Saint Basil and our Spiritual Roots
Protopresbyter Vasileios Kalliakmanis, Professor of the Theological School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Whenever there’s mention of Saint Basil, we always highlight his studies in Athens, his ascetic life in Pontus, his lack of possessions, his contributions to society, and his literary oeuvre. It’s certainly true that the author of...
Exploring the Liturgy of Saint Basil
Throughout the year, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is the customary Liturgy of the Byzantine Church. However, during the Nativity and Theophany seasons, the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated three times—on the Nativity, the Theophany, and on the feast of St. Basil himself, January...
The Theology of Gender – 12. St. Basil’s Canon 9 on adultery
Sofia Matzarioti-Kostara Canon 9 of St. Basil ascribes the practice of the Church not to allow the woman to separate from her husband if he commits adultery to the established social custom (συνήθεια). This word is also used by him in other canons in contrast to the word “ἀκρίβεια”...
Types of Liturgy
From the first days after Christ’s Ascension, the Apostles celebrated the Sacrament of the Divine Eucharist, because they wanted very much to remember Him and to feel that He was close to them. Every day they had an assembly where they sang hymns, recalled events of His life, the miracles,...
Why We Celebrate Three Hierarchs
St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian and St. John Chrysostom – the three Holy Hierarchs. We celebrate their feast day today, the 30th of January, but why? Each of them has their own day, when we celebrate their lives and contributions to our Orthodox faith. But what did...
Thankful for a Perfect Gift from Above
Every year on Thanksgiving Day, we give thanks to God for our wonderful life. We rejoice in the fruits of the earth (with or without feathers) gathered around a table of abundance. A good thing indeed! Saint Basil the Great advised us to do this as early as the...
