Paschal Homily of St John Chrysostom In older parish practice, it was customary for this homily to be read out at the end of the Matins Service (Orthros) of Easter Sunday as an introduction to the Paschal Liturgy. The first three lines of the Homily reveals why: “If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival. If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord. If anyone has wearied himself in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.” The Paschal Liturgy itself is where we [...]

'On Prayer' is the 28th chapter of St John Climacus' 'Ladder of Divine Ascent', a treatise comprised of 30 chapters (steps) concerning the spiritual life. St John urges his readers to "pray in all simplicity" and to forget over-complicated words in prayer. The "simple and unadorned lisping" of children is enough to win the heart of the Lord. St John reminds us that the tax collector and the prodigal son both received forgiveness by a single phrase. Our prayer should therefore contain more heart than intellect. The reader is warned that our minds can be distracted in searching for words. [...]

Saint John of Damascus December 4 Homily on the Holy Cross Listen to the Saint's life in English: Listen to the Saint's life in Greek: Related links: Constantine Cavarnos, Saint John Damascene (Orthodox Bookstore) Brian E. Daley, On the Dormition Of Mary: Early Patristic Homilies (Orthodox Bookstore) St. John of Damascus, Three Treatises on the Divine Images (Orthodox Bookstore) John Reading, St John of Damascus On the Divine Images (Orthodox Bookstore) The Life of Saint John of Damascus (Mystagogy) Homilies of St John of Damascus (english translations, newadvent.org) Homilies of [...]

John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople November 13 Saint John Chrysostom is one of the Three Hierarchs, born in Antioch and fatherless from a young age. His mother, Saint Anthousa, saw to the raising of her son in a pious manner. Saint John studied under the finest philosophers and rhetoricians, but found no joy in these vain pursuits, and thus turned to the study of the Holy Scriptures. After the death of his mother, Saint John pursued monasticism, which he called the “true philosophy”. Having been elected as a candidate for bishop, the holy one withdrew to the [...]

Saint John the Merciful November 12 Saint John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria was born in Cyprus to an illustrious family where he married and had children. After some years, his wife and children died, and so the widower became a monk, zealous in fasting, prayer, and charity. His immense virtue was soon seen by all men, including the emperor, who elevated him to Patriarch of Alexandria as soon as the see became vacant. In this position, Saint John focused on correcting heretical teachings and driving out heretics from Alexandria. As his chief task however, the saint was [...]