Initiating Your disciples, O Lord, You instructed them, saying, “O my friends, see that no fear separates you from Me. Although I suffer, yet I do so for the sake of the world. So do not fall away because of Me; for I came not to be served but to Read more
Archimandrite Theodosios Martzoukhos Beloved parishioners, we are now embarking on the time of Great Lent, a period which will bring us to Easter. In this, we rather resemble the ancient Israelite people who left the country of slavery (Egypt) and made their way to the Promised Land. As is Read more
OCN is partnering with Fathom Events and Cinemark for tickets to the upcoming theatre release of the film Man of God about the life of Saint Nektarios. Eligible winners will receive tickets to the March 21st showing at a Cinemark theatre near them. How to enter: Download and post this Read more
Metropolitan Anthony Bloom † In the person of the old Adam, the human race fell, when it sinned against love; and God’s dread judgement will be a crisis (i.e. judgement) for human love. Humankind was called to total unity of the whole of our lives with God, through love, Read more
Monk Agapios Behold, my friends, the arena of Holy Lent opens today. Behold, we’ve arrived at the gate of the fast and are about to engage in the warfare of the spirit. We’re now approaching the harbour of salvation and should be glad and rejoice more than when we Read more
Protopresbyter Georgios Dorbarakis ‘Even in the world, if Christians undertake the struggle with good intentions, God’s grace doesn’t exclude anyone. But, ‘excusing ourselves through excuses’ we say that we’re in the world and we can’t do anything. Desires defeat us. What do we need? This struggle, not only of Read more
Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papadakis of the Ecumenical Throne The hatred of the devil towards those engaged in the spiritual struggle is well known. This hatred was faced particularly by the fathers in the desert, whose purity, not only of body but also of mind, was greater than the enemy could Read more
George Mantzarides, Professor Emeritus of the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki The rejection of Christ, but also his acceptance by many, is an enduring phenomenon which can be seen in our own age, too. He himself said to his disciples: ‘If they have persecuted me, they Read more
Fr. Ioannis Sourlingas The Saturday before Meat-fare Sunday is called the ‘Saturday of the Souls’. It’s the first of two, the other being the Saturday before the Sunday of Pentecost. Even though every Saturday is dedicated to the departed, the Church established the Saturdays of the Souls for the Read more
When You come in Glory with Your heavenly Hosts, and sit upon the throne of Judgment, O Good Shepherd, do not separate me, for You know the ways of those on the right, and that those on the left are perverted. Wherefore, though I be hardened in sin, do not condemn Read more
Archimandrite Varnavas Lambropoulos One week before Great Lent, our Church prepares us for the ‘arena of the virtues’. The main events in which we’re called upon to make a particular effort are fasting and prayer. But these are events which aren’t aimed at independent prizes, particularly ones which would Read more
Metropolitan of Pisidia Sotirios On the Feast of the Nativity (Christmas Day), we join the shepherds of Bethlehem and the wise magi of the East in their rush to the Holy Cave, to worship the King. We are amazed by the extreme humility of Jesus, who was willingly placed Read more