Elder Aimilianos Simonopetritis † In a few hours, we’ll stand before the Lord, the naked Servant, Who is crucified but Whose mien, nevertheless, is one of majestic triumph, regal glory and serenity. If we are to understand the love we should have towards other people, or our love towards Read more…
‘Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins…fulfilled the task of a myrrh-bearer and, lamenting, brought you sweet-smelling oil before your burial’. The Tropario (Hymn) of Kassiani dominates the service of matins for Great Wednesday. A sinful woman, a harlot in her body, realizes the state she’s in, undertakes Read more…
Archimandrite Vassilios Papavassiliou Holy Week is the heart of the Christian Orthodox Faith and the centre of the yearly cycle of Christian Feasts. Every year our churches are packed at Holy Week and, come the last three days, they are bursting at the seams with both people who attend Read more…
Saint Justin Popovich (Homily on the 5th Sunday in Great Lent) Prayer! What is prayer? It’s the great virtue that raises you and raises me. Have you perhaps got up to pray, have you cried aloud to the Lord to save your soul from sins, from every evil, every passion? Read more…
Saint Justin Popovich (Homily on the 5th Sunday in Great Lent) The fifth Sunday in Lent, the Sunday [which marks the end of the week] of long vigils and great ascetic efforts, the week of profound lamentation and sighing, the Sunday of the greatest of all the women saints, our Read more…
Do I have to fast from food or can I fast from social media? This is a very common question and sometimes makes sense to a lot of us, because social media can be more distracting to our spiritual life than food. How about if I am vegetarian does that Read more…
Join myOCN Community for a six week marriage and relationships group with Licensed Professional Counselor Paula Marchman, every Wednesday evening at 7pm EST, from May 5th (Bright Week) through June 9th. Each session will be about one hour and is offered at no cost. This educational and interactive group is Read more…
Alexandros Christodoulou, Theologian After those who came to be baptized in the ancient Church, the whole of their life was imbued with a godly passion for holy communion. Allegorical symbols of the heavenly food of the faithful filled places of worship, especially in the catacombs. Images of the true Read more…
Archimandrite Varnavas Lambropoulos In the wonderful book The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Saint John the Sinaite speaks of the struggle against the passion of telling lies. And in presenting the disastrous consequences thereof he says: ‘Lying is the obliteration of love, and false testimony is the denial of God’. Read more…
Fr. Ioannis Sourlingas My soul, my soul arise. Why are you sleeping? The end draws nigh and soon you will be troubled. Take heed, then, that Christ your God may spare you. For he is everywhere present and fills all things. In parishes, the Great Canon is sung independently Read more…
Elder Amvrosios Lazaris We miserable wretches, monks and lay people, are in the last times, but the struggle is the struggle. We won’t give in even for a moment. Fight to the end. Then the Lord, who crowns us and establishes us eternally, at the last moment will not Read more…
The Orthodox fasting seasons grant us an opportunity to enrich our spiritual lives through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. When it comes to fasting and modifying our typical food choices, I understand, as a registered dietitian and a nutrition counselor, that this can sometimes be confusing, daunting, or difficult. Yes, fasting Read more…