Pemptousia is published by the ‘SAINT MAXIM THE GREEK’ Institute for the Research, Preservation, and Promotion of Spiritual and Cultural Traditions. It appears online, in several languages. Pemptousia (www.pemptousia.com) and OCN have formed a strategic partnership, whereby content from each organization is shared online by both. We are delighted to bring you articles, videos, and other offerings from the Holy Mountain here at MyOCN.net.
One time, a well-known lawyer told me: ‘I had a case involving a lady of very high standing, an exceptional person, extremely well-educated. But she didn’t go to church, didn’t confess, didn’t believe. I was able on one occasion to persuade her to come with me to see Elder Porfyrios. Read more…
The Elder (Saint Ieronymos Simonopetritis) related a story of something that happened to him at that time (about 1928, when he was still Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Simonos Petras): When I was in Thessaloniki the father of one of my spiritual children was moved by action of the Read more…
Saint Efraim, whose secular name was Konstantinos Morfis, was born in Trikala, on 14 September 1384 in an idyllic place near the River Lithaios. He lost his father at a young age and he and his seven siblings were brought up, with God’s help, by his mother. At the age Read more…
Metropolitan Anthony Bloom † The day of the Theophany is the day when the whole world is being renewed and becomes a partaker of the sanctity of God. But at the same time, it is the day when Christ enters on the way to Calvary. He came to John Read more…
Georgios N. Manolis, Theologian The life and activity of John the Baptist and Forerunner is an enduring testimony in Christ, culminating in his martyrdom for Him. Just as then, when he was active in the wilderness of the Jordan, so today his voice can be heard in the wilderness Read more…
George Mantzaridis, Professor Emeritus, Theological School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki The eschatological nature of the Church is revealed especially in the sacrament of the Divine Liturgy. The celebration of this sacrament is the central and pre-eminently eschatological action of the Church. It is its Liturgy (= function). It constitutes Read more…
George Mantzaridis, Professor Emeritus, Theological School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Christ’s advent brought the kingdom of God into the world. And the realm where the kingdom of God is made manifest is the Church. This retains eternity within history and provides history with the perspective of eternity. The Church Read more…
Stylianos G. Papadopoulos Until then, Orthodoxy in Cappadocia seemed very much like an islet in the East. Valens let loose the evils of heresy everywhere. The combination of his brutality and cunning brought shocking results. He swept through Orthodoxy and then dug his claws into Caesarea. It’s true to Read more…
Fr. Andreas Agathokleous Our participation in Holy Communion is a spiritual matter concerning which the opinions expressed have fluctuated over time. From the view that we should commune only infrequently, out of respect for the sacrament and recognition of our own sinfulness, to the attitude that we should take Read more…
Dr. Nikolaos Koios, Content Coach of Pemptousia In the Western world there’s a continuing tradition of making resolutions at the turn of each year. In a sense, people want to commit to resolutions that’ll help them become ‘better’. We can see two aspects to this attractive custom: 1) the Read more…
The Vasilopita (VasilOpita) is the main custom in Greece for New year. It’s one which we encounter throughout Greece, though naturally with local variations. These are mostly to do with the ingredients of the cake. In some places it’s a cake, though there are also parts where it’s a savory Read more…
Ilias Voulgarakis An undignified Trinity Once upon all the time, there’s God. And from some time there’s human beings. But the reports coming from Earth about the state of humankind are increasingly distressing. The human race is going from bad to worse, despite all God’s efforts, through Read more…