February 14, 2019 Mine Eyes Have Seen: What Future Did St. Simeon Foresee at the Moment of the Meeting? One of the most well known psalms is the 90th, beginning with, “He that dwelleth in the help of the Most High”. We read…
February 3, 2019 The Feast of the Meeting: a Celebration of the Elderly The Feast of the Meeting of Christ in the Temple (February 2) is a feast of the elderly. When the Holy Family entered the…
February 1, 2019 How the Groundhog stole the Feast of Presentation The Ancient Origins of Groundhog Day Early February is the midpoint between the beginning of winter and the beginning of spring, and we who…
January 29, 2019 Shall We Venerate Chains? Today, on January 29 (January 16 O.S.), the church calendar is marked with the following intriguing holiday: Veneration of the Precious Chains of the…
January 21, 2019 Four Main Reasons of the Lord’s Baptism And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17) Jesus Christ begins…
January 16, 2019 Childhood Years of Jesus Christ And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. (Luke 2:40) We know almost…
January 15, 2019 First Soldiers of Christ Hail Their King Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive….
January 14, 2019 A Double Church Feast: Circumcision of the Lord and St. Basil the Great Today we celebrate a double Church feast, the Circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ, and memory of St. Basil the Great. In addition, if…
January 4, 2019 “Elder Holds Him That Stretched out the Earth Above the Waters”: the Mystery of the Meeting with God The Meeting of our Lord is an amazing and wonderful holiday. It is as remarkable as a genuine meeting of God and man, the…
January 3, 2019 The Island of Tinos and Its Christmas Traditions Tinian people preserve their local manners and customs as sacred. Besides, many of those stem from ancient religious traditions. These customs survive mostly in…
December 29, 2018 “God Isn’t Ashamed of His Law”: the Role of Circumcision Every male Jewish baby was to be circumcized on the eighth day of his life, in accordance with the Mosaic Law. Circumcision was a…
October 24, 2018 “A Monk Should Always Be Joyful!”: Sermon on the Feast Day of the Optina Elders It’s such a blessing, on this beautiful late October day, to have so many pilgrims here with us to join in the celebration of…
