There are five main doors into St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. One of them is called “the Door of Death” or “Door of the Dead.” The door … Read More
Foundations of Faith
Is there a fourth, named archangel?
On Nov. 8, both Greek and Antiochian Orthodox churches will celebrate the “Synaxis of the Holy Archangels.” Synaxis is a Greek word meaning “a gathering of beings … Read More
Saints of creepy crawlies
Halloween is a time of creepy, crawly things. And nothing is more creepy and crawly than spiders, snakes and even frogs. Yet, as the famous Anglican hymn … Read More
Is there a pattern to the readings we hear on Sunday?
Have you ever sat in church on Sunday and wondered, “How do they pick the Bible readings each week?” Yes, there is a pattern — or a … Read More
Look up and see candle light?
Now that parts of the upper Michigan have had their first dusting of snow within the past weeks and most of us have had frost, it might … Read More
Painted by St. Luke?
What do St. Luke, the Archangel Michael, plague and COVID-19 have in common? A painting of the Blessed Virgin and her child, known as Salus Populi Romani. … Read More
What if it wasn’t an apple?
Which fruit did Adam and Eve eat? An apple, right? Not necessarily. Oh, we’re all familiar with artwork that shows a tree of the knowledge of good … Read More
Mary’s scarred face of war
This month, we mark the anniversary of a tragedy: the attack of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. The ash-covered images of twisted destruction haunt … Read More
Why a bishop always wears a cross
Anyone who has met a bishop dressed in his black suit (called “clericals”) will have noticed the cross he wears, sometimes tucked into his breast pocket. This … Read More
The difference between deadly and dangerous
We all know “mortal” means something very serious: mortal danger, mortal combat, mortal wound. “Mortal” is so serious that if we see a video game or movie … Read More
