The Celebration of Christmas (1 of 6)
1. The Meaning of Christmas Christmas is a Theophany – a manifestation of God. The Apostle Paul, in his First Epistle to Timothy, writes: “God was manifested in the flesh” (3:16). And how was God manifested in the flesh, having been born as a man? For He was a man like us, of flesh and […]
Saint John of Damascus on Hell
Below are some very characteristic and very important passages from Saint John of Damascus on the subject of Hell: 1. Hell is not God’s punishment, but it is a state of receptivity. It appears that Hell and Paradise as “places” do not exist. There is only God, who is present in all places (omnipresent). “Και […]
A Bishop Stands up to the Most Powerful Man on the Planet
On 7 December, we celebrate the memory of Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Mediolanum, today’s Milan, Born in the 4th century, he was an important man and a great legal expert who became governor of Milan and the surrounding region. He was a just, prudent person and a catechumen, i. e. he was preparing for baptism. […]
The Application of Orthodox Theology
By Protopresbyter Fr. John Romanides All men regardless of nationality, race, and color have the noetic faculty and therefore the possibility of reaching illumination by means of purification and then if God pleases they may experience glorification at its varying degrees. In any case the varying levels of theoria are the highest experiences of Orthodox […]
September: Major Feasts
A presentation of the major feast of September. Learn more about the Ecclesiastical New Year, the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Elevation of the Precious Cross, the Conception of Saint John the Baptist and the Falling Asleep of Saint John the Evangelist and Theologian.
Patriarchal Encyclical for the Ecclesiastical New Year
We have come to September 1st, the beginning of the ecclesiastical year, which the Ecumenical Patriarchate and subsequently the entire Orthodox Church designated as a day of prayer for the natural environment. Since then, as a result of this initiative, the interest in protecting the natural environment has expanded more broadly and numerous measures are now taken for the sustainability and balance of the earth’s ecosystems as well as for all related problems.
The Renovation of Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral in Singapore
During August many renovation works were made at the Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral in Singapore under the guidance of His Eminence Metropolitan Konstantinos of Singapore and South Asia. The Orthodox Metropolitanate would like to thank the donors for their kindness and contribution and all the members of the Orthodox Community in Singapore who helped with the finishing of renovation.
Bright Friday: The Feast of the Mother of God the Life-Giving Spring
One of the most famous shrines of Constantinople, the Zoodochos Pege, is located outside the land walls to the west of the city, at the site now known as Balikli. Two versions of a very old tradition provide information on the origins of this ancient shrine. According to the first, related by the historian Procopius, […]
The Holy Martyr Christopher of Lycea (May 9)
The Holy Martyr Christopher lived during the third century and suffered about the year 250, during the reign of the emperor Decius (249-251). St Christopher was a man of great stature and unusual strength. He was at first named Reprobus. Seeing the Christians persecuted, he rebuked the tyrants for their cruelty. Because of his renowned […]
A Brief Comment on the Icon of the Resurrection
We shall try here to point out the main features of the Orthodox icon which is entitled “The Descent into Hell”. The first thing to note is that it is entirely different from the Western-style depiction, which shows Christ emerging triumphantly from the tomb, holding a little flag. The astonished guards have fallen to the […]