In John 3 Jesus says that we need to be “born from above” (“born again”) “of water and Spirit”. In this video, we learn about the Eastern Orthodox Church’s understanding of the birth of the Holy Spirit. We discover that the roots of this belief are found in the earliest days of Christianity.
Agape is selfless love – a love that seeks nothing for itself and gives everything for the sake of the other. This is the love of Christ, who gave up his own life so that we may live forever.
True selfless love goes beyond seeking recognition for what we have done or expecting gratitude or repayment in return. It is not a tool to leverage favors in the future, nor is it reserved for those who have earned our affection in the past. Instead, genuine selfless love flows freely, reflecting the boundless and unconditional love of God. It means acting because we recognize a divine opportunity to reflect the love of Jesus Christ – a love that calls us to care for others as He has cared for us.
When we embrace this kind of love, our actions and words become a living testimony of Christ’s love. As we show kindness, extend forgiveness, or offer help to others, we open the door for them to encounter Christ’s presence through us. As 1 John 4:19 reminds us, “We love because He first loved us.” This truth underscores the foundation of our lives as followers of Jesus Christ.
To bear the name of Christ is to carry His love into the world. It is to make visible the invisible God by allowing His love to shine through our deeds, even when no one notices or thanks us. In doing so, we fulfill His command to love others as He has loved us. By being ambassadors of his Christ’s this love, we glorify Him and share the hope of salvation with others.
I’m delighted to share with you my first collaboration with my good friends at the Patristix YouTube Channel. God willing, it’s the first of many.
This is a session of the Fellowship of St. Theophan the Recluse (FOSTR), a world-wide online community of Eastern Orthodox seekers and inquirers. I’d only recorded audio at this session, and I’m very grateful to Brothers Robinson at Patristix for the wonderful artwork and video.
This is Saint Isaac the Syrian on the Feast of Christ Nativity: “This is the night of the most gentle one. Let no one be cruel. This is the night of the humble one. Let no one be proud. Now is the day of joy. Let us not revenge.” → [Watch Video]
The Kingdom of God is both a coming reality and is a present reality in the hearts of believers. To have a life in Christ is to be in the Kingdom both now and unto the ages of ages.
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Here’s a clip from a session of my church’s online Bible Study. The New Testament describes two kinds of time – “chronos” and “kairos.” The difference between the two is immense… eternal even.
Eastern Orthodoxy 