Welcome to Father Steven Kostoff's rich collection of Meditations dating back over two decades.
Reflections of a Parish Priest
Fr Steven's new book is available through the church office/bookstore, and online.
"For almost twenty years now, parishioners at Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit in Cincinnati, and friends in Christ from places near and far, have been receiving from Father Steven his 'Monday Morning Meditations' via email, or have been visiting his Orthodox Christian Meditations Blog. Now at long last a selection of Father Steven's reflections have been published in book form by Kaloros Press!"
Paperback, Full color cover, 199 pages, $20
Learn more here, and purchase at church, or order online.
THE DIVINE LITURGY OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
Meaning, Preparation and Practice
Third Edition, with a new Epilogue by the author...
Seekers, catechumens and Orthodox faithful alike will be blessed by this trustworthy and inspiring guide to the Divine Liturgy and the Life in Christ, composed by our beloved pastor, a faithful presbyter of the Orthodox Church in America.
Paperback, 64 pages, full color cover with B&W illustrations.
REDUCED PRICE - Only $7.99 retail.
Living in the Light of the Resurrection
Fr Steven C. Kostoff
Christ is Risen!
In May 2008, Fr Steven gave a two-part talk on the Resurrection, at Holy Dormition Monastery in Rives Junction, Michigan, to a retreat of the Midwest Antiochian Women's Association.
This warm and inspiring, richly developed presentation on the Resurrection of Christ was digitally recorded in excellent quality, and made available as a special podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. We rejoice to make it available again here during the Paschal season. Save it to your computer, smartphone and tablet. Share the joyful message of the reality of Christ's Resurrection with your family and friends!
Part 1: Theological and Historical Aspects of the Resurrection
Direct Link - Play in Popup - Download - Transcript
Part 2: Living in the Light of the Resurrection
Direct Link - Play in Popup - Download - Transcript
Be sure also to read Fr. Steven's classic article in defense of the bodily resurrection of Jesus:
Fr. Steven's meditations from late 2007 through the present are archived and easily browsed or searched through the Meditations Blog. Meditations from 2004 through 2007 are now archived on a separate page on this site. Earlier meditations dating back to 2001 are to follow as phase two of the archive project.
Fr. Steven's articles are also regularly featured on the official website of the Orthodox Church in America.
Download Fr. Steven's Reading List of Contemporary Orthodox Classics
Add your email address to Fr. Steven's Meditation List
Dear Parish Faithful,
Please pass on any questions or concerns.
In Christ,
Fr. Steven
- Preparing to Receive Holy Communion in a 'worthy manner'.
- Preparing to Receive (short version)
- The Meaning of the Mystical Supper
- Liturgical Etiquette in an Orthodox Church (short version)
- Liturgical Etiquette (complete)
Read Fr. Steven's important new article, an "apologia" and guidepost on some of the great Orthodox writers and books of the 20th century, those pillars on whom our contemporary Church and writers stand. — Excerpt:
Contemporary Classics of Orthodox Literature
by Fr. Steven Kostoff
...A steady Orthodox reading discipline/program is essential in today's world perhaps more than ever. We are so ideologically bombarded from so many disparate quarters, that we need to remember who we are and what we believe! I am writing, though, with a particular concern in mind: Perhaps we are only - or mostly only - reading the most contemporary literature...
I want to make a heartfelt plea for the great writers who nurtured me, who nurtured an entire earlier generation or two, and who wrote the classics of twentieth century Orthodox literature. This is a great literature that placed Orthodoxy on the "map" both in America and in Europe and beyond - into Russia and other parts of the world. I strongly believe that we need to read these classics of the twentieth century, because these are the very books that served as the foundation for others to build on. These were books that allowed Orthodoxy to emerge from its sheltered ethnic communities; books which revived an abiding and lasting focus on the Fathers of the Church; books which completely restored the apostolic vision of the Liturgy and the Eucharist; and books that penetrated deeply into our genuine spiritual Tradition with the insights and practices that lead us to lives of holiness...
Read the complete article, with an extensive book list and brief line about each title...
Dear Parish Faithful,
~ Fr Steven
Links to the Articles:
A Smile from Eternity
This warm, brief article describes the funeral of Blessed Elder Joseph and the effect his radiant smile had on all those present. (Note: the website seems to be in Greek, but the article has been translated into English - just scroll down.)
Why is the Smile of Elder Joseph of Vatopedi from Eternity?
As the photos and text in this article show, Elder Joseph did not repose smiling, but rather, his smile appeared some forty-five minutes after his death!