by St. Innocent of Kherson Translation by Jesse Dominick By the grace of God we have, brethren, finished another Holy Lent. Much has been acquired by those who spent it as they ought, but likewise, it’s no small loss for those who didn’t spend it as they ought. The Church doesn’t force anyone to fulfill the statutes, but those who don’t, punish themselves. When those who have labored well in fasting now enter into the joy of their Lord, the weak and disobedient sons of the Church must necessarily feel some deprivation and sorrow. It’s good if God allows them to live again until another Lent to correct the present omission (although it’s no longer possible to fully get back what was lost); … [Read more...]
On the Mystical Supper
by Archpriest G. C. Debolsky On the day of the feast of unleavened bread, when according to the Law of the Old Testament a lamb was to be slaughtered and eaten, the hour was come that the Savior should depart out of this world unto the Father (cf. Jn. 13:1). Having come to fulfill the law, Jesus Christ sent His disciples, Peter and John, to Jerusalem to prepare the Passover, which, as the shadow of the law, He wanted to exchange it with the New Pascha—His own Body and Blood. When evening had come, the Lord came with His twelve disciples to a large, prepared upper room of a man who lived in Jerusalem (cf. Mk. 14:12–17) and reclined there. Telling them that the Kingdom of God, which is not … [Read more...]
What is Eucharist? From 106 AD
by St. Ignatius of Antioch “Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God….They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes.” Letter to the Smyrnaeans … [Read more...]
Divine Liturgy: The Oven of the Holy Spirit
by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon Originally entitled The Holy Eucharist: A Live Coal Speaking of the Holy Eucharist, the Fathers and early liturgical texts of the Church have recourse to the metaphor of the flaming coal (anthrax, pruna) in reference to the Lord’s body. For instance, with Isaiah 6:7 obviously in mind, The Liturgy of St. James refers to “receiving the fiery coal” (labein to pyrinon anthrax) from the Eucharistic altar. Indeed, even without using this word, those same doctrinal sources regularly appeal to Isaiah’s experience, when they speak of the Holy Eucharist. Thus, in The Liturgy of S. John Chrysostom, when the Christian has received the Holy Communion, the priest tells … [Read more...]
Cleansing the Court of the Gentiles
by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon At the beginning of Holy Week, just after the celebration of Palm Sunday, the Church turns her attention to Jesus’ act of purging of the Temple. As our guiding text here we may take Zechariah 14:20-21, the closing verses of that book: “The vessels in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Indeed, every vessel in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a tradesman in the house of the Lord of hosts.” In fulfillment of this prophecy, Mark records that Jesus, when he cleansed the Temple, “would not allow anyone … [Read more...]
What Shall We Offer to the Virgin?
by St. Photios the Great Such things the archangel was saying, drawing the spotless maiden to assent. But to this what was the reply of the honored virgin, the heavenly chamber, the holy mountain, the sealed fountain, kept for Him only who had sealed it? “Since,” says she, “thou hast clearly explained that the Holy Ghost shall come upon me, I no longer demur, I no longer object. Be it unto me according to thy word (Lk. 1.38). If I am judged worthy for the Lord, I will gladly serve His will. If the Builder desires the thing built to become a temple to the Builder, let Him construct a house unto Himself as He has pleased. If the Creator rests on His creature, let Him mold in me His … [Read more...]
The Power of the Sign of the Cross
by Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) The power of the sign of the cross is known since the times of the holy apostles who performed miracles by it. Once, St John the Apostle found a sick man lying on the road in fever and healed him with the sign of the cross (St Dimitry of Rostov. Life of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian). Saint Anthony the Great, speaking about the power of the sign of the cross against demons, said the following: “…Therefore, when demons come to you at night, wishing to foretell the future, or calling themselves angels, do not heed them, because they lie. If they praise your asceticism and exalt you, do not listen to them and do not bond with them in the … [Read more...]
“Man of God” Movie Stuns Box Office; Finishes in Top Five Highest Grossing Movies in US
Theaters need to learn there's a "huge" market for good, Orthodox, faith based and family friendly movies out there. If you make them, we'll come and see them. Man of God” was a box office success on the first night of its two-night-only release, finishing in fourth position among the top-five highest grossing films, behind “The Batman", "Jujutsu Kaisen 0" and "Uncharted" on Monday, March 21. #1 The Batman #2 Jujutsu Kaisen 0 #3 Uncharted #4 Man of God “Man of God” was originally scheduled to be released in select theaters nationwide for one night only (March 21). But, due to popular demand, Fathom Events added another showing, on March 28. Don't miss your chance to see it on the … [Read more...]
An Epistle Calling for Peace by His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill to the Spiritual Children of the Western American Diocese
Beloved in the Lord, Brothers and Sisters! Today the eyes of many of us are affixed to varying sources of information, and our hearts, numb and in bitter distress, behold the events presently unfolding in the God-preserved land of Ukraine. Seeing everything that is taking place, we instinctively call to mind the words of our Saviour, “of wars and rumors of wars,” and His warning: “see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6). These words of the Son of God before His suffering on the Cross have resounded in our churches for many years, but it seemed to us that they were describing events from the distant past or some future … [Read more...]
Why We Kept Our Church Open During the COVID-19 Hysteria
The short answer is 'not on my watch.' The long answer is described by St. Hippolytus of Rome (c. 180 AD) below. “And the churches too will wail with a mighty lamentation, because neither oblation nor incense is attended to, nor a service acceptable to God; but the sanctuaries of the churches will become like a garden-watcher’s hut, and the Holy Body and Blood of Christ will not be shown in those days. The public service of God shall be extinguished.” - On the End of the World, 34 … [Read more...]
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