In this week’s Bible study, Anthony Ally guided the group through both teaching and open questions. From practical matters such as when and how to make the sign of the Cross, to deeper theological reflections, the conversation wove together clarity and encouragement. Anthony highlighted the connection between the Feast of the Nativity and the Feast of the Dormition—the “bookends” of the Church year—and how the cycle of the 12 Great Feasts (plus Pascha and Pentecost) continually draws us into the life of Christ and His Mother. He urged us to see Mary’s humility and Christ’s obedience as the pattern for our own lives, calling us to faithfulness in worship and consistency in daily living. Many participants shared how this study broke through personal struggles and gave them strength in their walk with Christ.

On August 17th, 2025, Fr. Michael preached on the reality of spiritual warfare. He reminded the faithful that the Christian life is not neutral ground, but a battleground where our souls are contended for by Christ and opposed by the devil. Fr. Michael emphasized that prayer, fasting, confession, and the Holy Mysteries are not optional extras but the very weapons by which we are equipped to resist temptation and grow in holiness. He urged us to be vigilant, to recognize the enemy’s subtle attacks, and to cling to Christ who has already won the victory.

On August 16th, 2025, at Great Vespers, Fr. Michael offered an introduction to the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos.

Speaking to the many non-Orthodox visitors and returning guests present in our parish, he explained the meaning of Dormition: how the Church honors the falling asleep of the Mother of God, her bodily assumption into heaven, and the hope this gives to all Christians of life in Christ beyond the grave. Fr. Michael highlighted how the feast is not about death as an end, but about death being transformed by Christ into a passage to eternal life, with the Virgin Mary as the first among the faithful to follow Him.