The third Sunday of Great Lent bears the name Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross. It is worth recalling that in Church Slavonic, the word nedelya refers not to a seven-day week, but to the day of Sunday itself. Nedelya means a day of rest, when “nothing is done,” that is, no work is performed. The modern sense of…
On the Third Sunday of the Fast: A Teaching of the Holy Fathers on the Great Fast and the Other Fasts Listen, brothers, sisters, children, the elderly and the young, and all faithful Christians, to what the Divine Scriptures say about fasting. The Lord our God Himself gave us an example by fasting for forty…
On the Saturday of the Third Week of the Fast: A Teaching of Our Holy Father Gregory the Theologian on the Holy and Divine Liturgy In the early days, the holy fathers once gathered around Saint Gregory the Theologian and said to him, “Father, tell us about the mystery of the Holy and Divine Liturgy.”…
On the Same Day [Friday of the Third Week of the Fast]: A Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom on the Reading of Books. Reading is a good and beneficial practice, especially for every Christian. “Blessed are they that search out His testimonies, that seek Him with the whole heart” (Psalm 118:2). What does it mean to “search…
On Friday of the Third Week of the Fast: A Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom on the Rich and the Poor. Brethren, I have spoken to you many times, and now, with tears, I speak again about the enemies of the Cross of Christ. For these are the enemies of God—those who serve their flesh,…
On Thursday of the Third Week of Lent: A Teaching of St. John Chrysostom on the Contrition of the Soul Beloved, having turned away from the vain and perishable works of this life, be watchful that your hearts do not return again to those same evils. For wealth and glory perish, beauty fades, and all…
On Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent: A Teaching of St. Ephrem on Judgment and Repentance Come, all of you, brothers, both small and great, and listen to my humble teaching, for I speak to you for your benefit. Beloved ones, the great and dreadful day is drawing near, yet we remain careless, unwilling…
On Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent: A Teaching of St. John Chrysostom on Those Who Speak in Church This I say to Christians who stand in the Church during the time of the Holy Liturgy, that most awesome service, yet speak idle and unworthy words in that sacred place. O man, what are…
On Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent: A Teaching of a Certain Holy Elder to His Spiritual Children The elder said: If one eye is lost, the other remains to serve the body. But God has given only one soul, and if we destroy it, with what shall we live? Therefore, let us care…
On Monday of the Third Week of Lent: A Teaching of St. John Chrysostom on the Rule of the Christian Life Whoever is merciful and gives alms from his own labor is pleasing to the Lord. But whoever lives by injustice, taking profit from the poor and the orphan, and then gives alms from that…