Sunday Schools - the real face of Catechism.   For the Christian, teaching the truths of the Faith to others is a major pillar of the spiritual life. Of course, the earlier we start this work in the life of the members of the Church, the more successful we are going to be in our effort. Hence, Sunday Schools have overtaken all other forms of Catechism in the life of the Church. Systematic organisation of Sunday Schools in Sydney, began in 1955 and continues, with the Grace of God to this day. These facts are well known to everyone, and [...]

Pascha: The Fountain of Life Eternal   The sacred readings and the divine hymns on the night of the Resurrection fill the hearts of every faithful and sincere Orthodox soul with heavenly sentiments, and strengthen their faith in the great victory of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, against the power of death and against the darkness of our worst enemy, the devil. We believe that all the blessings that derived from the Resurrection of our Lord, are also ours. In this world, we enjoy them within the Church, and we hope in the mercy of God and expect and hope that [...]

The Struggle for Virtue: Asceticism in a Modern Secular Society By Archbishop Averky Taushev, Published by Holy Trinity Publications, 2014 In The Struggle for Virtue: Asceticism in a Modern Secular Society, Archbishop Averky Taushev has skilfully gathered the teachings of the Orthodox Church Fathers on the spiritual struggle, and has presented it in a clear and very personal way that touches, teaches, and inspires. Archbishop Averky addresses the question: ‘What is asceticism?’ He counters the many false understandings that exist. He explains how it heals and transforms the human person and how it is integral to the spiritual life and [...]

Kollyva (Κόλλυβα) In the loving arms of our Mother church no-one, living or dead, is forgotten. Why do we pray for the dead? We know that there is no repentance after we die. A person's eternal destiny repentance is determined immediately upon death. Praying for them is an expression of love - a love that survives and transcends death. We pray for those who have died, just as we pray for those who are living because we are all members of Christ's Church. The family of the departed prepare a plate of kollyva (κόλλυβα - boiled wheat), which is placed [...]

Elder Sophrony - On Prayer The practice of prayer has been described widely by many Church Fathers. It is common to all practising Christians, traceable even to the first -created Adam and Eve. The practice of prayer remains pertinent to all of us in the modern age. For example, the Jesus Prayer (‘Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me’) continues to be widely used by monastics and lay Orthodox living in the world. Prayer is often described as vital - the oxygen of the soul, the fuel of the spirit. And yet if we ask ourselves what is true prayer, [...]