Today in Orthodoxy we celebrate the Major Feast of The Transfiguration. Father Micah references the Epistle reading today taken from II Peter 1:10-19. Peter likens the world to darkness, which is a place where many of us have or will experience in our lives. The feast celebrates Jesus' Transfiguration on Mount Tabor as He allows His Divinity to shine before Peter, James and John. As Orthodox Christians we should pay attention to what we have heard and seen in scripture and in the Divine Liturgy, which can help us to dissipate the darkness in the world and in our lives.

Father Gregory shares with us that this feast was particularly popular in antiquity. These seven youths were cadets in the military and from noble and wealthy families. Father Gregory shares a story about the youths that foreshadows the resurrection of the dead at the end of time.

Father Gregory shares with us both a practical and edifying message today about Saint Stephen the Protomartyr. He gives insight for us as Orthodox Christians on why the Church has placed certain feasts at various times during the Liturgical calendar. He also gives us practical ways we might offer ourselves as martyrs each and every day in our Christian journey.

Tonight is the first Paraclesis services that will be celebrated during the Dormition Fast. Father Gregory expounds on the Gospel reading from Luke, where Mary sits at the Lord's feet while her sister Martha is distracted by much serving. He reminds us that as Orthodox Christians the one thing needed and necessary to help us cope with our anxious and troubled lives is to sit at our Lord's feet. He asks us to bring our anxieties to the Theotokos and let her worry about them and we will see situations and our attitudes improve.

Father Micah shares with us both the history and relevance of this feast for Orthodox Christians as we begin the Dormition Fast.

Saint Panteleimon was raised by a Christian mother and pagan father. He was devoted to medicine putting his talents skillfully to use healing people. He also called on the name of Christ and the sign of the Cross to heal many others. He is the patron saint of doctors and his life reminds us that true healing and love reside in sacrifice for the other.

Today we commemorate Saint Paisios a modern day saint in Orthodoxy. Father Gregory and Father Micah both share personal reflections and stories about this beloved saint.

In the United States Christians take for granted the freedom we have to confess and worship our Lord Jesus Christ. In the late third century a group of fifty Christians of various ages was tortured and martyred for their faith in Christ. Saint Euphemia a teenage girl acted as the spokesperson for this group as she defended the Christian faith before the authorities. Many years later in 451 A.D. at the fourth ecumenical council 630 bishops gathered and settled a debate about Christ’s two natures. By the Divine Grace from Saint Euphemia’s relics and with fasting and prayer the bishops settled the debate and proclaimed that Christ was fully God and fully man.