February 20, 7534
George Neminuschy Introduction In our present-day liturgical practice, the shortage of clergy, the necessity of undertaking practical tasks in preparation for Pascha, and the desire to rest before the all-night service of Paschal Matins and the Paschal Divine Liturgy often lead to the omission of one of the most important parts of the Passion–Paschal cycle:…
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…
Attitudes toward New Year and Christmas trees vary greatly within the Old Believer community. This depends on many factors. What might be beneficial for one person could prove harmful for another. Traditions differ, as does the environment in which we live. Ultimately, everyone can choose the approach that suits them best. If you have doubts,…
“Prayer is the breath of our soul,” says St. Macarius. How long can one remain alive without breath? Not long at all. In the same way, our spiritual life, if not refreshed and sustained by prayer, quickly weakens, withers, and dies. This is why the holy Apostle exhorts us not only to pray frequently—as often…
Bows in the divine services are a visible sign of reverence for the Lord, the Mother of God, and all His saints. In Old Rite prayer practice, as in the pre-schism Russian Church, there are three types of bows. This is how it is described in the pre-schism book The Son of the Church and in the…
Following the appearance of the Old Believer YouTube channel “GLAGOL TV,” previously discussed on our site, viewers began to see its participants in a new light—especially Archpriest Vadim Korovin from the Saratov region. In church circles, he is already well known for his deep knowledge of liturgical practice and canon law, but we were genuinely…
We read of the true meaning and spiritual purpose of fasting in the writings of one of the brightest apologists of Orthodoxy in the early 20th century — Bishop Mikhail (Semyonov). What is fasting? Nowadays we hear many objections against fasting — often and from many directions. Why fast at all? “Not that which goeth into…
In addition to the commonly observed fasting days for all (the four long fasts, and Wednesdays and Fridays of each week), there also exist customs of private fasting. A Christian, in agreement with his spiritual father, may take on an additional day of abstinence to strengthen his repentance. An extra fasting day may also be…
What is fasting? In general, fasting is abstinence—abstinence from carnal things, from sin, from anything that may corrupt our soul and lead us astray from the path of salvation. Fasting is a multifaceted discipline that touches not only on food but also on many other aspects of Christian life. There are three components, three dimensions…
Although the basic requirements of the fast are laid out in any Church calendar, both believers and non-believers often have a wide range of questions on this topic. How does one properly prepare for the beginning of the fast? How should the first week be spent? Priest Ioann Kurbatsky: The Church prepares Christians for Great…