Holy Week has been noted as a busy one from generations to generations of Orthodox families. I have never really heard anyone say they are truly exhausted from it – tired yes of being in church sometimes three times a day on top of cooking dinner, cleaning and raising a family but never flat out… Continue reading Pascha Edition: Hrutka.
In Chinese culture, the pussy willow symbolizes growth. Pussy willows are given each Palm Sunday in Ukrainian and Orthodox churches instead of palms because palms don’t grow that far north of Europe and America. I always liked getting pussy willows at church. It’s a bundle of twigs with buds tied in ribbon that looks so… Continue reading Palm Sunday.
By now, you have probably received multiple accounts from Orthodox sources on preparing for the home stretch being Holy Week. Imagine how much of a home stretch it would feel like when you fasted properly, gone to confession and made an effort to attend as many services (if not all) as you can. Holy Week… Continue reading As we raise Lazarus today, I fall and get back up myself.
Lenten meal planning can be so daunting to plan for in advance. There are many reasons why others fall off the wagon or just don’t want to participate. They don’t know how to cook, they don’t have the budget, or there’s not enough of healthy options around them. Here’s a few secrets: You don’t always have… Continue reading pancit.
It’s the fifth Sunday of Lent where Orthodox Christians commemorate St Mary of Egypt. St Mary is a strong example of someone in the faith of how no matter how far you feel you strayed from the church, you can seek forgiveness and come back. Only in words does this seem simple, right? Forgiveness is… Continue reading How St Mary of Egypt helped me find my spiritual father
Spaghetti alio e olio is not the only best kept secret among men and women in their chef whites. Nor is just a midnight delicacy – though the flavor composition is so comforting that I beg to differ. Known as midnight spaghetti or what chefs would make for themselves after a long day of work,… Continue reading spaghetti alio e olio.
St Michael’s Orthodox Church, Mount Carmel PA Growing up, I always wondered what was so important of making it a priority to attend the weekly Lenten services and even an additional Vespers serviceon Sunday evenings during Orthodox Lent. It seemed so overwhelming for a teenager and an early twentysomething that I could imagine what a… Continue reading Why you should consider attending a lenten service.
Russia, Western Russia, Eastern Orthodox Church. Photo Credit: Pinterest For 2000 years in the Orthodox Church, women of all ages would veil their hair during worship, whether at liturgy or at home during family prayer time. It is a practice that was “ought to be, not should be” practiced by all women. Nowadays, this custom… Continue reading Why Some Women Choose to wear Headcoverings in the Orthodox Church
Photo Credit: Pinterest There’s among many reasons why someone chooses not to fast. Some are practical and logical, but some can be rather closed-minded. Calling most vegan food bland to worrying about getting enough protein and being afraid to eat soy without no real explanation are three examples of a closed-minded response. I wish everyone a… Continue reading why soy isn’t so bad.
It is not hard or unheard of to have a fallback Asian or Indian restaurant during the fast. For awhile, that was us. Regardless of the weather, there was something about ordering out and making the pilgrimage over to the corner Chinese restaurant or to the nearest Indian restaurant. It turned into a… Continue reading kashmiri daal.
Crumbs 