I have been sharing the reasons why our Church, during the Great Fast, traditionally only celebrates the Divine Liturgy on weekends but distributes presanctified Holy Communion on Wednesdays and Fridays in a service know as the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts. … Continue reading
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In the last issue of this article, I shared that Mark, in the 15th chapter of his gospel, says that Jesus released his last breath, thus implying that in dying Jesus himself is set free. The various forms of rise … Continue reading
I would continue to share thoughts about the 30th Step on John’s Ladder of Divine Ascent. The 30th Step is Faith, Hope and Love. The highest degree of love for God, which is the love of the dispassionate, is described … Continue reading
On this fourth weekend of the Great Fast, we also celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation and truly remember John Climacus, one of the great Fathers of the Eastern Church. As my readers will recall, St. John was the author … Continue reading
I ended this article in the last issue of the Bul-letin by asking: What is the purpose of earthly life? I don’t know whether this stimulated any of my readers to answer this question. It truly is one of the … Continue reading
It is my intent, in sharing thoughts about the Gospel of Mark, that my readers will begin to have a new and inspired understanding of the Gospels. They are not meant to present history in a strict sense but are … Continue reading
The feast of the Annunciation is one of the 12 major feasts of our Church. It recalls Mary’s conception of Jesus. Sometimes the story is so romanticized that we fail to realize the strength and courage of Mary. In the … Continue reading
The second Prayer of the Faithful is likewise different in St. Basil’s Liturgy. The words from this prayer are, in my estimation, truly powerful. Two very different phrases are significant: “O God, Who have been pleased in Your mercy and … Continue reading
In the last issue I began sharing with my readers Athanasius’ response to the contentions of Arius whose beliefs, eventually, were branded as a heretical. I also started sharing Athanasius’ idea about the relationship between the Father and the son … Continue reading
The last element of the last step on the Ladder of Divine Ascent is LOVE. St. Paul states that of the three virtues – faith, hope and love – love is the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:13). As I have shared, … Continue reading