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."
Read also
The Uniate's Dilemma
A Uniate priest praises Catholicism’s supposed “unity in diversity” as proven by the Eastern Catholic churches. Yet Rome itself has formally repudiated Uniatism as a violent, politically-driven mistake that deepened the schism and can no longer serve as a model—leaving Catholic claims of universality without historical or institutional backing.
The Rush to Embrace
The Iznik “reunion” prayer event was more of a staged media spectacle than historic breakthrough. Pretending ancient dogmatic differences (Filioque, Chalcedon, etc.) are mere semantics undermines the binding authority of Ecumenical Councils and turns the Church into High-Church Protestantism. True unity must be built slowly on agreement in faith, not rushed by abandoning the Councils, saints, and martyrs who defined it—or we open Pandora’s box of relativism.
Elpidophoros vs. the Archons
Rumors of civil war in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese erupted when influential Archons led by Fr. Alexander Karloutsos issued a bizarre statement accusing a pan-Orthodox delegation of Russian espionage and inverting Ukrainian church persecutions — apparently without Abp. Elpidophoros's approval. This speaks to a deeper problem within GOARCH: the unchecked power of its donors over the clergy.
Rep. Joe Wilson Declares War on the Orthodox Church
Rep. Joe Wilson smeared American Orthodox Christians as Russian spies for lobbying against Ukraine’s brutal persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. If defending persecuted believers is espionage, America’s First Amendment is the real enemy.
The Antichrist Is a Nice Guy
The Antichrist will embody humanity's centuries-long rebellion against God—rooted in Enlightenment materialism, secular "goodness," and the rejection of divine truth—appearing as a charming, tolerant, and philanthropic leader who promises earthly salvation without the Holy Trinity, only to reveal his tyranny once power is secured.