Κατηγορία

Ξένες γλώσσες

Elder Vasilios of Iveron on Pascha 2020 (Elder Vasilios Gontikakis, former Abbot of the Monastery of Iviron)

Κατηγορίες: In English

“This year, the Resurrection tells us many things. If it is true what we believe, and if we are living that which we chant, that “we celebrate the death of death, the deposition of Hades, and the beginning of another, eternal life” (Canon of Pascha), then we would fear for nothing. And every single threat increases the power of the presence of the risen Lord. “That which occurred this year with the Coronavirus is a temptation, but all temptations are transformed into blessings. We chant “let us say, O brethren, even to those who hate us.” (Doxastikon of Pascha) And those who hate us are waiting for our love, and those who do not believe are waiting for the power of ...

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Saint Maximos the Confessor Appeared to Elder Iosif and Explained a Difficult Passage

Κατηγορίες: In English

When he (Elder Iosif Vatopaidinos) was encouraging us once to study Patristic writings, he mentioned that there was benefit not only in their teaching and exhortations, but also from their prayers. As well as studying their works, we should call upon them. In his hermitage at New Skete, on the Holy Mountain, while he was studying the works of Saint Symeon the New Theologian and, at the same time, praying to him the presence of the saint became so tangible that he felt diffident and reticent. ‘I drew back’, he said, ‘in case I touched him’. He studied the Holy Fathers carefully, systematically and in depth and he always read the original not a modern translation. Writings well beyond the ability of many ...

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Monastic Conversations with Father Zacharias (Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou)

Κατηγορίες: In English

Question: Why have they included marriage in the Sacraments of the Church, and not monasticism? Answer: Fr Sophrony said to me once: ‘Imagine that they do not accept monasticism as a sacrament of the Church, and marriage is one of the sacraments!’ Both of them should be considered sacraments because this is the way of Christ. The icons, for example, are not a sacrament, but they are a very strong vehicle transmitting the grace of God to us. Maybe they have not included monasticism in the sacraments because the monks were humble and did not wish to force their way. But now, after 2000 years, we can dare to speak. Many people do not realise that monasticism is a real, all-embracing ...

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Homily on the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing women (Metropolitan of Pisidia Sotirios)

Κατηγορίες: In English

When reading the Holy Gospels, one of the most striking things we see is that after the Lord’s Resurrection, His Disciples were not the first to see Him.  Instead, it was the women who had anointed Jesus’ dead body with myrrh, who would receive the blessing to see the Lord first.  These pious women, who remained faithful to Him since the beginning, kept the flame of devotion constantly burning in their hearts.  They followed Jesus and the Twelve Apostles during their public ministry, and served them in the needs of daily life.  St. Luke the Evangelist notes that the women who accompanied Jesus provided for His needs from what they had (see Luke 8:3).  Some of them were wealthy, such ...

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The Myrrh bearing Women (Metropolitan Panteleimon of Antinoes)

Κατηγορίες: In English

The event of Christ’s Descent from the Cross and Burial is odd and praiseworthy, because it was  not looked after by His Disciples, but by two counsellors of the High Court of the Jewish nation, Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus.  The Apostle St. Peter was still in tears for his denial and  the rest of the Apostles were scattered, as was foretold by their Teacher, “I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad” (Matth. 26:31). According to the Jewish law, “cursed is every one that is hanged on a tree” “(Gal. 3: 13).  The two counsellors of the High Court, moved by their philanthropic feelings for the crucified and abandoned – by – all ...

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