Treasures of the Fathers: Prophecies of Tuesday of the First Week of the Great Fast
In this series, we will read the Holy Scripture with the Church through the lens of the Holy Fathers who lived the Scripture and bequeathed their inspired interpretations to later generations for their edification and spiritual growth. Isaiah 1:19–2:3 And if ye be willing, and hearken unto me, ye shall eat the good things of […] The post Treasures of the Fathers: Prophecies of Tuesday of the First Week of the Great Fast appeared first – …
International Patristic Conference in Moscow
From November 18-20, delegates of ACTS participated in the International Patristic Conference hosted by the Ss. Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Post-Graduate Studies in Moscow. The subject of the third international conference was “St. John Cassian and the Monastic Traditions of the Christian East and West.” His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, rector of the school, opened the conference with his lecture. H.E. reminded the audience of the two previous conference dedicated to examining Isaac the Syrian and Simeon – …
Five Ways of Repentance
Let me describe to you five ways of repentance; each is different, but all point toward heaven. (1) Acknowledgement of Sins The first road is the acknowledgment of sins. If you acknowledge your sins to God, He will forgive you; and this act of acknowledgment will help you stop sinning. Let your conscience be your accuser, so that you will not have to face a far different accuser at the Lord’s tribunal. (2) Forgetting the – …
Summer Course in Theological Fathers (June 25-August 8, 2013)
With the blessing and support of our blessed father, His Grace Bishop Serapion, we joyfully announce the first summer course for the Diocese in Theological Studies. This course will begin next week (Tuesday June 25) and extend to the beginning of August on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-5 pm at St. Maurice. This course is designed for serious servants seeking advanced theological studies. We hope this will extend to a full theological studies in the Fall – …
On the Resurrection of Lazarus
A man was raised up by Him who made man: for He is the only One of the Father, by whom, as you know, all things were made. And if all things were made by Him, what wonder is it that one was raised by Him, when so many are daily brought into the world by His power? It is a greater deed to create men than to raise them again from the dead. Yet – …
Nativity Discourse
We behold now a great and wondrous mystery. Shepherds with cries of joy come forth as messengers to the sons of mankind, not on their hilly pastures with their flocks conversing and not in the field with their sheep frolicking, but rather in the city of David Bethlehem spiritual songs exclaiming. In the highest sing Angels, proclaiming hymns Archangelic; the heavenly Cherubim and Seraphim sing out praises to the glory of God: “Holy, Holy, Holy…” – …
The Promise to Abraham Fulfilled in Christ
Therefore Abraham also, knowing the Father through the Word, who made heaven and earth, confessed Him to be God; and having learned, by an announcement [made to him], that the Son of God would be a man among men, by whose advent his seed should be as the stars of heaven, he desired to see that day, so that he might himself also embrace Christ; and, seeing it through the spirit of prophecy, he rejoiced – …
St. John Chrysostom and Carrying our Cross
This week, as millions of Americans around the world give thanks during the Thanksgiving holiday, the Coptic Orthodox Church commemorates the exemplary life and departure of one of the most influential figures in the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church: St. John Chrysostom (the “Golden-Mouthed”). St. John was one of the most eloquent preachers of Christ’s Gospel as well as an ascetic and great teacher. His love for our Lord Jesus Christ was great, as was – …
The First Theological Oration
Not to every one, my friends, does it belong to philosophize about God; not to every one; the Subject is not so cheap and low; and I will add, not before every audience, nor at all times, nor on all points; but on certain occasions, and before certain persons, and within certain limits. Not to all men, because it is permitted only to those who have been examined, and are passed masters in meditation, and – …
Homily on the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, There are some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Thus, inasmuch as He had discoursed much of dangers and death, and of His own passion, and of the slaughter of the disciples, and had laid on them those severe injunctions; and these were in the present life and at hand, but the good – …
On the Different Methods of the Devil’s Warfare: The First Method
On the Different Methods of the Devil’s Warfare Against Those Who Journey on the Narrow Way That Transcends the World On the First Method OUR ADVERSARY, the devil, has the long-standing habit of artfully choosing modes of warfare against those who enter upon the ascetic contest according to the form of their weapons, and he changes the manner of his struggle against them according to the aim of each. He observes those who are indolent – …
In Praise of St. Peter and St. Paul
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Romans 16:24) See how we should begin and end everything? For with this St Paul laid the foundation of his Epistle, and with this he puts on the roof, at once praying for the mother of all good things for the Romans, and calling the whole of his loving-kindness to their mind. For this is the best proof of a generous teacher, to – …