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  from Homily 39, “On the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” by St. Philaret of Chernigov When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the Man were a Galilean (Luke 23:6). Pilate had no doubt of Jesus’ innocence.  But at the same time, not only did personal advantage mean far more to him than Divine truth, but his own personal peace and quiet was dearer to him than people’s rights.  He was happy to grab onto anything, if only to cease his struggle with the Sanhedrin over the truth.  “Is He a Galilean?” asked Pilate, … [Read more...]

from Homily 37 “On the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” by St. Philaret of Chernigov My listeners!  Behold what can happen even to the best person!  Peter, who had listened to the instructions of the Lord for so long; Peter, who had taught himself piety before the Lord’s face for so long; Peter, of unspoiled life, who was ready for every good work, whose piety was not merely outward – fell.  Neither the education of a mind enlightened by the truths of heavenly wisdom nor sufficient experience in spiritual life could save Peter from a … [Read more...]

Insensibility and Vainglory from The Ladder, by St. John of Sinai (Klimakos; 570-659) STEP 18: “Insensibility (Gk., anaisthesia) is negligence that has become habit, benumbed thought, the child of predispositions, a snare for zeal, the noose of courage, ignorance of compunction, a door to despair, the mother of forgetfulness which gives birth to loss of the fear of God.  And then she becomes the daughter of her own daughter (i.e., forgetfulness leads to the loss of the fear of God leading to more insensibility). “He who has lost … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher The Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts, or Presanctified Liturgy as it is popularly known, is the distinctive weekday service during the Orthodox season of Lent.  “On all the days of the holy fast of Lent, except on the Sabbath (Saturday), the Lord’s day (Sunday), and the holy day of Annunciation (March 25), the Liturgy of the Presanctified is to be said” (Canon 52, Quinisext Council). In many Orthodox parishes during Lent, the Presanctified Liturgy is served at least on Wednesdays, and in some on Wednesdays and … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher “In the beginning God made heaven and earth.” (Genesis 1:1) “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom…godliness toward God is the beginning of perception.” (Proverbs 1:7, 8) “Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth.  For the Lord has spoken: ‘I have begotten and brought up sons, but they rejected Me…Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean.  Put away the evils from your souls before My eyes.  Cease from your evils.  Learn to do good.  Seek judgment and redeem the wronged.  Defend the orphan and justify the … [Read more...]

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by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher “And Jesus came and spoke to [the eleven disciples], saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’  Amen.” (Matt. 28:18-20; italics mine) What is a Christian?  How do we define that term?  What, if any, characteristics must a person have … [Read more...]

ON THE ENTRY INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES OF THE MOTHER OF GOD AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY (November 21) by St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica (1296-1357) [This extract of Homily 53 is translated by Christopher Veniamin, in Saint Gregory Palamas the Homilies (Mount Thabor Publishing, 2009)] If someone attempts to touch the stars with his hand, even though he is tall and stretches his arm further than the rest, he is almost as far away from those ethereal heights as men of much shorter stature, the difference not being worth … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher … [Read more...]