Pemptousia will commence live broadcasts from the Catholicos (main cathedral) of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi of the Holy All-night Vigil on the eve of the Christmas Feast (based on the Julian calendar). The broadcast will begin on Wednesday, Jan. 6 and continue into Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, commencing at […]
Listen Now as noted Orthodox scholar Fr. John McGuckin offers a fresh perspective on the chronic problem of celebrating an Orthodox feast amidst powerful secular influences. What is Christmas without Christ? Hear his surprising interpretation of “Happy Holidays,” a phrase which is often criticized in Christian circles. Fr. John confronts […]
Hieromonk Eleftherios Balakos And while the messiahs are multiplying in this day and age, in the guise of persons, ideologies, policies or religions*, we see a world wallowing in the mud which it has created itself. And you ask yourself: ‘What can I believe?’ ‘Where can I place my […]
As the ‘capital of feasts’, Christmas is honoured on the Holy Mountain with a vigil, during the course of which the monks sing hymns and troparia of exceptional poetic and musical beauty. At the Divine Liturgy on the day itself, ‘Those who have been baptized in Christ’ is sung in […]
How did people get ready for the very first Christmas? How do YOU get ready for Christmas? Do you buy or make presents? Do you help cook a fancy dinner? Do you decorate the house? We all have ways of getting ready for the great day. But in today’s Gospel […]
Listen Now For many people, Christmas comes every year as surely as the sun comes up. It’s like death and taxes – nothing could prevent it…or could it? When you look closely at the real story of Christmas, you will discover what a miracle it was. Fr. Chris Metropulos draws […]
Metropolitan Athanasios of Lemessos Every time we stand before the Lord either in prayer or in celebration in Church of an event from the life of Christ, or we are in any other way experiencing the presence of the Lord, two basic things happen, which are attested by the Church […]
Paraskevi, who out of sheer humility does not wish to reveal her full name, was among the first spiritual children of Elder Sophrony, during the time of her studies in England. She sent us a copy of two handwritten scripts by the blessed Elder. The Christmas wish card (handwritten): […]
Listen Now as noted Orthodox scholar Fr. John McGuckin offers a fresh perspective on the chronic problem of celebrating an Orthodox feast amidst powerful secular influences. What is Christmas without Christ? Hear his surprising interpretation of “Happy Holidays,” a phrase which is often criticized in Christian circles. Fr. John confronts […]
✠ Bartholomew By God’s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch To the plenitude of the Church Grace, mercy and peace from the newborn Savior Christ in Bethlehem Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, Having once again arrived at the great feast of the Lord’s Nativity, we glorify […]
Christmas can be too comfortable sometimes. As the Nativity Season unfolds, churches are celebrating the birth of Christ. Gifts are being shared, kitchens are busy preparing traditional foods, and retreat speakers have returned home from their visits to parishes. While all these events may be well intentioned, they frequently point […]
What do you do to get ready for Christmas? Do you buy or make presents? Do you help decorate? Do you go to Christmas parties? Do you make cookies? Do you get pictures taken with Santa Claus? This time of year, we have lots of things to do that help […]