Κατηγορία

In English

The Liturgical Context of the Veneration of the Cross (Georgios Zaravelas, Theologian)

Κατηγορίες: In English

On the 3rd Sunday of Lent, and, indeed, throughout 4th week, a time within the reverential climate of the fast which is so beneficial to the soul, the Church displays the Precious Cross of the Lord, for the support of the faithful. The appointment of the veneration of the Cross on that day, the mid-point of the fast, was also made for another, practical reason. The commemoration of the finding of the Precious Cross by Saint Helen is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on 6 March, as is clear from the corresponding date in the Feasts of the Month. That day, 6 March, almost always fall in Lent. Given that the atmosphere of those days is one of mourning, and that, ...

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We’re sustained by it (Saint Justin Popovich)

Κατηγορίες: In English

For us Christians who are enlightened and illumined in Christ everything in this world has meaning and value insofar as it constitutes a means and path to eternity. Because we see what isn’t apparent and gaze on the invisible. We order the whole of our life in time on the basis of what’s eternal and measure what’s human by Him Who is God and human. As long as there’s something eternal within the bounds of the temporal, we’re sustained by it. But when it’s absent, we seek it in the realm of the infinite and invisible. We look at everything through the prism of eternity. That is through the prism of Christ, since He is the eternal God and Lord.

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The Veneration of the Cross (Fr. Alexander Schmemann)

Κατηγορίες: In English

The Third Sunday of Lent is called “The Veneration of the Cross”. At the Vigil of that day, after the Great Doxology, the Cross is brought in a solemn procession to the center of the church and remains there for the entire week – with a special rite of veneration following each service. It is noteworthy that the theme of the Cross which dominates the hymnology of that Sunday is developed in terms not of suffering but of victory and joy. More than that, the theme-songs (hirmoi) of the Sunday Canon are taken from the Paschal Service – “The Day of the Resurrection” – and the Canon is a paraphrase of the Easter Canon. The meaning of all this is clear. ...

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The Cross, The Archpriest Christ’s Symbol of Redemption (Andreas Theodorou)

Κατηγορίες: In English

The feast of the Veneration of the Cross is undoubtedly one of the greatest in Orthodoxy and is especially loved and honoured by members of the Church. The focus of the feast- which the faithful are invited to venerate- is the Precious Cross, upon which Christ, after He had stretched out His holy palms, ‘united what had been divided’. God died in the flesh and, with His ultimate sacrifice, His love and submission, which culminated in the mystery of divine self-emptying, He atoned for sinful people before our holy God, satisfied divine justice for the sins and guilt of the whole world, redeemed His creation from the evil of the devil and the snare of death, pledging His most holy Blood ...

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