Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth Peace, Goodwill Toward Men  The birth narrative in Luke 2 describes the humble birth of Jesus in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes. This great mystery of the incarnation of God and the opportunity for the salvation of man prompts the doxology in three parts from the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14). The angels show us how we should respond to the birth of Jesus. Firstly, the angels praise God. We are made to praise God, and do not fulfil [...]

Our Creed "And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried." Just as the climax of the liturgical calendar for Orthodox Christians each year is Holy Week and Pascha, Article 4 of the Creed brings us to the climatic events of Christ’s saving work for mankind - His death and His resurrection. Christ Himself alluded several times to His upcoming death as we read in the Gospels. This is particularly evident in the Gospel according to Mark, where our Lord’s journey towards His Passion and Crucifixion is characterised by a sense of great determination and haste. [...]

Byzantine Ecclesiastical Music    The new and enriched second edition of Byzantine Ecclesiastical Music: Chanting in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition (2020) authored by Basilios Psilacos, chanter and Lecturer at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, comes as a welcome addition to the teaching of Byzantine Chant in the English speaking world. Indeed, it is the first textbook of Byzantine music to be produced and published in Australia. Also, the first edition has been used as a textbook in other jurisdictions and settings, for example in the United States of America by the Holy Cross Theological Seminary, St Raphael School, and [...]

Hieromonk Nikodimos Kalligiannakis Born Emmanuel Kalligiannakis in 1926 in Krousonas, Heraklion, Crete, he worked in the family vineyards and olive groves by day and studied the Synaxarion by night. From a young age, he loved attending the church services and was never absent. Farewelling his family, he left for the monastery of Saint Anthony at Vrontisi, where he was tonsured a monk with the name Nikodimos. He eventually settled at the Monastery of Koudouma and was ordained deacon and priest. Later, he was also made a confessor and spiritual father and served as abbot for two years. He confessed many, [...]

STAND WELL   One of the many wonderful parts of the Orthodox Church is the celebration of the Holy Saints. On October 26 we commemorate the life of the Great Martyr Saint Demetrios, the Myrrh-gusher. Many of the Saints, such as Saint Demetrios, stood firm in their faith during great tribulations. His life has much to teach us. St Demetrios was born in 270AD in Thessaloniki, which was under Roman jurisdiction, and came from a noble family. His parents were secret Christians, and he was baptised and raised in the Christian faith. When Saint Demetrios’ father passed away, the Emperor [...]