November 2025

Greetings to all!

We now stand at the threshold of the Nativity Fast—the beginning of our journey toward the Holy Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, which we will celebrate on Friday, December 15. This sacred season lasts 40 days and is often referred to as the Advent Fast. The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival," reminding us that we are preparing to receive Christ into the world and into our hearts.

This fast is a special opportunity to renew and deepen our life in Christ—to grow in love for God and for our neighbor, and to strengthen our commitment to living out the Gospel as we await His birth. While the Nativity Fast is not as strict as the Great Fast (Lent), it can still be challenging. This is especially true in our culture, where holiday gatherings, parties, and festive foods often take center stage. These distractions can cause us to lose sight of the true meaning of the Nativity.

But the heart of this season is not found in worldly celebration. It is found in the awe-inspiring truth that Christ, fully God and fully Man, was born into our world to bring us out of the darkness of sin and lead us toward the light of the heavenly kingdom.

As Orthodox Christians, we are called to embrace both the Fast and the Feast.  The Fast invites us into a quieter, more reflective, and spiritually peaceful life—one that helps us focus on Christ and all He has done for us. This is a time to slow down, to pray more deeply, and to prepare our hearts to receive the greatest gift: Jesus Himself.

Here in Phoenix, we’ve experienced some bad weather, but others—especially in places like Alaska—have suffered even greater hardship and loss. Let us be mindful of them in our prayers, and also ask ourselves how we might help—whether through donations, acts of service, or simply showing love and compassion to those in need.

The Nativity season is not about gifts under a tree; it’s about the gift of Christ entering our world. It’s about loving and helping our neighbor. The greatest gift you can offer anyone is Jesus Christ, the true Bread of Life.

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.