I. The Publican and the Pharisee Old Believers have a much deeper understanding of their divine services, their order, than adherents of other confessions. Old Believers diligently (though relatively speaking), seriously, and attentively preserve the ancient order, remaining faithful to the Ustav (Typikon) and traditions of the past. Here, there is no question of the…
By Bishop Mikhail (Semyonov) “O Lord and Master of my life, drive away from me the spirit of despondency, negligence, avarice, and idle talk…” There is hardly a prayer (after the Lord’s Prayer) that moves the soul more than the Lenten prayer of St. Ephraim. But how strange, it seems, are its petitions. To ask…
By Abba Dorotheos It is written in the Law that God commanded the sons of Israel to give a tithe each year from all that they acquired, and by doing so, they received a blessing upon all their works. Knowing this, the holy Apostles established and handed down to us, for our aid and as…
Great Lent is called the Forty Days — the Holy Quadragesima. However, if you look at the calendar, it becomes clear that from the first day of Great Lent until Pascha there are seven weeks, that is, 49 calendar days. How, then, is the Forty Days calculated? 6 × 7 – 2 = 40Properly speaking,…
On the Saturday of the Sixth Week of Lent, on the Resurrection of Christ’s Friend Lazarus: a Homily by John Chrysostom. Behold, this is the radiant forerunner of the triumph of Christ’s Resurrection. Behold, the remembrance of Lazarus shines forth, revealing the wonders of Christ. The image of Lazarus’ four-day resurrection bears the fruit of…
On the Friday of the Sixth Week of Lent: A teaching by John Chrysostom on Repentance, and on How Sins Are Forgiven. Therefore, considering this, let us never despise anyone, and never, when we sin, fall into despair, nor let us become sluggish in returning once again. Rather, when we sin, let us offer contrite…
On Thursday of the Sixth Week of Lent — Parables from the Prophetic Sayings, with Interpretation. Proverbs. Chapter 9: Wisdom hath builded her house… Interpretation.“Wisdom” is Christ, and the “house” is the Holy Mother of God. She hath hewn out her seven pillars. Interpretation.The “seven pillars” are the seven Ecumenical Councils. She hath killed her…
On the same day [Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Lent] — The Prophecy of Isaiah, interpreted concerning those who set tables for idols. [Isaiah, ch. 65] Thus saith the Lord: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for…
On Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Lent — the verse “Our Father,” interpreted by St. John Chrysostom. Our Father, which art in the heavens. Interpretation.You call God your Father—this is right to say, for He is indeed the Father and Creator of us all. But be careful, O man—do works that are pleasing to…
On Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Lent, an Instruction from the Holy Gospel, interpreted by the Holy Fathers. [John, ch. 1] The Lord said of Nathanael: “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.” Nathanael saith unto Him: “Lord, how knowest Thou me?” The Lord answered and said unto him: “Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under…