Christ said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” No one else would have looked at Photini and seen a future saint who would shine with the light of holiness.

Fr. John discusses the design, history, and importance of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Fr. John reflects on the Resurrection and the importance of Christ's death.

Remembering the apostles, we consider Jesus’ words from Matt 9:13 concerning God’s mercy, and the Resurrection hymns in the fourth tone, in the light of 1 Cor 1:26-31, Hosea 6:6-7, Genesis 3:1-5, and Wisdom 2:23-24.

What is meant by the phrase “He was not tempted by Hades”, and is it the case that Jesus appeared first to the Theotokos? We look to the Scriptural teaching on the despoiling of Hades, to the cultural associations of Hades in the Greek and Roman mind, and to the prophet Isaiah for help in understanding the joy of Holy Saturday’s conquest.

We are helped to reflect upon that mysterious tour of Christ (from the heavens, to the grave, and back to glory) described in the Tone 8’s Resurrectional Hymns by looking to Psalm 67/68:17-19, Ephesians 4:7-11, John 20:19-31, and 1 Corinthians 3:9-17.

We consider the astonishing resurrectional hymns in the second tone, and understand their dramatic language in the light of the book of Job, the prophecy of Isaiah, and the Transfiguration narratives.

Dr. Edith M. Humphrey returns after nearly a year to resume her blog and podcast on how the Old Testament illumines our reading of the New Testament and our worship. This week we consider the resurrectional hymns in the first tone (used the second Sunday after Pentecost), in the light of the OT, especially the prophet Hosea.

This week we meditate upon the resurrectional hymns in tone three, rejoicing in our solidarity with the righteous of the Old Testament. God’s ancient people saw His mighty arm outstretched for them, understood themselves to be the first-born of the LORD, and were vouchsafed glimpses of the great release from Hades. We look especially to Deuteronomy, Isaiah and Wisdom for these insights.

This week’s troparion (apolytikion) and kontakion in tone five range from the foundational to the ineffable, as they focus on the nature of the God-Man. We are helped in understanding them by considering Psalm 117 LXX (118 Hebrew) and the consequences of the fall in Genesis 3.

This week we understand the depths of Christ’s demolition of death, and the great reversal, in the light of Ezekiel 7, Jeremiah 7, and Psalm 125 (MT 126).

This week’s Divine Liturgy for the Forerunner is accompanied by a simple yet profound thetokion, which we mine for treasure by reference to Psalm 44/45, the Psalter, Song of Solomon, and other helpful passages from the Old Testament.

The resurrectional-dismissal Theotokion in tone four is replete with theological mystery, and itself calls attention to the Mystery of mysteries—the God-Man who died for our sake. We look to the entire sweep of the Old Testament, as well as the epistles, to clarify its words.

This week we consider an unusual Theotokion that addresses our Lord instead of holy Mary. We plumb its theological riches by means of revisiting Genesis 1-2; Hosea 8-13, and Daniel 13, as well as the Christ-hymn of Colossians 1:15-20.

This joyful and profound hymn is understood more fully by contrasting Mary’s “yes” to Eve’s rebellion, by seeing the Incarnation as the beginning of the new creation, and by seeing the parallel between David’s joyful procession with the Ark to Bethlehem, and the Holy Virgin carrying our Lord into that same city for our salvation. (Genesis 1-3, 1 Chronicles 16:8-36, Genesis 22:18)

This week we consider a deceptively simple hymn to holy Mary, reading it in the light of Daniel, the Psalms, Proverbs, and Isaiah. We see her place in salvation history, and how she shows in her person our own living hope.

On Jan 18, we sing the dismissal Theotokion in tone 5. Its deep theology may be unpacked by reference especially to the prophet Ezekiel and Psalm 130/131, as well as by the book of Revelation and some of the fathers of the Church.

With this podcast, we complete our study of the eight resurrectional-dismissal hymns for the Theotokos, reading the Theotokion that we will sing for the feast of St. Gregory the Theologian on January 25th. We are helped in understanding this lyrical hymn by several passages in the NT, but also by returning to Genesis, Deuteronomy, Hosea, and Psalm 138/139. Here we see the wonder of the God who seeks and finds, and calls all of the cosmos to rejoice as He shows His glory.

"The Resurrection of the Lord," from Feasts of Christ and the Theotokos and Miracles of the Lord by Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)

Fr. Ted reminds us that partaking of the Eucharist is the true climax of Pascha.

In this episode, Kevin and Father Steven C. Kostoff discuss two views of the afterlife that separate the New Age/Eastern/Gnostic from the central historic Christian belief.

Pd. Nicolás predicó sobre una vida sin miedo, una vida que el miedo no te controla. Vamos a dominar nuestros temores y entrar el camino con Cristo. Juan 12:1-18 Fr. Nicholas preached about a life without fears, a life that is not controlled by anxiety. Let us dominate our apprehensions and enter into the path with Christ. John 12:1-18

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre el poder de la resurrección para guiarnos en una vida de rectitud. No debes robar. (Hechos 5:1-11) Fr. Nicholas preached about the power of the resurrection which guides in the life of rectitude. One should not steal. (Acts 5:1-11)

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre la Resurrección y la verdad en esto hecho. Cristo ha resucitado y nosotros vamos a rechazar las mentiras del mundo y quedaremos en el gozo de Señor. (1 Juan 1:1-7) Fr. Nicholas preached about the Resurrection and the truth in this act. Christ has risen and we reject the lies of the world and remain in the joy of the Lord. (1 John 1:1-7)

Christ is risen! The foundational truth of our Orthodox theology. So, how do we practice that theology in everyday life? Moly Sabourin has a few thoughts for us to consider.

Father Nicolai reflects on recent hopeful learnings in the community.

A discussion of Saturday's gospel leads community members to search for Resurrection.

St Thomas Sunday - Second Sunday of Pascha

On the feast of feasts we celebrate the glorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fr Tom reminds us that our joy on this uniquely singular day also comes from the hope that God Who began this marvellous work in His Son will also complete it in us. (The Holy Pascha)

On the eighth day after Pascha, we remember the appearance of the resurrected Christ to St Thomas and the apostles. Fr Tom reminds us that, as Orthodox Christians, we live in expectant hope of our own resurrection to eternal life, Christ Himself being the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep, the first-born of the dead.

Christ appeared to his apostles, and Thomas, eight days after his Holy Resurrection. Fr Thomas teaches us that we learn of the mystery of the Resurrection, the mystery of the Church, and the mystery of Faith, all in a single life-changing encounter.

The Gospel reading for the fifth Sunday of Lent relates the story of the audacious question posed by the apostles James and John, who asked for glorification without first drinking the cup of humiliation. Fr Thomas reminds us that this basic principle of the Christian life proves true even for seemingly mundane things that we might mistakenly think are unimportant, like going to church to worship.

The story of the Myrrh-Bearing Women should serve as a reminder to us that the resurrection demands action on our part, including a bold proclamation of the truth.

Fr Thomas explains the mysterious nature of the resurrection of Christ which transcends the limited nature of our current three-dimensional human experience. (John 20:19-31) St Thomas Sunday, April 23, 2023.

Fr Thomas teaches us to be on guard against the secular trend of cremating the dead and why Orthodox Christians are buried in light of the Resurrection. (1 Cor 15:1-11; Mt 19:16-26) Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Fr. Gregory encourages us to live the joy of the resurrection all year round.

Fr. Gregory at the Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday.

Fr. Dn. Emmanuel Kahn gives the sermon on Great and Holy Saturday.

Fr. Gregory Hallam gives the sermon for Lazarus Saturday.

In this week’s broadcast, Fr. Irenei examines a text by St. Cyril of Jerusalem, which prompts the Christian to ask the question, "Do I truly believe in Christ’s resurrection?" If so, how does this belief shape the actual decisions and determinations of our lives?

Fr. Pat discusses three points related to the account of the seamstress who was resurrected in the book of Acts: the fall, the resurrection, and integration.

The Christian faith is based on an event that took place in a specific place at a specific time in history; God instructs us through history, and we are to be learners. Fr. Pat gave this homily on Christmas Eve several years ago.

Throughout the Paschal season, the Church reads from the Acts of the Apostles, a history book, in place of the Epistles during the Divine Liturgy. In this homily for Pascha, Fr. Pat asks, "What does the resurrection of Christ mean to human history?" (7:57)