This coming Sunday, we read Hebrews 9:11-14, which speaks about how Jesus our Lord has cleansed our consciences. We understand these verses with the help of St. John Chrysostom, Leviticus 16, and Jeremiah 31:33.

This week we read Acts 6:1-7, the story of the selection of the first deacons, in light of Ephesians 4:10-13, Exodus 18:19-21, Numbers 17 and Deuteronomy 34:9. We rejoice in the wonder of how authority works in the Church, with every member given the Holy Spirit, while we offer our leaders special honor as they help us on the road to full maturity in Christ.

This week we consider our reading from Acts 20: 16-18; 28-36, filling in the ten missing verses, and concentrating on the extra “beatitude” from Jesus that we learn from St. Paul as he speaks to the Ephesian elders. We are especially helped by thinking about the journey of Abraham, and what he both received and gave, blessed by God, and becoming a blessing to others.

Hebrews 11:33-12:2 presents us both with heroes who “succeeded” by outward appearances, and those who met affliction. We look to Exodus, Deuteronomy, Psalm 119, and especially Job to help us see how God makes many promises to His people, but crowns these with the gift of Himself, both in Jesus Christ, and in the promised Holy Spirit. It is this great gift that the ancient righteous anticipated, and that we have joyfully celebrated with them this week.

This week we tackle the paradox of service and freedom, and the fruit that comes from service to God, as seen in Romans 6:18-23 and Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2. We are helped in understanding this through the words of Saints Augustine and Chrysostom, and by reading Genesis 22 and Leviticus 26:12-18.

We consider how honoring one another can lead us, in a positive way, to heartfelt humility and maturity in Christ. We are helped by the epistle readings for this Sunday (Titus 3:8-15; Romans 12:6-14), as they are illumined by Numbers 12:3, Isaiah 66:2, and Proverbs 25:27.

We consider the quality of deep unity commended to us in 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, illumining that teaching by reference to the unity fostered by King Hezekiah as God’s people repented and resumed celebrating the Passover during his faithful reform (2 Chronicles 30).

We examine St. Paul’s poignant picture of the apostles (1 Cor 4:9-16) as the “refuse of the world,” noticing that even the OT is ambivalent towards outward success, considering the problem of calling something “father,” and focusing upon the utter humility of Jesus, who St. Paul sought to follow.

This week we consider Paul’s spirited words in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, seeking to understand the importance of Holy Tradition, the apostles who saw Jesus, the crucifixion, and the resurrection, in the light of Daniel 12, Genesis 49, Exodus 1, and Ezekiel 47-48.

This week we hear the apostle Paul’s vulnerable plea to his congregation, and are reminded to pray and encourage our pastors (bishops, priests, deacons) as they work together with Christ, taking on his suffering for our sake, that we might be effective ministers in the world. (2 Cor 6:1-11; Psalm 68/69; Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

St. Paul emphasizes the divine origin of the gospel without downplaying the importance of his fellow apostles. We understand this difficult passage in Galatians by looking at the entire letter, by remembering the apostolic witness to the Resurrection in 1 Cor 15, and by comparing the ministry of the apostle with that of the prophet Jeremiah. (Gal 1:11-19; 1 Cor 15; various passages from Jeremiah)

After completing our analysis on the troparia, kontakia, and theotokia, we turn to reading the epistles for Divine Liturgy, beginning with this week’s section from 2 Timothy. The Apostle Paul’s words to this young leader are applicable to everyone, not simply to those who lead the Church, since the Scriptures, Old and New Testament, are for all. We seek to understand the Apostle’s instructions by reference to Psalm 118 (MT 119), and by remembering those who have suffered for their faithfulness—most especially our Lord Jesus himself.

46. Book 1: It's Sunday Shall We Go to Church? By Elias Liamis and Penelope Moraitou (Akritas Publications, 2007). Available from St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite Publication Society, 240 Diamond St. Northampton, PA 18067. Fax: 610-440-0995. Book 2: Wise Man Artabanes and His Gifts to Christ the Saviour, by Gregorye S. Petrov (The Publishing House of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral).

Fr. Ted gives the Sunday of Forgiveness a new name: the Sunday of Miracles.

Fr. Ted explains that there is a huge difference between being popular and being the Son of God.

Fr. Ted explains that, because we are hypocrites, we are in danger of losing God's grace.

Sunday school should just be about reinforcing what is taught in the Divine Litrgy and not a replacement of it.

Too often we seek to bend the Church to our own will instead of bending our will to meet that of God.

Fr. Ted asks, "What happens when are neither the Publican or the Pharisee?" The Triodion calls us back to the roots of our faith to engage fully in the life of Christ's Church.

Fr. Ted calls us to become like the Father who was ready and willing to welcome those who return to the life of the Church, rather than the big brother who was judgmental towards his returning brother.

Fr. Ted challenges us to take seriously the coming Judgment by Christ which will reveal what we have chosen in this life.

Fr. Ted calls us to do battle with the Enemy in the arena within during Great Lent.

Fr. Ted calls us to take up our Cross during Lent by intensifying our efforts to grow more deeply in the image of Christ.

Fr. Ted speaks to us of the wall of faith that cannot be destroyed.

Fr. Ted reflects upon the power of prayer to protect our heart or nous at the center of our being from the passions and influences of the world.

Fr. Ted continues his reflections upon a Lenten hymn and how it applies to the call to show mercy to others during our journey through Great Lent.

Fr. Ted calls us to put to use one of the most powerful tools that we have in fighting the passions—fasting!

Fr. Ted calls us to daily live our faith in the resurrected Christ without fear!

Fr. Ted encourages us to consider the story of the paralytic who had no one to help. How are we living our Orthodox faith in a way that personally serves those in need?

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos explains the importance of Godparents in the life of the Orthodox Christian.

On Sunday, March 5, 2017, Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, was guest homilist during the Great Vespers service celebrating the Sunday of Orthodoxy, at Holy Ghost Russian Orthodox Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut—whose rector is Archpriest Steven J. Belonick, seminary alumnus (M.Div. ’77). The parish hosted the event, which was sponsored by the New England Clergy Association.

As we begin our Lenten journey, Fr. Evan Armatas shares some thoughts on Forgiveness Sunday and takes calls and questions from the audience on a variety of topics.

Phones were very active as Fr. Evan Armatas answered questions from Australia, from inquirers, from skeptics, and more. You don't want to miss this one.

Listen to excerpts from this past Sunday's bulletin at St. John the Compassionate Mission, serving the most vulnerable in Toronto.

Listen to reflections about encountering Christ in the midst of pain, from St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Today's episode addresses spiritual warfare, demon dishwashers, Palm Sunday as a fish, wine and oil day and the wisdom of Fr. Alexander Schmemann.

Where would you find yourself on that day when our Lord road into town on the seat of a foal?

Fr. Apostolos shares about myrrh in the Old Testament, New Testament, and today. "We must become emblems of hope as we bear that sacred myrrh, that oil of healing to a broken world."

Sunday of Zacchaeus

Beginning of the Lenten Triodion

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Sunday before the Beginning of the Great Fast

Third Sunday of the Great Fast

Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem

In the gospel reading for the second Sunday of Great Lent, Christ heals a man of debilitating paralysis. But Fr Tom reminds us that Jesus reveals something even more important, that He forgives sins as the eternal Son of God. (Second Sunday of Great Lent - Healing of the Paralytic)

On the Third Sunday of the Great Fast, the Church places the precious cross of our Lord in the midst of the temple for our veneration and contemplation. Fr Tom reminds us that the scriptures present the cross as a sign both of comfort and of judgment, encouraging us to fulfill the Lenten effort to take up our cross and follow Christ. (Veneration of the Precious Cross)

On the Sunday after Pentecost, we commemorate all of the men and women who attained holiness through obedience to the commandments of Christ. Fr Tom reminds us that it is within our free choice to love God above all and to follow His will for our lives. (First Sunday after Pentecost)

Before we enter into the Passion Week, the Holy Church gives us the festal celebration of our Lord's Entrance into Jerusalem. Fr Tom reminds us that, like Christ, we are to remain faithful and joyful on the way to, or in the midst of, the various crosses that we might face in our life.

On the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, Fr Thomas reminds us that every Sunday, the Lord's Day, is set apart for us to sacrificially offer our time to worship the Risen Christ.