Posted on by frajarmus

The Sunday of Forgiveness

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Great Lent begins on a Monday. The day before Lent starts is called the Sunday of Forgiveness.

Forgiveness Sunday serves as a vital extension of the Sunday of the Last Judgment. If serving our neighbor is serving Christ, then making peace with those who have hurt us is making peace with Christ Himself.

We need to remember that any resentment we harbor acts as a wedge between us and the Lord; we cannot truly draw near to Christ while pushing a brother or sister away. As the Scripture warns: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, and clamor be put away from you” (Ephesians 4:31).

To experience the peace of Christ during Great Lent, we are called to be active peacemakers—especially with those who hurt us, offend us, or just “get under our skin.” By laying down our grievances, we clear the spiritual path for the Holy Spirit to work within us.

This season, let us embrace the promise: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). As we begin the Fast, let us first forgive, that we may be forgiven.

Posted on by frajarmus

The Father Looks for Our Return

“But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him… and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

The father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son was looking for his lost child the entire time the young man was away. He wasn’t sitting inside, nursing a grievance or waiting for an apology to slide under the door. This is the posture of our God—always watching, always waiting, and always desiring our return.

Notice that the father did not wait for the son to close the gap. He could have stood his ground to make a point. Instead, the moment he saw him, he made no effort to conceal his overwhelming love and joy. He bridged the distance himself, refusing to let his son walk that last mile home by himself.

Whatever distance we feel between us and God in our hearts, we can rest in the knowledge that He is not waiting for us to be perfect before He embraces us. He is not holding back to teach us a lesson. The moment we make the slightest turn toward Him, He is already running toward us, ready to greet us not with a lecture, but with a kiss. We are loved, we are missed, and we are welcome home.

Posted on by frajarmus

Online group for Orthodox seekers

The Fellowship of St Theophan the Recluse is a ministry of the Orthodox Church in America’s Bulgarian Diocese. We currently have over 100 members. Most members are from North America but we also have people from the British Isles, Latin America, Africa, and Australia.

It’s a mixed bag of interest levels. Some are very intentional about becoming Orthodox, but aren’t anywhere near an Orthodox church. Some would like to become more involved in the Orthodox Church, but cannot for a variety of reasons. Others are just checking Eastern Orthodoxy out.

We also have Orthodox Christians who can’t get to church regularly, or the church they attend has services and programs in a language they don’t understand.

All are welcome.

I send out an email every weekday to stay in touch and once a month we have a live meeting on Zoom.

If this sounds like something you might find helpful, send me an email for more info.