful because of Orthodoxy? Let your actions be your primary witness of your journey. pray for them . Pray as you love them. Don't pray that you will convert them – only God can convert a heart – but pray for their needs.

Brethren, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—of whom ...