Beginning of Great Lent 2012. Archpastoral Message of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah

Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen)

In the three weeks that have led us to this great and solemn first day of the Fast, the Church has set before our spiritual eyes themes of exile. When our ancestors in the faith were led to captivity in Babylon, they wept; they hung up their lyres and said, “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither”

Rating: 10|Votes: 4

A Pastoral Letter of New Priest-Martyr Sergei Mechev

Written to his flock after the closing of their parish church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Maroseika Street in Moscow

New Martyr Priest Sergei Mechev

Let us enter, beloved ones, into the cells of our souls, into the temple of our spirit, consecrated unto the Lord at the moment of our Baptism and sanctified by Him at the time of our first Communion. This temple of ours—no one can ever destroy it, except we ourselves. In it there is both priest and penitent.

Rating: 6,8|Votes: 6

Forgiveness Sunday

Archpriest Victor Potapov

Forgiveness Sunday is a day a day of strict self-examination, a day on which we examine the extent our spiritual maturity: are we capable of following after Christ, of obeying all of His directions? Many of us know well from personal experience that it is far easier to forgive than to ask forgiveness of one whom we have somehow offended, for our pride interferes with our admitting guilt. The Church constantly teaches that it is only through repentance, spiritual struggle, and efforts toward great abstinence that what had been lost through sin may be sought, found and restored.

Rating: 10|Votes: 7

The First Week of Great Lent: Advice from pastors

Igumen Nektary (Morozov), Archpriest Igor Shestakov, Archpriest Vasily Mazur, Priest Vladimir Voitov

With whatever inner disposition we begin any task—that is how we will carry it out. It is the same for the fast: with whatever disposition we enter the fast—that is probably how we will go through it. That means that we need to relate to the first week of Lent with particular responsibility.

Rating: 7,2|Votes: 5

Homily on Cheese Fare Sunday. The Condition Prior to Entering the Holy Forty Days Fast

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

Beloved brethren! We have already reached the very gates of the holy fast! They are even now about to open before us! Already, according to the typicon of the Holy Church, we hear the instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ read to us today in the Holy Gospels about the correct way to begin the podvig of fasting.