Hieromonk Eleftherios Balakos And while the messiahs are multiplying in this day and age, in the guise of persons, ideologies, policies or religions*, we see a world wallowing in the mud which it has created itself. And you ask yourself: ‘What can I believe?’ ‘Where can I place my Read more…
Stergios Sakkos Our first encounter with Him is through faith. Faith opens the door of the soul, so that Christ can enter. Faith receives Him, subjects our hearts to Him and engenders within us a fervent interest and powerful desire to approach Him. This is the initial requirement for Read more…
As the ‘capital of feasts’, Christmas is honoured on the Holy Mountain with a vigil, during the course of which the monks sing hymns and troparia of exceptional poetic and musical beauty. At the Divine Liturgy on the day itself, ‘Those who have been baptized in Christ’ is sung in Read more…
Saint John Chrysostom I see a strange and wondrous mystery. Shepherds’ music reaches my ears: not the piping of a plaintive melody, but the singing of a heavenly hymn. The angels are singing. The archangels join in. The cherubim hymn, the seraphim glorify. They all rejoice at the sight Read more…
Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of the Vatopaidi Monastery Beloved Fathers and brothers, today we celebrate the greatest event of all time and all ages: the birth of Christ, the ‘capital of all feasts’, according Saint John Chrysostom. God enters our life, in time, in history as ‘Jesus Christ the man’ Read more…
Stergios Sakkos 1. Rebirth The third birth of Christ is in the life of people who believe in Him and accept Him as their own, personal God. Because even though Christ became incarnate in order to save everyone, not everyone will be saved. Of course, the Lord “wants all Read more…
Are you still celebrating Christmas? Maybe you are still enjoying your presents or munching on Christmas chocolates. But are you really celebrating? In church, we still sing the Christmas hymns, and our Gospel reading today tells us about Jesus as a baby. Everything is still decorated for the feast day. Read more…
How did people get ready for the very first Christmas? How do YOU get ready for Christmas? Do you buy or make presents? Do you help cook a fancy dinner? Do you decorate the house? We all have ways of getting ready for the great day. But in today’s Gospel Read more…
Protopresbyter Panteleïmon Krouskos For many people with a secular outlook, decorating the Christmas tree is the essence of Christmas. In Greece, this custom was imported from abroad and was introduced by the Bavarians*. The first time a Christmas tree was decorated was in Otto’s palace and thereafter it spread Read more…
Lots of people wanted to know “Where is Jesus from?” Well, He lived in Bethlehem, Egypt, and then Nazareth. Have you ever met somebody new? When we meet somebody, you might get asked, “What’s your name?” or “Where are you from?” or “Where do you live?” When we want to Read more…