Pastoral Journal

An Orthodox Christian priest's occasional pastoral journal by Priest Seraphim Holland. Commentary on scripture, prayers, services, spiritual topics, catechesis, homilies, and whatever else comes to mind.

2019

• My Trip to Kenya Part 01, by Matushka Marina Holland, Thursday, 1/17/19 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya,by Matushka Marina Holland, Monday, 1/21/19 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya Part 02, Part 03,by Matushka Marina Holland (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 04,by Matushka Marina Holland, Thursday, January 26, 2019 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 05,by Matushka Marina Holland, Friday, January 25, 2019 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 06,by Matushka Marina Holland, Saturday, January 26, 2019 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 07,by Matushka Marina Holland, Sunday, January 27, 2019 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 08,by Matushka Marina Holland,Monday, January 28, 2019 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 09,by Matushka Marina Holland, Tuesday, January 29, 2019 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 10,by Matushka Marina Holland, Tuesday, January 30, 2019 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 11,by Matushka Marina Holland, Thursday, January 31, 2019 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 12,by Matushka Marina Holland, Thursday, February 1, 2019 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 13,by Matushka Marina Holland, Saturday, February 2, 2019 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 14,by Matushka Marina Holland, Sunday, February 3, 2019 (DOC, PDF)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 15,by Matushka Marina Holland, Tuesday, February 5, 2019 (PDF, DOC)
• My Trip to Kenya, Part 16,by Matushka Marina Holland, Tuesday, February 5, 2019 (PDF, DOC)

2014

• Commentary on 'Envy is a venomous beast, an unclean beast, a deliberate vice' by St John Chrysostom and Aesop's fable about the avaricious and envious man (DOC)

2013

• If a priest prays in an empty church, does he make a sound? Contemplation of priestly prayer when alone. (DOC)
• A Mouse in the House. Prison Pets. (DOC)
• WHY do we fast? Always do the things you CAN do. The Holy Fathers on Fasting. Prison Ministry Letter, Mon, Jul 30/ Aug 12 2013 (DOC)
• All things work to the good. Crown them with glory and honor! Humble Pie. Thoughts on the wedding of Mykael & Anastasia, and illness. (DOC)
• Monophysitism, an Orthodox explanation. Why is this stuff important? Enduring wrongs. Why? How? Sharia law and injustice. A letter to prisoners, June 26/ July 9, Apostles Fast 2013 (DOC)
• Up, Up, Up with a fish. Tenacity and blindness. Lessons learned on the Trinity River, applicable to knowing the Trinity. (DOC)
• Fasting in prison. Purpose in life. Extracts from a letter to a prisoner (DOC)
• John 17:11 No unity with God without unity with our neighbor (DOC)
• And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Eternal life, perfect freedom and joy explained - John16:22-24. 6th Tuesday of Pascha, May 22/June 4 2013 (DOC)
• Keep Holy things from becoming Common! (DOC)
• By this all will know that you are My disciples� John 13:35 (DOC)
• Jesus washes the Disciple's feet. John 13:1-20 (DOC)
• The Father is in Me, and I in Him. John 10:30 (DOC)
• The sheep follow him: for they know his voice. John 10:1-5 (DOC)
• Order of prayers. Resurrection, Compunction, Martyrs. Rhythm of prayer. Monday of the Myrhhbearers (DOC)
• Faith and works. John 5:28-29 2nd Wed of Pascha, 2013 (DOC)
• Healing of the Paralytic. Wilt thou be made whole? John 5:1-15 2nd Tuesday of Pascha, 2013 (DOC)
• Kermit Gosnell and the culture of sexualism and death. On the date of the guilty verdicts in his trial. Apr 30/May 13 2013 (DOC)
• Healing of the nobleman's son. Most healing is not flashy, and is preceded by patience and faith. John 4:46-54, 2013 (DOC)
• Heavenly things are hard to learn John 3:7-12 Bright Friday 2013 (DOC)
• "...Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it " [John 2:18] The Greatest signs are in the heart. Bright Thursday 2013 (DOC)
• A homily on "...Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it " [John 2:5]. Bright Wednesday 2013 (DOC)
• "Come and see" - It applies to everything. John 1:46 Bright Tuesday 2013 (DOC)
• How to BECOME a child of God - John 1:12-13 (DOC)
• Comments on the 2013 Lenten Pastoral Retreat - Diocese of Chicago and Middle America ROCOR - Mar 20/April 2 - Mar 22/ April 3 2013 (DOC, PDF)
• Prison Ministry Trip. "Compel them to come in" - choose to not have a choice! Are you content? Feb 8/21, Great martyr Theodore Stratelates. (DOC)
• And in one, holy, Catholic and APOSTOLIC Church. Apostolic succession explained by St Clement of Alexandria (PDF, DOC)
• Thou wilt send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created; and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Psalm 103:3 St Ambrose teaches that this is about the Incarnation and recreation of man in Christ. (DOC, PDF)

2012

• O me of little Faith! An account of a change of heart at a Dallas Abortion Clinic. (DOC, PDF)
• "Wash ye, be ye clean" Chrysostom's interpretation of Isaiah 7:16-18 Forgiveness is a collaboration!
• "Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." The Parable of the unjust steward explains how to fulfil this commandment.
• What is the meaning of life? An Orthodox Christian answer. (PDF)
• Martyr Zosima the Wilderness-Dweller Commemorated Sep 19
• The world, that is life enslaved by the affections of the flesh. St Basil the Great. (DOC)
• Commentary on the verse: For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing. (DOC)
• "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." Commentary by Saint Nicolai Velimirovich, Missionary Letters, Part 1, Letter 9, followed by contemporary commentary. (DOC)
• Twelve hour vigil in front of Planned Parenthood in McKinney TX. A day in the life, praying for the healing of life. Abortion Euphemisms. Anger. Do not reason with the unreasonable (DOC, PDF)
• A prayer is a promise. Exposition of the Theotokion from the Great Canon: Spotless Mother of God, only all-hymned Virgin, pray intensely that we may be saved. (DOC)
• Flier for McKinney “Forty Days for Life” for Orthodox Christians Mar 6, Tue, 7am-7 pm Mar 17, Sat 7am - 3pm (DOC, PDF)
• Happiness (Salvation) is having our outside match our inside.
• Progress on the Deck, Nov 30/2011
• Some answers to prayer for people on our public prayer list. (DOC, DOC)
• Let us not grieve when we make a slip, but when we become hardened by it. Do not be afraid of sin, be afraid of not repenting. Sayings of St Isaac the Syrian and poor emulators of him. (DOC)
• Words of wisdom from a 6 year old: Key to living a good life: You have to twy!! (DOC)
• An exhortation to partake of the Holy Eucharist, based upon the example of Hieromartyr Lucian of Antioch, a living antiminsion.
• And the Lord is become a refuge (DOC)
• Orthodox Icons related to Abortion (DOC)
• The Rich get sick more because of self-indulgence. Saint John Chrysostom understands medicine! A quote from his homilies and an short explanation about fasting. (DOC)
• Service Commemorating the Ten Year Anniversary of September 11, 2001 Served in churches of the Greek Archdiocese, Metropolis of Atlanta. (DOC)
• Prayerful Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the Terrorist attacks of 9-11 (2001)
• Names of Confirmed Orthodox Christians,Who Were Killed by the Muslim Terrorists on 9/11/2001. From Bishop Savas (Zembillas), Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (DOC, PDF)
• St. John Chrysostom on the necessity of reading scripture daily. (DOC)
• A Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, by St John of Damascus From His Third Sermon on the Dormition (DOC)
• Holy Martyr Jacinthus (Hyacinth) Commemorated July 3 It is all because of holiness. Commemorated July 3 (DOC)
• Life of St Mary of Egypt - by the numbers
• Intrigues in the Church. First Saturday of Great Lent - St Theodore the Tyro. Bishop Jerome of Manhattan (DOC)
• Why do we fast? Because we love God more than the gifts He gives us. Patriarch Daniel of Romania (DOC)
• Beloved brothers and sisters, what is the purpose of Great Lent? (DOC)
• Evil Ignorance vs. Ignorance pleasing to God. Ilias the Presbyter, Gnomic Anthology (DOC)
• The Liturgical Theme of the Sunday of Forgiveness, The Casting out of Adam from Paradise. The prerequisite for true forgiveness. (DOC)
• As we think, so we live. Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Pilgrimage to the Hermitage of the Holy Cross, Wayne, WV Part 1 (DOC)
• The Parable of the Publican and Pharisee. St. Nikolai Velimirovic. Luke 18:10-14 (DOC)
• The Significance of Communing by Fr George Calciu (DOC)
• On the Lord's Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. The meaning of "Two men went to the temple". St Gregory Palamas (DOC)
• Arm yourselves with the same mind. He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. The Christian view of suffering and pleasure. 1 Peter 4:1-2
• On the Lord's Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. Humility and Conceit. St Gregory Palamas (DOC)
• "let him refrain his tongue from evil" One cannot be a Christian without enduring persecution without complaining. 1 Peter 3:10-22 Mark 12:18-27 (DOC)
• On the Lord's Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee - Various ways the Evil One attacks virtue. St Gregory Palamas (DOC)
• Murphy's law and molebens. Logismoi. How to think about personal intercessory prayer. (DOC)
• As many have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27. An explanation by Saint Gregory Palamas (DOC)
• I am come to save Adam, the first-fashioned man. Royal Hours of Theophany. Kontakion of the pre-festival - Tone 4
• Royal Hours of Theophany - Troparion of the pre-festival � Tone 4. Whereby we cross the flowing stream of life. (DOC)
• Quiet and healing for the soul - Monday Moleben and Akathist. (DOC)
• Hubbard Squash Soup. A well liked recipe at our parish Trapeza. (DOC)
• Hummus Recipes. (DOC)

2010

• O Good Physician� A prayer inspired by St Ephrem the Syrian. Monasticism applied to everyone! The Modern Illness in Orthodoxy (DOC)
• The Good Turkish Judge. From the Life of the Elder Ieronymos of Aegina (+1966) (DOC)
• Apostle Titus of the Seventy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
• God gave us a Church. We need to make use of it as we should - St Theophan the Recluse.
• Reflections of the Life of St Mary of Egypt. It is always personal. Things are never as they seem. March 3/16 2020, 5th Tuesday of Great Lent. (DOC)
• NB: Just one resolution for Great Lent. Fasting and prayer. Clean Thursday, 2010, Feb 4/17 2020 (DOC)
• Snow in Texas. Hope in the soul. Saturday before the Sunday of Forgiveness (DOC)
• Prayer for the Dead. Saturday of the Dead. All Souls Saturday. Why do we do it? (DOC)

2009

• Ordination to the Diaconate - Homily by Met Anthony Bloom. (DOC)
• The Psalter chases the blues away. The Psalter applies to everything. The Psalter always applies to you. Weak faith. (DOC)
• Avoid profane and vain babblings. Life is short. Treat each day as your last, and you will never sin. 1 Timothy 6:17-20. Nov 27/ Dec 10 27th Thursday after Pentecost (DOC)
• Christian Life Skills: Praying for others. Praying for enemies. The Jesus Prayer. To pray for someone more diligently (DOC)
• Priest Daniel Sysoiev. Matushka Julia Sysoieva. Collection for his family. (DOC)
• His Holiness, Patriarch Pavle, Another glimpse into his remarkable life. Nov 12/25 2009 (DOC)
• Christian Life Skills: The Jesus prayer. Pray without ceasing. New Testament Challenge and the Jesus Prayer Challenge. Nov 11/24 (DOC)
• Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Children's liturgy and children's sermon. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 (DOC)
• The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 (DOC)
• 30(40) days of blogging. Nov 5/18 2009 (DOC)
• Patriarch Pavle stories. (DOC)
• The cry of every pastor and shepherd: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord, For ye are our glory and joy. What is life? Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2:20-3:8 (DOC)
• Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Idolatry, Honesty. Mat 5:33-37 (DOC)
• ST. BASIL THE GREAT ON THE PSALTER, from the Russian Orthodox Psalter (DOC)
• THE ATHANASIAN CREED. From the Russian Orthodox Psalter. Mystery (DOC)
• "Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" is only possible when there is "work of faith, and labor of love". When is the Gospel� "not � in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost"? (DOC)
• Holy Father Nicholas, pray to God for us! Summing things up in the Akathist to St Nicholas. Understanding prayer to the Saints. Nighttime pictures of temple construction. (DOC)
• The Great Litany. The Litany of Peace. A short introduction. (DOC)
• That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity� Thoughts on a petition in the Great Ectenia, the Litany of Peace (DOC)
• St Longinus the Centurion. St Sergius of Radonezh. Children's School - ages 6-11. (DOC)
• The Law and Sin. What is Sin? Romans 3:20 (DOC)
• Twelve Meanings of Candles Based on Their Properties by Mitred Archpriest Alexander Lebedeff, rector of Holy Transfiguration Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA (DOC)
• I count all things but loss - The knowledge of Christ Jesus - That I may win Christ - Philippians 3:8 - Biblical Exegesis
• A house upon a rock. Words to build by. Luke 6:46-7:1. Children's Liturgy. (DOC)
• Construction Photos - Building of the Apse. APSE-solutely Wonderful!
• Christian Life Skills - The Four Bows. Give the first fruits of your day to the Lord (DOC)
• What is a Christian? What is a Saint? The Orthodox Dogma of sanctity, by St Justin Popovich (DOC)
• A Wonderful Revelation to the World. Parable of the ten Virgins. The Oil is the Holy Spirit. The proper dogma regarding works. St. Seraphim of Sarov's Conversation With Nicholas Motovilov (DOC)
• Christian Life Skills -Being on time (DOC)
• Christian Love is not the same as the World's love. Love without knowledge and judgment is not love. The Dogma of Love. Philippians 1:8-14 (DOC)
• Iconostasis Design Meeting, with pictures and design sketch of altar and iconostasis. Sep 29/ Oct 12 2009 (DOC)
• Everything MUST have meaning! Sickness. Drug Addiction. Priorities. (DOC)
• Raising the Dead vs Influencing the belief of the dead, from St John Chrysostom, Homily 3 on Ephesians. A useful perspective for the pastor, and anyone who cares. (DOC)
• Construction Photos - The walls are almost done. Photos taken before our Thursday Evening Moleben. Sep 18 / Oct 1 2009 (DOC)
• Classic Chrysostom. How to read St John Chrysostom.
• The Raising of Lazarus Church, Muromansky Monastery. The Model for our new temple (DOC)
• The Church is shown to be a many-lighted heaven, Happy anniversary to us.
• Venerable Theodora. True Repentance. False Accusation. A sinner helping other sinners not to sin. (DOC)
• Prayer of Intercession. A Prayer in Accord. Father Arseny, a Cloud of Witnesses (DOC)
• Nativity of the Theotokos. Grace beginneth to produce splendid fruit. The all-holy mountain. A commentary on one of the Praises stichera for the feast. (DOC)
• Deliver my soul from a lying tongue (short mp3 audio reflection) (MP3)
• A unified Russian Church is a great Spiritual Force
• Martyrs Adrian and Natalia, Pouring the Slab Aug 26/ Sep 8 2009
• Dormition hymns: The Furnace and the Theotokos
• Fund-raising news. New Construction photos. Hard work man. (DOC)
• What happened on the Cross? Dispassion.
• Bad Company ruins good morals.
• Information regarding the Establishment of English Speaking Convent in the Mid-American Diocese. July 25 / Aug 7 2009. (DOC)
• Moleben on the Land, with Pictures July 24/ Aug 6 2009 9th Thursday after Pentecost.
• Repentance, it's not just for Lent anymore.
• REALLY believing in the resurrection.
• The Importance of Monasticism. 7/7 - 7-20 2009 7th Monday after Pentecost
• Parish news - building progress. 07/01 - 07/14 2009 6th Tuesday after Pentecost
• Cut to the chase. Thought on a Vespers Parable on the Feast of John the Baptist
• Future plans for St Nicholas. 06/23 - 07/06 2009. 5th Monday after Pentecost.
• Moments of Clarity during Matins
• To the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. Matthew 10:5-7
• Freely ye have received, freely give. A fundamental principal of priestly ministry.
• Two sins that lead to all others. It's always about you. Romans 1:18-27
• Day of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost Icon Explanation. King Cosmos (DOC)
• Lovest Thou Me? Meekness. Patience. Learning things the hard (and only) way. Saturday before Pentecost. Soul Saturday. (DOC)
• What is "all truth"? How do we find it?
• Prayer for the Prosperity of the Russian Church
• Holy Righteous Job. An Eclectic Commentary on the Book of Job
• The Stones raised up as children to Abraham. Christian worship is Jewish! (DOC)
• Why do we pray facing East?
• Scripture is blunt. Slogans. Jesus wept. Even right brains can get things done. (DOC)
• The pleasure of little things. Pascha season fasting rules.
• Prison Ministry. Hackberry trees. Serendipity. Just showing up.
• After the Great Canon service. A happy heart. 5th Wednesday of Great Lent 2009.