On Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent, a Homily from the Gospel about the Rich Man and Lazarus The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is beneficial for all of us—both for the rich and the poor. Let the rich be generous, lest they be condemned like that merciless man. And let the…

On Monday of the Fifth Week of the Fast: A spiritually beneficial tale by St. John Chrysostom about the present life, told in the form of a parable concerning a courtyard and a serpent. Beloved, at all times the bishops, pastors, and leaders among us—shepherds of the divine Word—have labored diligently for our salvation through…

The days draw near when the Holy Church commemorates the saving Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, in today’s Gospel reading, the Lord foretells to His disciples His coming sufferings: “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and unto the scribes; and they shall…

The custom of commemorating St. John, the author of The Ladder, on the fourth Sunday of Great Lent entered our Church together with the Jerusalem Typikon in the 14th century. This Typikon, preserving the form and order of worship from the Palestinian monasteries, thus highlights the memory of one of the pillars of Palestinian monasticism, who…

By Bishop Mikhail Semyonov This Sunday is dedicated to the memory of St. John of the Ladder, the author of a remarkable book about the Path to Heaven—thirty steps of ascent “up the ladder”… to that place where the seraphim stand before the Divine Throne, covering their faces. The image of the ladder to heaven is…

By Bishop Mikhail Semyonov Today we commemorate Saint John of the Ladder. He was a holy ascetic, enlightened with a deeply Christian spirit and great wisdom. He was a man who placed the Lord at the very center of his life in all its aspects—for him, “God is the object and goal of all endeavors, for…

On the Fourth Sunday of Lent: A teaching of St. John Chrysostom on fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. Come now, children of the Church, that I may give you the customary instruction on fasting, prayer, and almsgiving for your edification. Behold, beloved, the greater part of the fast has already passed. Each of you knows the…

On Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent: A Teaching of Saint Basil and the Message of the Angel to the Faithful The Angel of the Lord proclaims a message from God to those who suppose themselves to be faithful Christians, but who have not the fear of God, saying thus: “Woe to the man…