January 4, 2019 75 0 “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 92 0 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 91 2 “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 266 0 “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…
October 14, 2018 118 0 Feast Day Sermon: “Under the Protection of Our Heavenly Mother” This is one of the most beloved feasts of the Russian people, one of the most pleasing. When I have occasion to speak about…
September 14, 2018 63 0 Reflections on the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross The Feast of the Elevation of the Cross does not primarily commemorate the crucifixion of Christ. That saving event is commemorated every year on…
August 28, 2018 125 0 The Dormition of the Mother of God: the End of the Path to the Holy of Holies The Mother of God reached the end of her earthly life. For quite a long time (and even today), the life of the Mother…
August 27, 2018 76 0 The Mother of Crucified God: The Sorrows of Virgin Mary near the Cross So, the day of Easter was coming – and so did the Passion of Christ. What did those days mean to the Mother of…
August 24, 2018 71 0 A Sword Will Pierce through Your Soul: Meeting of the Lord and a New Prophecy for Virgin Mary On the 40th day after the nativity of Christ, Mary the Mother of God and Joseph brought the Divine Infant to the Temple in…
August 22, 2018 38 0 Becoming the Mother of God: Unto Us a Child is Born, unto Us a Son Is Given None of us, the people living on earth today, remembers – and cannot remember – from which glory our forefather Adam fell off once….