Fr. Seraphim Holland The Great Canon of St Andrew, Bishop of Crete, is the longest canon in all of our services, and is associated with Great Lent, since the only times it is appointed to be read in church are … Read More
Our present gathering in honor of the Most Holy Virgin inspires me, brethren, to offer her a word of praise, of benefit also for those who have come to this holy celebration. It is a praise of women, a glorification … Read More
Father Alexander Shmemann In the Orthodox Church, the last Sunday before Great Lent, the day on which – at Vespers, Lent is liturgically announced and inaugurated – is called Forgiveness Sunday. On the morning of that Sunday, at the Divine … Read More
AKATHIST for the REPOSE of Those Who have FALLEN ASLEEP KONTAKION 1 O Thou Who by Thy inscrutable Providence didst prepare the world for eternal beatitude and Who appointest times and seasons and the manner of our end: Forgive, … Read More
The mystery of the Pasch is new and old, eternal and temporal, corruptible and incorruptible, mortal and immortal. Old according to the Law, new according to the Word; temporal according to the world, eternal by grace; corruptible by the immolation … Read More
“Awesome and paradoxical is the mystery that we see unfolding today. He who is untouchable is now arrested. He who releases Adam from the curse is taken prisoner. He who searches and tries the hearts and minds is unjustly put … Read More
The somber tone of Holy Week is preceded by a two day feast commemorating the resurrection of Lazarus who had been dead for 4 days, and the triumphant entry of our Lord into Jerusalem. It is significant that Holy Week … Read More
Dear Faithful, We have reached the last Sunday of Great Lent. On this last Sunday, the Church presents before us the quintessential example of repentance—the life of St. Mary of Egypt. The Church has put repentance before us as … Read More
St Zosimas (April 4) was a monk at a certain Palestinian monastery on the outskirts of Caesarea. Having dwelt at the monastery since his childhood, he lived there in asceticism until he reached the age of fifty-three. Then he was … Read More
