St Zenobius Metropolitan of Tetri-Tskaro St Zenobius was born on 14 September 1896 with the name Zacharias. He was from Chernigov in Russia, and lost his father when he was three years old and his mother when he was eleven. He lived a humble childhood in poverty and entered the Monastery of Glinsk. After being conscripted into the army during World War I, he was tonsured a monk with the name Zenobius in 1917. When the Communists closed the Monastery, Zenobius was ordained deacon and then hieromonk, serving until 1930 in the Church of St Nicholas in Sukhum. Along with [...]

Jael and Sisera (Judges 4:17-23)   The book of Judges records that the Israelites fell away from God after arriving in the Promised Land. Having fallen into idolatry, Israel was enslaved for twenty years to King Jabin of Canaan. When the Israelites realised their sin and repented, Deborah and Barak led them to victory over the Canaanite army led by Sisera. However, the victory was not complete because Sisera fled the battlefield. In fleeing, Sisera reached the tent of Jael, who was the wife of Heber the Kenite. Jael received Sisera and gave him a blanket. When Sisera asked for [...]

JOHN KAPODISTRIAS          Count John Kapodistrias (1776-1831) was born on 11 February 1776 in the Ionian island of Corfu. He belonged to an ancient aristocratic Corfiote family, which had emigrated to Corfu from Istria in 1373. He studied medicine, philosophy and law in Italy. At the age of 24 Kapodistrias became secretary of the Ionian legislative council. He listened to the voice of the Ionian people and the democratic changes he initiated were gladly accepted by them. This would prove a stark contrast to the reception he received for the changes he later made in Greece. At [...]

How can we share in the joy of Christ's birth?   I suspect that the readers of Lychnos are aware of how terribly commercialised Christmas has become. My answer to your question on how can we share in the joy of Christ’s birth is to meditate on the real meaning of Christmas, and to also allow the example of Christmas to change our mindset and the way we relate to one another. I will answer your question by using a sermon on the Nativity by Saint Gregory Palamas. This very spiritual saint put it as follows: “The pre-eternal and almighty [...]

1821: The Power of the Spirit  The year 2021 is the year of the Greek Nation. It is celebrated both in Greece, and in the heart of every person with a drop of Greek blood in their veins and is dedicated to the revolution of 1821. The revolution succeeded in throwing off the tyrannical occupation of the country by the Ottoman Turks. This freedom has been enjoyed for 200 years. The Greek revolution was unlike any other before it or since. It was started by the people because of the unbearable suppression imposed by the Turks, which included: heavy taxes [...]