LISTEN NOW In this catechetical talk, we give an overview of the themes of Vespers and the “Jewishness” of Orthodox worship. If the “LISTEN NOW” link does not work, copy this URL into your browser:http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/prayers-of-the-church_+vespers.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_+vespers.mp3 RSS feed of… Continue reading Audio talk on: Vespers, An overview of the themes of Vespers, and the Jewish character of Orthodox worship.
Author: seraphimholland
5th Sunday of Pascha, 2008, The Samaritan Woman. "She left her waterpot."
LISTEN NOW John 4:5-42Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with [his] journey, sat thus on the well: [and] it was about the sixth hour. 7 There… Continue reading 5th Sunday of Pascha, 2008, The Samaritan Woman. "She left her waterpot."
Fifth Sunday of Pascha, Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
The Conversation of Christ with the soul http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/pascha-sunday-05_1999+the-samaritan-woman.html In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Christ is risen! Truly he is risen! Today we are privileged to witness a holy conversation. This conversation is not just between Christ and a woman. It is between Christ and… Continue reading Fifth Sunday of Pascha, Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
The Paralytic 2008 – Baptism explained – 4th Sunday of Pascha – John 5:1-15
LISTEN NOW John 5:1-15After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered,… Continue reading The Paralytic 2008 – Baptism explained – 4th Sunday of Pascha – John 5:1-15
Liturgy on the Land – Slideshow and movie medley
Complements of Natalia Hawthorne, two videos chronicling our first liturgy on the new land in McKinney. This was an outdoor liturgy on Thomas Sunday, 2008. We are building on this land this summer. Liturgy On The Land (Slideshow) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQCLufUrTtk Liturgy On The Land (Movie medley) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVO7oaxPcdA
4th Sun of Pascha – The Paralytic – John 5:1-5
Wilt Thou be made whole? In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Today is the Sunday of the paralytic, in which we hear the story of a man who’d been ill for thirty-eight years and was finally healed. We have much to learn… Continue reading 4th Sun of Pascha – The Paralytic – John 5:1-5
4th Sun of Pascha – The Paralytic – John 5:1-5
“Rise, take up thy bed, and walk!” In the name of the Father, and the Son and the holy Spirit Amen. Today we see a man who is healed … twice. The man’s healing was completed in stages, as it is for us also. And we Orthodox Christians must recognize how God heals us, and… Continue reading 4th Sun of Pascha – The Paralytic – John 5:1-5
The wise men teach us
As I make my way through the sermons of St John Chrysostom, I am reminded of many things that I wish to share with my parish. This makes for very slow reading! St John ALWAYS emphasizes the MORAL aspects of the scripture. Everything in the scripture is about morality, that is, following God’s law, because… Continue reading The wise men teach us
3rd Sun of Pascha – The Holy Myrhhbearers
Today is the third Sunday after Pascha, and it is the Sunday of the myrrh-bearing women. And it is quite an interesting reading which we have because these women and these men, Joseph of Arimathaea, who is mentioned today, and also Nicodemus, who acted with great love, but also in great ignorance. They were trying to do something that they were not going to be able to accomplish. These women wanted to anoint the Lord with myrrh, and Joseph and Nicodemus had prepared the Lord’s body so carefully, wrapping it in clean, fine linen. Myrrh and aloes had been applied, according to the custom of the Jews. All this they did in ignorance. They acted without full knowledge, but with great desire and with great love.
There is a lesson for us. Pascha is God making man able to know God. This is really what Pascha is. It is not an event only; it is a fundamental change in human nature. The God-man becoming incarnate made us able to live. He accomplished our salvation by His death and His resurrection, and basically all of the period from Pascha to Pentecost we think about how He enlightens us and the practical ramifications of what Pascha means for the soul. In essence, it means enlightenment. It means to know God. But to know God you have to be able to live like God, and you must live in virtue before you have full enlightenment. ?
What then may be done?
I hear many say, “While we are here, and enjoying the privilege of hearing, we are awed, but when we are gone out, we become altered men again, and the flame of zeal is quenched.” What then may be done, that this may not come to pass? Let us observe whence it arises. Whence then… Continue reading What then may be done?