What’s new?

The Great and Miraculous Power of Repentance Published by Orthodox Kypseli   The greatest miracle is this; A proud man to become humble. An unrighteous to become righteous… A man of vice to become a man of virtue. This transformation is of course achieved through the great and miraculous power of repentance. This short book contains a collection of the sayings of the Holy Fathers with an emphasis on sayings and examples relating to salvation which springs from the repentant way of life. Examples include such Fathers as St John Chrysostom who says, “The one who repents does not repeat [...]

Palm Sunday Crosses (Βάγια)   When our Lord entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, sitting on the colt of a donkey, he was greeted with crowds waving palm leaves. They welcomed Him as the Messiah who would liberate Israel from the tyranny of the Romans. He had resurrected Lazarus from the tomb after four days, He had performed countless miracles, His fame had spread and the people came out to greet Him. “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!” Hence the use of the palm branch which was considered a symbol of triumph and victory! Jesus [...]

Saint Ephraim the Syrian — “Death Slew and was Slain”   In his sermon “On Our Lord”, the masterful poet and orator St Ephraim the Syrian portrays with all his customary eloquence the theological significance of the death and Resurrection of our Lord. The Saint commences by confirming that our Lord did in fact die: “[death] trampled our Lord underfoot”. However, this trampling was in no way a defeat, for Christ “in turn treated death as a high road for His own feet”. In other words, Christ’s death was not an unintended consequence of His coming. There was a mission [...]

8th Ode of the Katavasiae of Pascha   Αὕτη ἡ κλητὴ καὶ ἁγία ἡμέρα, ἡ μία τῶν Σαββάτων, ἡ βασιλὶς καὶ κυρία, ἑορτῶν ἑορτή, καὶ πανήγυρις ἐστὶ πανηγύρεων, ἐν ᾗ εὐλογοῦμεν, Χριστὸν εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. This chosen and holy day is the first of Sabbaths, the Queen and Lady, the Feast of Feasts and the Festival of Festivals on which we bless Christ to all the ages.   This hymn is the 8th Ode of the Katavasiae of Easter, chanted for the first time in the Church Calendar during the Matins service of Easter Sunday and then for the following [...]