In English

On the days following His entry to Jerusalem, Christ spoke to His disciples in particular about the signs that will precede the Last Day (Matt. 24 and 25); and so this forms the theme of the first part of Holy Week. In Western worship, on the other hand, the ‘last things’ are commemorated mainly during the pre-Christmas season of Advent. The eschatological challenge of the first three days of Holy Week is summed up in the troparion and exapostilarion at Matins+, both of which are repeated three times to a slow and solemn melody. The troparion, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night…,’ is based on the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13); the exapostilarion, ‘I ...

The long and holy periods of spiritual reflection never pass without a barrage of temptations. The holy fast and the increase in prayer don’t escape the snares of Lucifer. When Christ Himself spent forty days in fasting, prayer and reflection, He, too, was subjected to the temptations of the devil. Given this- the fact that Christ Himself was tempted by the devil- it’s not at all strange that those who follow in His footsteps, in the path of the Gospel, will also be on the receiving end of a host of traps cunningly set by the devil. Indeed, the harder Christians try in this effort, the more the devil attempts to blow them off their course towards perfection in Christ. This ...

4 April 1993 In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Today, in the day of Palms we stand in awe and amazement before what is happening in a way in which the Jews of Jerusalem could not meet Christ because they met Him imagining that He was the glorious king who would now take over all power, conquer and reject the heathen, the Romans who were occupying their country, that He would re-establish a kingdom, an earthly kingdom of Israel. We know that He had not come for that, He had come to establish a Kingdom that will have no end, a Kingdom of eternity, and the Kingdom that was not open only to one nation but ...

Even though God knew of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in paradise, He didn’t prevent it. Had he done so, He’d have intervened and done away with our freedom, which He Himself had given us. If you take away freedom, then the way we live our lives, even our salvation, would be enforced. We’d have no personality and we’d exist as passive beings. God preferred to change His plans for us rather than deprive us of the main feature of our personality, our freedom.

Take up your cross and know that, whatever you suffer is known to God. As a loving Father, He tries in every way to shape Jesus Christ within us. He wants us to suffer because He knows what He’s prepared in heaven for His suffering children, But if He doesn’t send them sorrows, that’ll be unfair to them because they’ll be deprived of the ineffable good things of heaven. The more we suffer, the more beautiful is the garland of glory that’s woven for us.

If you want to be saved, your heart has to be in a state of repentance and contrition. When people try to have a humble heart and a peaceful mind, then none of the machinations of the enemy is set in motion. Because where there’s peace of mind, God Himself is at rest.

This year, the 5th Sunday in Lent coincided with the great feast of the Mother of God, her Annunciation. We’d left the middle of Lent the previous Sunday, that of John of the Ladder, and, instead of the 5th being centred on the great desert ascetic, Saint Mary the Egyptian, the day is devoted to the most beautiful of women, the pride and joy of the Church, the All-Pure Mother and Virgin. There is no way in which this feast removes us from the spirit of Lent and of preparation for Easter. On the contrary, it’s the best precursor for Easter, since the Annunciation and the Resurrection illumine each other. Before Easter comes, we celebrate an Easter of the Mother of ...

Prayer is a help in our life, a conversation with God, an abandonment of earthly cares, an ascent into heaven. It’s the generic medication for all the passions and is able to protect us from them. It gives life, the promise of health and is a hope-bearing blossom. Prayer’s a great weapon, a great fastness, a great treasure, a great harbour, a safe haven.

Greeks in Canada held awe-inspiring parades to celebrate Greek Independence Day in several cities, especially in Montreal and Toronto. Tens of thousands of Greeks, as well as Jews, Armenians and other community groups, participated in the parade on Jean-Talon Street in Montreal. Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, arrived at the beginning of the parade and stayed until the very end, over two hours later. The Prime Minister stood in the center of the platform, flanked on the right by the President of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, Mr. N. Pagonis, and by Metropolitan Sotirios on the left. Next to the Metropolitan was Ambassador Mr. D. Azemopoulos, while the High Commissioner of Cyprus, Mr. P. Anastasiades, stood next to Mr. Pagonis. Like every ...

The saints were always thinking about the next life. Remembrance of death is a gift. It’s God protecting us from temptation. He doesn’t allow us to be tested beyond our powers. Whatever He allows is for our good. Trust in the Lord for everything and He will feed you in the time of famine.

Just as the pearl comes from two natures, from lightning and water, from the unfathomable parts of the sea, so also our Lord Jesus Christ proceeds, without confusion and without change, from the pure, chaste, undefiled and holy Virgin Mary. Perfect in divinity and perfect in humanity, in all things the same as the Father, and in all things of the same substance as us, though without sin. Most of the holy Fathers, Patriarchs, and Prophets desired to see Him, and to be eye-witnesses of Him, but were unable to do so. Some of them beheld Him vaguely, in visions, as a prefiguration; others heard the divine voice through a pillar of cloud, and were favoured with visions of the holy ...

When the door to the cell closes, the gates of heaven open.

Today’s Gospel (Mark 10:32-45), read on the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent (Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt) was not heard in our parishes across Canada, or indeed in any Orthodox Church around the world. Instead, parishioners heard the Gospel according to Luke (1:24-38) for the Great Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos. Because the Annunciation (March 25th) happens to fall on a Sunday during Great Lent this year, its Bible reading takes precedence over the customary reading for the Fifth Sunday of the Fast. This liturgical peculiarity of the Church calendar highlights an important theme and unique characteristic of Orthodoxy; namely, its deep liturgical richness, offering the faithful countless opportunities to cultivate a personal relationship with Christ. This week’s Great Lent: ...

: ‘You alone, All-Holy Virgin, now receive the mysteries unknown to all of these and learn their origin. For where the Holy Spirit is, everything is already well-ordered. Where there is Divine Grace, everything is possible for God. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the holy child you bear will be called the Son of God’. If He’s the Son of God, He’s also God, of one form and co-eternal with the Father, and in Him the Father is fully manifested. He’s His character personified, and the Father’s glory shines forth through His own radiance. Just as rivers flow from eternal sources, so also does the perennial and true light ...

When we see the sinfulness of others, we should look into our own heart and ask ourselves: ‘Am I without sin? Isn’t there the same passion inside me as I see in my brother or sister?’. If we follow the movements of our heart carefully, then we’ll recognize our own sinfulness and unworthiness and we won’t pay attention to what others are doing, nor will we condemn them for it.

Today, the ranks of the angels rejoice at the hymns being sung and the light of the presence of Christ shines brightly upon the faithful. Today, is glad spring-time for us, and Christ the Sun of Righteousness shines all around us with a clear light, illumining the minds of the faithful. Today, Adam is made new, and, having soared to heaven on high, now takes a place in the choir of angels. Today, the whole of the earth is enveloped in joy, since the descent of the Holy Spirit upon us has taken place. Today, God’s grace, the hope of the unseen, shines through all the miracles which surpass our understanding, and reveals the mystery which was hidden from us from before all ages. Today, ...

Just as the surface of the ground often can’t be seen because of the rank weeds and thorns, so the nobility and purity of the soul was often not visible until the Farmer of human nature lit the fire of the Holy Spirit, cleared it and prepared it to receive the seed from heaven.

Just as God sheds His light on all people, let those who imitate Him radiate common and equal love towards everyone.

According to Saint John of the Ladder, resentment is a poison in the soul, an estrangement from love and a continuous sin. This is why, of all the requests in the Lord’s Prayer, only one is accompanied by a caveat. In order for our own transgressions to be forgiven, the Lord sets the condition what we should forgive those who’ve wronged us. In other words, if you don’t forgive, you’re not forgiven. Forgiving somebody means placing between me and my ‘enemy’ the radiant forgiveness of God Himself. According to Saint John Chrysostom, the Lord gives us the opportunity to be cleansed of our sins even after baptism, on this condition. So it depends on us: the attitude we maintain on ...

God’s shelter and providence shield everyone, but can be seen only by those who cleanse themselves from sin.