The Resurrection is a Revolution Every year has several days of celebrations, or festive days, during which we honour a religious, national or social event. These are meant to instil in our minds the deeper meaning of the occasion. For us Orthodox Christians the Resurrection, or Pascha, is a joyful and enthusiastic celebration. On the one hand there is a strong religious preparation (Great Lent, Holy Week) accompanied on Easter day by centuries-old customs, such as: the Easter candles; red eggs; Easter bread (tsoureki); lamb on the spit; and the exuberant spirit of friendship, joy, forgiveness and closeness with one [...]

The Narrow and the Wide Gate In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ said “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt 7:13-14). How are we to understand these words and apply them to our daily lives? Jesus is telling his followers that the main aim of our earthly life is to find the road that leads to [...]

Holy Unction The mystery of Holy Unction or the Sacrament of the Anointing of the sick is also called euchelaeon and means “blessed oil.” This sacrament is the Church’s specific prayer for healing. When we are ill and in pain, this can very often be a time of life when we feel alone and isolated. Holy Unction reminds us that when we are in pain, either physical, emotional, or spiritual, Christ is present with us through the ministry of His Church. He is among us to offer strength to meet the challenges of life, and even the approach of death. [...]

If There is Life, I Want to Live Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki This short book contains the encounters of Metropolitan Nikolaos, and addresses a question that concerns many: “How can the Church address the doubts of the younger generation and interest them in matters of faith?” The book recalls authentic conversations between the author and a group of young people. They are mostly skeptical of the Church, yet are interested in the life journey of Metropolitan Nikolaos, who went from being a successful scientific researcher in America to becoming a monk and hierarch. It is presented as 100 [...]

The Seventh Eothinon of Pascha “Behold, it is early and still dark. And why, O Mary, are you standing outside at the tomb, with much darkness covering your mind, such that you seek where Jesus has been laid? But see, how the Disciples, who ran together, understood the resurrection from the linen cloths and the napkin, and then remembered the scripture concerning this. With them and through them, we also have believed, and we extol You, Christ the Giver of life.” Τὸ Ζʹ Ἑωθινόν Ἦχος βαρύς (Grave Mode) «Ιδοὺ σκοτία καὶ πρωΐ, καὶ τί πρὸς τὸ μνημεῖον Μαρία ἕστηκας, πολὺ [...]