Met. Tikhon of Washington (OCA): Reflection on the Saturday of the Akathist

The following reflection was originally posted to the OCA website as part of an ongoing series of His Eminence's reflections titled Reflections in Christ.

"In the sacred tradition of the Holy Eastern Orthodox Church, the importance of the Akathist hymn to the Mother of God can scarcely be overstated. As the lives of many saints and ascetics amply demonstrate, this hymn is a boundless well from which we draw joy in sorrows, resolution in trials, and comfort in afflictions. The words of the Akathist have accompanied many saints throughout all the phases and turns of life in this world, carrying them all the way to the kingdom of heaven. Let this feast be a reminder for us to recite this wondrous hymn not just once a year, but as often as we can. Its words proclaim the mystery of our salvation, honor the Mother of God and her divine Son, and invoke the aid and protection of the Theotokos and the Savior. Let us strive to read or sing this holy hymn at least weekly, all the days of our life."

A Struggle for Freedom or a New Maidan? – The Protests in Serbia from the Perspective of Serbian Orthodox Church Believers

In an editorial recently published by UOJ-Serbia, readers are shown the opinions of Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) faithful regarding the current events in the country and the role of the SOC in all of it. The editorial team offers full support to the SOC in its desire to preserve peace and stability in the state.

The Doubling Down of Pat. Bartholomew

A look at the “apostolic visit” that at times felt more like a business trip in which Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew stood firm on all the wrong things.

The Feast of Pokrov – a Prayerful Remembrance of the Mother of God’s Heavenly Protection

The Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated in memory of the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God at Blachernae in Constantinople, as a sign of Her protection over Christians.

Why Is Israel Purging Jerusalem of Armenians?

The Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem, a historic Christian enclave, faces existential threats from the Jerusalem Municipality. Backed by property developers and radical Zionists, the city government seeks to oust the 1,600-year-old Armenian Christian presence. And how have Western governments and Christian communities responded? With silence.

A Russian Chrysostom: The Life and Testament of St. Metrophanes of Voronezh

Old Paths Press brings to light a long-overlooked saint of Russia, whose life and writings speak powerfully to today’s Orthodox faithful.

The Last Byzantine

Fr. Alexander Karloutsos was integral to Bartholomew's election as Ecumenical Patriarch and to Joe Biden's as President of the United States. He's a deeply medieval figure, one for whom the “wall of separation” between Church and State simply does not exist. (Make of that what you will.)