The story of creation continues in today's reading from Genesis 1:14-23. Everything is now almost ready for the appearance of human beings. I say "almost" because the "fifth day" of creation only brought into being the living creatures of the air and the waters. Land animals will appear on the sixth day, on the same "day" as humans! …
Before you fast
August 1st marks the start of a fasting period in the Orthodox Church. This is commonly called the Dormition Fast, because it spans the two weeks (Aug. 1-14) leading up to the feast of the Dormition on August 15th. The Dormition celebrates the earthly death of Mary, the Mother of our Lord, and her reception …
“Why do we fast?”
I heard an interesting story this morning on NPR. Ari Shapiro reported from Jerusalem on a gathering of Palestinian Moslems and Israeli Jews to wage peace. They gather in the evening, after a day of fasting, to break their fast together: observant Jews to mark the beginning of the destruction of the Temple and Moslems …
Ancient Answers 