April 26, 2019 “We Worship Thy Passion, O Christ”: the Great Friday as the Most Dreadful Day in Church Calendar The thief opened the locked Eden’s gate. He used a key – a prayer – Remember me! – The Synaxarion of Holy Friday Holy…
April 24, 2019 The Kiss of the Harlot and the Kiss of the Apostle She who had anointed Christ with precious myrrh Had foreshadowed the myrrh and aloes that Nicodemus brought. – Synaxarion of Holy and Great Wednesday The…
April 23, 2019 Great Tuesday: Waiting for the Bridegroom The Parable of Ten Virgins, the Parable of the Talents, and the description of the Doomsday: the stories are so different but essentially, all…
April 23, 2019 Priest’s Advice: Holy Week without a Parish Question: “What should someone do during Holy Week if they have no parish nearby, and so cannot attend the services?” Answer by Fr. John…
April 22, 2019 Joseph the All-Comely and the Cursed Fig Tree: the Beginning of the Holy Week Holy Week has begun. Shouts of “Hosanna!” – “Save!” have faded away, lying like forgotten palm leaves. The final week… The present day is…
April 22, 2019 Great Monday: the Path to Eternal Beauty It’s Sunday afternoon. After a clear and solemn morning, after the consecration of willow branches, after the Palm Sunday, which portends the Easter, there…
April 22, 2019 Some Practical Advice on Holy Week Let’s take a break from traveling. If I tell you all my stories at once we’ll run out before long, and after all the…
April 14, 2019 How Mary of Egypt Guarded Her 5 Senses and Reached Holiness The Fifth Sunday of the Great Lent is marked with the memory of Saint Mary of Egypt – the great sinner turned a greatest…
April 7, 2019 How not to Throw Yourself down the Ladder The fourth Sunday of the Great Lent is dedicated to the memory of Saint John Climacus (†649), a great Orthodox ascetic. St. John was the…
April 2, 2019 When Is Communion Forbidden During the Lent and Why? There is no such thing as a prohibition of communion in the Orthodox Church. The Sacrament of Eucharist is the ultimate sacred ritual there…
