St Gregory of Nyssa On the Baptism of Christ St Gregory of Nyssa, the younger brother of St Basil the Great, was one of the most influential theologians of the early Church. In his famous sermon On the Baptism of Christ the Saint begins by explaining the ongoing significance of baptism for the Orthodox Christian: “Baptism, then, is a purification from sins, a remission of trespasses, a cause of renovation and regeneration. For as the child new-born is free from accusations and from penalties, so too the child of regeneration has nothing for which to answer, being released by royal [...]

Circumcision of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Luke 2:20-21; 40-52) Following His birth, our Lord was circumcised on the eighth day in accordance with Jewish custom, and was named ‘Jesus’ (Luke 2:21). Abraham's covenant with God meant that every male descendant after him was to be circumcised (Genesis 17:10-12). This marked man's union with God. Christ's circumcision was a sign of His submission to this covenant between man and God. Beyond His incarnation, Christ shows us also that He was born under the law (Galatians 4:4) and that He was subject to the weakness of human nature. By reason [...]

Why do we have to go to a Priest for Confession? My immediate answer is that this is what our Lord and the Church advise us. Our Lord who loves us very much knows what is good for us much better than we do. Actually, anyone who has truly been to Confession, and by this I mean anyone who has confessed very honestly, bravely, and with true contrition, would not need an answer to this question. They would have experienced for themselves the peace and Grace that results from this blessed Sacrament. The Bible teaches us that we should go [...]

St Macarius the Great of Egypt, the Lamp of the Desert (Commemorated 19th January) St Macarius is one of the founding fathers of monasticism. He was born in the fourth century AD in the village of Jijber, Egypt. From a young age, he realised his calling from God was to apply himself to a life of ascesis and prayer. Having dwelt in the Nitrian desert for three years, he went to Saint Anthony the Great and became his devoted disciple and follower. St Macarius struggled against demonic attacks. As his apolytikion states “By fasting, vigil and prayer thou didst obtain [...]

Christmas - An Invitation from Heaven The birth of Jesus Christ is described by the writers of the Holy Gospels with respectful apprehension. This is because they realised that this wondrous event was a heavenly invitation to every human being. The first worshippers of Christ were the shepherds, who were informed by the angels. Of the wise and educated, however, only the Magi (wise men) from the East responded to this invitation and came to worship the newborn King. In contrast, other astrologers saw the unusually bright star in the sky but made no effort to discover its significance. The [...]