In English

On the evening of Great Friday, we begin the service with a rather strange hymn. It’s a tropario which isn’t mournful but joyful. Not a lament, but a doxology. ‘God is the Lord and has appeared to us…’. He came to earth. And he showed us that he’s the one and only true Lord. We glorify him as Lord of heaven and earth. But this hymn isn’t suitable for Christ’s burial. Because the burial was the time when Christ chose to hide. He preferred to conceal not just his nature as God- his divinity-, but also his human nature. And what lair did he choose to hide in? A grave. And he consented to being completely shrouded in the night of ...

‘Lord, the pool did not cure the paralytic; it was your word which renewed’ (Doxastiko, Lauds, Sunday of the Paralytic) Saint Mark the Patmian makes the apt point: ‘Who, then, would be so hard-hearted, so monstrous in their outlook, that they would not pity and sympathize today with the paralytic who spent so many years confined to bed, like an insensate piece of rock? Who would not sympathize if they thought not only about the pain which the severe illness of paralysis would have entailed, but the sorrow and distress he would have felt when he saw the angel troubling the waters of the pool; when he saw another person being healed and departing while he remained lying there forever’ (Homily ...

Don’t choose negative ways of self-correction. You don’t need to fear the devil, nor punishment, nor anything else. They bring about a negative reaction. I have some small experience in this. The aim isn’t to sit, to become bored and uptight in order to improve. The aim is to live, to read, to pray and to advance in love: the love of Christ and the love of the Church. Saint Porfyrios Kavsokalyvitis

The first, very important thing that shows the need for correct thinking and common agreement is this: imitation of God and all things divine. This is all that the soul created in the image of God should look towards, if it is to proceed steadily and retain its noble pedigree, as well as the potential to become the likeness of God through contemplation of these things. Saint Gregory the Theologian

The Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) www.eiao.org, in the context of its activity for the promotion and preservation of the Christian Orthodox culture and in collaboration with the website OrthPhoto.net organizes the third in a row photography contest and invites all interested parties to participate in it. The purpose of the contest is to highlight the concept of the “Wisdom of God” in the modern world and to promote the churches that have been built in its honor for centuries. The Church of the Holy Wisdom of God in the City of cities, Istanbul, the “Great Church,” the “Great Monastery,” is a unique monument with a universal character that “belongs to humanity and the world cultural heritage.” Hagia Sophia of Istanbul was the ...

‘Fear not’ (Matth. 28, 10) ‘Do not be afraid’, the angel of the Lord said to the myrrh-bearing women who had been overcome by fear and trembling at the empty tomb, ‘for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, as he said’ (Matth. 28, 5-6). Shortly afterwards, the risen Christ himself said to them ‘Do not be afraid’.  After this, he stressed to the circle of his downcast and frightened disciples: ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?’ (Luke 24, 38). He showed them the marks of the crucifixion on his hands and feet and thus confirmed, by his presence, the miraculous event of his Resurrection. ‘Do not fear’. ...

At Eastertide, at some undetermined place and year, the Emperor Constantine I made his Oration to the Assembly of the Saints, either in Latin (Oratio ad sanctorum coetum) or Greek (Λόγος τῷ τῶν ἁγίων συλλόγῳ). It is a lengthy and not terribly interesting text, but given the fact that the emperor himself was reading it, if you were sitting at the front it would have been politic to feign interest or at least try to stay awake. In chapter XX (out of XXVI), he makes a reference to Virgil’s Fourth Eclogue: “Another Tiphys shall new seas explore; Another Argo land the chiefs upon the Iberian shore; Another Helen other wars create, And great Achilles urge the Trojan fate”. He goes on to explain the comparison ...

The very name of Constantine is enough to move the heart of any Greek Christian, not only today, but for very many years now, because it is associated with the legends of the nation, with “again, all in good time, it will be ours again”. It moves us because the first to bear the name Constantine I, the Great, was not merely one of the greatest men in world history, but he was something more besides: a saint. And when they hear the word “saint”, the trumpeters of atheism and unbelief start to sound off. Is he a saint? General, yes. King and Emperor, yes. Great, yes. But saint? No, he’s not a saint, they say. Because, they say, Constantine the ...

God gives us lots of opportunities to gain Paradise, but we don’t take them all; we push them aside. If, in this life, people pay what they owe, they’re saved. Saint Païsios the Athonite

Give yourself over to God’s will. He doesn’t abandon anyone who hopes in him. The most terrible storms are useful for Christ’s servants, because they bring great benefit. Make use of these storms as a lesson which prepare you and give you experience to withstand the even more terrible and dangerous storms which are to come. Saint Seraphim Romantsiov of the Monastery of Glinsk

People today, enslaved as they are to the passions and disorientated as regards the meaning of life, have greater need than ever before of escaping this unnatural, abnormal and pernicious. Elder Efraim Vatopaidinos

We can enclose the whole world, if we enclose the atmosphere of paradise within us. Because, if we lose the kingdom of heaven, we neither save ourselves nor anyone else. Those who have the kingdom of God within them will imperceptibly transmit it to others. People will be attracted by the peace and warmth within us, they’ll want to be with us, and the atmosphere of heaven will gradually pass to them, too. It’s almost not necessary to talk to people about it. The atmosphere of paradise will radiate from us, even when we’re silent or when we’re talking about everyday matters. It’ll radiate from us even when we have no sense that it’s doing so. Elder Tadej Vitovnički

Those who have love, calmly put up with the sorrows and pains brought upon them by their enemies. Be patient in sorrows and pains that are sent to you, because through them you’re being cleansed by God’s providence. Saint Thalassios the Libyan

If a soul’s to be saved, we need patience. Because if we aren’t patient with a soul and that person then ties a stone round their neck and jumps into the sea, whose fault will it be? Hieromonk Chrysostomos Stavronikitianos

What injured person ever cured their wounds without patience regarding the pain and the course of treatment from the doctor? Who can follow Christ without taking up the cross of patience on their shoulders? Nobody. Everyone who has followed and is following him was and is prepared to face patiently the trials that certainly await them. Saint Dimitri of Rostov

If you’re quick-tempered, or what they call irritable, that’s a real disaster. Even if you suffer from  phobias and from being easily aggravated, you’ll be cured through repentance, with a humble outlook and with love for others, even your enemies. If people don’t love their enemies, the grace of God doesn’t yet reside in them. Saint Silouan the Athonite

Scholarship Programme ANNOUNCEMENT 2021-2022 The Saint Maxim the Greek Institute, with the support of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopaidi, is introducing the ‘Evyenios Voulgaris’ Scholarship Programme. Evyenios Voulgaris (1716-1806) served as principal of the Athoniada School, which had been established by the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi. In his day, he was the greatest and most important Greek scholar, a theologian, philosopher, polymath, a man of encyclopaedic learning, poet, Father and Shepherd of the Church and an influential teacher for the whole of Orthodoxy.  The ‘Evgenios Voulgaris’ is directed towards:  Orthodox theologians (up to 40 years of age), holders of or candidates for a doctoral degree. Duration: 1 year (October 4 – September 30) Programme Language: Modern Greek Requirements:  Good knowledge of Ancient Greek, Modern Greek and English High level of theological knowledge ...

Orthodox theology maintains an attitude of respect towards animals, as it does to the whole of creation, recognizing the raisons d’être for their existence, which were established by God himself. Thus, as Saint Silouan the Athonite taught, it is impossible for people whose heart loves the Creator fervently not to be filled with compassion for all creatures. We see a similar pattern of thought in the teaching and personal example of many Fathers and Saints of our Church. This concept does not, however, involve any absolute prioritization or idolization of creation, animate or inanimate, animal or plant. The Church regards the creation with respect. We must ‘guard’ creation, while, at the same time, living in it and off it. Animals and plants ...

The Gospel reading for the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women (Mark 15, 43-47; 16, 1-8) relates two important events: the burial of Jesus’ body by Joseph (15, 43-47) and the visit of the myrrh-bearing women to the empty tomb (16, 1-8). The burial is the last act of the drama of the crucifixion, with which the cycle of the earthly ministry of Jesus comes to an end. The Resurrection is the first-fruit of a new world which is offered to us. Before looking at the second narrative, let’s turn our attention briefly to the person of Joseph, who occupied a high position in society (‘a prominent member of the council’) and belonged among those who secretly were hoping for the coming ...