June 15th, 2025 Stump the Priest: Question: “I have heard conflicting interpretations about the woman with an issue of blood. On the one hand, I have heard it said that by touching the hem of Christ’s garment, she was showing her obedience to the traditions regarding her ritual uncleanness. On the other hand, I have heard […]

June 8th, 2025 Stump the Priest: Question: “Does the Orthodox Church teach that the Septuagint is more reliable than the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. If so, why is that?” Click here for the Answer. If you have a question you would like to ask, e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com The Orthodox Term of the Week: Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. Saints of the […]

June 1st, 2025 Stump the Priest: Question: “I am/was a Baptist convert to Orthodoxy, and though it’s been many years (about 20) that I was accepted into Orthodoxy through Chrismation, I have read things in the Rudder, and Canons which state that this was an anathema to the faith of the Church. I still, after […]

May 25th, 2025 Stump the Priest: Question: “Is the idea of a “fallen nature” a later Western concept that was foreign to the early Fathers? If I remember correctly, I’ve seen prominent Orthodox theologians use the term “fallen nature”. But also I think I’ve seen other prominent theologians say that the term is a later Western […]

May 18th, 2025 Stuff  from the Priest: “David Bentley Hart and Marcionism.” Click here for the Article. If you have a question you would like to ask, e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com The Orthodox Term of the Week: Apodosis. Saints of the Day for Sunday and the coming week, and other edifying reading: https://www.saintjonah.org/bltn/pascha4.pdf Propers for the Paschal Liturgy (Sunday, May 18th): […]

May 11th, 2025 Stuff  from the Priest: “Beginning to Read and Understand the Bible, Part 3: In Context.” Click here for the Article. If you have a question you would like to ask, e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com The Orthodox Term of the Week: Mid-Pentecost. Saints of the Day for Sunday and the coming week, and other edifying […]

April 27th, 2025 Stuff  from the Priest: “Beginning to Read and Understand the Bible: First Steps.” Click here for the Article. If you have a question you would like to ask, e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com The Orthodox Term of the Week: Antipascha. Saints of the Day for Sunday and the coming week, and other edifying reading: https://www.saintjonah.org/bltn/pascha1.pdf Propers for the Paschal […]

April 20th, 2025 Stump the Priest: Question: “The Paschal Hours (How to do them).” Click here for the Answer. If you have a question you would like to ask, e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com The Orthodox Term of the Week: Bright Week. Saints of the Day for Sunday and the coming week, and other edifying reading: https://www.saintjonah.org/bltn/pascha.pdf Propers for the Paschal Liturgy […]

April 13th, 2025 Stump the Priest: Question: “Why do we change colors of vestments and Icon stand covers? I know these are done according to church practices. However, could you explain each color’s meaning and when they are changed?” Click here for the Answer. If you have a question you would like to ask, e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com The Orthodox […]