A Priest-Drunkard and Repentance

I remember one case which shook me. Our small church in Paris was attended by a priest who never served because he used to drink heavily.

He came to the church with a deep repentance and a broken heart, and I put him in the corner and stood in front of him so that if he fell, he would fall on me and no one would notice it.

And then, at some point during the German occupation, our parish priest was arrested and replaced by the priest, who usually could not minister because he was not sober. Then he came to his senses and began to serve. He served with tears, with a deep belief that shook our souls. I once came to him for confession to open my soul, and he was standing next to me crying – not with drunken tears but with tears of compassion and understanding.

When I finished my confession, he told me, "You know what kind of man I am, I am not worthy to either hear your confession or give you advice. But you are young, you have a whole life ahead, wake up, don’t follow my example. And for this I will tell you what Christ would say to you in the Gospel ... ". And he quoted Christ the Savior.

It was one of the most stunning confessions that I have ever experienced. The man reached the bottom in his repentance, and from these depths he could make me feel repentant, could give advice – the advice taken from his own tragic life, but consecrated by the words and teachings of Christ. This is the second example of how you can confess.

Same-Sex Attraction: A Lesson from the Desert Fathers

The Fathers reject both license and cruelty. They offer no stigma, only the call to crucify the flesh with its passions (Gal. 5:24) and rise in Christ.

Conservatism or Orthodoxy?

Life is very short. I’d rather spend it reading St. Paisios the Athonite than David Brooks. That has nothing to do with Mr. Brooks and everything to do with St. Paisios.

Put Down Your Smartphone and Grab Your Prayer Rope

St. Paisios calls us to become “spiritual signalmen,” reminding us of the victory that has already been accomplished. He says that joy in the Risen Christ must be stronger than any fear for tomorrow.

In Defense of Fr. Michael Crowley

In a pointed irony, Pokrov Truth tried to discredit Archpriest Michael Crowley’s ability to protect his flock from predators. Yet their own correction admits Fr. Michael knew of a convicted sex offender in his parish, enforced strict monitoring and supervision, informed parishioners, consulted the community, and ensured ongoing oversight. The very update disproves Pokrov 's fears while proving Fr. Michael's competence in managing such risks effectively and transparently.

The Man from Montenegro: A Response to Abp. Elia of Finland

We respect His Eminence’s right to defend himself vigorously. However, the UOJ claims the same right for ourselves. And so we must say once again: Our coverage was accurate and our analysis was perfectly fair, given the information available at the time. To label our work “misinformation” is not merely wrong but slanderous.

The Myth of ‘Judeo-Christian’ Civilization

American Evangelicals tend to idolize Rabbinic Judaism and the Zionist State. They should remember: Jesus Christ is the God of Israel, and the Church is His Kingdom on Earth. There is no other God; there is no other Kingdom.