3/19/2015
Fr. Thomas Hopko
Thus, the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos is the celebration of the fact that all men are “highly exalted” in the blessedness of the victorious Christ, and that this high exaltation has already been accomplished in Mary the Theotokos.
Rating: 7,4|Votes: 18
One of the powerful stories, narratives, in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the so-called synoptic gospels, is this event when Jesus encounters this man who is in the region of the Gadarenes or there are different names—Girgesenes or Gerasene region—this man who is totally and completely possessed by demons, filled with all powers of demons.
Rating: 10|Votes: 6
It is the Church of the Messiah. It is the qahal Israel. It is the assembly of Israel in the Messiah, in Jesus, to which Gentiles like myself may now be included by faith and grace. And that indeed this church is the Church.
Rating: 10|Votes: 1
Tradition says that to fulfil the prophecy of Joel, the Holy Spirit descended not only on the twelve chosen Apostles, but also upon all those who were with them "with one accord in one place", that is, on the whole Church. This is why in Icons of Pentecost there are represented Apostles not belonging to the twelve - Apostle Paul, and among the seventy, Luke the Evangelist and Mark the Evangelist.
