The following sermon was delivered on Jan. 29, 2017, on the Sunday of Zacchaeus, when we read the Gospel of St Luke 19:1-10. The ideas for the sermon were borrowed from "Zacchaeus Up a Tree" and the book by Fr Alexander Schmemann "Great Lent."
It is impossible to imagine a meaningful Christian life without a daily prayer rule. But what should this prayer rule be? How long or short, and consisting of which prayers? How can we prevent our daily prayer rule from becoming purely a formality? What should we pay particular attention to, and what mistakes should we avoid? And what is the most important thing in a prayer rule?
Sunday, January 22, 2017 will be observed as “Sanctity of Life Sunday” in parishes across the United States. The commemoration, which marks the 44th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the US, serves as a prelude to the annual March for Life, to be held in the US Capital on Friday, January 27. See the official website of March for Life for more.
Below is Metropolitan Tikhon's (primate of the OCA) Sanctity of Life message. Feast of Theophany 2017 Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.
When our Lord reached 30 years from His physical birth, He began His teaching and saving work. He Himself signified this “beginning of the beginning” by His baptism in the river Jordan. It is with great sadness we announce that one of our long-time parishioners, Stephen Kopach, who has recently lived in Jacksonville, FL, has passed away on Jan. 11, 2017. He was 94 years old. He will be buried on Jan. 17.
The schedule for Jan. 17: 9:30am - Divine Liturgy and Panikhida at St John the Baptist Church in Little Falls, NJ. Approximately at 11:00-11:30am - Burial Service at St Peters Cemetary, 160 Passaic St #180, Garfield, NJ 07026. In a blessed falling asleep, grant, O Lord, eternal rest to Your newly departed servant, Stephen, and make his memory to be eternal! The following is taken from the book "Meditations for Advent, Preparing for Christ's Birth" by Fr Vassilios Papavassiliou, published by Ancient Fath Publishing. The last part in this series looks at the meaning of the star that led the Wise Men (Magi) to where the King of kings was born.
The following is taken from the book "Meditations for Advent, Preparing for Christ's Birth" by Fr Vassilios Papavassiliou, published by Ancient Fath Publishing. Continuing looking at what the icon of the Nativity of Christ tells us about Jesus. Why are there animals in the icon?!
The following is taken from the book "Meditations for Advent, Preparing for Christ's Birth" by Fr Vassilios Papavassiliou, published by Ancient Fath Publishing. The Church teaches us the theology of the Scriptures not only with hymns, but also with images. Iconography is one of the "languages" into which Scripture is translated. Thus man of our icons also contain allusions and references to Old and New Testaments. Of particular interest is the icon of the Nativity.
Your Eminences the archpastors, esteemed Fathers and deacons, all-honorable monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters! On this holy night I extend my heartfelt greetings to you all and from the depths of my soul I congratulate you on the great feast of the Nativity of Christ: the feast of the fulfillment of the promises of old for the salvation of the human race, the feast of the ineffable love of the Maker towards His creation, the feast of the coming into the world of the Son of God who is the Messiah. |