The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated on the fortieth day after the feast of the Resurrection, always on a Thursday. In this feast we recall Him Who raises and lifts us up to sit with Him in heaven (Ephesians. 2:6). Quote: For after having gone down hence into Hades, and come up again to us, He ascended again from us into heaven, His Father addressing Him, and saying, “Sit on My right hand, until – …

My Beloved, the Blessed Children of the Holy Church, Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Today, we rejoice in hope as we celebrate the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the midst of today’s culture of despair, which is prevalent throughout the world, we as Christians nonetheless rejoice in hope. The Feast of the Resurrection is a source of everlasting joy and hope in the midst of – …

The church celebrates the Holy Fifty Days after the Lord’s Resurrection from April 20 through June 7, 2009. Quote: But when our Lord rose from death and trampled it down, when He bound the strong man and set man free… He died to restore life to us; He was buried to raise us up. Quote Author: Pope Alexander of Alexandria (d. 326)

Printed in EL Karaza Magazine, April 29, 2005‎ The rising of Jesus Christ from the dead was the biggest event that shook Jews and ‎they tried to fight it in all ways to the extent that they said about resurrection that ‎this last deception will be stronger than the first deception which is Christ’s ‎Preaching. So what was the power of resurrection and what was its impact?‎ ‎1- Christ came out of the tomb while – …

Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, had spent forty days with His disciples the saints talking to them about the things pertaining to the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3)…afterwards and prior parting ascending to Heaven, He told them “tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Lk. 24:49). So what was this power which they needed to await? He told them “But you shall receive power when the Holy – …

“Give us this day our daily bread” may be understood both spiritually and literally, because either way of understanding it is rich in divine usefulness to our salvation. For Christ is the bread of life; and this bread does not belong to all men, but it is ours. Just as we say, “Our Fr.” because He is the Fr. of those who understand and believe; we also call it “our bread,” because Christ is the – …

Rejoice, Highly Favored One Set before you the blessed Mary, whose surpassing purity made her meet to be the mother of the Lord. When the angel Gabriel came down to her, in the form of a man, and said: "Rejoice, highly favored one; the Lord is with you," (Luke 1:28) she was terror-stricken and unable to reply, for she had never been saluted by a man before. But, on learning who he was, she spoke, – …

“And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve, whom He also named apostles.” (Lk 6: 13) Our Lord Jesus Christ spent the night in prayer, conversing with His Father and God in heaven in a way indescribable and beyond our powers of understanding, a way which is solely known to Himself. He thus makes Himself an example to us of that which is necessary for salvation, – …

The subject of Halloween is something that has caught my attention over the last few weeks. Some might ask Why? As this is a natural part of life in America, they may add that: “this is the second important occasion on our yearly calendar after Christmas. Its a fun time for us and our children, who dress up in a scary clothes and go around trick or treating and having lots of fun” Fun? I – …

‘Euthanasia’ is a Greek word that means ‘happy death. It is used to signify the medical intervention in discontinuing the life of patients with complicated diseases, or those who suffer sever pain from incurable diseases. This intervention is seen as stemming from the doctor’s mercy and pity on his patients. The concept also calls for discontinuing the lives of children or infants who suffer from mental retardation or complicated diseases, thus having mercy upon them – …

Thirty theologians from the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches met in the Halls of the Holy Cross Church of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch in Damascus, Syria from February 2-5, 1998. The Opening session was blessed and honored by the presence of H.B. Patriarch Ignatius IV, Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and H.H. Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka I, Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch and all the East. The – …

"I write to you, youth because you are strong and the word of God is abiding in you and you have overcome the evil one." (1 John 2:14). We should be strong, especially youth, because we were created in the image of God. God is not only strong and mighty, but Almighty. The Church reminds us of this quality of the Divinity. During Holy Week, we recite each day "Thine is the Power;" we declare – …