CHRIST OUR PASSOVER (Gr. PASCHA)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior, CHRIST OUR PASSOVER (Gr. PASCHA) PASSOVER, the central rite and symbol of Judaism, is based on the experience of the liberation of the Hebrew people from bondage in Egypt (Exodus 12:1–15:21). It is called Passover both because the Lord passed overContinue reading “CHRIST OUR PASSOVER (Gr. PASCHA)”

“THE WILDERNESS” IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLEGROUND

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior, CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. "THE WILDERNESS" (Matthew 4:1) IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLEGROUND Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ "was led up by the Spirit into the WILDERNESS to be tempted by the devil.Continue reading ““THE WILDERNESS” IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLEGROUND”

ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY AND THE “GIFT OF TEARS”

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior, CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY AND THE "GIFT OF TEARS." In Orthodox spirituality, the "gift of tears" is a profound, divine grace that softens the heart, washes away sin, and facilitates deepContinue reading “ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY AND THE “GIFT OF TEARS””

COMMUNING WITH OUR MERCIFUL AND ALL-LOVING GOD THROUGH THE SACRED PSALMS

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior, CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. COMMUNING WITH OUR MERCIFUL AND ALL-LOVING GOD THROUGH THE SACRED PSALMS The Orthodox Christian appreciates the opportunity throughout the year, especially during holy Lent, to strengthen his/her commitment toContinue reading “COMMUNING WITH OUR MERCIFUL AND ALL-LOVING GOD THROUGH THE SACRED PSALMS”

HOLY AND GREAT LENT: THE AKATHISTOS HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD (THEOTOKOS)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior, CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. HOLY AND GREAT LENT: THE AKATHISTOS HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD [THEOTOKOS] A Prayer of Saint Basil the Great [Great Compline] LORD, O Lord, that hast delivered usContinue reading “HOLY AND GREAT LENT: THE AKATHISTOS HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD (THEOTOKOS)”

HOLY AND GREAT LENT: LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED and GREAT CANON OF SAINT ANDREW OF CRETE

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our OnlyTrue Lord, God, and Savior, CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. HOLY AND GREAT LENT: LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED One of the distinctive features of Holy and Great Lent weekdays is the LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED, celebrated according to present practiceContinue reading “HOLY AND GREAT LENT: LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED and GREAT CANON OF SAINT ANDREW OF CRETE”

HOLY AND GREAT LENT: THE PRAYER OF SAINT EPHRAIM

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior, CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. HOLY AND GREAT LENT: THE PRAYER OF SAINT EPHRAIM The Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian is a central, daily Lenten petition in the Orthodox Christian Church that entreatsContinue reading “HOLY AND GREAT LENT: THE PRAYER OF SAINT EPHRAIM”