Doug’s Theological Thoughts

  • Saints of the Day 2025-01-14

    The Holy Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus The Holy Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus, Slavs by origin, lived at the beginning of the fourth century during a persecution against Christians by the emperor Licinius (311-324). Saint Hermylus served as deacon in the city of Singidunum (Belgrade). Condemned by Licinius to imprisonment, he was long and cruelly tortured…

  • Zacharias son of Barachias

    Here’s an interesting verse: Matthew 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. The name Zacharias son of Barachias is an enigmatic name. Zacharias is an…

  • On Hating the “Institution” of the Church

    Gospel reading for today. ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 4:7-13 BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (in saying, “He ascended, ” what does it…

  • Jesus Among the Gentiles

    Gospel Reading of the Day MATTHEW 4:12-17 At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of…

  • Saints of the Day 2025-01-12

    Tatiana the Martyr of Rome (200’s AD) The Holy Virgin Martyr Tatiana was born into an illustrious Roman family, and her father was elected consul three times. He was secretly a Christian and raised his daughter to be devoted to God and the Church. When she reached the age of maturity, Tatiana decided to remain…

  • Taking a Social Media Break

    If Jesus needed to get away and pray, so much more I need to do the same. Luke 5:15-16 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and…

  • Saints of the Day 2025-01-10

    Gregory of Nyssa In the year 372, Gregory of Nyssa was consecrated by Saint Basil the Great as bishop of the city of Nyssa in Cappadocia. Saint Gregory was an ardent advocate for Orthodoxy, and he fought against the Arian heresy with his brother Saint Basil. Gregory was persecuted by the Arians, by whom he…

  • Saints of the Day 2025-01-09

    Polyeuctus the Martyr of Melitene in Armenia Saint Polyeuktos went to the city square, and tore up the edict of Decius which required everyone to worship the idols. A few moments later, he met a procession carrying twelve idols through the streets of the city. Dashing the idols to the ground, he trampled them underfoot.…

  • The Biblical Case for the Dec. 25th Birth of Christ

    Page here

  • The Theotokos in Psalm 5

    Using Reading the Nativity Psalms to understand Psalm 5. Psalm 5:1 [For the end, a Psalm of David, concerning her that inherits.] 2 Hearken to my words, O Lord, attend to my cry. 3 Attend to the voice of my supplication, my King, and my God: for to thee, O Lord, will I pray. 4…

  • The Cappadocian Fathers

    From Grok. The Cappadocian Fathers—St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nazianzus (also known as Gregory the Theologian), and St. Gregory of Nyssa—made profound contributions to the Eastern Orthodox Church, particularly in the realms of theology, liturgy, and monasticism. Here’s a summary of their major contributions: Theological Contributions: Liturgical and Ecclesiological Contributions: Philosophical and Ethical…

  • From Plato to Augustine to Calvin

    This is clarifying – Even Dositheus Did Not Think the Confession of Dositheus Was Infallible. The following was from Grok (X/Twitter AI tool) since I’m not a subject matter expert. It was posed as a series of questions and answers. The questions are in bold. What is the link between Plato, Augustine, and Calvin? The…

  • “Mysteries” in the Orthodox Church

    One word that I found difficult to understand when I studied Orthodoxy is the word “mystery”. In particular, the Orthodox Church refers to “The Mysteries” often in terms of the Seven Sacraments. One page puts it well. Unlike some other Christian denominations, which may view sacraments primarily as symbolic rituals, Orthodox Christians believe that the…

  • Reading the Nativity Psalms

    These are notes from a lecture by Dr. Justin Gohl, Lecturer in Old Testament at St Tikhon’s Seminary, (Here are some of his numerous publications). Any errors in the following are all mine and not Dr. Gohl’s. I wrote it up here to preserve it for my own future reference and application and anyone who…

  • Saints for Today – 2024-12-12

    Spyridon the Wonderworker of Trymithous Orthodox Christianity Then and Now Holy New Martyr Peter the Aleut Orthodox Christianity Then and Now John (or Joachim), Bishop of Zichni Orthodox Christianity Then and Now

  • Gospel Reading 2024-12-12

    JOHN 10:9-16The Lord said, “I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good…

  • Epistle Reading 2024-12-12

    ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 5:8-19Brethren, walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a…

  • Saints of the Day 2024-12-11

    Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople Luke the New Stylite of Chalcedon Martyrs Acepsius and Aeithalas Holy Martyrs Miracus and Barsabas Leontios the Righteous of Monemvasia The Glorious King Nikephoros Phokas

  • Gospel Reading 2024-12-11

    MARK 8:30-34At that time, Jesus charged his disciples to tell no one about him, that he is the Christ. And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise…

  • Epistle Reading 2024-12-11

    ST. PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS 2:1-12Brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of…

  • Epistle Reading 2024-12-09

    ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS 4:22-27Brethren, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount…

  • The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos

    According to the ancient tradition of the Church, since Saint Anna, the Ancestor of God, was barren, she and her husband Joachim remained without children until old age. Therefore, sorrowing over their childlessness, they besought God with a promise that, if He were to grant them the fruit of the womb, they would offer their…

  • Gospel Reading 2024-12-07

    LUKE 13:19-29The Lord said this parable, “The kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom…

  • Epistle Reading 2024-12-07

    ST. PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS 11:1-6Brethren, I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband. But I am afraid that as the serpent…