Newly-Canonised St Paisios of Mount Athos (Celebrated July 12) On 13 January 2015, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate “unanimously accepted the proposal of the Canonical Committee to incorporate the monk Paisios of Mt. Athos into the registry of the Saints of the Orthodox Church.”[i] St Paisios’ humble and Grace-filled life and practical and pastoral teachings, known through the famous biography written by Hieromonk Isaac[ii], the five volume set of St Paisios’ Spiritual Counsels[iii] and those who personally met him, continue to touch the lives of many thousands of Orthodox faithful around the world. Fr. Peter Alban [...]

Cherubic Hymn - Holy Liturgy of Holy Saturday morning This ancient, alternate Cherubic Hymn is believed to have originated from the Church of Jerusalem. It is also chanted during the Liturgy of St James (Αγ. Ιακώβου). It bears some similarities to the usual Cherubic Hymn in its exhortation to abandon any earthly thought as Christ is presented to us as "divine food" ("now lay aside all earthly care" the Cherubic Hymn) and the mention of the angelic hierarchies. Silence is a necessary prerequisite to contemplate what is about to take place not only in the Liturgy but also in preparation [...]

Monastic Wisdom: The Letters of Elder Joseph the Hesychast Published by St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery, Arizona, 1998 Monastic Wisdom is a compilation of letters written by Elder Joseph the Hesychast to his spiritual children. Elder Joseph (1897-1959) was a spiritual father to many, and through his spiritual children, helped to revitalise spiritual life in many monasteries on Mount Athos. One such spiritual child, Elder Ephraim, former Abbot of Philotheou, and the founder of St Anthony’s Monastery in Arizona where this book was published, writes in the foreword: “We know that monastics will benefit from the Elder’s letters. We also [...]

Practical Teaching on the Christian Life by Abba Dorotheos Published by Athens University, 2002. The book, Practical Teaching on the Christian Life by Abba Dorotheos details the life and wisdom of this grace-filled desert Father. Abba Dorotheos lived in Gaza Palestine during the 6th century. He denied himself many worldly pleasures out of his greater love for Christ, and became a magnet for those who sought guidance on how to improve their spiritual life. Seventeen of his practical teachings have been published in this book. Of paramount importance to the Abba was the need for humility, for no other virtue [...]