Europe and freedom of religion
Maria Alvanou, Criminologist We live in a Europe that manifests more and more its secular character. Secularism is seen as the alternative to theocracy (that exists as political form of governance in some Islamic countries), as a historical result of the Enlightenment and as an answer to the current...
Byzanfest 2019 Global Launch
By Chris Vlahonasios Get ready for the world’s biggest film festival dedicated solely to Eastern Orthodox Christian filmmakers. Going live on Sunday 21st July, Byzanfest is free and on-demand. Submissions came from all over the world including: Greece, Serbia, Romania, Georgia, USA, Canada and even Australia. They were all...
Sermon on the Apostolic reading for the 5th Sunday of Matthew (Romans 10: 1-10)
Metropolitan of Pisidia Sotirios In our reading from the Letter to the Romans, St. Paul lays before us two basic truths, which are of particular interest for us today. The first, is that we should desire and seek the salvation of our people with all of our hearts. Not...
Prophet Elijah, the gift of God
Savva Alexandrou Saint Gregory Palamas, speaking in general about the prophets, as also the Fathers of the Church, notes: “God raised up the Prophets and the Fathers unto our guidance and He showed signs and wonders to us through them, so that He could correctly lead us up to...
Evangelical Monasticism – Part 2
Archimandrite Georgios Kapsanis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Gregoriou † Only the heart of a person who is continuously being cleansed by repentance from egotism, selfishness and the passions can really love God and other people. Egotism and love are irreconcilable. It’s often the case that egotism believes...
Holy Martyr Aimilianos (18 July): free man and servant
When Julian the Apostate came to power as emperor (361), he scorned both the good that had been achieved by Saint Constantine the Great and everything he had gained from his own Christian upbringing. He upset public order with his tyranny and railed against God, doing his level best, with...
Love, unity, strength – Orthodox mission in India
In India, for a child to have an opportunity for success, they must go to an English Medium School. The need for the school strikes at the heart of serious issues facing India. World leaders are calling for governing officials to take action on the world-wide issues of poverty, illiteracy,...
Evangelical Monasticism – Part 1
Archimandrite Georgios Kapsanis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Gregoriou † The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is glad tidings , because it brings into the world not only a new teaching, but a new life to replace the old one. The old...
They show the way
Saint Paisios the Athonite Those people who give everything to God and give themselves completely to Him, are sheltered under God’s great vault and are protected by His divine providence. They then become children of God and can help unfortunate people more, through God, with their prayers and, again...
An accident waiting to happen
Saint Basil the Great Hypocrites retain their hatred in the depths of their hearts, showing superficial love, in the same way as a reef which is covered with a little water, but is an accident waiting to happen for those who aren’t careful. Hypocrisy is the result of envy...
Alexander Schmorell, the New Martyr
Yannis Zervos Alexander Schmorell was the co-founder – along with his friend Hans Scholl – of the anti-Nazi resistance group the ‘White Rose’, which tried to stir up the conscience of the Germans against the regime by distributing leaflets through the post. We were made aware of his canonization...
A brief life of Saint Paisios
George Mantzaridis, Professor Emeritus, Theological School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki On July 25, 1924, the future Elder Paisios (Eznepidis) was born to pious parents in the town of Farasa, Cappadocia of Asia Minor. The family’s spiritual father, the priest-monk Arsenios (the now canonized St. Arsenios of Cappadocia), baptized the...
