A short series in my local newspaper recently posed the question: “Should religion’s goal be a ‘universal church’ or is religious diversity a good thing?” The author stated that in times of trouble and theological debate “some believers…react by reasserting orthodoxy.” I would like to take the liberty to explain why I believe there is no ‘little ‘o’’ orthodoxy and to define and describe “Orthodoxy” as “Christianity from the beginning”. As a result we will see but one Jesus Christ, and the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

Not quite two weeks ago, we celebrated the Feast of our Lord’s Nativity. And now we prepare to celebrate another of the Great Feasts commemorating the life of Christ—His Holy Baptism in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist. Liturgically, these two Feasts have service structures that are entirely different than any other services in the Church. This is because, in the ancient Church, well into the first millennium of Christianity, Theophany and Nativity were celebrated together, as one Feast.

“Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him” (Matthew 2:13).

The light of the manger in the cave, this Sunday after Christmas, still burns brightly—the witness of the angelic hosts crying out to the shepherds “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” still rings in our ears (Luke 2:14).

Mark your calendars for another Web TV Special! On Jan. 13 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST, we'll be streaming a live video and audio feed from OCN headquarters. We'll be talking with special guests about many exciting new projects, Orthodox media outreach and how you and your parish can make the most of Share the Light Sunday on Jan. 20, 2008. For more on STL Sunday and the Web TV Special, check out this interview with Fr. Chris and our Share the Light Sunday Resource Center.

You're invited to join us on Come Receive the Light this week, when Susan Ashbrook Harvey will talk with Fr. Chris about "Christian Worship: Yesterday and Today." Guests on The ARK and The RUDDER include Fr. Thomas Hopko and Fr. Bill Chiganos.

Making liturgy your "job" in this week's free CRTL study guide.

In the famous Confessions of St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo recounts a story about a prominent philosopher, Victorinus, who had encountered the Christian faith and desired to become a Christian.

Watch an archived version of the Christmas Eve Services at St. Demetrios Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Please note: You must use Real Player to watch the service. You can download it for free here. Watch Now »

In Sunday's readings, both St. Paul and the Evangelist Matthew recount those who were in the lineage of the coming Messiah, and those who awaited the Advent of the Saviour with Faith. Almost every verse of the Epistle speaks specifically about the faith of those who awaited the coming of the Messiah. And this gives us the perfect opportunity, as we prepare to greet that Messiah at His birth, to ask—what is faith? When, as Christians, we’re called to have faith in Christ, what does that mean? We can look at this question not “theologically” this morning, but by seeing how the men of faith that St. Paul mentions in the Epistle reading actually lived. How was their faith lived?—and from this we can begin to learn how to live lives of faith as well.

When one walks into an Orthodox Church for the first time, especially if he is unfamiliar with the ancient liturgical and architectural traditions of Christianity, he is often a bit baffled.

Watch the Pastoral Message of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios on the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Watch Now »

Many, many thanks to all of you who have taken advantage of OCN's current matching campaign. Thanks to your support, this has been our most successful Christmas appeal ever. But there's still time to make it even better! Please spread the word, invite others to give before Janurary 1, or, if you haven't yet given yourself, please do so by using the "Donate Now" button today. Your tax-deductible gift of ANY AMOUNT will be matched dollar for dollar—and it will help OCN continue to touch lives for Christ. Thank you so much and may God bless you!

Share the Light Sunday is only weeks away. Check out our NEWLY updated STL Sunday Resource Center to find out how you can help "share the light" in your area, and listen to this interview with Fr. Chris for more information.

Join us throughout this week for special Christmas programming. Come Receive the Light features Fr. Chris presenting his annual special Christmas Message, as well a brief interview with Fr. Paul Tarazi on the Old Testament prophecies that proclaim the Messiah. The ARK and The RUDDER also feature Fr. Thomas Hopko, thoughts from Fr. Stanley Harakas and other daily programs.

Learn to appreciate and enjoy the Twelve Days of Christmas in this week's free CRTL study guide.

It only seems natural, at this time of the year, to talk about the most important event that the Christian Church celebrates in the month of December. And in reality, one of the most pivotal moments in all of human history—the Incarnation of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To be technical, the Incarnation of Christ actually takes place at the Annunciation, when the Word of God is formed in the womb of the Virgin Mary. But in December we remember the first revelation of this blessed event to the world—the birth of the Incarnate Lord.

This is a topic that we could talk about and consider and meditate on virtually forever, but at this time I’d like us to consider two things—What is the Incarnation?, and Why is there the Incarnation?

He had been extremely wealthy, but something went terribly wrong. After the collapse of his business, there remained not even enough to feed his family of three daughters. In his desperation—who can imagine such desperation?—he figured that his only recourse for grocery money was to sell the girls into prostitution. No where to turn. Nothing to eat. No option.

We are sad to report that Archbishop VSEVOLOD of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reposed on December 16, 2007. He was 80 years old, and had recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his episcopal service.

His Eminence was stricken with a serious illness just a few months ago and was released only recently from rehabilitation. For more details, including funeral services, visit the web site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America. May his memory be eternal!

Did you enjoy this week's epsisode of Come Receive the Light? Find out more about our featured guest, Fr. Joseph Huneycutt, and read three short selections from his newest book, Defeating Sin.

My favorite theological texts are fantasy novels. The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis's unique fantasy about a bus trip from hell to heaven, is a remarkably striking expression of what is in essence a very Orthodox understanding of the nature of sin, salvation and damnation.

In this season of giving, please prayerfully consider a gift that helps to create something truly valuable: An effective media outreach for the Orthodox Church throughout North America. If you give to OCN before the end of the year, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar. Don't let our challenge grant go unanswered. Please give today. Thank you!

Join us throughout this week for exciting new programming. On Come Receive the Light, Fr. Chris will speak with Fr. Joseph Huneycutt on "Defeating Sin: Overcoming Our Passions and Changing Forever" and with Archbishop Nicolae about preparing for and celebrating the feast of Christ's Birth. Guests on The ARK and The RUDDER include Fr. Jon Braun and Fr. Stephen Freeman.

Learn how to work out your "spiritual muscles" in this week's free CRTL study guide.

Fr. Chris gets an update from Dan Christopoulos and Dmitri Djukich of IOCC on the relief efforts for the devastating fires in Greece. Click here to listen.

Did you miss Sunday's live show? CLICK HERE to watch an archived version of "Affirming our Faith and Proclaiming Orthodoxy to the World." Fr. Chris and Emmy hosted this ground-breaking live broadcast, which featured special call-in guests like Archbishop Nicolae, Fr. Peter Jon Gillquist, Fr. Stanley Harakas, Frederica Mathewes-Green and many others. We shared Christmas stories, exchanged greetings and spoke with callers and special guests from around the world about the true reason for this holiday season: the Nativity of our Lord. Many thanks to all who participated and donated during the program. Your support means so much.