Doug’s Theological Thoughts

  • Epistle Reading – 2025-02-01

    ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS 8:28-39Brethren, we know that everything works for good with those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And…

  • Fasting in the Early Church

    The Didache is first-century document which describes the practice of fasting in the earliest Church. Chapter 8. Fasting and Prayer (the Lord’s Prayer). But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites, for they fast on the second and fifth day of the week. Rather, fast on the fourth day (Wednesday) and the Preparation (Friday).…

  • Saints – 2025-02-01

    Trypho the Martyr The Martyr Tryphon was born in Phrygia, one of the districts of Asia Minor, in the village of Lampsacus. From his early years the Lord granted him the power to cast out demons and to heal various maladies. He once saved the inhabitants of his native city from starvation. Saint Tryphon, by…

  • Epistle Reading – 2025-01-31

    ST. PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS 12:27-31; 13:1-8Brethren, you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all…

  • Saints – 2025-01-31

    Cyrus & John the Unmercenaries, Holy Women Martyrs Theodote, Theoktiste and Eudoxia Saint Cyrus was a noted physician in the city of Alexandria, where he had been born and raised. He was a Christian and he treated the sick without charge, not only curing their bodily afflictions, but also healing their spiritual infirmities. He would…

  • Gospel Reading – 2025-01-30

    MATTHEW 5:14-19The Lord said to his disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men,…

  • Epistle Reading – 2025-01-30

    ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE HEBREWS 13:7-16Brethren, remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their lives, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is well that the…

  • Saints – 2025-01-30

    Synaxis of The Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, & John Chrysostom Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom: During the eleventh century, disputes raged in Constantinople about which of the three hierarchs was the greatest. Some preferred Saint Basil (January 1), others honored Saint Gregory…

  • History of Dispensationalism

    From Grok. Dispensationalism is a theological framework within Protestant Christianity that interprets the Bible’s history and prophecy through distinct periods, or “dispensations,” where God deals with humanity in different ways. Here’s a brief history of its development: Origins: Spread and Influence: Key Developments: Modern Dispensationalism: Criticisms and Debates: This overview encapsulates how Dispensationalism has shaped…

  • Gospel Reading – 2025-01-29

    MARK 9:33-41At that time, Jesus and his disciples came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve; and…

  • Epistle Reading – 2025-01-29

    ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE HEBREWS 10:32-38Brethren, recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on the prisoners, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property,…

  • Saints – 2025-01-29

    Ignatius and Nicandrus of Sinai Laurence the Recluse of the Kiev Caves Saint Laurence, Hermit of the Caves and Bishop of Turov, in the Near Caves at first lived as a hermit at the monastery of the Great Martyr Demetrius, built by Great Prince Izyaslav at Kiev near the Monastery of the Caves. Later, he…

  • Ancient Christian Prayer

    Archaeologists Say This Tiny Amulet Is the Oldest Evidence of Christianity Found North of the Alps Discovered in central Germany, the 1,800-year-old silver artifact held a tiny scroll, which researchers have now deciphered using high-resolution scans Smithsonian December 19, 2024 Experts have been able to read the scroll’s inscription without unrolling it. According to an…

  • The pillar and ground of the truth

    1 Timothy 3:15 I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

  • Gospel Reading – 2025-01-28

    Mark 11:11-23 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree…

  • Epistle Reading – 2025-01-28

    James 3:1-10 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may…

  • Saints – 2025-01-28

    Ephraim the Syrian Saint Ephraim the Syrian, a teacher of repentance, was born at the beginning of the fourth century in the city of Nisibis (Mesopotamia) into the family of impoverished toilers of the soil. His parents raised their son in piety, but from his childhood he was known for his quick temper and impetuous…

  • Gospel Reading – 2025-01-27

    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 – 2025-01-27

    ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE HEBREWS 7:26-28; 8:1-2Brethren, it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did…

  • Saints – 2025-01-27

    Peter the Righteous of Egypt ca 300 AD The tenth-century historian Severus of Ashmumeen gives us an account of how during the Diocletianic Persecution the Patriarch was seized and thrown in prison. When the emperor was informed about this, he ordered Peter to be beheaded. This was hindered by a large number of Christians who…

  • Gospel Reading – 2025-01-26

    LUKE 19:1-10At that time, Jesus was passing through Jericho. And there was a man named Zacchaios; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a…

  • Epistles Reading – 2025-01-26

    ST. PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO TIMOTHY 4:9-15Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and suffer reproach, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let…

  • Saints – 2025-01-26

    Xenophon & his Companions Saint Xenophon, his wife Maria, and their sons Arcadius and John, were noted citizens of Constantinople and lived in the fifth century. Despite their riches and position, they distinguished themselves by their simplicity of soul and goodness of heart. Wishing to give their sons John and Arcadius a more complete education,…

  • Evidence of the Destruction of the Temple 70 AD

    The Arch of Titus (Italian: Arco di Tito; Latin: Arcus Tītī) is a 1st-century AD honorific arch, located on the Via Sacra, Rome, just to the south-east of the Roman Forum. It was constructed in c. 81 AD by Emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus to commemorate Titus’s official deification…