From time immemorial man felt the need to pray and offer sacrifice to God or gods. The primitive man looked at nature and what he found powerful and mysterious i.e., sun, moon, river, waterfall, star, fire, animals, serpents, etc. would make them into gods which he worshiped and sacrifice to. Paganism came out of that need to believe is something greater than what he was.

Our most precious gift from God and Creator are our children. Young souls who bring so many blessings and joy to our lives. Children who rely on our love and guidance to grow physically and spiritually. We have been entrusted by God with their lives and to do everything possible to teach them His Divine Commandments, Christian values, and to inspire them to become good people with sensitive and compassionate hearts. People who can make a positive difference in the complex world in which they live.

Saint John Chrysostom's six books on the Priesthood shows the influence of Saint Gregory's "Fight to Pontus", and, therefore, we see developing the great tradition in pastoral theology that nearly two hundred years later would extend into the West through Saint Gregory the Great. Saint John Chrysostom wrote his treatise On the Priesthood.

 Those who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness; obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still, others had a trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented--of whom the world is not worthy.

Christian Orthodox Stewardship is a practice that is often misunderstood and misused in the Church. Many think of Stewardship solely from a monetary perspective, as a means to financially support the sacred work of the Church. This is, of course, important, but Stewardship should not be limited to this - it is much more!

Romanos, our Holy Father, hailed from Syria, having as his hometown the Hellenized city of Emesa, which is now Homs, situated on the Orontes River. He offered himself wholly to Christ from his youth and was even then adorned with the virtues. When he came of age, he flourished in his service as a deacon of the Church of Berythus (Beirut).