May 2026

Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!

We are now in the Paschal season, which continues until Ascension on May 21. The joyous feast of the Resurrection of Christ is the most important for all Christians. As St. John Chrysostom proclaims in his Paschal homily, “Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.” The joy of the Risen Savior is offered to every person, yet not all know of it, understand it, or choose to receive it.

The way to receive this joy is through humility. Christ teaches us in the Gospel of Matthew: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Our lives on earth are temporary—we are sojourners—but while we are here, we are called to receive the teachings of Christ and His Apostles, to worship Him in spirit and in truth, and to live according to the fullness of the Orthodox faith. In a time when many false teachings circulate—especially online—it is all the more important that we learn the true faith, live it faithfully, and share it with others.

Having celebrated the Feast of Feasts, Holy Pascha, we should continue to share its joy with everyone we meet. As we enter the busy summer season—when school ends, travel begins, and schedules fill—we must not forget Christ or all that He has done for us. Let us remain steadfast in prayer, reading the Gospel and Epistle daily, and keeping Christ at the center of our lives, so that we may always be ready to bear witness to Him.

May the Lord guide and strengthen you all!

Fr. Mikel

What is the proper Orthodox Church Dress Code?

1) Men should not wear hats, bandanas, shorts, sleeveless shirts, or casual footwear like flipflops.

2) Women should not wear miniskirts, spandex-tight clothing, low-cut or revealing tops (unless covered with a sweater or other garment), or casual footwear like flipflops.

3) Children should be given a little more flexibility but should still wear “church clothes” so that they know they are somewhere that is special and holy.

4) Everyone should refrain from clothing that is immodest, ostentatious, a fashion-statement, or otherwise distracting from the prayerful and sacred space of the Lord’s House. Clothing or bodily adornments with images, symbols, or writing should not be worn or at least covered up, so that the holy icons and Word of God do not have to compete with the logo of our favorite sport team, the name of a music band, or the slogan of our political party.