St. Sava Orthodox Church

10/15/2026

10/14/2026

What do the Seven Seals and the Four Horsemen really mean?
Join us this evening at 7:30 as we explore Revelation through Scripture and the Orthodox tradition, looking at the Four Horsemen, the opening of the seals, and what these visions reveal about the life of the Church and the approach of the end.

10/12/2026

Catechumen Class
~Dn. David Hawthorne

𝟏. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐍: 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐃

Even a single decorative column at St. Sava Orthodox Church can tell the story of salvation. Each of its four faces contains a different image, and together they offer a beautiful picture of creation restored through Christ.

On two faces, we see predators and their traditional prey. But look closely: there is no apparent violence. The animals seem almost to be playing together, moving harmoniously among the vines. Perhaps we are seeing a glimpse of the restored creation foretold by Isaiah, when "the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb" (Isaiah 11:6). Creation, now subject to corruption and death, will ultimately be liberated and reconciled through Christ (Romans 8:20–22).

On another face, three dolphins swim together in a circle, suggesting harmony and communion. In early Christian art, dolphins sometimes represented the faithful, particularly when associated with an anchor, a symbol of Christian hope in Christ. Here, they may evoke the peace and unity of creation restored.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝?

The fourth face depicts the ancient Christian symbol known as The Pelican in Her Piety.

According to a legend preserved in the Physiologus, an early Christian collection of animal allegories, young pelicans rebel against their parents, striking them with their beaks. The parents retaliate and kill their young. Three days later, the grieving mother pierces her own breast, allowing her blood to fall upon her lifeless offspring, restoring them to life.

St. Augustine knew this story and discussed its symbolism in his commentary on Psalm 101 (102 in Hebrew numbering).

The mother represents Christ; her young represent humanity, fallen into sin and death; and her life-giving blood represents Christ's voluntary sacrifice and Resurrection.

There is an important distinction: unlike the pelican in the legend, God did not kill His creation in a fit of anger. Through our freely chosen rebellion against the Source of Life, we brought death upon ourselves. Christ, in His boundless love for mankind, entered our fallen condition and conquered death through His own death and Resurrection.

The image also points toward the Eucharist, in which Christ nourishes us with His own Body and Blood.

Together, these four images on a single column offer a beautiful proclamation of the Gospel: 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧, 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐇𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 (Colossians 1:19–20).

𝟐. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐎𝐎𝐑𝐒: 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃

The beautifully carved Royal Doors at St. Sava Orthodox Church contain a remarkable theological message.

Their flourishing vines evoke the Tree of Life in Paradise. In Genesis, Adam and Eve lose access to that Tree, and cherubim are stationed to guard the entrance to Eden (Genesis 3:24). In Revelation, the Tree of Life appears again in the New Jerusalem, where the curse has been removed and creation is restored (Revelation 22:1–3).

Among the carvings are two dragons. The deacon who carved them explained that they deliberately carry two meanings.

First, they represent the cherubim guarding the entrance to Paradise. Second, they evoke the ancient biblical imagery of serpents and dragons representing the powers of chaos, such as Leviathan in Isaiah 27:1. These powers have been subdued by Christ, who conquered death and the devil through His Cross and Resurrection (Hebrews 2:14).

The dragons remain within the ordered, flourishing Tree of Life ornamentation. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝.

Another carving depicts a peacock with a chalice. In early Christian art, the peacock symbolized immortality and resurrection, reflecting the ancient belief that its flesh did not decay. Peacocks drinking from vessels could also represent the faithful receiving eternal life.

Here, the chalice invites a Eucharistic interpretation. Christ tells us, "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:54).

Together, the Tree of Life, dragons, peacock, and chalice proclaim one extraordinary truth:

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐦 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦.

10/10/2026

🍿 Tomorrow Evening Following Vespers! 🍿
Join us for a night of brilliant short films and our Gift Basket Raffle—featuring "At Home Movie Night", "A Night Out at the Movies", and "Monastery Gifts" themed baskets. All proceeds benefit the Building Fund.

10/09/2026

Sister Ilaria from the St. Elisabeth Convent in Minsk, Belarus, will visit us this Sunday! She will give a presentation and have icons and religious goods and crafts for sale during both coffee hours in the parish hall.

10/09/2026

Welcome Home Ministry Game Night & Mystery Night Fundraiser! Thank you to Tram-Anh and Destinee for organizing two amazing events!

10/07/2026

The People You Don't Like

10/07/2026

Tonight in “The Last Daze: Seals, Trumpets and Bowls,” we’ll look at how the Church has read the great judgment cycles of Revelation without falling into end-times panic or newspaper prophecy. We’ll distinguish what Orthodoxy actually requires us to believe from what belongs to received tradition and what remains open to interpretation. Then we’ll trace the seals, trumpets, and bowls through the framework of St. Andrew of Caesarea and ask the practical question: how would the Church know when the final crisis had really begun?

10/05/2026

To What Can the Christian Life Be Compared?
~Fr. Photius Avant

To what can we compare the Christian life? To what exactly can we compare this life that we live as Christians? Because it is a life. Christianity, Orthodox Christianity, Apostolic Christianity is not a series of principles to be agreed with. Orthodox Christianity is a life to be lived. I differentiate it from Western Christianity, that is Roman Catholicism and any variety of Protestantism, which each of these is indeed a series of principles. Each one of these is a head trip, if you will. If you agree with these things, it makes you that thing. I read John Calvin’s 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑜𝑛, and I agree with it, that’s it. I’m a Calvinist. “Need to find myself a reformed Baptist church or a reformed Episcopal church or a conservative Presbyterian church.” Good luck with that. “Because I am a Calvinist.” But also, if I read the 𝐶𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑠𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑐 𝐶ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑐ℎ, and I agree with that, I am Catholic. I need to show up for Mass on Sunday. I need to be enrolled in RCIA because I am a Catholic.

In the Orthodox Church, if I read the Scriptures within the framework of the apostles, that is, through the lens of the crucified and risen Jesus Christ, and I agree with it, that is really cool. It doesn’t make me Orthodox. Or if I read the writings of the early fathers about Christ in the way of salvation, and I agree with them, that also is very cool. It doesn’t make me Orthodox. Orthodoxy is a way of life. It is a whole way of life. It is the path of the cross following the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why we go to church a bunch of times during the week. It is because Christ is our life, and we cannot bear not being connected to Him.

But back to that question that I asked in the beginning. To what can the Christian life be compared? It can be compared to farming, at least this is what the Lord Jesus Christ does, and this is what the apostles do as well. St. Paul tells us in his second letter to the church of Corinth this morning that he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, but he who sows plentifully will reap plentifully (9:6-11). That is, if we are not investing anything in our lives in Christ, well, our returns are going to be meager. Whereas, if we invest more, if we invest everything, our returns will be plentiful. And I’m not simply speaking of the age to come. I’m speaking about in this life. That is, there are benefits. There are blessings which come from being faithful to Christ. When we give ourselves to prayer, I’ll just give this example, when we give ourselves to prayer, and we are diligent about our prayer, we have the ability to navigate those things which come at us in the course of the day.

One of the things that I tell people frequently in confession is that every day you can be guaranteed that you will be tempted by demons, and that you are going to deal with just the headaches of life and the fatigue therein. These things are an absolute. They are a known quantity even if they don’t arrive in particularly known quantities. You can count on this, and if you have your prayer as the foundation of your day, you refuse to be without your prayer regardless of how you’re feeling, well then, you have the ability to navigate those things. You will be on top, above these things. Yes, you will have fatigue, but you’ll be able to deal with it. Yes, you’ll be tempted, but you’ll be able to withstand them. That is a benefit here. That is a benefit now as well as in the age to come. But, if we ignore our prayer, if we put it off, if we determine that other things are more important than this, then those things which we are going to encounter: temptations by demons and just the difficulties of life, those things are going to steamroll us. We will be under their tires ground down. He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly here, now as well as in the age to come.

The Lord Jesus Christ gives us this morning what we call the Golden Rule: that what we would have people do to us we must do to other people, but He goes further than this because there are plenty of us who can say that we at least mentally agree with the principle of the Golden Rule. “Yeah, treat people the way you want to be treated. Yeah, okay.” Who disagrees with that? But how does that translate to our lives because the Lord Jesus Christ goes further and says, “If you love only those who love you, what thank have ye?” This is the translation in the King James version. The New King James version says, “What credit is that to you?” The Greek word that’s being rendered as thank or as credit is “cháris” which is actually “grace”. “What grace is that to you? If you love those who love you, what grace is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. Or if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive something back, what grace is that to you? For even sinners do as much.” The Lord Jesus Christ instructs us to love our enemies (Luke 6:31-36). Our enemies. And yet, there are many people who have a problem loving those close to them. But if we want to sow plentifully, if we want to reap plentifully, we need to live this: loving our enemies.

Now, perhaps you have enemies, and perhaps you have people you just kind of don’t like. Whatever the case, you need to love these people. Be patient with these people. Why should you love them? Why should you be patient with them? Well, it turns out, God loves you, and God is patient with you. And do you think you are always so wonderful and so loveable? Are you? Right. The Lord Jesus Christ tells us, “Be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). You want to be able to do that, this is a great place to start. Pray for those people you consider enemies that the Lord would lead them to Himself. You be present to them as much as you have the ability to do. This is not requiring you to be a doormat. This is not requiring you to put yourself in the path of abuse. Far from it. But it does require that you don’t write certain people off as irredeemable. If you would reap bountifully, we must sow bountifully, dear ones.

And so, today, today pray for those people whom you consider enemies for whatever reason. You notice something the Lord says. The Lord doesn’t say to not have enemies. He doesn’t say that. It’s okay to have enemies, but you need to love them. You need to pray for them, and you need to do what you can to show the love of God to them because the truth of the matter may well be, you might be their only lifeline to God. Just you. And if you turn your back on them, then what hope do they have? So, love your enemies. Love those people you dislike. Love those people who irritate you because God loves you. And to Him is due all glory, honor, and worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit unto the ages of ages, Amen.

https://stsavaoca.org/2026/10/04/to-what-can-the-christian-life-be-compared-fr-photius-avant/