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by Evy Pyle | Sep 13, 2019 | Blog
by Demetra Chiafos Every year on Pascha, the church goes dark and the priest emerges from the altar holding a single candle, its flame burning brightly. He chants, “Come, receive the light from the light that is never overtaken by night.” It is simple in its beauty,...
by Evy Pyle | Sep 11, 2019 | Blog
by Paul Murray “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And...
by Evy Pyle | Sep 4, 2019 | OCF Stories
I wanted to make the first blog post of the year introductory. So, hello! My name is Evyenia Pyle and I am the OCF Publications Student Leader this year! I became interested in this position after being a blog contributor last year. As I head into my sophomore year of...
by Demetri Maroutsos | Aug 13, 2019 | Chapter Discussion, Spiritual Life
Holy week is finally here amigos. This Holy Week, I want to urge you to take the time that you need to fully immerse yourself and partake even a little bit into the splendor of Christ’s Resurrection. There’s always time to start getting ready and to...
by Demetri Maroutsos | Aug 13, 2019 | Chapter Discussion, Spiritual Life
We recently began lent with one of the most moving services of the year, Forgiveness Vespers. In the epistle we hear: “As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only...
by Demetri Maroutsos | Mar 8, 2019 | Chapter Discussion, Spiritual Life
Fr. Jonathan Bannon–a priest, an OCF advocate (he was the spiritual father at the last College Conference Midwest!), and a talented graphic designer–drew up a Lenten infographic that’s perfect for college students. Here are 7 tips for getting into...
by Demetri Maroutsos | Feb 22, 2019 | OCF Stories
SLB APPLICATIONS ARE OUT! If you’re an Orthodox Christian looking to give back and serve your peers to help them grow closer to Christ, you are in the right spot. The SLB is a team of servant leaders that works to grow OCF for the benefit of our peers. We care...
by Demetri Maroutsos | Feb 15, 2019 | Spiritual Life
One of the hardest parts about true love is what lies at its core: freedom. Freedom is at the core of all healthy relationships because from it we can derive trust, understanding, and harmony. When freedom is taken out of love, it can actually become evil. Love needs...
by Demetri Maroutsos | Feb 11, 2019 | Spiritual Life
The classic response for the interview question “What is a weakness of yours?” is to reply with “I’m a perfectionist.” Oh, clever you! That answer tries to mask a weakness with a quality that is seemingly good in the eyes of an employer....
by Demetri Maroutsos | Feb 6, 2019 | Spiritual Life
One of the most beautiful prayers passed on through holy tradition is the service of Paraklesis. Any time you have a need, you can bring it in humility to the feet of the Theotokos or the saint you are asking for intercession. The nine canons are like roses of prayer...
by Demetri Maroutsos | Feb 1, 2019 | Student Reflection
Let’s set the scene: we had just finished breakfast after fully enjoying the treat that are the breakfast potatoes of the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. We settle down in in our seats, and we are suddenly attending a gospel concert starring none other than the...
by Demetri Maroutsos | Jan 30, 2019 | Saints
A personal favorite saint of mine, St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, is a beacon of light for those going through college. Her life is a wonderful example for how we should conduct ourselves and her intercessions are particularly relevant to the stresses an average college...
by A Guest Author | Jan 24, 2019 | Spiritual Life
“Noise is one of the most common pollutants. It is often ignored because it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. And yet it can have negative effects on human well-being” (ASHA.org). Did you know that a hair blow dryer can cause hearing damage because of the...
by A Guest Author | Jan 24, 2019 | Spiritual Life
My alarm goes off at 6:30 AM this morning. I hop in the shower, get dressed, say my morning prayers, and head off to church for the Royal Hours for Nativity. Since I am a tonsured reader, I help read some of the psalms, Old Testament, and Epistle readings for the...
by A Guest Author | Jan 18, 2019 | Spiritual Life
1. Read the Whole Orthodox Study Bible I know this sounds like a daunting task to complete in one year, but this PDF gives you a guide to reading the entire Orthodox Study Bible in one year. The PDF starts on September 1st (for the Ecclesiastical New Year), but you...
by Demetri Maroutsos | Dec 10, 2018 | Spiritual Life
Christmas, for most Orthodox Christians, is a time of fasting, prayer, worship, sacraments, spiritual renewal, and philanthropy. It is a more religious celebration that is not as commercial as in some cultures. It is a time where we also have many traditions that help...
by Demetri Maroutsos | Dec 7, 2018 | Spiritual Life
We are now in the wake of Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday, and coursing through the Advent season. Gratitude is a theme that presents itself during this season and its an important quality to have to grow in humility. We Christians are not only ‘thankful’ in...
by A Guest Author | Nov 21, 2018 | Spiritual Life
As college students, we have a lot to be thankful for. We are thankful for our family, our friends, our home. A lot of times, we are thankful for simple things like the free food on campus or the email from our professor canceling our 8 a.m. class. I don’t know...
by A Guest Author | Nov 21, 2018 | Spiritual Life
Most often, I am truly thankful when I am not trying to be. There’s a sensation of gratitude overflowing in the soul when an unexpected blessing comes my way or when I happen to avoid an accident by some providential circumstance. But when set occasions for...
by A Guest Author | Nov 20, 2018 | Student Reflection
My names Simeon and I go to County College of Morris in NJ. My Real Break experience started at the age of ten; surprising right? No they didn’t let a ten-year-old go on Real Break, but at the age of ten, I sent my oldest brother off on his first Real Break trip to...
