Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna was a Lutheran who married into Russian nobility and eventually converted to the Orthodox faith. When her husband was assassinated by revolutionaries in 1905 she became an Orthodox nun. In 1918 she was arrested and killed by the Bolsheviks at the start of the Russian Revolution. Elisabeth was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in … [Read more...] about Amazing Letters of German Princess Who Was Slain By Bolsheviks and Became Russian Saint
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The Basics of Spiritual Life, Based on the Writings of St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) Part I
The essence of any religion is contained in the spiritual life, which is its most sacred side. Entry into this life demands not only good intentions, but also knowledge of the laws of spiritual life. But to acquire this knowledge in an age of spiritual confusion requires clear guidance. The writings of the nineteenth century ascetic and theologian, St Ignatius … [Read more...] about The Basics of Spiritual Life, Based on the Writings of St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) Part I
The Preaching of Columns
By Mary Lowell (Click on images to enlarge.) The artistic beauty of a building is not in the least a consequence of its perfect functionality. Principles of a purely artistic kind are decisive for the aesthetic value of a building. What beauty an arch can possess, or a tower in its form and color…! Dietrich von Hildebrand 1 It is common to hear people say, … [Read more...] about The Preaching of Columns
You are as Prone to Love as the Sun is to Shine
Thomas Traherne was a seventeenth century Anglican priest originally known as one of the less prominent “metaphysical poets,” although he was until recently overshadowed by figures such as John Donne and George Herbert. As a simple country priest, he led a quiet, obscure, and pious life, dying of smallpox in 1674 at less than 40 years of age. In the winter of … [Read more...] about You are as Prone to Love as the Sun is to Shine
The Night that Changed My Life
In this moving account, Archpriest Nikolai Agafono narrates how a foolish childhood escapade led his family into Orthodox Christianity, despite their dismissive view of religion that exemplified attitudes imposed by the Soviet state. As the details emerge, he skillfully reveals how God’s love can permeate even the most rigid ideological filters that modern secularism is able … [Read more...] about The Night that Changed My Life