Orthodox Christianity

Sunday, April 20/May 3, 2026. 4th Sunday of Pascha. Sunday of the Paralytic.

No fast.

St. Theodore Trichinas ('the Hair-shirt Wearer'), hermit, near Constantinople (400).

Righteous Tabitha of Joppa (1st c.). Blessed Gregory (593) and Anastasius I, patriarchs of Antioch (599). St. Anastasius, abbot, of the monastery of St. Catherine at Sinai (695). Second translation of the relics (1711) of Martyr Abraham of the Bulgars on the Volga (1230). St. Alexander, founder of Oshevensk Monastery (Arkhangelsk) (1479). Child-martyr Gabriel of Slutsk (Poland) (1690). Translation of the relics (1991) of St. Nikolai (Velimirovich), bishop of Ochrid and Zhicha (1956) from America to Serbia.

New Hiero-confessor Theodosius (Ganitsky), bishop of Kolomna (1937).

Apostle Zacchaeus of the Seventy, bishop of Caesarea in Palestine (1st c.). Sts. Bretanion (Vetranion) (ca. 378), and Theotimus (ca. 412), bishops of Tomis in Moesia. St. Caedwalla, king of the West Saxons (689). Hieromartyr Anastasius II, patriarch of Antioch (609). Sts. Athanasius (1380) and Ioasaph (1423) of Meteora, abbots. New Martyr Theodore of Byzantium, who died at Mytilene (1795). All Saints of Euboea. Synaxis of the Saints of Carpatho-Russia.

Repose of Schemamonk Ignatius of St. Nicephorus Monastery in Olonets (1852).

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Ukrainian Church Crisis

Christ is Risen! The Bright Resurrection of Christ, Pascha: Homilies and Spritual Instruction — Hymnography and Services — History and Culture — The Holy Fire — Around the World.

Sermon on the Fourth Sunday after Pascha, of the Paralytic

Sermon on the Fourth Sunday after Pascha, of the Paralytic Hieromonk Silouan (Mezhinsky) Sermon on the Fourth Sunday after Pascha, of the Paralytic Hieromonk Silouan (Mezhinsky) Only with Christ does the human soul become the most precious gem or diamond, the greatest jewel on earth.

“Matronushka Always Helps”

“Matronushka Always Helps” “Matronushka Always Helps” We were given work clothes and asked to help with work in church. After that, we were escorted to St. Matrona’s relics without waiting in line. Then we left the convent and headed for the metro.Suddenly Julia said, “Mom, I can see normally!”

The Spiritual Law of the First Fruits

The Spiritual Law of the First Fruits Alexei Tereshchenko The Spiritual Law of the First Fruits Alexei Tereshchenko To rise for prayer before opening the phone, a book, or sitting down to breakfast—that is our spiritual firstfruit.

Sunday of the Paralytic

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Venerable Basil Ratishvili (13th century)

Memory 18 April (1 May)

Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Rating: 8|Votes: 1

Venerable Basil Ratishvili (13th century)

Memory 18 April (1 May)

Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

Saint Basil Ratishvili, one of the most prominent figures of the 13th-century Church, was the uncle of Catholicos Ekvtime III. He labored with the other Georgian fathers at the Iveron Monastery on Mt. Athos.

Between The Sunday of The Myrrh-Bearing Women and the Sunday of the Paralytic

On Paschal joy and the Pentecostarion: From Our Family Experience

Vladimir Shishkin

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Between The Sunday of The Myrrh-Bearing Women and the Sunday of the Paralytic

On Paschal joy and the Pentecostarion: From Our Family Experience

Vladimir Shishkin

At times, a single text from the Pentecostarion can fill us with Paschal vigor, illumine us with joy, warm the heart.

The Spirit of Consumerism in the World and in the Church

Priest Tarasiy Borozenets

Orthodoxy Today

The Spirit of Consumerism in the World and in the Church

Priest Tarasiy Borozenets

In consumerist consciousness man is the consumer, God is the service provider, the Church is the company providing these services; faith, the sacraments, and prayers are means.

Eternal Pascha in Dachau

Deacon Dionisy Akhalashvili

Church History

Eternal Pascha in Dachau

Deacon Dionisy Akhalashvili

From the very heart of death, from the depths of this veritable hell on earth, carried the words, “Christ is Risen!” And in reply came the shout, “In Truth He is Risen!”

The Quiet Demons of Modernity: Why Have the Miracles Fallen Silent?

Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko)

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

The Quiet Demons of Modernity: Why Have the Miracles Fallen Silent?

Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko)

When a person refuses the Divine will, he inevitably becomes a toy in the hands of alien powers.

The Authority of the Priest

Fr. Lawrence Farley

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

The Authority of the Priest

Fr. Lawrence Farley

Christian authority is built on the foundation of a prior and more fundamental equality: before one is a father, one is a brother. All Christians share a common brotherhood, offering their ultimate submission to Christ and God the Father.

They Weren’t Distinguished by Virtues Until They Knew Christ

Homily for the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

They Weren’t Distinguished by Virtues Until They Knew Christ

Homily for the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women

St. Seraphim (Chichagov)

The holy Church of Christ blesses the memory of all saints, and Christians especially cherish these Myrrh-bearing Women, these happy companions of Christ, who served the Master not only from their substance, but also with the work of their hands; who were devoted to Him with all their hearts.

Do Not Be Amazed!?

Fr. James Guirguis

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Do Not Be Amazed!?

Fr. James Guirguis

With the true revelation of the identity of Jesus, there is a new paradigm, a new set of rules…..a new reality.

The Mount of Temptation

Svetlana Rybakova

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

The Mount of Temptation

Svetlana Rybakova

I remember how difficult the ascent was: the searing heat, as if we had been placed inside a huge oven, the steep rocky path running between the mountain and the precipice, and on top of this the continual thirst.

Sermon on the Third Sunday of Pascha, of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women

Igumen Tikhon (Borisov)

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Sermon on the Third Sunday of Pascha, of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women

Igumen Tikhon (Borisov)

We can find very little about the holy Myrrh-Bearing Women in the Gospel pages. But there are the most important things in this “little”: faithfulness and love.

About seeking the living among the dead

St. Nikolai Velimirovich

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Rating: 7.6|Votes: 14

About seeking the living among the dead

St. Nikolai Velimirovich

O my brethren, let us also cease to look for the living among the dead. If there are some of us who are still seeking Christ among the dead, let them desist from this soul-destroying effort.

The Origin and Meaning of the Paschal Greeting

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

The Origin and Meaning of the Paschal Greeting

In ordinary life, a kiss is considered a sign of sincere mutual love. It has the same meaning in this Paschal rite.

Pascha in Washington D.C. Photo Gallery

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Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Pascha in Washington D.C. Photo Gallery

On Pascha night, the clergy communed 300 people from five chalices. They share their joy with our readers as well in these photographs by Subdeacon Yuri Gripas.

“Either Pray Quietly at Home or Go Fight”: How Canonical Orthodoxy Is Being Destroyed in Ukraine and Priests Are Being Sent to the Trenches

Stanislav Olviysky

Orthodoxy Today

“Either Pray Quietly at Home or Go Fight”: How Canonical Orthodoxy Is Being Destroyed in Ukraine and Priests Are Being Sent to the Trenches

Stanislav Olviysky

The mass mobilization of clergy from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is taking place on a broad scale. Meanwhile, their “colleagues” from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine have not been touched by this “busification.”

“In Antarctica, God is especially close”

Alexandra Kalinovskaya

Churches and Monasteries

“In Antarctica, God is especially close”

Alexandra Kalinovskaya

Olga Stefanova is a documentary filmmaker, the author of several films and a book about Antarctica. Olga spoke about her journeys to the continent and shared the details of life in such extreme conditions.

The Doubt That Leads to Faith

A Homily for the Sunday of the Apostle Thomas

Metropolitan Rastislav of Prešov

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

The Doubt That Leads to Faith

A Homily for the Sunday of the Apostle Thomas

Metropolitan Rastislav of Prešov

God expects our questions. He isn’t afraid of our doubts.

“There Will Be Death, Eternity, and a Meeting with God. And What Am I Going to Tell Him?” The Immortal Pyotr Mamonov

Alexander Kuznetsov

Coming to Orthodoxy

“There Will Be Death, Eternity, and a Meeting with God. And What Am I Going to Tell Him?” The Immortal Pyotr Mamonov

Alexander Kuznetsov

He was not a priest, but rather an “unpaid Church worker” who went to places that official sermons could not reach.

St. Niphon of Novgorod. “This Man Is Worthy of Becoming a Bishop...”

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

St. Niphon of Novgorod. “This Man Is Worthy of Becoming a Bishop...”

He reconciled warring parties, united people of different classes into a single union, while firmly adhering to the Orthodox faith.

Radonitsa: Traditions and Significance

Elena Nasledysheva

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

Radonitsa: Traditions and Significance

Elena Nasledysheva

Radonitsa is Pascha for the dead. On the days of Holy Pascha, we greet each other with the words: “Christ is Risen!” It is quite natural to say the same words to the departed.

Christ’s Chosen One—St. Maria of Gatchina (1874–1932)

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Christ’s Chosen One—St. Maria of Gatchina (1874–1932)

Years of complete physical immobility, which she endured with extraordinary patience, led to Mother Maria of Gatchina being granted the gift of comforting the sorrowful.

St. Daniel of Pereyaslavl: Gentleness and Simplicity

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

St. Daniel of Pereyaslavl: Gentleness and Simplicity

On April 7/20, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Daniel of Pereyaslavl, a great lover of strangers and wanderers, the founder of the Holy Trinity-St. Daniel Monastery in Pereyaslavl, and the godfather of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible.

“Doubting Thomases”: Celebration of the Triumph of Faith over Doubt

Ariadna Nefedkina

Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

“Doubting Thomases”: Celebration of the Triumph of Faith over Doubt

Ariadna Nefedkina

Everybody should experience this very personal meeting with Christ in their lives. After all, the Lord does not avoid our questions: He waits for us, like Thomas, to reach out and touch Him, even if not physically, but with our hearts.

Paschal Joy

A Homily for Bright Saturday

St. Onuphry (Gagalyuk) of Kursk

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Paschal Joy

A Homily for Bright Saturday

St. Onuphry (Gagalyuk) of Kursk

Yes, the present earthly life is a foretaste of eternal life. Here begins and develops that disposition with which we’ll live eternally.

Inspired by the Fervent Devotion of the Myrrh-bearing Women

A Short Teaching on Bright Friday

Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky)

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Inspired by the Fervent Devotion of the Myrrh-bearing Women

A Short Teaching on Bright Friday

Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky)

Despite the dangers from their enemies who mocked and crucified their Master, they hastened to Christ’s Tomb early in the morning; they remained faithful to the One Who had died.

Friday of Bright Week, April 17, 2026: The History, Meaning, and Traditions of the Day

Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

Friday of Bright Week, April 17, 2026: The History, Meaning, and Traditions of the Day

In Orthodox tradition Friday of Bright Week is not simply a Paschal day, but a day when Paschal joy is joined to the remembrance of the Mother of God as the Life-Giving Spring.