February 28, 7534
On Palm Sunday, the Triumphal Entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem to suffer willingly. A homily by St. John Chrysostom. Just as we have now crossed the deep sea of the fast, let us, O faithful, undertake with even greater zeal the struggle of this week, and pass on from the miracles of…
On Holy and Great Wednesday of Passion Week, concerning the most beautiful Joseph: how he revealed himself to his brothers, and how his father Jacob came to Egypt with all his household. When Potiphar, who had cast Joseph into prison, beheld that most glorious sight—how Joseph sat in Pharaoh’s chariot in great honor—he was greatly…
On Holy and Great Tuesday of Passion Week, concerning that most beautiful Joseph: how the Ishmaelites sold him to Potiphar, and how he came to reign over Egypt. When Joseph’s brothers sold him, they brought a goat, slaughtered it, and dipped Joseph’s robe in the blood. They then sent it to their father Jacob, saying:…
On the same Great Friday of Passion Week: a homily on the taking down of the Lord from the Cross, His burial, and the lamentation of the Most Holy Mother of God. Today let us praise the noble Joseph together with the myrrh-bearing women, for he ministered to the body of Christ after the Crucifixion….
I have often pondered within myself why our fathers, having passed by the prayer houses that stand within the city, ordained that today we should gather outside the city, and there hold the divine service. Surely they did not do this without cause or in vain. I sought the reason—and by the grace of God,…
By St. Gregory Palamas The eternal and ineffable Word of God, the Almighty and Omnipotent Son, could, even without taking on flesh, have delivered humankind from corruption, death, and bondage to the devil—for all things are upheld by the word of His power, and all creation is subject to His divine authority. As Job says,…
What is this? Why is there such deep silence upon the earth today, and such stillness? It is because the King is at rest. The earth grew silent with awe, for the Lord has fallen asleep in the flesh, and has raised up those who have slept from ages past. The Lord died in the…
Today we celebrate the burial of our Savior. He descends into the netherworld to free the dead from the bonds of death, filling Hades with light and awakening the departed from sleep. We rejoice here on earth, anticipating His Resurrection, and we do not fear that corruption will overcome incorruption—for Scripture says, “Neither wilt thou suffer…
Bishop Mikhail (Semyonov) Today we have come out to meet the Lord, who goes willingly to His Passion. We have come out with branches and burning candles, as once the children of Jerusalem cried out to Him who was coming: “Hosanna to the Son of David, Blessed is He who cometh…” But is this gift…
Metropolitan Korniliy (Titov) Yesterday, we venerated the burial shroud, which is a symbol of Christ’s death. We honored the Lord’s long-suffering, His Passion, and His sacrificial love for all mankind. It is difficult to reconcile what we do now—venerating the Cross and the shroud—with what once was: when Christ died in the flesh upon a…