I felt great joy at the thought that I would meet the Lord By Elder Porphyrios Kafsokalivitis Once I came to the point of death. I had suffered severe perforation of the stomach as a result of the steroids I was given in the hospital when I went for an operation on my eye? which […]
Category: Orthodox Theology
Man’s Fall and Its Consequences || Maximos Aghiorgoussis
Presuppositions of Salvation in Christ: Man’s Fall and Its Consequences By Maximos Aghiorgoussis The book of Genesis tells us of the creation of man: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and […]
The Letter of the Law Can be Quite Deadly
The Letter of the Law Can be Quite Deadly – Elder Paisios the Athonite I once asked someone: “What type of warrior do you consider yourself to be? Christ’s warrior or temptation’s warrior? Are you aware that the evil of temptation also has its own warriors?” A Christian must not be fanatic; he must love […]
Putting Fantasies in the Place of God – Fr. N. Loudovikos
Putting Fantasies in the Place of God – Fr. Nikolaos Loudovikos Fr. Nikolaos is the Chair of the Department of Theology and Pastoral Studies and a Professor of Dogmatics and Philosophy at the University Ecclesiastical Academy of Thessaloniki, a Visiting Professor at the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge, and an Honorary Research Fellow […]
A Letter of Anthony the Great to the desert monks
Letter I: A Letter of Anthony the Solitary and Chief of Solitaries to the brethren dwelling in every place Anthony the monk, whose life Athanasius bishop of Alexandria wrote a long work upon, sent seven letters in Coptic to various monasteries, letters truly apostolic in idea and language, and which have been translated into Greek. […]
On Love of God – St. John Chrysostom
On Love of God – St. John Chrysostom. For to have offended God is more distressing than to be punished. But now we are so wretchedly disposed, that, were there no fear of hell, we should not even choose readily to do any good thing. Wherefore was it for nothing else, yet for this at […]
Humility: Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
Humility: Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee – Fr. Alexander Schmemann The next Sunday [after Zaccheus Sunday] is called the “Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee.” On the eve of this day, on Saturday at Vespers, the liturgical book of the Lenten season– the Triodion— makes its first appearance, and texts from it are added to the […]
The miracle is performed only when one believes it
The miracle is performed only when one believes it – Saint Luke the Physician of Simferopol Every time before Christ healed someone, He asked that person if he believed. And only if he believed, He perform the miracle. Every time a miracle occurs, the Holy Spirit acts, and for someone to receive the Holy Spirit, an open heart […]
The Three Hierarchs: Saint Basil, Saint Gregory and Saint John
The Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom Ioannis Foundoulis Professor of the Theological School A. U. Th. † On 30 January, the Church celebrates the memory of the three great hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom. This is not a commemoration in the strict sense of […]
On Pride and Vainglory – Elder Ephraim of Arizona
On Pride and Vainglory – Elder Ephraim of Arizona Thoughts of pride and vainglory are formidable and difficult to fight against. But before the humility of Jesus, they literally lose their strength. The truth shall set you free from every sin and passion. (Jn 8:32). The Holy Fathers write: “When you see Pilate and Herod reconcile, […]