In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.1 Today is the Sunday of Forgiveness, and it is also the day we enter Great Lent. After we pray the Vespers service of Forgiveness early this afternoon, we will then be in the Holy Fast. Why is it that we fast?… Continue reading Sunday of Forgiveness
>“Blessed shall he be who shall seize and dash thine infants against the rock.”
This is the last line of “By the Waters of Babylon”, Psalm 136, which is sung only three times a year, in matins for the three Sundays immediately preceding Great Lent. Why do we sing this psalm then? The key to the answer is in the last line. The purpose of Great Lent is to… Continue reading >“Blessed shall he be who shall seize and dash thine infants against the rock.”
Audio talk on: Prayers of the church, Lenten Prayers, By The Waters of Babylon, Psalm 136
LISTEN NOW Psalm 136By 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… Continue reading Audio talk on: Prayers of the church, Lenten Prayers, By The Waters of Babylon, Psalm 136
Gleanings from the Holy Fathers: On Fasting
Fasting is an exceptional virtue; it represses bodily impulses and gives strength to the soul to fight against the poisoning of the heart through the senses, and provides it with a remedy against any past poisoning. Fasting causes the mind to be cleansed constantly. It whithers up every evil thought and brings healthy, godly thoughts… Continue reading Gleanings from the Holy Fathers: On Fasting
Cheesefare Week, Monday, Luke19:30-34 – "The Lord hath need of him"
Luke 19:30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord… Continue reading Cheesefare Week, Monday, Luke19:30-34 – "The Lord hath need of him"
Meatfare Week, Friday, 2 John 1:1-13 – Abide in the doctrine of Christ
He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. What is it to “abide” in the “doctrine” of Christ? To abide is to live with and have intimate knowledge and converse with someone. It is to imitate the noetic life of the Trinity, where each person perfectly abides… Continue reading Meatfare Week, Friday, 2 John 1:1-13 – Abide in the doctrine of Christ
Sunday of the Last Judgement:Meatfare – Matthew 25:31-46 – Be kind
LISTEN NOW Matthew 25:31-46 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep… Continue reading Sunday of the Last Judgement:Meatfare – Matthew 25:31-46 – Be kind
Sunday of the Prodigal Son 2008 – Luke 15;11-32 – And When He Came To Himself
LISTEN NOW Luke 15:11-32And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his… Continue reading Sunday of the Prodigal Son 2008 – Luke 15;11-32 – And When He Came To Himself
Audio talk on: Prayers of the church, Vespers, Gladsome Light
LISTEN NOW O Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the immortal, heavenly, holy, blessed Father, O Jesus Christ: Having come to the setting of the sun, having beheld the evening light, we praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: God. Meet it is for Thee at all times to be praised with… Continue reading Audio talk on: Prayers of the church, Vespers, Gladsome Light
Week of the Prodigal Son – Tuesday – 1 John 3:11-20 – "that we should love one another"
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (1 John 3:11) What is the beginning? From the beginningless beginning, before all things, before all beginnings, the Holy Trinity was… and loved. The very nature of God teaches us to love one-another. God loves Himself perfectly, and… Continue reading Week of the Prodigal Son – Tuesday – 1 John 3:11-20 – "that we should love one another"