Speaking The Truth In Love

Today Fr. Tom talks about theological formulation and explanation in the Orthodox Christian Church.

Fr. Tom was unable to attend the March for Life rally in Washington DC earlier this week but he did think about what he would have said had he been given the opportunity to speak.

Fr. Hopko explains that this feast marks the end of the Winter Pascha and the beginning of the season of repentance.

In part 3 of the Darwin series, Fr. Tom explores the Darwin era and what was happening at that time in Christianity.

Fr. Tom continues his series on Darwin and Christianity. This is part 2.

What is the relationship between the concepts of natural selection and Christian theology? Fr. Tom begins a series of reflections on Charles Darwin and what he has learned in his research may surprise you!

Fr. Tom Hopko talks about St. Seraphim's conversation with Nicholas Motovilov on "acquisition of the Holy Spirit."

St. Seraphim of Sarov taught that the aim of the Christian life is to live by the Spirit of God. Today Fr. Tom explores the acquisition of the Holy Spirit.

From the Speaking the Truth in Love archives, Fr. Tom Hopko offers this very helpful meditation on the feast of Theophany.

Enthroned on high with the Eternal Father and Your divine Spirit, O Jesus, You willed to be born on earth of the unwedded handmaid, your Mother. Therefore You were circumcised as an eight-day old Child. Glory to Your most gracious counsel; glory to Your dispensation; glory to Your condescension, O only Lover of mankind.

In a new reflection, Fr. Thomas Hopko teaches about the virgin birth and the significance of this Orthodox dogma on the identity of Christ.

Fr. Thomas Hopko presents a meditation on how the liturgical services of Christmas and Epiphany pattern those of the Christ's Holy Pascha of Easter.

What is the significance of all of those "begats" in the Gospel lesson just before Nativity? Fr. Tom breaks it down for us in the current episode.

On the first two Sundays before Christmas, we commerate and sing about all of the faithful throughout the ages who prepared for the birth of Christ. Fr. Tom references the book Surprised by Christ by Fr. A. James Bernstein which is available from Conciliar Press.

We are invited like Philip invited Nathaniel to "come and see," really see as we fix our hearts and minds on Christ the Savior during this paschal lenten season.

On a beautiful fall afternoon at the family home in Canada, Fr. Tom is reflecting on the disparity between the beauty of God's creation and the tremendous suffering happening in the world.

Fr. Tom encourages us to remember the place of gratitude and thanksgiving in the Christian life and tells us how we can go deeper and higher into the meaning of gratitude.

Fr. Tom teaches on this significant feast at the beginning of the Nativity season.

God grieves, we grieve, and life is often permeated with sadness. What does this mean when we also contemplate the "joy" of the Christian life?

As we are in the beginning days of the Nativity fast, Fr. Tom takes us on a journey from the Presentation of Mary in the Temple to Theophany. Fr. Tom references a couple of resources: The Winter Pascha by Fr. Thomas Hopko Putting Christmas Back into Christ - CD series by Fr. Thomas Hopko