Archive for the ‘Prayers of the church:Lenten Prayers’ Category

Prayers of the Church - Lazarus Sat and Palm Sunday Troparion

Friday, April 18th, 2008

LISTEN NOW

In confirming the common Resurrection, O Christ God, / Thou didst raise up Lazarus from the dead before Thy Passion. / Wherefore, we also like the children, bearing the symbols of victory, / cry to Thee, the Vanquisher of death: / Hosanna in the highest, // blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.

If the “LISTEN NOW” link does not work, copy this URL into your browser:
http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/prayers-of-the-church-lenten-prayers_2008-04-16+lazarus-saturday,-palm-sunday-troparion.m3u

If this file does not work for you, try the direct link to the actual mp3 file:
http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/prayers-of-the-church-lenten-prayers_2008-04-16+lazarus-saturday,-palm-sunday-troparion.mp3


RSS feed of Audio catechetical talkshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/OrthodoxChristianCatecheticalTalksRSS feed of Audio catechetical talks:http://feeds.feedburner.com/OrthodoxChristianCatecheticalTalks

Archive of Audio catechetical talks:http://www.orthodox.net/catechism

Posted in Audio catechism, Prayers of the church:Lenten Prayers, prayers of the church | No Comments »

Prayers of the Church:Prayer of St Ephrem - catechetical talk

Friday, April 4th, 2008

LISTEN NOW

O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition, idle talking give me not.

But rather a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness, patience, and love bestow up me Thy servant.

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my failings and not condemn my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.

If the “LISTEN NOW” link does not work, copy this URL into your browser:
http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/prayers-of-the-church-lenten-prayers_2008-04-02+prayer-of-st.-ephrem.m3u

If this file does not work for you, try the direct link to the actual mp3 file:
http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/prayers-of-the-church-lenten-prayers_2008-04-02+prayer-of-st.-ephrem.mp3


RSS feed of Audio catechetical talkshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/OrthodoxChristianCatecheticalTalksRSS feed of Audio catechetical talks:http://feeds.feedburner.com/OrthodoxChristianCatecheticalTalks

Archive of Audio catechetical talks:http://www.orthodox.net/catechism

Posted in Prayers of the church:Lenten Prayers | No Comments »

Prayers of the Church:Before Thy Cross - catechetical talk

Tuesday, April 1st, 2008

LISTEN NOW

Before Thy cross, we bow down and worship, and Thy holy resurrection, we glorify.


If the “LISTEN NOW” link does not work, copy this URL into your browser:
http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/prayers-of-the-church-lenten-prayers_2008-03-27+before-thy-cross.m3u

If this file does not work for you, try the direct link to the actual mp3 file:http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/prayers-of-the-church-lenten-prayers_2008-03-27+before-thy-cross.mp3


RSS feed of Sunday and some weekday homiliesRSS feed of Catechism talks:http://feeds.feedburner.com/OrthodoxChristianCatecheticalTalks

Archive of Audio catechesis talks:http://www.orthodox.net/catechism

Posted in Great Lent, Prayers of the church:Lenten Prayers | No Comments »

The Great Canon, Monday of Clean Week: All the demon chiefs of the passions

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008

All the demon chiefs of the passions have plowed on my back, and long has their tyranny over me lasted
(Great Canon, Ode 2, Troparion 12, Clean Monday)



We read this troparion tonight, in the first of four nights of serving the Great Canon service. Unfortunately, in our church, few heard it.

This is one of many poetic and powerfully brutal representations of sin which St Andrew uses, and it has always particularly moved me.
I suppose it is because we are not able to easily protect our back, and it is on our “blind side”. How many sins do I commit and not see them? How easily the demons punch through my weak defenses – often without me even knowing they are there!
I also always think of the “good ground” from the parable of the Sower when I hear this troparion. We should be “good ground” and yet we grow so many tares from our passions in this ground, which is our soul. St. Andrew likens his soul here to “ground” on his back, over which the demons sow their tyranny over us.
Can you feel how tired he is here? We should be this tired! “LONG HAS THEIR TYRANNY OVER ME LASTED”. This is the plaintive cry of a man who has had enough. He, like the Apostle Paul, is saying “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:12, read on the Sunday of Forgiveness, 1 day before this troparion, from the Great Canon of St Andrew, is sung on Clean Monday)
Oh! if only our soul felt the full weight of our sins, and was truly tired and disgusted with our condition! We would change immediately, I am sure, if only we could join our weak voice to St Andrew’s with complete sincerity and resolve.
I welcome all your comments. Please use the link below.

Posted in Great Lent, Prayers of the church:Lenten Prayers | No Comments »

Audio talk on: Prayers of the church, Lenten Prayers, By The Waters of Babylon, Psalm 136

Thursday, March 6th, 2008

LISTEN NOW

Psalm 136
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and we wept when we remembered Sion. Alleluia.

Upon the willows in the midst thereof did we hang our instruments. Alleluia.

For there, they that had taken us captive asked us for words of song;
And they that had led us away asked us for a hymn, saying: sing us one of the songs of Sion. Alleluia.

How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? Alleluia.

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.
Alleluia.

Let my tongue cleave to my throat, if I remember thee not,
If I set not Jerusalem above all others, as at the head of my joy. Alleluia.

Remember, O Lord, the sons of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem, Who said: Lay waste, lay waste to her, even to the foundations thereof. Alleluia.

O daughter of Babylon, thou wretched one,
blessed shall he be who shall reward thee wherewith thou hast rewarded us. Alleluia.

Blessed shall he be who shall seize and dash thine infants against the rock. Alleluia.


If the “LISTEN NOW” link does not work, copy this URL into your browser:
http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/prayers-of-the-church-lenten-prayers_2008-03-06+by-the-waters-of-babylon_psalm136.m3u

If this file does not work for you, try the direct link to the actual mp3 file:
http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/prayers-of-the-church-lenten-prayers_2008-03-06+by-the-waters-of-babylon_psalm136.mp3


RSS feed of Audio catechetical talkshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/OrthodoxChristianCatecheticalTalksRSS feed of Audio catechetical talks:http://feeds.feedburner.com/OrthodoxChristianCatecheticalTalks

Archive of Audio catechetical talks:http://www.orthodox.net/catechism

Posted in Audio catechism, Prayers of the Church:Psalter, Prayers of the church:Lenten Prayers | No Comments »