Each Sunday, the Orthodox Church offers a Gospel reading. The readings are divided into four sections, one for each of the Evangelist, Sts. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Sunday Gospel reading generally center around the miracles of Jesus. Through the sermons offered at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church in Southampton, New York, we explore the Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ, and we ponder the miraculous healing power found in our relationship with the Lord. The sermons also provide us with concrete “do-able” ways in which we practice the spiritual discipline of the Orthodox Church, and through prayer, fasting and good works, make our daily lives and intimate encounter with our Savior.
Going to Extraordinary Lengths Fr. Lazarakis discusses the Gospel of the Paralytic and the extraordinary lengths that the men took to deliver him to Jesus. There are so many obstacles on the road to salvation and so many things that want to stand between us and Christ. The idea of martyrdom has Read more…
Fr. Constantine Lazarakis of Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons explains the importance of the Sunday of Orthodoxy and Icons. Icons teach us three important things that are critical to our salvation. Icons remind us that God became a Man and we see that pictured. Icons teach us that Read more…
Fr. Lazarakis explains the parable of the Prodigal Son. As we prepare for Great Lent we are called to “Come to Ourself” and realize that we are sons and daughters of the most high. No matter how far your have strayed our Father is calling us back to him. Watch Read more…
In the Sunday sermon of Zacchaios, Fr. Lazarakis speaks of redemption. Saint John Chrysostom says that “the church is not a museum for the saints but a hospital for sinners.” Like Zacchaios, a thief and traitor, all of the saints were sinners. No one’s sins are so bad that they cannot be overpowered Read more…
In the Sunday sermon on the Ten Lepers, Fr. Lazarakis speaks of two virtues: Love and Gratitude. Of all the virtues, these two are the greatest. And when we talk about love, agape, which is understood as unconditional love, is the premier. Watch and listen as we learn more Read more…
In this sermon, Fr. Lazarakis talks about Epiphany and the unapproachable light of God. Looking into the hymnology of the great feast, we identify Christ as Light, as a guide through the darkness of this world. But instead of looking to Christ, we look to man-made lights and Read more…
In his sermon on the Gospel, Fr. Lazarakis reflects on the Light of Christ this Christmas. After seeing The Force Awakens this holiday, he reminds us that it is only with Christ that everything is possible and conquerable. Looking for more? The Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) is an Read more…
The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a classic. Watch and listen as Fr. Constantine Lazarakis offers a fresh insight to clarify the teaching through the relationships between the characters of the story. Where do we fit into the story? Who do you hold in contempt? Who is your Read more…
In this episode of Good News for a Change, Fr. Constantine Lazarakis shares thoughts on the Gospel. We first learn about a woman who has been burdened with an illness her whole life. And then we learn about the death of a child. In each case, contact with Christ brings wholeness. Read more…
In this episode of Good News for a Change, Fr. Constantine Lazarakis shares thoughts on the Epistle reading of the day. On the first day of November, we commemorate Saints Cosmas and Damian, Unmercenary Doctors who did not charge for their services as they healed people and spread the Gospel Read more…
In this episode of Good News for a Change, Fr. Constantine Lazarakis shares thoughts on Grace and Works. He focuses not on the Gospel reading, but the critically important words of St. Paul from the Epistle. Salvation is given “by grace alone, and not by works of the Law.” We Read more…
In this episode of Good News for a Change, Fr. Constantine Lazarakis shares thoughts on the occasion of the commemoration of St. Luke the Evangelist. St. Luke is unique among the Gospel writers because he was not among the original disciples. He was a Physician by trade, trained to heal Read more…