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Service of Matins for Christmas Day   Ὀρθρος των Χριστουγέννων «Ὁ ἀχώρητος παντί, πῶς ἐχωρήθη ἐν γαστρὶ; ὁ ἐν κόλποις τοῦ Πατρός, πῶς ἐν ἀγκάλαις τῆς Μητρός; πάντως ὡς οἶδεν ὡς ἠθέλησε καὶ ὡς ηὐδόκησεν· ἄσαρκος γὰρ ὢν, ἐσαρκώθη ἑκών· καὶ γέγονεν ὁ Ὢν ὃ οὐκ ἦν δι' ἡμᾶς· καὶ μὴ ἐκστὰς τῆς φύσεως, μετέσχε τοῦ ἡμετέρου φυράματος. Διπλοῦς ἐτέχθη, Χριστὸς τὸν ἄνω, κόσμον θέλων ἀναπληρῶσαι» (Κάθισµα Γʹ. Ἦχος δʹ). “How is he contained in a womb, whom nothing can contain? How held in his Mother’s arms, he who is in the Father’s bosom? This is all as he knows, [...]

Abraham and Melchizedek In Genesis 14 we read the story of how Abraham warred against the King of Sodom to rescue Lot. After his success, Abraham met a mysterious man named Melchizedek, King of Salem, who is described as a “priest of God Most High” (Gen 14:18). Melchizedek's name and title respectively translate as “King of Righteousness” and “King of Peace.” Melchizedek then blessed Abraham and, in turn, Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe. This event is remarkable. Abraham was the father of the Jews and God had directly made a covenant with him, yet he made an offering to Melchizedek. [...]

St Nicholas the Wonderworker In the old days (ie. Old Testament), the incorporeal and infinite God was never depicted. Now, however, when God has been seen clothed in flesh, and talking with mortals, I make an image of the God whom I see. I do not worship matter, I worship the God of matter, who became matter for my sake, and deigned to inhabit matter, who worked out my salvation through matter. It is fitting that we remember St John of Damascus on December 4, three weeks before the Incarnation of our Lord. St John, the defender of icons during [...]

Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica Elder Thaddeus (Strabulovich) of Vitovnica was one of the greatest modern Serbian elders. He was born in 1914 in Vitovnica in Serbia to working class parents, and was named Tomislav. At the age of 15 he was told by doctors that he only had five years to live. He joined the monastery of Milkovo in Serbia where he became a novice under the guidance of Russian monks who had fled there due to persecution. Among the Russians at Milkovo was Elder Ambrose, a disciple of the Optina Fathers. It was from him that Fr Thaddeus learned [...]

St John Chrysostom: And the Word was made Flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14) In commencing Homily 11 on the Gospel of St John the laity are first exhorted by St John Chrysostom to study the Scriptures. Then he turns his attention to explain the phrase: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” He explains that the Word becoming flesh is an “ineffable honour” – transforming humanity. The condescension of Christ, the Master, in taking on the form of his servants allowed humanity to be elevated from “disgrace and darkness, to glory unspeakable”, without diminishing the glory [...]