12/3/2020
Professor Larisa Marsheva, Anton Osipov
The Troparion begins with a lofty appeal of the Holy Hierarch Hermogenes that later came to be used in subsequent prayers to the Most Holy Mother of God. “Intercessor” means protectress, or patroness.
Larisa Marsheva, Ioann Scherbenko
On September 1/14, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Ecclesiastical New Year, also known as the Beginning of the Indiction. We offer our readers a theological-philological commentary on the troparion and kontakion of the feast.
Professor Larisa Marsheva, Ioann Scherbenko
As Patriarch Theophylact prophesied about her, St. Olga came to love the Light—the Lord Jesus Christ.
Professor Larisa Marsheva, Peter Gramatik
The Omnipotent God, the Creator of Heaven and earth, “the Wonderful Counsellor, the ruler of the world,” for the first time reveals Himself to mankind in Three Persons.
Professor Larisa Marsheva, Vasily Poshka
St. Tikhon accepted the lot of service that presupposed deprivation and even death, of which the saint was perfectly aware, but nevertheless accepted the divine lot and submitted to it.
Larisa Marsheva, Peter Sadikov
The texts for this feast are filled with numerous symbols that glorify the instrument of Christ’s victory over death, revealing the soteriological aspects of theology and speaking of the priceless gifts that believers have acquired through the salvific death of Jesus.
Professor Larisa Marsheva, George Surkov
And in this holiness, in total devotion to God, the Most Holy Virgin showed an example of the highest life, which is possible for everyone. In holiness and purity, in ineffable motherhood, she has become so close to God that the Church ceaselessly turns to her as to an intercessor, a patroness, and places its hope on her and praises her as a “firm hope in … intercessions.”
From its very first verses, the hymn “By the Rivers of Babylon” reveals the whole meaning of Great Lent. We are in captivity to sin—“by the rivers of Babylon.” Like the Jews, we have to lay mirth aside and reflect upon our sins and remember Zion—the Heavenly Kingdom, or the Heavenly Jerusalem.
Professor Larisa Marsheva, Deacon Andrei Boldyrev
The Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple was her manifestation to the world like Christ’s manifestation at Theophany. It was a silent preaching to the people of the imminent coming of Christ.
