Sometimes your prayer rule comes from a spiritual father, and sometimes it comes from your friends.

Inspired by a conversation in Sunday School, Elissa muses about our attachment to money, and its relationship to the spiritual life.

America has a loneliness crisis — what does that mean, and what can we do to help?

As the new year dawns and we approach Theophany, Elissa considers the confluence of old and new, and what that can look like as a modern American approaching Orthodoxy.

Contemplating the “true meaning of Christmas” - er… Nativity.

Creation knows its Creator, and praises Him forever. Elissa reads through the Kontakion of the Nativity and a few Psalms, considering nature’s praises.

Elissa is joined by Katrina Bitar, Director of YES (Youth Equipped to Serve), who offers her reflections from the YES Series on Agreeing to Disagree.

Christ calls us to endless forgiveness, but how do we put this into action in our daily lives? And what if we don’t WANT to forgive?

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we think about gratitude — and its critical tie to repentance.

As the fast approaches, Elissa considers some favorite ways to mark this fast.