From the Service of Matins for the Annunciation of the Lady Theotokos   Ο Ευαγγελισμός της Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου Ὀρθρος «Χαῖρε κατάρας λύτρωσις, τοῦ Ἀδὰμ Θεοτόκε, χαῖρε σεμνὴ Μητρόθεε, χαῖρε ἔμψυχε βάτε, χαῖρε λαμπάς, χαῖρε θρόνε, χαῖρε κλῖμαξ καὶ πύλη, χαῖρε τὸ θεῖον ὄχημα, χαῖρε κούφη νεφέλη, χαῖρε ναέ, χαῖρε στάμνε πάγχρυσε, χαῖρε ὄρος, χαῖρε σκηνὴ καὶ τράπεζα, χαῖρε Εὔας ἡ λύσις.» (25 Μαρτίου, Β’ Εξαποστειλάριον, Ήχος β’) “Rejoice, Theotokos redemption of Adam’s curse, rejoice noble Mother of God, rejoice, living bush, Rejoice, O lampstand; rejoice, Ο throne. Rejoice, O ladder and gate. Rejoice, divine chariot. Rejoice, O swift cloud, rejoice [...]

St Joseph the Hesychast St Joseph the Hesychast, who was canonised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 20 October 2019, is one of Orthodoxy's newest saints. He was a shining beacon of monasticism in the 20th century and played a major role in the revitalisation of Mt Athos and the teaching of the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” St Joseph was born in Paros in 1897. His family was extremely poor and so the Saint left home at the age of 17 to work in Pireaus. After receiving a vision of two angels serving [...]

What is the “Fear of God”?   Our parents and grandparents did not have an issue with the term “Fear of God.” It is a term that appears throughout the Old and New Testaments, and a term that was in the minds of the faithful throughout the ages. These days, however, this phrase troubles many people, who seek to re-define and soften it. They ask “why should we fear God? Isn’t He the God of love? Isn’t He our Father in Heaven?” If you are one of those people, then consider that in essence, you seek to not be accountable [...]

Christ has made us free (Galatians 5:1) St Paul’s invocation “Christ has made us free” invites us to reflect on what it really means to be free as Orthodox Christians living in a modern world. Freedom is commonly thought of as the ability to choose between right or wrong, good or bad. The word in Greek eleftheria (ελευθερία) is made up of two roots – eleftho (ἐλεύθω) meaning “to come towards” or “to approach”, and eros (ερώς), meaning “love” or “desire.” “Freedom” (ελευθερία) is taken to mean “being able to live consistent with that which we desire.” What is it [...]

Psalm 33 (34)   Psalm 33 (34) is a psalm of thanksgiving sung by King David when he fled from the court of Abimelech of Geth (also known as Achous the Philistine). David had come to Abimelech’s court when he fled from the madness of Saul. However, when he saw those around Abimelech looking at him and whispering, he feigned insanity and was dismissed by Abimelech. In this way, according to St Nicodemus the Hagiorite, David escaped certain death and was thankful to God. Despite his ingenious escape, David remembered that it was God who was ultimately responsible for it. [...]