Category: Great Lent

The Word “Anathema” and it’s meaning

by Saint John Maximovitch
The Greek word “anathema” consists of two words: “ana”, which is a preposition indicating movement upwards and “thema”, which means a separate part of some- thing. In military terminology, “thema” meant a detachment; in civil government “thema” meant a province. We currently use the word “theme”, derived from “thema”, to mean a specific topic of a written and intellectual work.

“Anathema” literally means the lifting up of something separate. In the Old Testament this expression was used both in relation to that which was alienated due to sinfulness and likewise to that which was dedicated to God.

In the New Testament, in the writing of the Apostle Paul it is used once in conjunction with “maranatha”, meaning the coming of the Lord. The combination of these words means separation until the coming of the Lord; in other words – being handed over to Him (1 Cor 16:22) …

First Sunday Of Great Lent Sunday Of Orthodoxy – The Triumph of Orthodoxy

Can any Good thing come out of Nazareth? Come and See!

Today, brothers and sisters, is the first Sunday of the Great Lent, the Sunday of Orthodoxy. The Church wants to tell us some things. Indeed we should come to Church always with the expectation that God will teach us something, whether it be something we learn with our mind and consciously understand, or something that penetrates the soul, and helps us in an unseen way.

A most important statement for a Christian to understand in this particular gospel reading, even after He has lived the Christian life for some quite some time is:

“Come and see”.

The Church says “Come and see”. What is She telling us to “come and see?”

The question which preceded this instruction (and more than this – also a promise, a pledge, and a rallying cry) by Nathaniel to Philip was:

“Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” …

Great Lent, the first week, Clean Friday. The Spoil of the Poor – Isaiah 3:1-14

The Lord himself shall enter into judgment with the elders of the people, and with their rulers: but why have ye set my vineyard on fire, and why is the spoil of the poor in your houses? Friday in the First Week – At the Sixth Hour – Is 3:1-14

The Lord asks a question of the Jews through the prophet. Does this question apply to us?

The answer is quite simply, “Of course!” All that is written in the scripture applies to us – we are to answer the questions, test ourselves in relation to the examples, and take to heart all the admonitions. …

Wisdom is a person. Proverbs: Trusting in ourselves. Clean Thursday.

“Trust in God with all thine heart; and be not exalted in thine own wisdom. 6. In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her, that she may rightly direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, Thursday in the First Week At Vespers, Proverbs 3:1-18)

Man’s wisdom is nothing; it is foolishness before God. The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom, that is, of fulfilling the injunction: “In all thy ways acquaint thyself with (wisdom).”

The Lord Jesus Christ is here called “wisdom”, it is one of His many titles. This is why we are told: “In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her.” Wisdom is not an attribute, but a person; one becomes acquainted with a person. …

Lenten Epistle of Hilarion, Metropolitan Of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch Of The Russian Church Abroad

To the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics and All the Faithful Children of the Russian Church Abroad  Dear archpastors, pastors, monastics, brethren, sisters and children, beloved in the Lord! I congratulate all of you with the arrival of the salvific days of the Great Fast! If we turn to the sources, we see that, even as early… Continue reading Lenten Epistle of Hilarion, Metropolitan Of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch Of The Russian Church Abroad

NB: Just one resolution for Great Lent. Fasting and prayer

Many people make some sort of resolution when they enter Great Lent. Usually it is something we have not done before, or perhaps done poorly. The one who has fasted poorly in the past may decide to keep the fast better – to not eat any meat or animal products, and some may even be zealous to keep the fast from oil and wine and fish. The one who keeps the fasts may be zealous to not eat anything at all for the first three days of Great Lent, or eat only one meal a day, which, according to the strict typikon, is “after the ninth hour” (about 3 in the afternoon).

In my pastoral experience, most people make some sort of fasting related resolution. I applaud their intentions, but sometimes their emphasis on fasting obscures for them the real purpose of the fast (it is not fasting!) …

Clean Wednesday – Thou knowest our frame.

Thou knowest our frame, thou knowest our weakness, O Lover of mankind; we have sinned, but have not turned away from Thee, O God, nor have we stretched out our hands to a strange god. Spare us in Thy goodness, O Compassionate One.
Wednesday in the First Week, Sixth Hour: Troparion of the Prophecy, 4th Tone …

n the course of life, a Christian may feel joy and sadness, grief and exultation, compunction and fervent desire, but he should never feel alone. How can we be alone, when the Lord has already walked the difficult path of human life and fulfilled all righteousness for us?…

Why be righteous? It can be so hard sometimes. Clean Wednesday. Sixth Hour

The Lord is righteous and hath loved righteousness; upon uprightness hath His countenance looked. (Prokeimenon, from Psalm 10, 6th tone, for Wednesday in the First Week of Great Lent)

Why be righteous? It can be so hard sometimes.

Why be righteous? To see the Lord’s face (His countenance). The Lord loves righteousness, because, it causes His beloved creatures to be most like Him. The reason to struggle for righteousness is to become like Him, so that we can see Him as He really is. To the pure all things are pure. If we strive to become pure, we can gaze upon He who is above all purity, and understand. …

The First Week of Great Lent – Clean Monday. An Anthem for Great Lent and all of Life.

  Wash yourselves, and ye shall be clean; put away the wicked ways from your souls before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17.learn to do well; diligently seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, consider the fatherless, and plead for the widow. 18.Come then, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: and though your sins… Continue reading The First Week of Great Lent – Clean Monday. An Anthem for Great Lent and all of Life.