Orthodox Christianity

Friday, October 5/18, 2019. 18th Week after Pentecost. Fast Day.

Wine and oil allowed.

Martyr Charitina of Amisus (304). Sts. Peter (1326), Alexis (1378), Jonah (1461), Macarius (1563), Philip (1569), Job (1607), Hermogenes (1612), Philaret (1867), Innocent (Veniaminov) (1879), Tikhon (1925), Macarius (Nevsky) (1926), and Peter (Polyansky) (1937), hierarchs of Moscow.

Hieromartyrs Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria, and the deacons Gaius and Faustus (264-265). Martyr Mamelta (Mamelchtha) of Persia (ca. 344). St. Gregory (Grigol), archimandrite, of Khandzta in the Klarjeti desert, Georgia (861). St. Damian the Healer, priest (1071), and Sts. Jeremiah (ca. 1070) and Matthew (ca. 1085), clairvoyants, of the Kiev Caves. St. Charitina, princess of Lithuania (1281). St. Varlaam, desert-dweller, of Chikoysk (1846). St. Seraphim (Amelin), schema-archimandrite, of Glinsk Hermitage (1958). Uncovering of the relics of New Hiero-confessor Basil (Preobrazhensky), bishop of Kineshma (1985).

New Hiero-confessor Gabriel (Igoshkin), archimandrite, of Melekess (Saratov) (1959).

Synaxis of the holy fellow-strugglers of St. Gregory of Khandzta (9th c.). St. Cosmas, abbot, in Bithynia (10th c.). St. John (Mavropos), metropolitan of Euchaita (1100). St. Methodia, recluse, of Cimola (1908). Uncovering of the relics of St.Eudocimus the Unknown, monk of Vatopedi, Mt. Athos (1841).

Repose of Nun Agnia (Countess Anna Orlova-Chesmenskaya) of Novgorod (1848) and Hieroschemamonk Paisius (Olaru) of Sihastria, Romania (1990).

See the full calendar

Ukrainian Church Crisis

“They Will Not Destroy Greek-Slavic Friendship”

“They Will Not Destroy Greek-Slavic Friendship”. The Russian Holy Synod’s Statement of October 17, 2019 on the Ukrainian Issue and the Greek Church “They Will Not Destroy Greek-Slavic Friendship” The Russian Holy Synod’s Statement of October 17, 2019 on the Ukrainian Issue and the Greek Church “We cherish prayerful communion with our brethren in the Greek Orthodox Church and will maintain a living prayerful, canonical and Eucharistic connection with it—through all those archpastors and pastors who have already spoken out or will further oppose the recognition of the Ukrainian schism.”

The Greek Synod’s Decision: Vox Populi

The Greek Synod’s Decision: Vox Populi The Greek Synod’s Decision: Vox Populi Although the rule of the Church is entrusted to its hierarchs, the laity are just as much a part of the Church, the Body of Christ, as are the priest, bishops, and patriarchs—and their opinions also matter.

The Church Optina Patericon The Church Optina Patericon For one’s salvation it is necessary to be a part of the Orthodox Church.

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Publications

The Most Important Questions

A Finnish professor of theology shares his reflections on the Heavenly Kingdom

Hannu Pöyhönen

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

The Most Important Questions

A Finnish professor of theology shares his reflections on the Heavenly Kingdom

Hannu Pöyhönen

We have talked with Hannu Pöyhönen, a co-founder of the Panagia center and Ph.D in Theology, on the permanent spiritual thirst of people and Christ’s desire to quench it without violating our freedom.

“Children Feel Good When Their Parents Feel Good”

The Nagornovs’ family life

Anna Berseneva-Shankevich

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Marriage and Family

“Children Feel Good When Their Parents Feel Good”

The Nagornovs’ family life

Anna Berseneva-Shankevich

When I married I couldn’t have imagined that I would become the father of a large family. My wife and I just love and have always loved each other.

Coming Full Circle: A Masterclass at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra

Seraphim Hanisch

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Education

Coming Full Circle: A Masterclass at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra

Seraphim Hanisch

Spiritually, musically and historically, this masterclass quietly shook the Orthodox world—and thankfully, in the very best of ways.

The Phenomenon of “Gerondism”

Part 2: Theological critique of the phenomenon. The ethics of the spiritual father and his child

Metropolitan Ephymios (Stilios)

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

The Phenomenon of “Gerondism”

Part 2: Theological critique of the phenomenon. The ethics of the spiritual father and his child

Metropolitan Ephymios (Stilios)

The absolutization of the personality of spiritual fathers can also reduce Orthodoxy to various forms of Eastern religions, when a spiritual father acts as a guru.

Spiritual Revelation and Self-Sacrifice

Sermon on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God

Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov) of Pskov and Porkhov

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Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Spiritual Revelation and Self-Sacrifice

Sermon on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God

Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov) of Pskov and Porkhov

So, people come to the Church, and during their first years are amazingly fruitful and strong in their spiritual life, getting to know God, coming to Church and beginning to live a new life. Why?

Be Merciful

Fr. Theodore Lyudogovsky

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Be Merciful

Fr. Theodore Lyudogovsky

Christ promises a great reward for the fulfillment of His words: Ye shall be the children of the Highest. What could be higher than that? Christ is the Son of God, and we will be sons of God.

A Provocation by a Provocateur

Nun Cornelia (Rees)

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Orthodoxy Around the World

A Provocation by a Provocateur

Nun Cornelia (Rees)

In the wake of the recent conference organized in Oxford, England by Fordham University’s Orthodox studies employees on “Bridging Voices” between LGBT+ and traditional Orthodox people, a particular thread has appeared that is gaining credence through spinoff articles and comments.

“With Fr. Kirill We Were Always at Ease and Joyful”

For the 100th anniversary of the birth of Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov)

Nun Evfimia (Aksamentova)

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Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

“With Fr. Kirill We Were Always at Ease and Joyful”

For the 100th anniversary of the birth of Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov)

Nun Evfimia (Aksamentova)

He always walked in the presence of God.

“In the Monastery, We Have to Kill Three Snakes That Are Trying to Bite Us”

Archimandrite Theologos Grigoriatis

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Churches and Monasteries

“In the Monastery, We Have to Kill Three Snakes That Are Trying to Bite Us”

Archimandrite Theologos Grigoriatis

During one of Geronda Theologos’ visits, he addressed the sisters with a brief word of instruction, which we would like to share with the readers of our site.

The Phenomenon of “Gerondism”

Part 1: The components of “gerondism”

Metropolitan Ephymios (Stilios)

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

The Phenomenon of “Gerondism”

Part 1: The components of “gerondism”

Metropolitan Ephymios (Stilios)

This trend is extremely dangerous for laypeople, so we need to have an Orthodox theological and critical commentary on this phenomenon.

Christ is In Our Midst

Bishop Gregory (Katsia)

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Christ is In Our Midst

Bishop Gregory (Katsia)

But Christ is not near. Why? We need the third and most important component of the spiritual anatomy of man—the heart. Where are you, heart? Alas, our cultural times are called the “the culture of the loss of the heart.”

Fourteen Facts about the Life and Struggles of Patriarch Tikhon

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Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Fourteen Facts about the Life and Struggles of Patriarch Tikhon

In 1917 began what would become perhaps the most complex period in the history of the Russian Church. In great measure thanks to St. Tikhon, his dedication to his service, and his personal martyric podvig, the Church survived that era. It was literally “carried on the shoulders” of the holy patriarch from the flames of persecution and social turmoil.

A Theologian Among the Evangelists

Deacon Pavel Serzhantov

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Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

A Theologian Among the Evangelists

Deacon Pavel Serzhantov

All the evangelists proclaim the “theological” good tidings of Christ. But the Gospel of John stands out remarkably even in the very distinct theological background of the New Testament.

How St. Sergius Saved the Moscow Theological Academy

Priest Valery Dukhanin

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Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

How St. Sergius Saved the Moscow Theological Academy

Priest Valery Dukhanin

The Lord, allowing a hopeless situation, pre-arranged a miraculous deliverance, which we will now speak about.

On the Spiritual Poverty of St. Sergius

Archpriest Mikhail Boiko

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Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

On the Spiritual Poverty of St. Sergius

Archpriest Mikhail Boiko

Our venerable father Sergius of Radonezh has given us a great spiritual lesson by calling himself the “worst among people.”

Shame before Confession

Hieromonk Savatie (Bashtovoi)

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Shame before Confession

Hieromonk Savatie (Bashtovoi)

So let us realize that a Christian life is not just a series of victories or failures. It is, for the most part I assume, made up of defeats; but they are defeats that we face with courage.

“The Lord Speaks to Our Soul Through the Circumstances of Our Lives”

A Conversation with Abbess Anastasia (Mordmillovich) of the Kaluga Kazan Devichy Monastery

Abbess Anastasia (Mordmillovich)

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Churches and Monasteries

“The Lord Speaks to Our Soul Through the Circumstances of Our Lives”

A Conversation with Abbess Anastasia (Mordmillovich) of the Kaluga Kazan Devichy Monastery

Abbess Anastasia (Mordmillovich)

When our thoughts are purified, our heart is gradually purified, and in the pure heart dwells the Lord.

Night Fishing

On the Miraculous Catch of Fish and the Calling of the Apostles in the Gospel for the 18th Sunday After Pentecost

Archpriest Alexander Vetelev

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Night Fishing

On the Miraculous Catch of Fish and the Calling of the Apostles in the Gospel for the 18th Sunday After Pentecost

Archpriest Alexander Vetelev

The excessiveness of the catch confirmed the obvious action of the power of God in it. Moreover, the apostles could see in it a symbol, an image of that abundant catch of human souls to which Christ called them

St. John the Forerunner: the Man Who Baptized Christ

Archpriest Igor Gagarin

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Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

St. John the Forerunner: the Man Who Baptized Christ

Archpriest Igor Gagarin

This is what the preaching of St. John the Baptist was like. On the one hand, he was stern and exacting. And, on the other hand, as a human being he understood our real capacity and showed no sign of maximalism or radicalism.

The Civil War in Ukraine 100 years ago

Vasily Tsvetkov

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Church History

The Civil War in Ukraine 100 years ago

Vasily Tsvetkov

It should be noted here that Ukrainian separatism was supported not only by the elite like Hrushevsky, Vinnichenko and Petlyura, but also by specific money: financial “injections” that were carried out by the Germans and especially the Austrians.

Heresy

Optina Patericon

St. Anatoly (Potapov)

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Heresy

Optina Patericon

St. Anatoly (Potapov)

The enemy of mankind will act with cunning, so that he might if possible draw even the elect into heresy.

What is the “Apocrypha”?

Archpriest John Whiteford

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Theology

What is the “Apocrypha”?

Archpriest John Whiteford

What do the terms “apocrypha” and “deuterocanonical” mean, and how does the Orthodox Church view them?

Things That Remain

Fr. Lawrence Farley

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Orthodoxy Around the World

Things That Remain

Fr. Lawrence Farley

The history of Orthodoxy in Alaska reminds us that the Church will always be missionary in its essence.

Faith vs. Optimism: A Christian perspective on adversity

Elder Nikolai Guryanov and his Nanny

Igumen Dovmont (Belyayev)

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Faith vs. Optimism: A Christian perspective on adversity

Elder Nikolai Guryanov and his Nanny

Igumen Dovmont (Belyayev)

Communication with these marvelous people left the warmest memories in my heart forever.

Hieroschemamonk Alexiy, Elder of St. Zosima Hermitage

Bishop Arseny (Zhadanovsky)

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Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Hieroschemamonk Alexiy, Elder of St. Zosima Hermitage

Bishop Arseny (Zhadanovsky)

Fr. Alexiy’s special character traits were his sociability, accessibility, and attentiveness to all. Both old and young, educated and illiterate, all felt that Batiushka was never burdened by anyone, but would show a lively interest each one’s fate.