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St Epiphanius - On the Lord’s Descent into Hades Christ’s descent into Hades, although only mentioned briefly in the New Testament, is confirmed as a mystery of cosmic significance by the hymnology and iconography of the early Church. This event is narrated most magnificently by Saint Epiphanius of Salamis in his famous Holy Saturday homily: “Whither does He go? What is the means, what is the intent of His descent into Hades?” St Epiphanius explains that Christ goes to Hades with the intention of seeking out and liberating his lost sheep Adam and Eve. He then continues: “But hurry, let [...]

Elder Markellos of Karakallou (1939 - 2006) Very little is known of Elder Markellos’ early years. He was born in 1939 in Pteleos in Thessaly, south of Volos. He was a teacher, but left this to chase monasticism. He became a disciple of Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, who later went to Arizona. It was these monks from Philotheou who repopulated Karakallou in 1981 after the brotherhood was down to four monks (there are now over fifty). In all stages of his earthly life, both as a layman and as a monk, he possessed purity, simplicity, modesty, wisdom and sincere love [...]

Let God arise and His enemies be scattered - Psalm 67 (68) This Psalm as a whole is a foretelling of the Resurrection, and no verse conveys this more than the first verse: “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him”. This verse is recited before the chanting of “Christ is Risen” at the midnight Easter service, highlighting how this verse is to be seen within the Orthodox tradition. It is, however, worthwhile to examine this Psalm’s context in order to better understand both it and the Resurrection. The first use [...]

Glory Hymn of Matins of Holy Tuesday Ἰδού σοι τὸ τάλαντον ὁ Δεσπότης ἐμπιστεύει ψυχή μου· φόβῳ δέξαι τὸ χάρισμα, δάνεισαι τῷ δεδωκότι, διάδος πτωχοῖς, καὶ κτῆσαι φίλον τὸν Κύριον· ἵνα στῇς ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν δόξῃ, καὶ ἀκούσῃς μακαρίας φωνῆς· Εἴσελθε, δοῦλε, εἰς τὴν χαρὰν τοῦ Κυρίου σου. Αὐτῆς ἀξίωσόν με, Σωτήρ, τὸν πλανηθέντα, διὰ τὸ μέγα σου ἔλεος. Behold, my soul, how the Master has entrusted the talent to you. With fear accept the gift of God. Borrow it from the One who gave it; distribute to the poor, and earn the Lord’s friendship; so that [...]

Ascetics in the World - Volume 1 English Translation by Fr. Nicholas Palis Published by Saint Nicodemos Publications Asceticism involves self-denial. It means to struggle against physical and spiritual temptations in order to grow closer to God. We often think of the ascetics as hermits and as monastics, living alone in deserts and caves and as people who achieved sainthood because of their great struggles. However, Ascetics in the World shows us the lives of mothers and fathers, priests and workers who lived in the world, yet were able to grow so close to God through their daily sacrifices that [...]