Athanasios Moustakis We shall try here to point out the main features of the Orthodox icon which is entitled “The Descent into Hell”. The first thing to note is that it is entirely different from the Western-style depiction, which shows Christ emerging triumphantly from the tomb, holding a little flag. Read more
Archimandrite Vassilios Papavassiliou The service of Great Saturday is effectively a funeral service for Christ, and yet it is the most colourful service of Holy Week, because we have already begun to celebrate the Resurrection. The Epitaphios which represents the tomb of Christ, is adorned with an array of Read more
Archimandrite Vassilios Papavassiliou I am probably in serious trouble for saying that, so allow me to quickly move on before I really put my foot in it. Let us now turn our attention to the service of Great Friday that takes place on Thursday evening. At this service, we Read more
Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou If we have missed the opportunity to live Great Lent in an acceptable manner and there is only one week left, how can we enter into the joy of the Resurrection? The Lord says to the holy Apostles, ‘Ye are they which have continued patiently with Read more
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