The Orthodox Standard Journal

 On The Time of Antichrist from his book “The Reckoning of Time” by  St. Bede the Venerable  “We have two very certain indicators of the approach of the Day of Judgment, namely the conversion of the Jewish people, and the reign and persecution of Antichrist, which persecution the Church believes will last three and a half years. But lest this [persecution] come unexpectedly and involve everyone whom it finds unprepared, [the Church believes] that Enoch and Elias, great Prophets and Teachers, will come into the world before [Antichrist’s] arrival, and will convert the Jewish people to the Grace of Faith, and will surrender to the insuperable affliction of this mighty whirlwind directed against the elect.  After they have preached for three and a half years, and as the Prophet Malachi predicts, one of them – Elias – has ‘turned the hearts of the fathers to the children’ (that is, when they will have planted the faith and love of the Saints of old in the mind of those w...

  THE COLLECTS FOR CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT O God, Who hast made this most holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant, we beseech Thee that as we known on earth the mysteries of that Light, so we may have the fruition of Its joys in Heaven, Who liveth with The and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Christ is Born!  Glorify Him!

Is Salvation a Communal or Personal Journey? --editor   In the heart of Eastern Orthodox Christianity lies a profound understanding of salvation—one that is both deeply communal and intensely personal. Far from being an individualistic pursuit or a purely collective experience, salvation in Orthodoxy weaves together the threads of community and individuality into a single, harmonious tapestry.   The Personal Path to Salvation Salvation is deeply personal. Each believer must freely respond to God’s invitation to life and transformation. While the Church provides the context, the individual must take the steps: repentance, faith, and a commitment to growth in virtue. Orthodox Church describes salvation as Theosis , or deification—the process by which we become perfected sharing more and more in the nature of God. This journey is unique for every person. It involves the daily work of prayer, self-examination, and striving to align our will with God’s w...