How do we preserve our Orthodox Faith in a multicultural society?   Collectively, Australians speak over 200 languages. Other than English, the most common languages spoken today are Chinese, Italian, Greek and Arabic. So many cultures and so many beliefs! Christianity is the most commonly reported religion (52.1% of the population). The Islamic population with 2.6% of the total population is the second largest religion, closely followed by Buddhism (2.4%). However, as many as 30% of Australians reported that they had ‘no religion’. How can we preserve our Orthodox Christian Faith in such a multicultural society? In a MONOcultural society, [...]

How is it possible to believe in God in the 21st century?   Many do not understand the concept of faith. They think that Christians are weak intellectually, believing with insufficient evidence. Atheists often adhere to an unproven underlying assumption, that reason is the highest way to find truth. They have not understood that faith is actually a very positive attribute. Jesus thanked God the Father for not just revealing His truth to the intellectuals, but for sending His gift of faith to the humble. He said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden [...]

How can we reduce anxiety in our children, and can the Church help?   It appears that anxiety in children is on the rise. Whereas as recently as a generation ago, childhood was considered a carefree age, today, many children are frightened, stressed or anxious. Anxiety can look very different from one child to the next. Some children get physical symptoms such as a racing heart, palpitations or shaking. Others just have a sense of dread that something bad will happen. In severe cases, children are not able to go to school or get out of the house. Reasons for [...]

Why Do We Repeat So Many Set Prayers?   Our life is full of repetition. It makes us who we are. For example, we are alive because we repeat the basic function of breathing. Do we think about breathing? No! We just do it. So much of our day is filled by repetition. This morning you brushed your teeth, or bathed, as you have every day for the past many years. Teeth brushing has become a part of your life, a part of who you are. Now let’s look at prayer in the same light. If prayer is a part [...]

What does the Orthodox Church teach about the General Resurrection of the dead? When our Church refers to the “General Resurrection of the Dead” it is referring to the resurrection of all dead bodies, of everyone who has ever lived. In his Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, St John of Damascus points out that “Resurrection means the second raising up of that which has fallen, for how are the souls to be resurrected if they are immortal?... Death is defined as the separation of the soul from the body... Resurrection is the reunion of the soul and the body... Therefore, [...]