Matthew 5:16
St. Tikhon
Orthodox Chapel
Christ Brings Healing and Life
As we approach November 15, the beginning of the forty-day Nativity Fast, the Church invites us to prepare for more than a feast day. At Bethlehem, the eternal Son and Word of God truly becomes man without ceasing to be God (John 1:14). We prepare to welcome the One who enters our world in humility for our salvation—not merely by changing what we eat, but by turning our hearts toward Him in prayer, repentance, and love.
As Jesus journeys to the home of Jairus, whose young daughter is dying, a woman who has suffered for twelve years approaches Him in faith. She touches the hem of His garment and is healed. Christ does not let her remain hidden in the crowd; He calls her forward and speaks to her with tenderness.
While Jesus is still speaking, news arrives that Jairus’s daughter has died. The Lord tells him not to fear, but to believe. Entering the house, Christ takes the child by the hand and calls her to arise. She returns to life, revealing His authority even over death.
These two encounters show us that Christ knows both our private suffering and our deepest grief. Faith is not a guarantee that life will be free from hardship; it is trust in the One who is present with us and who has conquered death.
As the Nativity Fast approaches, we are invited to turn toward Christ in prayer and repentance, bringing Him our fears and offering compassion to those who suffer.
This Sunday’s Readings
Epistle: Hebrews 2:2–10 (Synaxis of the Archangels)
Gospel: Luke 8:41–56 (Jairus’s daughter and the woman healed)
Living the Faith
Approaching the Nativity Fast with mercy. The Nativity Fast begins November 15. Before changing our meals, we can ask how our hearts might change: where can we offer patience, forgiveness, and practical help?
Christ listened to the woman who reached for Him and comforted a grieving father. This week, make time to listen to someone who is hurting, pray for those who are sick, and offer help without expecting recognition.
Saints of the Week
Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers
What is a synaxis? The Greek word synaxis means a gathering or assembly. In the Church calendar, it can describe the faithful gathering in worship to honor a person or group of saints. On November 8, the Church celebrates the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers: the united heavenly hosts who stand before God and do His will.
Why does this feast matter? It reminds us that the Church’s worship is not limited to what we can see. Angels are created spiritual beings—not gods—and Scripture portrays them as messengers, protectors, and servants of the Lord (Psalm 103:20–21; Hebrews 1:14). Michael’s name means “Who is like God?” and the archangel is depicted in Scripture as contending against evil (Jude 9; Revelation 12:7–9). Their feast calls us to humility, vigilance, and faithful worship of the Holy Trinity alongside the heavenly powers.
We do not worship angels. We honor their service to God and ask that, through their prayers and protection, we too may remain steadfast in Christ.
Saint Nektarios of Aegina
Saint Nektarios (1846–1920), Metropolitan of Pentapolis and founder of the Holy Trinity Monastery on Aegina, endured slander and unjust treatment without abandoning humility or pastoral love. A teacher, writer, and spiritual father, he cared for those entrusted to him and is especially beloved among Orthodox Christians as an intercessor for the sick. His life reminds us that holiness can be revealed through patience, forgiveness, and steadfast trust in Christ.
Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople
A voice that still shapes Orthodox worship. Saint John Chrysostom (c. 347–407), Archbishop of Constantinople, is one of the Church’s most influential bishops and teachers. His name, Chrysostom, means “golden-mouthed,” reflecting the clarity and power of his preaching. Raised in Antioch, he became renowned for explaining Holy Scripture in ways that challenged Christians to live what they confessed.
His enduring place in the Church. The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, bearing his name, is the liturgy celebrated on most Sundays and many weekdays in Orthodox parishes. Its prayers express the Church’s faith in the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, the Eucharist, and the communion of the saints. Every time we gather for this Liturgy, his legacy is present in the Church’s common prayer.
His teaching was never merely theoretical. In his homilies on the Gospels and the letters of Saint Paul, John insisted that reverence at the altar must be accompanied by mercy toward the hungry, the poor, and the neglected. He condemned greed, luxury without compassion, and abuses of power, while calling the faithful to repentance, generosity, and the formation of Christian households.
A shepherd who suffered for the truth. His fearless preaching and conflicts at the imperial court contributed to his exile. He died in 407 while being moved under harsh conditions. The Church remembers him not only as a brilliant preacher, but as a pastor whose faithfulness carried a personal cost.
Saint John is honored as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, together with Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory the Theologian. His feast on November 13 invites us to listen more attentively to Scripture, participate more deeply in the Divine Liturgy, and make our worship visible through works of mercy.
Parish Life
| Sun · Nov 8 | Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers |
| Mon · Nov 9 | Saint Nektarios of Aegina |
| Fri · Nov 13 | Saint John Chrysostom |
| Sat · Nov 14 | Great Vespers at Living Faith · 5:00 p.m. |
| Sun · Nov 15 | Nativity Fast begins |
View the chapel calendar for upcoming services and events
Great Vespers will be held at Living Faith.
Children’s Corner
Learning to trust Christ: Jairus and his daughter. Jairus came to Jesus when his daughter was very sick. Even when he heard that she had died, Christ told him, “Do not be afraid; only believe” (Luke 8:50, NKJV). Jairus could not solve the problem himself, but he could turn to the Lord.
This week’s challenge: With a parent or teacher, read Luke 8:40–56. Find three moments when someone shows faith or receives Christ’s compassion. Then choose one act of mercy: help with a difficult chore without being asked, sit with someone who is lonely, or pray by name for someone who is ill.
Talk together: Does trusting Christ mean that we never feel afraid? How can we bring our fears to Him in prayer?
Orthodox Teaching
Why does the Church ask us to fast? As we approach the Nativity Fast, beginning November 15, we prepare not simply for a feast on the calendar, but for the mystery of the Incarnation: the eternal Son of God takes on our humanity for our salvation. The Church invites us to make room for Christ through repentance, prayer, and mercy. The OCA’s reflection on why we fast before the Nativity places this season in the context of spiritual preparation rather than mere observance of a dietary schedule.
Fasting trains the heart as well as the body. We willingly set limits on our appetites so that our desires need not govern us. As explained in the OCA’s teaching on fasting and the passions, abstinence is not a punishment of the body or a way to purchase God’s favor. It is a discipline meant to help us grow in self-control, humility, and freedom to love. If we become proud of our fasting or harsh toward others, we have missed its purpose.
The fast must be visible in our conduct, not in a display of piety. Christ teaches us to fast without seeking praise (Matthew 6:16–18). Isaiah 58:3–10 challenges worship that neglects justice and the hungry. Restraining our words, refusing gossip, forgiving injuries, and helping those in need are not optional extras. The OCA’s discussion of almsgiving, including the witness of St. John Chrysostom reminds us that love for the poor belongs at the center of Christian life. Simpler meals can become an occasion for sharing more generously.
Prayer gives fasting its direction. Without turning toward God, abstinence can become little more than a change of diet. The OCA’s introduction to prayer as communion with God helps explain why we fast in order to pray more attentively, not merely to exercise willpower. Its teaching on unceasing prayer also encourages us to carry remembrance of God into ordinary tasks, family life, and moments of difficulty.
Preparing for Bethlehem in daily life. Begin with a manageable practice: attend services, read a passage of the Gospel, pray each morning and evening, seek reconciliation, and choose a concrete work of mercy. Food practices should be followed with humility and pastoral guidance, especially for children or anyone with particular health needs. For family or parish conversation, the OCA offers questions for spiritual reflection and discussion that can help turn what we read into action.
A question for reflection: What habit, resentment, or distraction can I surrender this week so that I may welcome Christ—and my neighbor—with greater love?
Please Remember in Your Prayers
For His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon; His Eminence Archbishop Daniel; all bishops, priests, deacons, monastics, and clergy; all Orthodox faithful and catechumens; our parish families and children; the elderly, homebound, lonely, and those in need; the sick and suffering, their caregivers, and those facing hardship; the grieving, the departed, and all who have fallen asleep in the hope of the Resurrection; those traveling, those serving others, and all who have asked for our prayers. May the Lord grant healing, strength, mercy, consolation, and eternal memory to the departed.
St. Tikhon of Moscow
Patriarch, confessor, and enlightener of North America. His life teaches steadfast faith, humility, and care for the Church amid hardship.