Category: Advent (Page 1 of 5)

‘Hawaii Orthodox Church’ by Anna Combes (annacombes.com)

Mele Kalikimaka!
(Merry Christmas!)

Orthodoxy in Hawaii is growing! Above is a painting of the St. Juvenaly Mission (OCA), which is located in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. This tiny mission began in 2004 and has been growing steadily over the years. It now has a priest (Father George Gray) assigned to shepherd them. The Orthodox presence in Hawaii is tiny, but it is growing. Orthodoxy in America has also been growing. It appears that 2025 has been the year of the “convert surge” with growing numbers of young men, then young families, across the US discovering and embracing Orthdoxy. This is an encouraging sign after recent reports about the decline of religiosity among the younger generation. It appears that what has been a tiny trickle of converts to Orthodoxy has grown into a noticable stream of converts into the Orthodox Church.

The Seekers and the Non-Seekers

Adoration of the Magi – Source

In the Nativity narratives in the Gospels, we learn of two groups: one group was seeking for the Christ Child and the other group was not looking for the Christ Child but came looking for Him after being told by the angels. These represent two different kinds of seekers. In Matthew 2:1-12, we are told that wise men from the East came looking for the Christ Child. Although they were religious outsiders, they knew something of the Christ Child and so they embarked on a long journey looking for Him. Also significant is the fact that they came prepared. They brought with them precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They did not fall into the error of ethnocentrism–the belief that “my people” or “my country” is the best in the world and that God has favored “my country” above all the others. They were willing to leave their homeland in search of the Christ Child, who would bring salvation to the nations.

The Shepherds (Source)

In Luke 2:8-20, we are told about the shepherds who were out in the field the night Christ was born. For them it was just a night like other nights. The ordinary cycle of life was shattered when the Archangel appeared before them announcing the birth of the Christ Child in the City of David. Unlike the Magi, the shepherds were not looking for the Christ Child yet they went looking for him in obedience to the Good News proclaimed by the Archangel. Also unlike the Magi, the shepherds were not prepared. They had no precious treasures to present to the Christ Child yet they came. In Luke 2:16, we are told that the shepherds “came with haste.” This contains an important lesson–if God speaks to you, do not delay but respond quickly.

It is my prayer that in 2026 we will see many more people come seeking after the Christ Child to worship Him. Many will come to Orthodoxy after a long arduous journey, while others may come to Orthodoxy in haste after God has spoken to them. For those of us who are already Orthodox, let us not grumble as the manger (the local parish) becomes crowded with new faces, but welcome the seekers. Let us tell the seekers: Come and See!

Robert Arakaki

References

AP. 2025. YouTube: “As converts find Eastern Orthodoxy online, the church is trying to help them commune in the flesh.” [2:11] 12-December-2025.

Father Josiah Trenham. 2025. YouTube: “Why Are People Converting to Orthodoxy?” [48:19]  May 2025.

Chirst is Born! Glorify Him!

Come, ye believers, let us see where Christ was born.
Let us follow the star whither it goeth with the Magi, kings of the East;
For there, angels praise him ceaselessly,
And shepherds raise their voices in a worthy song of praise, saying,
Glory in the highest to the One born today in a cave from the virgin Theotokos in Behlehem, in Judea.

Source: Christmas Matin

Another name for Christmas is ‘Advent,’ which means ‘coming.’ Christmas is about the coming of the Son of God into human history. It is not a myth but rather myth becoming concrete fact. Christmas would be meaningless without a particular Jewish maiden named “Mary” who said ‘Yes’ to an angel, who lived in Roman occupied Palestine, and who gave birth to Jesus in the town of Bethlehem.

Christmas is for those who believe in God’s goodness and mercy. Christmas is also for those who are looking for a loving and merciful God. It has recently been reported that there is an uptick in people, especially young men, interested in Orthdooxy. See the New York Post article: “Young men leaving traditional churches for ‘masculine’ Orthodox Christianity in droves.”

With the coming of the Son of God in Bethlehem, human history is divided in half–between BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Dominis which means “Year of the Lord”). The more recent BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) reflects a secular understanding of history. Its widespread usage reflects America’s shift to a post-Christian culture with a more religiously neutral, that is, a-religious worldview. Even as society changes, Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Dear Folks,

For those of you who are wondering, I am still working on articles to be posted on this blog site. Thank you for your prayers, patience, and support!

Robert Arakaki

The Ox and the Ass at the Manger

Christ is born! Glorify Him!
Christ descends from the heavens, welcome Him!
Christ is now on earth, O be jubilant!
Sing to the Lord, the whole earth,
And sing praises to Him with joy, O ye people,
For He has been exalted!

Christmas Canon, 1st Song, Irmos

Nativity Icon

The ox and the ass are two of the most ancient symbols that appear in Nativity icons. In the ancient Church, the ox was a clean, kosher animal representing the Jews. The Jews have the Law of Moses which taught them obedience to God. The ass, on the other hand, was a wilder and untamed animal, representing the Gentiles who do not have the Law. In Christ, the two seemingly opposite groups are united. The Apostle Paul writes: “For He is our peace who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility . . . .” (Ephesians 2:14)

The Nativity Icon shows the newborn Christ in a cave. The color black symbolizes the dark mystery of the human heart. Christ came to bring light to our inner darkness. Hence, we are urged to welcome Christ into our heart. The color black can also be understood as symbolizing the world being shrouded in darkness. Christ has entered into the dark times of our lives bringing comfort and joy, faith and hope.

The people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
And for those who sat in the region
and shadow of death
light has dawned.
(Matthew 4:17; cf. Isaiah 9:2)

Isaiah’s prophecy of the eschatological dawn was fulfilled when Jesus came preaching repentance and proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God (see Matthew 4:17).

Dear Folks,

The year 2023 has been a busy one for me. In my spare time I continue to write articles for the OrthodoxBridge. I hope to post more articles in the near future. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Robert Arakaki