On Tuesday of St. Thomas week we remember those Orthodox Christians from all ages who have died in faith, and in the hope of resurrection. There are indications of this commemoration in the sermons of the Fathers of the Church. The great Church father, St. John Chrysostom, for example, mentions it in his homily “On the Cemetery and the Cross.” In pre-Revolutionary Russia bars remained closed and alcoholic beverages were not sold until this Day of Rejoicing so that the joy people felt would be because of the Resurrection, and not an artificial joy brought on by alcohol. Today the Church remembers its faithful members at Liturgy, and koliva is offered in remembrance of those who have fallen … [Read more...]
Pascha “under the stars”
Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen! We celebrated a memorable Holy Week and Pascha this year, and here are some of the highlights. It truly was a Pascha to remember. We had visitors, including one that flew up to the top of the cross, and the joy of the Resurrection, and the love for all was palpable! Thank you to everyone who took photos or video, or who participated online! Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen! … [Read more...]
The Days Before Us: Paschal Season
Each Sunday in the Paschal Season is devoted to a particular theme. The broad theme of the Paschal season is water. Bright Week On Bright Monday, for example, it is traditional for Orthodox women to ‘sprinkle’ the men (especially the priest) with holy water. On Bright Tuesday, the men sprinkle the women. Bright Friday is devoted to the icon of the Theotokos of the Life-Giving Spring. This is dedicated to the miracles our Lord has shown, and continues to show, flowing from a fountain in a Church dedicated to the Theotokos. See more in the Feasts of Faith insert. This also recalls the miracles that will be commemorated for the rest of the Paschal season. Thomas Sunday Theme: Christ the … [Read more...]
The Days Before Us: Holy Week
Each Day in Holy Week is devoted to a particular theme. Review these each day with members of your family, especially your children, during the coming week. The Beginning of the Cross Lazarus Saturday "Having fulfilled Forty Days... we ask to see the Holy Week of Thy Passion." With these words sung at Vespers, Lent comes to its end and we enter into the annual commemoration of Christ's suffering, death and Resurrection. It begins on Lazarus Saturday. The double feast of Lazarus' resurrection and the Entrance of the Lord to Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) is described in liturgical texts as the "beginning of the Cross" and is to be understood therefore, within the context of the Holy Week. … [Read more...]
Christ: The “Trojan Horse” of Redemption
by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon The same monastic tradition that determined the psalms to be prayed at Thursday Matins also prescribed Psalms 75 and 91 (Hebrew 76 and 92) to be recited at Matins of Friday (Cf. The Rule of Saint Benedict, ch. 13). Because this sixth day of the week is “the day on which the Bridegroom is taken away” (Mark 2:20), the Church has always, from apostolic times, kept it as a fast day (Didache 8.1). Consequently, it is hardly surprising to find the theme of the Lord’s Passion in Psalms 75 and 91. The emphasis on the divine anger in these two psalms, however, differs considerably from that of the Thursday psalms. Whereas Jesus faces God’s wrath in Psalms 87 and … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- …
- 20
- Next Page »
