St Nectarios on Christology St Nectarios, the much beloved saint of the 20th century, is remembered as a great example of Christian love, sacrifice and long-suffering. However, one aspect of his legacy that is often overlooked is his significant theological work. St Nectarios was a very learned man and through his writings in modern Greek, he made the Apostolic and Patristic theological traditions of Orthodox Christianity approachable to the wider public of the Greek nation. In his extensive writings on Christology, St Nectarios examines the coming and the person of the Saviour and Messiah, Jesus Christ. Using a similar style [...]

St John of Kronstadt Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple In his homily on the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos (November 21), St John of Kronstadt (1828-1908) asks “How did the most blessed Virgin spend her time in the Temple?” He notes just four things, and pleads with us to imitate the Theotokos in these, adding that the Church is the “school of faith and piety” which we too, like her, must make the centre of our life. First he states that she spent her time learning how to pray directly by the Holy Spirit, showing us [...]

St Gregory Palamas Homily 37 - the Dormition of the Theotokos Every Saint in the Orthodox Christian Church has a personal relationship with the Theotokos. This is especially the case for St Gregory Palamas, who was also granted to see her in his earthly life. St Gregory always evoked the Theotokos as intercessor in his prayers. He expressed in the opening of his homily that “… there is nothing dearer or more necessary for me to expound with due honour in Church the wonders of the ever-virgin Mother of God”. Thus, St Gregory exclaims,“What words can describe your divinely-radiant beauty, [...]

St Gregory the Theologian – 31st Oration – “On the Holy Spirit” St Gregory the Theologian was one of the pre-eminent defenders of the Orthodox dogma of the Holy Spirit at a time when various heretical groups were attacking the Church. One group were called Pneumatomachoi i.e. fighters against the Holy Spirit. In this oration, St Gregory forcefully insists on the divinity of the Holy Trinity: “As to the Spirit, listen well; we profess the Spirit as God. I repeat: You are my God. And, for the third time, I shout: the Spirit is God”. One of the main heretical [...]

St Athanasios – On the Incarnation The fifth chapter of St Athanasios' On the Incarnation is titled 'The Resurrection'. For St Athanasios, the Resurrection of Christ is the ultimate purpose of Christ's incarnation (God becoming man). Without the Resurrection, Christ's coming would have been meaningless. The plan of salvation could not have been realised if Christ had died without later raising Himself from that death. The Resurrection crucially puts an end to death. And we can all exclaim "O Death, where is your victory? O Grave, where is your sting? (1 Cor 15:55). It is because Christ made death ineffective [...]