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How can we help our families to grow spiritually? Those that ask this question come from a variety of backgrounds. It is a very common question amongst parents who have come to love Christ, and who yearn for their children to come to love Christ. Those that ask this question could even be young people who love the members of their family and deeply desire that their loved ones, as the psalmist says, come to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 33 [34]:9). Saint Porphyrios said the following for parents, but his words apply to all, no [...]

St Kyriake the Great Martyr (Commemorated on the 7th of July) St Kyriake was born in Nicomedia, the only daughter of Dorotheos and Eusebia. Her pious parents were Christian and rich, but childless. Following their prayers a daughter was bestowed to them, who was named after the day she was born, being a Sunday. Kyriake was beautiful both in body and soul, and was raised with Christian principles. Many asked for her hand in marriage, but she did not want anyone, saying that she was engaged to Christ, and she wanted to die a virgin. A judge wanted Kyriake for [...]

The Three Steps of Spiritual Perfection   Many people believe that the purpose of religion is to prepare them for the life after death. Some Orthodox Christians believe that the Orthodox Faith has this exclusive purpose. They do not do much in this life, but they wait until they die, so when that time comes, they can go to Paradise, because when alive they were Orthodox Christians. Another group are quite active in this life – they pray regularly, ask the priests to offer supplication [paraklesis] or holy unction prayers, attend church frequently, etc, so that God may help them [...]

Ascended into Heaven After rising from the dead, the Lord spent forty days with His disciples teaching them the deeper meanings of the resurrection, and giving them His final instructions before gloriously ascending into heaven. While ascending from the Mount of Olives, He commissioned the Apostles to make disciples of all the nations and commanded that they baptise them in the name of the Holy Trinity. Soaring into heaven, Jesus presented His glorified human nature to the Father and having fulfilled the divine Will in all things, was enthroned at His right hand. Fulfilling the promise to send the Holy [...]