November 11, 2020 277 0 The Symbolism and Splendour of Gold in Church Art (Part 1) How did gold come to be used in church art? Why does it adorn the images of the saints? Is it true that it…
November 10, 2020 223 0 On Celtic Orthodoxy My “inside minor” when I was doing doctoral studies in theology at Duke, was the history of the Church in the British Isles, particularly…
November 6, 2020 632 3 Peter and Caiaphas: Two High Priests? As we study Scripture, we are increasingly convinced of how important the context of the described events is. Along with considering the historical background…
October 28, 2020 3224 2 Menorah: Jewish Seven-Branched Candlestick in an Orthodox Church Menorah (Hebrew מְנוֹרָה lit. lamp) is a golden lamp of seven candlesticks, which was kept in the Tabernacle, and then in Solomon’s Temple until…
October 22, 2020 215 0 The Patrimony of the Byzantine Papacy “Papacy” and “Byzantium” appear mutually antagonistic (if not hostile) in our minds. At a certain period in Byzantine history, its emperors dreamed of bringing…
October 19, 2020 212 0 The Offering of Incense The offering of incense in Orthodox Christian worship is likely the most misunderstood element of that worship. Worship, in general, outside of the Orthodox…
October 16, 2020 490 0 Where Have the Prayers in the Divine Service Disappeared? “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people” (1 Tim. 2: 1). Following the Apostle’s…
October 9, 2020 654 0 Controversy around the Prayer of the Cherubikon Сatapetasma Prayer Cherubic Hymn is among many believers’ favorite chants of the Orthodox liturgy. Some even tend to consider that moment to be the…
September 25, 2020 1142 0 Why Pope Gregory the Great Opposed Using the Title “Ecumenical Patriarch” In the 6th century, the bishop of Constantinople for the first time officially became known as the “Ecumenical Patriarch”. What was the meaning of…
September 23, 2020 405 0 Is There Such Thing in the Church as the Eighth Ecumenical Council Has the Eighth Ecumenical Council already taken place? If you ask virtually any Orthodox Christian how many Ecumenical Councils there were in the church,…