Author: seraphimholland

Prayer and Its Practice with Igumen Gregory Zaiens. Fundraising Russian Tea – July 17, 2011, 5-7 pm

“Prayer and Its Practice” – July 17, 2011
Speaker, Igumen Gregory Zaiens
Presented by: St. Nicholas Orthodox Church of McKinney, TX
At the Bingham House, 800 S. Chestnut, McKinney, TX
5:00– 7:00 p.m. Russian Tea,
5:30 ~ 7:00 p.m. Igumen Gregory speaks on Prayer and Its Practice
$25 per person, $20 for each additional family member. Deadline:July 2, 2011

Join us at the very lovely Bingham House in McKinney to learn firsthand about prayer practice in the Orthodox Church from Igumen Gregory Zaiens, Archimandrite of St. Arsenius Hermitage.

Proceeds to help our Church build a covered deck since our hall is too small.

Childcare provided at our Church, directly across from the Bingham House, by the youth of St. Nicholas & St. Sava – donation appreciated

Book reservations at http://orthodox.net and pay with Paypal, or send your check, made out to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, to: Dcn. Nicholas Park, Box 37, McKinney, TX 75070

Please include a note w/your name, number attending, and childcare needed

Questions: Call Elaine King @ 214- 556-9486

Christology and moral teaching in the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus Christ. Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council.

The Christology of the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus Christ (which He made just before His arrest on Holy Thursday) is explained, and then the moral application of this prayer which is as important as the dogma in it is discussed. Our Lord proves that He is equal to the Father, and gives us two instructions on what we must do to be saved. Both instructions are intimately related to His relationship with the Father, and consequently what our relationship should be with God and our neighbor.

7th Sunday of Pascha – Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council Why do we commemorate the First Ecumenical Council and read the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus between Ascension and Pentecost?

7th Sunday of Pascha – Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. Why do we commemorate the First Ecumenical Council & read the High Priestly prayer of Jesus between Ascension & Pentecost? John 17:1-13 John 17:1-13 2010   Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, with Emperor Constantine (Arius, whose heresy was repudiated, is underneath… Continue reading 7th Sunday of Pascha – Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council Why do we commemorate the First Ecumenical Council and read the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus between Ascension and Pentecost?

On the struggle with thoughts. Fr George Calciu and Elder Paisios.

In the moment when you begin to pray, the devil attacks you; and after the first words, after the first short prayers you make, he puts all kinds of unimportant, worldly thoughts in your mind. …

Father Paisios of Mount Athos says that these thoughts which appear in our mind at the time of prayer are like…

With photos of Fr George Calciu and Elder Paisios of Mount Athos.

Published
Categorized as Gleanings

St Ephrem the Syrian on the Ascension. St Athanasius explains the Psalms referring to the Ascension.

Do you see then to what height of glory human nature has been raised? Is it not from earth to heaven? Is it not from corruption to incorruption? … St Ephrem

On this account it foretells his bodily ascension into heaven, and says in Psalm 23, “Lift up your gates, you princes and be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the king of glory shall come in.” And in the forty-sixth, “God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with a sound of a trumpet. … St. Athanasius of Alexandria

Published
Categorized as Ascension

Ascension – 11 questions and answers, and The whole of our faith is Jesus Christ. Two prophesies, one fulfilled, one being fulfilled.

hat significance does the event of the Ascension of Jesus Christ have for the Christian? We should understand why we celebrate any feast, and its inner meaning. In the gospel reading for liturgy on the Ascension, two gifts are mentioned by Christ. One is given and one is promised. What are they? Comment on their… Continue reading Ascension – 11 questions and answers, and The whole of our faith is Jesus Christ. Two prophesies, one fulfilled, one being fulfilled.

The Sunday of the Blind Man. What must I do to be saved?

The story of the healing of the blind man who washed in the pool of Siloam is a primer on what we must do and must not do – to be saved. We discuss some very important dogma presented at the beginning of the reading (what does it mean when is says Jesus “passed by” – it is something very specific, personal and important, questions abut sin, what our Lord’s important statement about work during the day means), and then we look at the character of the blind man, and the ruling Jewish elite. A clear pattern emerges of the things WE must do, and the things that God will do it we do these necessary things.

You can’t be saved unless you have character. God will not give it to you. Text/Audio. Sunday of the Blind Man.

Today, brothers and sisters, it’s already the fifth Sunday of Pascha and the Sunday of the blind man, and in keeping with all the other Sundays it is a day in which we read about someone who is enlightened and the process of their enlightenment, and we have another important characteristic of enlightenment especially shown today. It is shown in some of the others too, in St. Thomas, in the Samaritan Woman, but especially here we see incredible courage; we see incredible character. You can’t be saved unless you have character. God’s not going to give it to you. You can’t be saved unless in your heart you want to be honest and in your heart you want to be courageous. You won’t be saved unless you have good character. Don’t depend on God to give it to you. You have to have it. You have to have a desire to be good. This is good character. Whether or not you make mistakes and you have sins – that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about what is it that you desire and what is it that you value and how do you order your life? …