The Orthodox Standard Journal

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editorial --- 1054 Don't Cross That Line !   Western converts to Orthodox Christian Faith, understandably, ask about the canonical status of their certain favorite Western saints when the dates of repose is close to the 1054 a.d.   The year 1054 A.D. is conventionally cited as the formal beginning of the Great Schism between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, primarily due to the mutual excommunications exchanged between Cardinal Humbert of Silva Candida and Patriarch Michael I Cerularius of Constantinople. However, this editorial argues that while 1054 serves as a symbolic turning point, the schism was a gradual process rather than an instantaneous rupture. An analysis of primary sources, historiographical interpretations, and theological developments, would serve to examine how and by whom 1054 was designated as the moment of division. It would conclude that while the event of 1054 was significant, the schism was not fully realized until the Latin Sack of...

 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...

 Reading the Martyrdom of St. King Edmund the Martyr Follow along with His Grace Bishop Enoch as he reads from The Passion of Saint Edmund Translation by W. W. Skeat as Published in Ælfric's Lives of Saints, TEXT:    https://torrencia.org/edmund/oetrans.html   Stichira Tone VI: TODAY THE ENGLISH LAND IS ENLIGHTENED WITH THE RAYS OF THY PASSION-BEARER, AND ADORNED WITH FLOWERS THE CHURCH OF GOD CRIETH TO THEE O HOLY MARTYR EDMUND: AS THOU ART FAVOURED BY CHRIST O FERVENT INTERCESSOR, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR SOULS.

 The journey from heterodoxy to Orthodox Christianity often involves a profound search for authenticity, unity, and a deeper connection with the apostolic faith. Here's a discussion that encompasses key aspects of such a transition: Initial Draw to Orthodoxy Many who explore Orthodoxy are drawn by its ancient roots and unbroken connection to the early Church. This appeal includes: Liturgical Depth: The Divine Liturgy, steeped in symbolism and tradition, resonates deeply with those seeking more sacramental worship. Theological Integrity: Orthodoxy's adherence to the teachings of the Church Fathers and Ecumenical Councils offers a coherent and time-tested theology. Spiritual Mysticism: The emphasis on theosis (union with God) and the transformative power of divine energies attracts those seeking an experiential faith. Common Heterodox Challenges Transitioning from heterodox traditions often means grappling with differences in theology and practice: Sola Scriptura vs...

  Introduction to Part 1 of Sedulius's 9th-Century Treatise on Christian Rulers The De Rectoribus Christianis (On Christian Rulers) by Sedulius Scottus, a 9th-century Irish scholar and priest, is a remarkable text that reflects the merging of Christian theology, Classical philosophy, and early medieval political thought. Written during the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of cultural revival and intellectual flourishing under Charlemagne and his successors, this treatise serves as both a guide and a critique for those who hold authority in the Christian world. Context and Author Sedulius Scottus was a wandering Irish monk and scholar who settled in the Carolingian court, likely in Liège, Belgium. His works are characterized by a synthesis of Irish monastic learning, patristic theology, and the rediscovered treasures of Greco-Roman thought. Sedulius wrote in Latin, a mark of his erudition, and his treatise reflects his deep commitment to the principles of Christian governance. ...

 Are you interested in the Western Traditional Orthodoxy?  That is to say, the Western Rite of the Holy genuine Orthodox Church? His Grace Bishop Enoch of Apashaw would recommend the following: I recommend, for those just starting out, to get a copy of the following texts: 1) Western Rite Orthodox Prayer Book; it has morning and evening prayers, and additional prayers for personal usage:   HERE 2) the edition of the Little Office of the Theotokos we publish; it will familiarize you with the basic structure of the Divine Office:   HERE

Thoughts from the Vicar  I don't really watch livestreams; I sometimes will watch the restream, and even then, often I will skip around; however, earlier today, I watched and skipped around the restream of Fr. Joseph's NFTU-Orthodox Apologetics program last night; someone brought up the Anglican Bishop of Kensington, Cyril Easthaugh, who attended the Consecration of Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov) in 1951 as an example of Ecumenism in ROCOR.   So, perhaps this can be a spring board to talk about similar and worse events in Church History and how to deal with them: Listen here:  Traditional Western Orthodoxy

  by Bishop Enoch Vicar of the Metropolitan in the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia     of North & South America and the British Isles   Dr. Joseph Julian Overbeck “ History was always the weak point of the Jesuits, and consequently of the Papists. If this nasty and troublesome stumbling-block could be cleared away altogether, Romanism would be irrefutable. But it is with history as with conscience. Could the criminal only clear away his provokingly uncomfortable conscience, he would be a perfectly happy man. History is the conscience of mankind, and Rome by falsifying it has sealed her own doom .” (pg. 64, “A Plain View of the Claims of the Orthodox Catholic Church As Opposed To All Other Christian Denomination, by Dr. Joseph Julian Overbeck, published in 1881) Dr. Overbeck’s statement illustrates the fact that Papism’s claims to being the Church Christ established are fundamentally and exclusively built upon forgery and subterfuge. Every attempt by Papism...

In the [Muslim] Saracen encampment they asked St. Cyril [Enlightener of the Slavs] (who reposed in 869): “How can Christians wage war and at the same time keep Christ’s commandment to pray to God for their enemies?’ To this, St. Cyril replied : “If two commandments were written in one law and given to men for fulfilling, which man would be a better follower of the law: The one who fulfilled one commandment or the one who fulfilled both?’ The Saracens replied: “Undoubtedly, he who fulfills both commandments.” St. Cyril continued: “Christ our God commands us to pray to God for those who persecute us and even do good to them, but He also said to us, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). That is why we bear the insults that our enemies cast at us individually and why we pray to God for them. However, as a society, we defend one another and lay down our lives, so that the enemy would not enslave our brethren, would not e...

  [10th / 11th Century Anglo-Saxon Prayer / Antiphon on the Holy Cross from the Service to the Holy Cross from the Pre-Conquest English Winchester Prayer Book of Abbot Aelfwine] "Thy Cross we adore, O Lord, and Thine Holy Resurrection we praise and glorify; Thou Who didst deign to be Born, to Suffer, to Die, and Rise Again from the dead; save us and have mercy on us. May the Sign of Thy Cross be upon us and defend us from all evils past, present, and future, both within and without through the Sign of Thine Holy Cross; and deliver us from all persecutions, and through this Sign of the Cross lay prostrate enemies and drive off the demons. Through this Sign of the Cross deliver us from the dangers of the world. O Cross, Life to me! O Cross, Health to me! O Cross, Resurrection to me, unto eternal life. Amen."   The Aelfwine Prayer Book is currently set into a print edition by the Henry Bradshaw Society, and can be purchased from them.

  An Traditionalist Critique of  Fr. Peter Kavanaugh's  (pastor of St. Benedict Orthodox Church in Wichita Falls, Texas} video "The Honest TRUTH About The Western Rite" by His Grace Bishop Enoch of the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas & British Isles.