Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov)
Of course our loved ones’ passing over to the next life is a sad event; but it is by no means a reason for despair. Death is not only our grief over the person leaving us. It is also a great solemnity for a Christian—passage into eternal life! We must help him in any way we can to prepare for this most important event.
Archpriest Alexander Schmemann
Rating: 5,9|Votes: 11
"Having fulfilled Forty Days... we ask to see the Holy Week of Thy Passion." With these words sung at Vespers of Friday, Lent comes to its end and we enter into the annual commemoration of Christ's suffering, death and Resurrection. It begins on the Saturday of Lazarus.
In a post on the website of the Western Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Japan, Bishop Seraphim of Sendai has provided the most recent assessment of damage sustained by the churches in his diocese as a result of the March earthquake and tsunami, and the plight of parishioners there.
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)
Rating: 8|Votes: 1
And I set my face to the Lord my God, to pray and make supplication with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, and I made my confession (Dan. 9:2-4). The state to which fasting and prayer brings a person makes him especially capable of receiving Divine benefactions and Divine revelation.
Archimandrite John (Krestiankin)
Rating: 10|Votes: 1
The Patriarch was the spiritual leader of the Russian people during a very difficult time. He continues to be so during our difficult time in Russia—a time of schism, separation, and falls. The Church's duty in such trials is to inspire and unite the people for the sake of saving their native land, faith, and truth, serving for unification.
