On this Feast of All the Saints of North America, we have one more saint to celebrate! Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. (Philippians 3:17) The glorification of Righteous Mother Olga of Kwethluk, Alaska, reveals to us (as do the lives of all the saints) that holiness is attainable through the simple acts of love which God gives us the opportunity to do in whatever walk of life to which He has called us—and through the repentance and the joyful response to suffering which Christ sets before us. And that those who are being made saints are already among us, to honour and to follow, as they follow Christ. Scripture readings referenced: Matthew 4:18-23 Matthew 4:25-5:12 Children’s book on St. Olga referenced: https://stjohnofshanghai.org/resources/StOlgaOfAlaskaBook.pdf Life of the Righteous Mother Olga of Kwethluk—Tanqilria Arrsamquq—Wonderworker, Matushka of All Alaska: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/10/27/100561-righteous-mother-olga-of-kwethluktanqilria-arrsamquqwonderworker Erratum: Holy Matushka Olga died in 1979, not 1978.

How do we use our God-given agency to become saints? Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2) If we start with the understanding that God is good (Hebrews 11:6) and follow the example of Christ, focusing on our heavenly reward, the joy of being with our Creator, we will be able to take up our cross daily, as Christ calls us to (Luke 9:23). This is how we acquire the Holy Spirit, as St. Seraphim of Sarov put it, that we—together with thousands around us—may be saved. Scripture readings referenced: Hebrews 11:33-12:2 Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30

A look at how the Mosaic tradition of appointing elders to judge the people found its fulfillment in the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea Note: I mention the Donatists, but, while I may have implied that the Church ultimately ruled that they were in the wrong, I’m not sure I made it explicit enough that their schism was condemned by the council that Constantine convened as a lack of love and in contravention of Christ’s teachings about repentance and forgiveness. Scripture readings referenced: Genesis 14:14-20 Deuteronomy 1:8-11, 15-17 Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 John 17:1-13

The birthday of the Church is a good time to go back to the beginning

In which we review the story of the man born blind from the blind man’s perspective as a way into the experience of God on which true philosophy is founded References: John 9:1-38 Acts 16:16-34 Matthew 11:2-15 II Corinthians 4:6-15, 12:7-10

We have betrayed the Image of God. Our only choice is whether we will be Judas or the sinful woman.

We need stories, and the story we need right now is that of St. Mary of Egypt.

St. Gregory demonstrates that we can know God, and that the pursuit of this knowledge is worth defending and dedicating our lives to.

The central realization, in Proverbs and Genesis and the Gospel, that wisdom and worship are what actually extend life and give it meaning

The old stories of Gideon and Barak and St. John Chrysostom remind us how we, as men and women of faith, understand history, especially including our own personal history.