Bread & Water, Wine & Oil: An Orthodox Christian Experience Of God By Archimandrite Meletios Webber Published by Conciliar Press, 2003. In this book we are taken on a fascinating journey into the workings of the mind, the source of the “logismi”, and how it creates an awareness of a shallow self – our ego. Because of the Fall, this sense of self has been broken - we are told how this happened in the beginning as well as how it continues to play out today. Although necessary, the mind usually functions involuntarily and takes control of our lives. On [...]

It is said that icons are a pictorial representation of Scripture, where iconographers utilise not only geometry and colour, but also symbolism, theology and perspective. This is true for the icon of the Nativity of Christ where the mystery of the Incarnation, which was hidden from before time, is now revealed to all through its contemplation. Isaiah states that “the ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not consider” (Isaiah 1:3). Here the least intelligent of domesticated animals show wise instinct to recognise the Saviour, whereas Israel did not [...]

Elder Iakovos and the Night of Pascha When Elder Iakovos of Evia (1920-1991) was serving in the army before he became a monk, he was granted permission to take all of Holy Week and Pascha off. But during the week, he noticed one of his fellow soldiers was very depressed. And he asked him, “Why are you so sad, Mr George?” “Papa-Iakove, you with your religiosity, managed to convince the commander to give you the entire week off. You will be fine with your chanting, your monk practices, but how about me?  I also want to go to my village [...]

Is my personal holiness enough for salvation? We speak a lot about the spiritual struggle. We say that we need to be close to Christ; be one with Him. We need to pray, to participate in the Sacraments of the Church, to fast, to fight against the passions, to cultivate virtue. However, if we become too introspective with our spiritual life, we lose perspective and thus lose sight of the purpose of our spiritual life. Unfortunately many people practice Christianity in a very personalised and self-centred way. They end up feeling very privileged and entitled in the eyes of God, [...]

The Three Holy Hierarchs Celebrated on January 30   Saints Basil the Great (c.330-379), Gregory the Theologian (329-c.390) and John Chrysostom (c.349-407) each had devoted followers during the 11th century who sought to declare one Saint superior to the other two. Some spoke of Saint Basil, who explained the mysteries so well, as superior to Saint John Chrysostom, who was inclined to absolve sinners. Supporters of Saint John pointed to his homilies as the most accomplished interpretation of the Divine Word. Others declared Saint Gregory the Theologian as preferred of the three for his purity and grace in explaining the [...]