Fr. Geoff’s Blog

Metropolitan Basilios—Inaugural Visit

“Joyful” is the most suitable word to describe Metropolitan Basilios’ inaugural visit to The Good Shepherd. His Eminence gently and skillfully guided the choir and the clergy through our first Hierarchical Matins and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in several years. The entire congregation then retreated to a lunch in honour of His Eminence where we sang for him our traditional celebratory song, “Many Years.” Following the lunch, His Eminence sat with the parish committee for an hour.

Why we are NOT a Bible-based Church

There are plenty of churches that describe themselves as being “Bible-based.” They seem to think that being “Bible-based” is the ultimate measure of genuineness. Yet I’m happy to say that we are NOT a “Bible-based” church, and here's why.

St. Photini and her Almost-Forgotten Apostolic Family

I’d like to share with you the story of a family of first century Christians whose names and history have been forgotten by many, if not most, Christians in the West. Six sisters, and two sons of the eldest sister, eight people altogether, all of them Samaritan. These people were in Jerusalem on the day of the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended from the Father and sealed the earthly Body of Christ, the Church. On that day, 3,000 people were baptised by the Apostles who had just received the Holy Spirit.

The Virtues of Christ

This last week I have been meditating on the difference between the ethics of the Old Covenant and those of the New. Old Covenant ethics, for the most part, is grounded in behavioural rules. “Do not murder.” “Tithe the increase of one’s flock.” “Do not plant mixed seeds in a field.” “Send a menstruating woman outside the camp.” Under this system, observing the set of prescribed behaviours constitutes righteousness, regardless of how the rule-observance affects human flourishing.

The Holy Mystery of Eucharist

At the beginning of Netflix’s historical drama “The Crown,” King George VI is describing the mystery of coronation to a very young Princess Elizabeth: “Unless I am anointed, I cannot be King.” “Do you understand?” “When the holy oil touches me, I am transformed: brought into direct contact with the Divine — forever changed — bound to God. It is the most important part of the entire ceremony.”

Euthanasia is a return to the bad old days

Under the banner of “personal choice,” the State of Victoria is winding the clock back. Way, way back to the social ethics of Ancient Rome. While Australian society has been the envy of the world, Victoria is willingly walking away from the Christian influence in law, morality, ethics and religion that has contributed so much to the great society in which we presently live.

Exploring Orthodoxy 2018

Exploring Orthodoxy 2018 A day to explore Orthodox Christian spirituality Sunday 26th August 2018, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm

The Challenge of Orthodox Marriage

When couples come to ministers to talk about their marriage ceremonies, ministers think it’s interesting to ask if they love one another. What a stupid question! How would they know? A Christian marriage isn’t about whether you’re in love. Christian marriage is giving you the practice of fidelity over a lifetime in which you can look back upon the marriage and call it love. It is a hard discipline over many years. — Stanley Hauerwas

How to commission a Celtic icon

There is a tradition in the Orthodox Church that occurs at baptism: the catechumen takes the name of an Orthodox Saint as their Christian name, accepts the Saint as their patron, and places an icon of their Saint in their icon corner at home, which they use as a place of prayer.

Six more adults received into Holy Orthodoxy

On the weekend of Palm Sunday, six adults were joyfully received into the fellowship of Holy Orthodoxy through baptism and chrismation. Taking their stand with Christ and His Church, four received the grace of baptism and two of chrismation. They join an increasing number of people whose lives are being transformed by “the grace of the Lord, the Love of the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.”

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