August 16, 7533
On Friday of the second week of Lent, an instruction of a certain man to his spiritual brethren, taken from the Book of Proverbs. Brethren, ye have heard from the prophets, the apostles, and the Gospel concerning the vanity and sorrow of riches. And now I desire further to instruct you in wisdom and the…
On Thursday of the second week of Lent, an instruction of a certain God-loving man to his spiritual brethren. Selected from the apostolic epistles. The holy Apostle Peter says that “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy…
On Wednesday of the Second Week of the Fast: A Teaching of the Holy Fathers on How an Orthodox Christian Should Live Brothers and sisters, hear the teachings of the holy fathers. Among Christians, there are some who bear only the name of Christian, yet do not follow God’s will nor keep His commandments. They…
On Tuesday of the Second Week of the Fast: A Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom on Those Who Seek Healing from Sorcerers In this life, when we are afflicted by sorrows—whether through the loss of possessions or through severe illness—God grants us relief from the greater torments to come. When you fall into grievous sickness,…
On Tuesday of the Second Week of the Fast: A Teaching of the Holy Fathers on the Heavenly Creation Thus says the Lord through the prophet: “How long, O men, will ye continue in sin, adding iniquity unto iniquity, and provoking the Most High, Who hath created you? But cease from unrighteousness and learn to do…
On Monday of the Second Week of Lent, a Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom on the Rich and the Unmerciful I do not speak against the rich who live well and are generous, but I rebuke the wicked—those who, possessing wealth, live in greed. Concerning such people, the prophet David says: “He heapeth up riches, and…
For the past two weeks of Great Lent, and even during the preparation leading up to it, the Holy Church has called upon us to examine our souls more deeply, to understand where repentance is needed, and to reflect on our lives to determine what must be changed. Through the Gospel, the Lord calls us:…
Delivered in the Church of Hagia Sophia on Friday of the First Week of Great Lent I stand before you, having come earlier than the appointed time and hastened to offer you, in advance, the due tribute of my duty. For the voluntary fulfillment of an obligation, when offered as a gift by those who…
The church service of the first week of Great Lent is dedicated to the commemoration of the Council held in Constantinople in the year 843, during the reign of Emperor Michael and his mother, Empress Theodora. This Council marked the end of a grievous and terrible period in the history of the Greek Church—more than…
On the First Sunday of Lent, a Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom on Spiritual Benefit From experience itself, beloved, you have seen the goodness of fasting and the benefit that comes from it. For whoever has observed this first week of the holy and great fast understands well his own nearness to God and will…