July 2026

As we begin the month of July, we recently celebrated the Sunday of All Saints of North America. We give thanks for those holy men and women who labored throughout this land so that we might receive the true Faith and worship God according to the Holy Orthodox Church. They faithfully preserved and handed down the treasure of Orthodoxy, and now it is our responsibility to receive that faith, live it, and share it with those who are searching for healing and the truth of Christ.

Our whole life is a journey of preparation for the Kingdom of God. The Holy Church has given us every tool we need to "work out our salvation." At the same time, the Church does not permit us to create our own way of salvation. Rather, we are called to faithfully embrace the life Christ has given us through His Church—through prayer, the Holy Mysteries, fasting, repentance, Holy Scripture, and the lives of the saints.

In today's busy world, it is easy to become distracted and misled, especially if we let our spiritual guard down. The world is changing rapidly before our eyes, and we must remain vigilant. In the Gospel according to St. Luke, Christ teaches:

"The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20–21).

The Kingdom begins within the heart. As our Lord also teaches, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." We must continually seek to cleanse and purify our hearts through repentance and the grace of God. This is not always easy because temptations surround us, but we must learn to rely completely on Christ, for apart from Him we can do nothing. Deep love, trust, and faith in Him are essential for our salvation.

We have been given a sure and unchanging foundation upon which to build our lives. That foundation is Jesus Christ, and through the true teachings of His Holy Church we can stand firm no matter how much the world changes around us.

Although the summer months often bring vacations, family activities, and a change in our routines, we should not allow our spiritual life to take a vacation as well. Continue your daily prayers, read the Scriptures, attend the Divine Services whenever possible—even while traveling—and remain steadfast in your relationship with Christ. By keeping Him at the center of our lives throughout every season, we continue to build upon the solid foundation that leads to the eternal Kingdom.

May God bless you and your families with a safe, peaceful, and spiritually fruitful summer.

Fr.  Mikel

What is the proper Orthodox Church Dress Code?

1) Men should not wear hats, bandanas, shorts, sleeveless shirts, or casual footwear like flipflops.

2) Women should not wear miniskirts, spandex-tight clothing, low-cut or revealing tops (unless covered with a sweater or other garment), or casual footwear like flipflops.

3) Children should be given a little more flexibility but should still wear “church clothes” so that they know they are somewhere that is special and holy.

4) Everyone should refrain from clothing that is immodest, ostentatious, a fashion-statement, or otherwise distracting from the prayerful and sacred space of the Lord’s House. Clothing or bodily adornments with images, symbols, or writing should not be worn or at least covered up, so that the holy icons and Word of God do not have to compete with the logo of our favorite sport team, the name of a music band, or the slogan of our political party.