To What Purpose this Waste?

Holy Wednesday faces us with the contrast between two figures, two states of the soul. It is devoted to the remembrance of two actions: the action of the woman who, at Bethany, came to pour a jar of precious ointment on Jesus’s head, and the actions of the disciple who betrayed his Master.

P.B. Paschou on the Troparion of Kassiani

Let us now come to the famous poetic masterpiece of Kassiani, which is chanted on Great Tuesday evening and is part of Matins for Great Wednesday, that begins “Lord, 
she
 who 
had
 fallen 
in 
many 
sins”.

The Bridegroom of our Church

The icon of the Bridegroom of the Church, which shows our Lord with a crown of thorns, is the most loving and sympathetic icon for every Christian, even those who are hurting.

The Celebration of Christmas (5 of 5)

The Orthodox Church does not celebrate birthdays. Rather, we celebrate our rebirth/regeneration in the Lord. This regeneration is associated with the new name God gave a person, not with the birth of a person.

The Celebration of Christmas (4 of 5)

4. Should Christians Have Holidays? And now we come to the second point, where they say that in the Bible, especially in the New Testament, feast days are not mentioned, nor that Christians are to celebrate holidays, except the celebration of the “Lord’s Supper”. First off, we want to mention that Holy Scripture is full […]

Christmas 2013

Behold a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The Angels sing. The Archangels blend their voice in harmony. The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt His glory. All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead […]

Homily on Saint Ignatius the God-Bearer by Saint John Chrysostom

On the holy martyr Saint Ignatius, the God-Bearer, Archbishop of Antioch the great, who was carried off to Rome, and there suffered martyrdom, and thence was conveyed back again to Antioch. 1. Sumptuous and splendid entertainers give frequent and constant entertainments, alike to display their own wealth, and to show good-will to their acquaintance. So […]

Saints Boniface and Aglaia as Models for our Lives

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas   Saints Boniface and Aglaia lived in the third century and both were Christians. Saint Aglaia belonged to the class of noble and wealthy Roman women. She had a merciful heart and for this reason she was always inclined to charity and good works. Saint Boniface was secretary, property manager […]

The Celebration of Christmas (3 of 6)

3. Pagan Origins? We will consider first the objection that holidays in general (including Christmas) have pagan and non-Christian origins, and that they are accompanied by actions such as drunkenness and prostitution. It is true that it may seem some holidays may coincide at a time when ancient peoples celebrated their own holidays. It seems […]

The Celebration of Christmas (2 of 6)

2. Objections to the Celebration of Christmas However, there are many who are called “Christians” who refuse (as strange as it may seem) to celebrate this moving yet joyous event in the history of mankind. We have in mind the so-called Jehovah’s Witnesses who raise their objections about whether to celebrate this event of the […]