St. Herman’s West Youth Conference 2022
Miraculous Icons to Visit Christ the Savior
Two wonderworking icons will be visiting Christ the Savior parish in the next two weeks. Be sure and mark your calendars! … [Read more...]
Preparing a Pascha Basket
Orthodox Christians around the world have a custom to bring foods in a basket to be blessed at Pascha. The foods traditionally brought in the basket have special significance, but we can also add other foods that we love as well. The basket is usually covered with a white cloth embroidered with the words, “Christ is Risen.” It is also customary to have a blessed candle in it to light at the Blessing, which usually takes place at church following the Resurrection services, and other prescribed times. Below is a nice article which describes how to prepare a Paschal Basket. … [Read more...]
The Antichrist, the Cross and the Third Sunday in Lent
The Cross is our salvation. No one was ever reconciled with God except by the power of the Cross. by St. Gregory Palamas The Cross of Christ was mysteriously proclaimed in advance and foreshadowed from generations of old and no one was ever reconciled with God except by the power of the Cross. After our First Parents transgressed against God through the tree in paradise, sin came to life, but we died, submitting, even before physical death, to the death of the soul, its separation from God. After the transgression we lived in sin and according to the flesh. Sin “is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans … [Read more...]
On the Commemoration of the Sunday of the Prodigal Son
by St. Cyril of Alexandria 15:11-32. And He said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of your goods that comes to me. And he divided unto them his substance. And not many days after, the younger son gathered every thing together, and journeyed into a far country, and there scattered his goods by riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he desired to fill his belly with the husks which the swine were eating: and no man gave unto him. And when he came … [Read more...]
The Church Fathers on the Publican and the Pharisee
Let a neighbor praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips. - Proverbs 27:202 An old man much given to simplicity questioned Abba Ammonas: “Three thoughts occupy me, either, should I wander in the deserts, or should I go to a foreign land where no one knows me, or should I shut myself up in a cell without opening the door to anyone, eating only every second day?” Abba Ammonas replied, “It is not right for you to do any of these three things. Rather, sit in your cell and eat a little every day, keeping the word of the publican always in your heart, and you may be saved." - Sayings of the Desert Fathers Amma Syncletiki said: “Imitate the Publican and you will not … [Read more...]
About the Orthodox Celebration of Zacchaeus Sunday
Our lenten journey begins with a recognition of our own sinfulness, just as Zacchaeus recognized his. He promised to make restitution by giving half of his wealth to the poor, and by paying to those he had falsely accused four times as much as they had lost. In this, he went beyond the requirements of the Law (Ex. 22:3-12). The example of Zacchaeus teaches us that we should turn away from our sins, and atone for them. The real proof of our sorrow and repentance is not just a verbal apology, but when we correct ourselves and try to make amends for the consequences of our evil actions. We are also assured of God’s mercy and compassion by Christ’s words to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation … [Read more...]
