The prayer to the Holy Spirit commences as follows: ‘Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who is present everywhere and fills all things…’, showing that truth penetrates everything and is present everywhere at all times and in all places. But what is truth? When Pilate asked Jesus this very question just before the crucifixion, Jesus replied with a resounding silence, as if to show that He is the Way the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). Rationally, truth may be thought of as a philosophy or some factual proof or statement. However truth cannot be something which changes under [...]

Diamonds on the Bosphorus By Aliki Kafetzopoulou Published by St Herman Press, 2011. ‘Diamonds on the Bosphorus’ is an historical novel incorporating both fictional and non-fictional characters. The story is set in Constantinople, 400 AD, when Empress Eudoxia was persecuting St John Chrysostom. In the story, there are two followers of St John, Juliana and Nicephorus, aged around 16. They live a simple life practicing the teachings of St John. However towards the end of the novel, there is a big-twist in the storyline, which has a huge impact on their lives, displaying their great love for God. Much inspiration [...]

The Unexpected Encounter Can you describe the emotion in the depths of your heart when you meet a person very dear to you, whom you had not seen for a long time, so as to be regarded as lost? Your face sparkles as you meet, your eyes fill with tears and your lips can only utter a few simple words! Such meetings are not so rare. But unique are some meetings which took place 2000 years ago. The first took place in a garden on the outskirts of Jerusalem, when Mary Magdalene stood outside the empty tomb of Jesus crying. [...]

Church of the Resurrection The Church of the Resurrection in the old city of Jerusalem is undoubtedly the most significant shrine of the Christian Faith. This is because under its roof is the original place of Christ’s Crucifixion, Burial and Resurrection. The building is an enormous edifice which incorporates many structures. Its interior is made up of chapels, shrines, basements, storerooms, living quarters, staircases, courtyards, balconies and corridors. Every space is covered with a different roof, some with Byzantine and others with Gothic domes. The internal architecture is a representation of the many influences over the centuries and can be [...]

Matins Hymn of the Resurrection The Orthodox Icon of the Feast of Pascha depicts Christ descending into Hades and liberating Adam from the bonds of death, while many luminaries of the Old Testament look on. Who then witnessed Christ's own Resurrection? We know that none of the four gospels describes the actual Resurrection Itself. So how can we sing and pray that we have seen the Resurrection of Christ? Has poetic license been liberally used in this Paschal hymn? St Symeon the New Theologian provides answers: "How then, does the Holy Spirit exhort us to say, “Having beheld the Resurrection [...]