Connect with Christ
As Orthodox Christians it is important for us to learn how to connect with Christ by learning about Him and His Church. Learn more about OrthodoxyFind answers to Life's QuestionsWhat is Orthodoxy
What is Orthodoxy?
The Orthodox Christian Church, founded by Jesus Christ and with its beginnings chronicled in the New Testament, is the oldest Christian Church in the world. All other Christian churches and groups can be traced historically back to the Orthodox Church.
With roughly 250 million members worldwide, Orthodoxy is second in size only to the Roman Catholic Church. However, in spite of its size, relatively few Americans are aware that it exists.
The Orthodox Church has deep and lasting roots in Christian antiquity and is steeped in rich Biblical tradition. It has been the context of Christian living for millions of Christians for almost twenty centuries.
Read more about Orthodoxy and the Church that Jesus founded through some of the articles below.
Find Yourself This Holy Week
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 engage! The...
Forgiveness
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...
Time to Hit the Gym
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 the spiritual gym...
Deepen Your Spiritual Practice
Praxis is the Greek word for “practice.” In the Church, praxis refers to the actions which flow from our relationship with Christ. Praxis is living theology and active love. Check out some of these articles about how you can commit to Praxis in your everyday life or use one of our Praxis Programs for your chapter.
Find Yourself This Holy Week
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 engage! The...
Forgiveness
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...
Time to Hit the Gym
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 the spiritual gym...
Get to Know the Saints
As Saint Paul did in his epistles, the word we use for “saint” is the Greek word for “holy”- agios. By calling someone a saint, in a real sense we are celebrating the presence of holiness in the world. Every baptized and chrismated member of the church is already a saint and every one of us has the vocation to become a saint. The saints are human examples of those among us who have loved Christ above all else, and are examples that we strive to emulate. Read about some of the saints in our blog or talk about the lives of the saints at a chapter meeting.
St. Xenia, I’m Nervous about My Future
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...
What’s in a Name?
What's in a name? Names are powerful way that we humans distill the lives and identities of people into a linguistic expression. Names are powerful. We are lucky because our Lord became human, and even the evocation of His name, Jesus, holds power (think about the...
Sometimes the Best Words You Can Say Are Tears
A few years ago, I had the life changing experience of seeing a weeping icon. When I got home I couldn't stop talking about it. I told all my friends, even those who were not Orthodox. Predictably, a few of my friends didn’t understand. Some told me I was being...
There’s a Saint for that
There’s a Saint for That is a simple program any chapter can follow to get to know a new saint together! We’ve created a template, and you can do the research online to apply it to any saint. Use this as a personal Praxis Program or develop it into a whole meeting with a discussion and an akathist.
For Courage to Pursue Rightousness
For Travel
Life’s Challenges & Questions
Are you looking for answers to some of Life’s Challenges & Questions? The Church has answers. To see what they are, look through these articles written by other members of OCF who have struggled with some of the same questions you may be encountering in your life.
Find Yourself This Holy Week
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 engage! The...
Forgiveness
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...
Time to Hit the Gym
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 the spiritual gym...
Share the Gospel On Campus
Day of Light
As Orthodox Christians, it is important to Share the Gospel. Started at the University of Pittsburgh, Day of Light is an easy way for OCF chapters to set up a table about OCF on their campuses and share the Gospel. During the Day of Light, your chapter takes prayer requests from all students, and offers them a chance to light a candle at a Paraklesis service. The hope as an OCF chapter is to share the Light of Christ with our neighbors by doing something we do every Sunday, lighting candles for ourselves and for our loved ones!
Apologetic’s
Find Yourself This Holy Week
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 engage! The...
Forgiveness
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...
Time to Hit the Gym
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 the spiritual gym...
Pan-Orthodoxy
OCF is a Pan-Orthodox ministry by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. It is made up of all the active, canonical Orthodox bishops of the United States of America, of every jurisdiction. The purpose of the Assembly of Bishops of the United States of America is to preserve and contribute to the unity of the Orthodox Church by helping to further her spiritual, theological, ecclesiological, canonical, educational, missionary and philanthropic aims. To accomplish this, the Assembly has as its goals:
- the promotion and accomplishment of Church unity in the United States
- the strengthening of the common pastoral ministry to all the Orthodox faithful of the region
- a common witness by the Church to all those outside her, and
- the organization of the Church in the United States in accordance with the ecclesiological and the canonical tradition of the Orthodox Church.
Find Yourself This Holy Week
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 engage! The...
Forgiveness
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...
Time to Hit the Gym
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 the spiritual gym...