Holy Protection Universalist Orthodox Community

03/02/2026

Today is the Sunday of Holy Orthodoxy where the Church celebrates the victory of Orthodoxy over the iconoclasts.

This is one of my favorite feast days of the Church, but I get the sense that this wonderful celebration is often accompanied by much spiritual chest-pounding "We are the Orthodox!" "Look at the beautiful churches we build!" "Listen to our beautiful chant! No one else has hymns like us!"

It is important on this day to remember our forerunners who endured horrible persecutions, who were tortured, maimed and killed for their veneration of holy icons. Let us take care that on this day, we remember that the most precious icons are the ones not made by human hands, our own fellow human beings. How dare we venerate the painted icons at liturgy and go forth and ignore the suffering around us, especially in this day.

02/12/2026

02/11/2026

02/03/2026

No one actually knows very much about who or what God is. As Metropolitan Anthony Bloom observed, only rigid rationalists assume that the ancient stories and myths we live by must be taken as literal facts. What truly matters is not proof, but how we love. If biblical stories were fully testable, faith would cease to be faith. Love itself rests on trust, not evidence, and religion is grounded in that same trust. The presence of conclusive proof would not strengthen faith—it would undo it.
Much doubt has been created not by honest questioning, but by attempts to manufacture certainty. Forgeries and false proofs, meant to eliminate doubt, have only clouded the waters further as modern science exposes their falseness. Human beings are imaginative and creative, so religion and theology inevitably carry elements of story, symbol, and interpretation across all traditions and denominations.
God would never oppose discernment, especially when God so often remains silent. When Moses asked for God’s name, the answer was simply, “I Am that I am”—in effect, I’m me! work the rest out yourselves. With so many beliefs and interpretations, it is inevitable that people carry false notions of God, many of which have been shaped by fear and used as tools of control and judgment.
Deconstructing threatens those systems, not God. God would not be angered by doubters or wrestlers. On the contrary, God would honor them—trusting them to help strip away fear and illusion, and participate with them to bear witness to the greatest truth of all: love and grace.

08/04/2025

Beloved in Christ,

Some months ago, after much prayer, reflection, and wise counsel, I discerned that it was time for the ministry of Holy Protection to step away from the Convergent Catholic Communion (CCC). This decision was not made in haste, nor out of any conflict, but purely in the hope of better serving those whom God has entrusted to our care.

We give thanks for the season we spent within the CCC, and for the friendships and partnerships that continue even now. In particular, I am grateful to His Eminence Metropolitan John-Gregory, whose kindness and pastoral care have deeply shaped my own journey. The clergy of the CCC remain beloved colleagues and friends, and I am touched by their continued support and encouragement as we move forward in ministry.

This step of faith—while not without uncertainty—has created space for Holy Protection to grow into the ministry God is calling us to become. It is with great excitement that I share with you that Holy Protection has found a new ecclesial home.

Following months of prayerful conversation with Fr. Micah Lazarus of Saint Photini Universalist Orthodox Church and Bishop Kristina Rake of the Catholic Church in Exile, we are pleased to announce the revitalization of the Universalist Orthodox Church, originally founded by Metropolitan Olga in 2017. Holy Protection will now serve as a ministry within the Universalist Orthodox Church, under the omophorion of Her Excellency Bishop Kristina Rake, who has graciously accepted our request to serve as presiding bishop.

Bishop Rake has long supported our work, participating in the consecration of Metropolitan Olga, and her heart for unity, compassion, and inclusion reflects the very spirit of what we hope to build. Our shared vision is one of East and West walking side by side—not blended or diminished, but distinct and whole, allowing the Church once again to breathe with both lungs.

There is still much discernment ahead and many details to be thoughtfully and prayerfully ironed out, yet we all stand in the common purpose of spreading the radically inclusive love of Jesus Christ to the Orthodox world and beyond.

Please keep Bishop Rake and Father Micah in your prayers as we walk forward together into this next chapter, and know that we carry each of you in ours as we move forward—always, always—with love.

Yours in Christ,

-Hilaria

05/26/2025

A Memorial Day Prayer for the Victims of Empire

O God of Spirits and of All Flesh,
You who have trampled down death and overthrown the Devil,
grant rest to the souls of those who perished as victims of Empire and Capital:

To the young, the poor, the desperate, the marginalized—
those promised freedom and belonging in exchange for Obedience and Blood,
those who believed their service and sacrifice would make the world a better place,
but found only darkness and death in a foreign land,
who died far from home—
cause them to dwell where the light of Your countenance shines.

To those who returned home not in glory, but in sorrow,
who were met with silence and abandonment,
who bore the weight of witnessed horrors alone,
whose wounds were unseen and untreated,
who succumbed to despair and trauma—
grant them Peace and Eternal Rest.

To the victims of imperialism—
the civilians, the children, the families bombed and burned,
those who rose with courage to defend their homes,
who resisted drone strikes and occupying forces,
only to be met with colonial violence wrapped in Scripture and the American flag—
to those who have no monuments,
whose names are known only to You—
embrace them with Your Love in the Kingdom of Eternal Joy.

To all who have perished beneath the machinery
that turns the blood of the innocent into the profit of the powerful—
let their memory be eternal.
Not only in Paradise, but in our hearts,
our voices,
our actions.

Let their blood cry out for peace—
a cry to dismantle every system of oppression
that feeds upon the bodies of the poor.

May their sacrifice give us the courage
to feed the hungry,
to welcome the stranger,
to care for the orphan,
to act justly,
to love mercy,
and to pursue peace.

In Your Eternal Kingdom, where swords become plowshares,
remember them, O Christ our God—
as we labor to bring that Kingdom to earth
and build the world they deserved to live in.

Amen.

01/22/2025

My dear friends and siblings,

We have entered a time of trial. The inauguration of Donald Trump on Monday has made it clear that those in power seek to instill fear in our hearts. If you are afraid, know that fear is not a weakness—it is evidence of your humanity. But do not let it consume you. You are not alone. You are not powerless. And you must not lose hope.

Holy Protection is a ministry of the Connexion of Saint Maria Skobtsova, a woman who, in the face of fascism, chose defiant love. She sheltered the hunted, clothed the suffering, and stood between the oppressor and the oppressed though it cost her life. In her final act of resistance, she took the place of another in the gas chamber. This is the legacy we inherit—the legacy of saints who did not bow to the forces of fear and hatred.

In response to Trump’s first executive orders, our Eparch and Metropolitan, John-Gregory, has called upon all ministers and clergy of the Convergent Catholic Communion to “act as visible allies and prophetic witnesses in support of our transgender and nonbinary siblings”—not only in words, but in “tangible acts of advocacy, presence, and protection.”

As a trans woman and minister in the CCC, I will proudly obey the direction of my bishop. Holy Protection will remain a refuge, a shield, a sanctuary for all who seek it. Though our community is small and virtual, our spirit is vast, and I offer every resource at my disposal to help those in need. Our Facebook group and virtual gatherings remain open to all searching for community. My inbox, my time, my prayers are yours.

For those in crisis, I will help connect you with those who can provide emergency relocation, legal aid, and documentation assistance. For those who are near, my home is your home. Come, sit at my table. Share a meal, a cup of coffee, a moment of peace. Play with my dog. Talk, laugh, cry. Whatever you need. Wherever you may be, know that, as both a minister and a citizen, I will work relentlessly to resist injustice, to tear down systems of oppression, to ease suffering, and to proclaim—without fear or apology—that you are holy, beloved, and worthy.

To those whose faith is shaken—who feel despair at seeing a sitting president publicly rebuke a bishop for pleading for mercy and compassion—I say this: Christ is not in the White House. The Church is not in the capitol building. Christ is in the streets, in the homes, and in the hearts of those who welcome the outcast. Christ is in us. And this church, this community, and this minister stand with you—with open arms, with tears, with righteous anger, and with unshakable love.

Throughout history, Christ has called up saints and heroes who rose to the occasion in times of persecution and oppression—figures like Mother Maria Skobtsova, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Bishop Gorazd Pavlík, who gave their lives in defiance of fascism, standing firm in the name of Jesus. Now, in our time, in this moment, we are called to stand as well. To stand in the light. Stand in the truth. Stand in love that no empire, no government, no decree can ever extinguish. Hold on to one another. Hold on to hope. And fight—fight the good fight with everything you have.

Yours in Love and in Christ,

-Hilaria

12/31/2024

Dearest Friends and Siblings,

As we step into 2025, we carry with us the joys and trials of the past year. For me, this has been a particularly challenging year, as I know it has been for many of you.

In times like these, I find strength and encouragement in the community around me—in the people God has placed over me in ministry and those I am privileged to serve. Each of you has been a blessing, and our shared journey of love and community continues to sustain me.

This new year brings its own challenges. The world around us remains marked by division, fear, and uncertainty. Many among us carry personal burdens—some visible, others known only to the quiet places of our hearts. As a community striving to be a beacon of hope and sanctuary, we are called to face these challenges together, embodying Christ’s love through compassion, service, and unity.

When the other founders and I prayed over the patronage of this ministry, we quickly decided on the name Holy Protection. Knowing our focus would be to serve fellow LGBTQ Christians, we wanted a name that reflected our mission to be a refuge for those in need. Yet Holy Protection is not just a name; it is a plea to the one who watches over us—the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven, to shield us with her veil of love and care.

As we venture into this new year, with its joys and sorrows, its highs and lows, I encourage each of you to lean into the blessings of community. Let us recommit ourselves to the practices that sustain us: praying for one another, serving those in need, and sharing life’s burdens and joys. Through these acts of love, we become Christ’s hands and feet—not only to one another but to the world beyond.

Together, through the intercession of the Theotokos, we can meet whatever comes with courage and hope. Let us begin this year united in purpose and love, trusting in the words of Our Lord who promises to be with us always, unto the ages of ages.

Yours in Christ,

-Hilaria

12/25/2024

Friends and Siblings,

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

As we gather across the world to celebrate the glorious Feast of the Nativity, let us reflect on the extraordinary humility of our Savior’s arrival. The Word through whom all things were made came to us not in majesty or splendor, not in the strength of heavenly armies, but as a vulnerable, helpless infant wrapped in plain cloth. Christ, the King of Kings, beloved of Heaven, chose to enter our world not in wealth but in poverty, not in a palace but in a humble manger within a cave.

This profound meekness calls us to contemplate not only the depth of God’s love but also the mission entrusted to each of us. The light of Christ’s birth is not meant to remain hidden but to shine through us. Just as the angels proclaimed peace on Earth, so are we called to bring peace to hearts burdened by worry and strife. And just as the shepherds marveled at God made flesh, we too are invited to wonder at the divine image imprinted on every soul we encounter.

As we rejoice in this holy season, let us extend the joy of Christ’s birth to all those around us. In a world where many experience loneliness or despair during this time, we are called to be bearers of hope, offering love, kindness, and a reminder of the enduring light of Christ. When we share this peace and joy, we allow the spirit of the Nativity to transform not just a season but the entire year.

May the radiant light of Christ’s birth fill your hearts and homes with hope and love, and may we carry the spirit of the Nativity into the new year, striving always to bring His goodwill to all.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

-Hilaria

12/22/2024

Friends and siblings, please extend grace to me this Sunday as I'm coming down with a cold. But, I couldn't let the last Sunday before Christmas pass without sharing this message of hope for the coming season.