By the late Father Alexander Schmemann A Homily delivered to the community at Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary on Forgiveness Sunday of 1983.
As once more we are about to enter the Great Lent, I would like to remind us – myself first of all, and all of you my fathers, brothers, and sisters – of the verse that we just sang, one of the stichera, and that verse says: "Let us begin Lent, the Fast, with joy." Author: Father Justin Patterson Source: Saint Athanasius Orthodox Church In the English language, Orthodox Christians call the season of preparation before Pascha (Easter) “Great Lent.” The word “Lent” comes from an early English word indicating spring. Indeed, both the feast of Passover in the Jewish tradition and the feast of Pascha in the Christian faith, which is historically and theologically connected to the Jewish Passover, take place from towards the end of spring. For both the Jews and the Christians, these spring feasts herald the grace of God and, for Christians, Feast of Christ as the New Passover Lamb.
Below is the sermon on the Sunday of Orthodoxy from the book "The Cross Stands, While the World Turns" by Father John Behr.
Fr John looks at the historical reason for celebrating the Sunday of Orthodoxy and explains the significance for us today. Sermon on Sunday, Feb. 18 on Romans 13:11-14:4 We are about to enter into the most rigorous time of the year for us. Not only in terms of extra church services. Not only in terms of dietary restrictions. But most importantly in terms of spiritual growth and development.
By Fr Alexander Schmemann Of all lenten hymns and prayers, one short prayer can be termed the lenten prayer. Tradition ascribes it to one of the great teachers of spiritual life - St. Ephraim the Syrian. Here is its text:
O Lord and Master of my life! Give me not the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Your servant. Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen |