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Homily of Saint Gregory Palamas
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by Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko)
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St. Ambrose, elder of Optina offered to those who came to him with various sorrows and trials a special, brief prayer rule that is possible for any Christian to read.
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The Orthodox teaching on Angels
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On Tuesday of St. Thomas week we remember those Orthodox Christians from all ages who have died in faith, and in the hope of resurrection.
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Thomas asked for assurances not because he did not believe, but because he desired an untroubled faith
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Homily for Saint Thomas Sunday by St. John of Kronstadt
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A Homily by St. John Chrysostom
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The feast day of the Life-Giving Spring is commemorated on Bright Friday of each year.
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If any man be devout and loveth God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast! If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord.
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Paschal Message of His Holiness KIRILL Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
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Paschal Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
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"Then He came down from the heavens and made His dwelling in the womb of the Virgin; now He has stolen human nature from the treasury of hell, raised it to heaven, and brought incorruption—man’s ancient inheritance."
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Going down to death, O Life immortal, Thou hast slain hell with the dazzling light of Thy divinity.
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On this day we celebrate the awesome, holy, and saving Passion of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ
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Theophanes the Cretan was a leading icon painter of the Cretan school in the first half of the sixteenth century, and in particular the most important figure in Greek fresco-painting of the period.
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During Holy Week the Church remembers the final days of the Savior’s earthly life
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A Homily on Great Thursday by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)
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On the day of the feast of unleavened bread, when according to the Law of the Old Testament a lamb was to be slaughtered and eaten, the hour was come that the Savior should depart out of this world unto the Father
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Judas stretched forth his hand to the lawless. She sought the remission of her sins, while he took the pieces of silver. The harlot brought myrrh to anoint the Lord; the disciple made an agreement with the lawless. She rejoiced when she spent the precious myrrh; he set out to sell Him who has no price. She recognized her Master, while he departed from his Master. She was freed from sin, but he became the captive of sin.
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Recorded 2010. Great Compline, Matins, 1st hour. Chorus Sretensky Theological Seminary
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We commemorate the parable of the ten virgins, because the Lord related this parable to His disciples as He was going toward Jerusalem to His Holy Passion.
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For 58 years the blessed monk Fr. Mitrophanes (+ 1997) was protector of the All-Holy Tomb of Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is the first in a series of posts about this blessed Elder's counsels and experiences by one of his spiritual children.
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On Holy and Great Monday we commemorate the blessed Joseph the All-comely and also the withered fig tree. Inasmuch as the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ has its beginning on this day, and as Joseph is regarded as an image of Christ from former times, he is thus set forth here.
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From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. John (John 12:1-18)
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Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion; proclaim it aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, the King is coming to thee, just, and a Savior; he is meek and riding on an ass, and a young foal (Zach. 9:9).
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"Having fulfilled Forty Days... we ask to see the Holy Week of Thy Passion." With these words sung at Vespers of Friday, Lent comes to its end and we enter into the annual commemoration of Christ's suffering, death and Resurrection. It begins on the Saturday of Lazarus. The double feast of Lazarus' resurrection and the Entrance of the Lord to Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) is described in liturgical texts as the "beginning of the Cross" and is to be understood therefore, within the context of the Holy Week.
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God has now wrought a work that is completely new, which never was in past ages, and never will be in the future. It is the work wrought in the Annunciation of Mary, full of grace, the Virgin and Mother, but Mother of God. The manifold miracle, the exceedingly great action of God's omnipotence, a most exalted mystery of our Orthodox faith.
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Beloved brethren! We have reached the haven of the holy fast. Let us now set aside special time for an especially attentive, detailed review of ourselves. The gates of repentance have now opened wider to us.
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On Wednesday evening a very special service is celebrated in Orthodox churches—the Great Canon with the Life of St. Mary of Egypt. This is the only time in the year when the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, which was read in four parts during the first week of Great Lent, is read in its entirety, along with the canon to St. Mary of Egypt. This canon contains every motivation toward fasting and repentance, and the Church repeats it in the fifth week in its entirety in order to inspire us with renewed strength to finish the course of the fast. The Life of St. Mary of Egypt is also read to that end—to motivate us to be attentive and repent.
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