By Metropolitan Philaret of Eastern American and New York (+1985)

A Talk with Priest Alexei Tverdov

Englishman Archimandrite Nicholas (Gibbes) (1876 – 1963) was a tutor to the children of the martyred Tsar Nicholas II.

The St. Prince Vladimir Youth Association will hold a symposium, titled "Orthodox Identity in America," May 30-June 1 at St. Mary of Egypt Church

Orthodox in western Ukraine spend night in church to prevent seizure by godless schismatics

by St. Gregory Palamas

He was an excellent teacher and a brilliant lecturer. Students listened to him with bated breath and with admiration.

Igumen Nikon (Vorobiev) (+1963)

Why Has the Western Rite Not Been Widely Adopted in the Orthodox West?

"Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation..."

Sermon of the Holy Confessor Arseny (Stadnitsky), Metropolitan of Novgorod and Starorussk, February 15, 1918

Luke 15:11-32
From the Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke by Blessed Theophylact

by St John of Kronstadt

St. Innocent of Kherson

The fortieth day after His birth, the All-Holy Virgin brought her Divine Son into the Temple of Jerusalem, in accordance with the Law

St. Basil the Great

The New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia were Orthodox Faithful who suffered during the Soviet period (1917 to 1991) for their faith.

St. Cyril of Alexandria

The Byzantine-Sassanian War of 602-628 as the precursor to the Crusades
by Ben Dixon

Luke 18:10-14
From the Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

Three generations of the Pravdolyubov family talk about Fr. John Krestiankin (1910–2006)

The Russian Orthodox Church in 1937 saw the arrest of 85% of its clergy, along with thousands of unknown laymen and women.

Thou bringest us by mystic teachings, O Father,
to the Trinity's sunlike illumination

Full Text Works, in English

Having been as a wandering stranger on earth, sighing for the Heavenly homeland, thou wast known as a fool by the senseless and unbelieving, but as most wise and holy by the faithful, and wast crowned by God with glory and honor

St. Cyril of Alexandria

From his youth, he lived a life of asceticism - his days and nights in prayer.
Euthymius was a great miracle worker; he expelled demons, and healed the gravely ill.

by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

St Justin (Popovic) of Celije

Luke 19:1-10
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid and Bulgaria

St. John Chrysostom on the Family and the Upbringing of Children

"Do the bread and wine truly become the actual Body and Blood of Christ?”
by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

For decades, the Erie parish was the only canonical Old Rite church in ROCOR.

He was a central figure in the Council of Ephesus in 431 which led to the deposition of Nestorius

Before reaching the age of 20, Athanasius wrote a treatise entitled On the Incarnation, affirming and explaining that Jesus Christ was both God and Man. Athanasius fought consistently against Arianism all his life.

The life our holy Father Anthony by Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria

A Homily by Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen)

by Dr Valeri Sergeevich Chekanov

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

Saint Kentigern has been venerated for many centuries as one of the apostles of Scotland and patron-saint of Glasgow

St. Justin Popovic (April 6, 1894-April 7, 1979)

Thou wast radiant in suffering, Tatiana, and in the royal purple of thy blood thou didst fly like a dove to heaven.

In those terrible times of doubt, loss of faith by the Orthodox, aggressive anti-religious propaganda, and violent methods of eradicating the Christian teaching, Mikhail Novoselov appeared like the holy Psalmist David, praising God and His Church.

by St.Gregory the Theologian on the Festival of Theophany 381 AD

by St. John Chrysostom

by St. John of Kronstadt

Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) -
On the day of Theophany it is not out of place to remember that baptism at which each of us Orthodox Christians gave a promise to unite himself with Christ.

by Archbishop Nathaniel (Lvov, +1986)

An interview with Mitred Archpriest Nikolai Artemov son of NTS chairman Alexander Nikolaevich Artemov (1972-1984)

On the eighth day after His Nativity, our Lord Jesus Christ was circumcised in accordance with the Old Testament Law.

by St. John Chrysostom

1954 Christmas Message to the West European and East Asian Flock

For Christmas of 1870 the Elder wrote to his spiritual children about the lofty meaning of the Incarnation

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

St. John of Kronstadt

Epistle and Gospel readings with commentary

A treatise by Holy Hieromartyr Hilarion (Troitsky)

According to St. Gregory Palamas

St. John of Kronstadt
Beloved, the Feast of the Nativity of Christ is now at hand. Let us take care to meet it in Christian manner, spiritually.

Clothing herself in the garb of a beggar she fed, doctored and often ransomed captives who were suffering for their faith in Christ.

An interview with Matushka Maria Kotar who together with her husband Archpriest Serge founded St. John’s Orthodox Academy in San Francisco.

St. Isaac says: “By the mind we improve, and by the mind we become unprofitable, hence the one who today has good thoughts may very well have evil ones tomorrow"

by St. Gregory Palamas

by Fr. Seraphim Holland

by Metropolitan Avgoustinos Kantiotes

This Sunday commemorates all the ancestors of Christ - the holy patriarchs from Adam to Joseph the Betrothed; together with the holy prophets - from Samuel to John the Baptist, and all those in the Old Testament who were righteous in the faith of the coming of the Messiah.

Luke 14:16-24
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

by St. John of Damascus

Sermon on the Feast of Holy Hieromartyr Hilarion (Troitsky), Archbishop of Verea

Schema-archimandrite Ilie (Nozdrin)

A curated collection of scholarly resources for historians of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

November 9-17 this year St. John not only spiritually, but also bodily, in his relics, visited Poland, Switzerland and France.

He came to America as a young monk in 1794 as part of the original Russian Orthodox mission to Alaska. He lived there until his repose, and for more than four decades taught the natives by word and example.

By St. Nikolai Velimirovich

by St. Cyril of Alexandria

A Sermon of St. Hilarion Troitsky

Jonathan Dunne is an English Orthodox Christian living in Sofia, Bulgaria; his wife is the Bulgarian poet, Tsvetanka Elenkova.

An angel of the Lord announced that they would be the parents of a daughter, Who would bring blessings to the whole human race

Luke 17:12-19
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

From the Legacy of the Optina Elders

Passed down orally in the family of Archpriest Pavel Ilarionovich Milovanov (1923-1991), rector of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in the city of Alma-Ata, and father confessor of the Kazakhstan metropolia.

A Miracle and the Life of St. Patapios of Thebes

The truth of thy deeds hath revealed thee to thy flock as a canon of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence

Homily on Luke 18:22–27 by Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

“The UFO phenomenon is a sign to Orthodox Christians to walk all the more cautiously"
by Dr. Amir Azarvan

St. Clement of Alexandria

People attending Sunday morning services at Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Varnitsky Monastery have a choice of languages

Luke 18:18-27
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

Collected by St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain

An interview with Archimandrite John (Townsend)

By Archbishop Philaret (Gumilevsky) of Chernigov (†1866)

One of the most important areas of his activity was the struggle with fallacies, heresy, and sectarianism.

Rejoice at every opportunity of showing kindness to your neighbour as a true Christian who strives to store up as many good works as possible, especially the treasures of love.

"And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself."

Protodeacon Andrei Psarev presents the context of these important documents

Luke 13:10-17
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

The virtuous life, charitable works and prayerful activity of St. Clement converted many to Christ.

By Elder Ephraim of Arizona

An article by Fr. Panayiotis Papageorgiou, Ph.D.
Protopresbyter at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Marietta, GA

St Catherine firmly confessed her fidelity to Christ, and with a prayer to Him she herself lay her head on the block beneath the executioner's sword.

Archimandrite Seraphim reflects on his personal journey into monastic life at Holy Cross Monastery

Memories of St. Gabriel (Urgebadze)

From The Little Russian Philokalia, Vol. IV: St. Paisius Velichkovsky

Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York

Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe

by St. Basil the Great

Rejoice evermore, Pray without ceasing, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

"If he was not God and man, our salvation is a lie, and the words of the Prophets are lies. But the Prophets spoke the truth, and their testimonies were not lies."

Hawaiian Icon received in Ireland for last stop on Western European trip

by Archpriest Victor Potapov

Archpriest John Moses (+2019)

Luke 10:25-37
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

from The Field: Cultivating Salvation [The Collected Works of St Ignatius (Brianchaninov), Volume 1]

The amazing fate of the Tsar’s sister, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna Romanova (1882–1960)

Interview with Archbishop Peter about his diocese, ROCOR and Pastoral School of Chicago and Mid-America

There is hardly a malady that has not been cured through his prayers

(as it appears throughout history and in the present)
by Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of the Vatopaidi Monastery

Michael, Archangel of God, standing at the head of the angels before the everlasting Trinity, advocate and preserver of mankind

by Archbishop Platon of Kostroma

by St. John Chrysostom

St. Ioannikios was a great miracle-worker both during his life and after his repose.

The Hieromartyrs Nicander, Bishop of Myra, and Hermas the Presbyter, were disciples of the holy Apostle Paul’s follower and fellow ascetic, the holy Apostle Titus of the Seventy

Luke 8:41-56
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

from St. John Chrysostom, On the Nativity

St. Winifred, whose name in her own language was Gwenfrewi, was born in North Wales in the early seventh century, when Christendom was still whole, and many great saints were living in the British Isles.

Monk Herman (Podmoshenskii)
Ιn Memoriam (June 30, 2014)

Regarding the repose of Archbishop Peter

St Cyril of Alexandria

Spiritual testament of St. Seraphim of Vyritsa

St. Job, the abbot of the Pochaev Lavra, stood unwavering in the faith, and with iron steadfastness struggled against the Uniates

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh

St. Dimitri of Rostov was a saint in the ancient and true model of the early Fathers.

Luke 8:26-39
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

He was beloved throughout all of Georgian society and many called him the “Second Apostle to Abkhazeti.”

An interview with Archpriest Constantin Feodorov from summer 1994

On Friday, November 8, 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America died suddenly.

Elder Sophrony (+1993) gave this prayer to his spiritual children. Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos writes, ‘If someone reads this prayer in the morning with contrition and attention, the whole day will be blessed.’

St. Cyril of Alexandria

Fr. Nicola Yanney (Feb. 5, 1873-Oct. 29, 1918) was a early priest to Arab Orthodox Christians in America. He regularly ministered to Orthodox Christians all across the American West and Midwest.

Sowing with tears and pain below,
Hilarion reaps rejoicing above.

Selected Quotes

Abbot of Taghmon in Ireland
Commemorated: October 21/November 3

Luke 16:19-31
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

The Seventh Ecumenical Council, convoked by the Empress Irene and met at Nicaea in 787. The council ended almost fifty years of iconoclast persecution and established the veneration of the holy icons as basic to the belief and spirituality of Christ's Church.

by St. Cyril of Alexandria

Our venerable Mother Paraskeve the New lived as a monastic in the 11th century. She is beloved in Romania as Parascheva and in Serbia and Macedonia as Petka.

Luke 8:5-15
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

From the Legacy of the Optina Elders

An interview with historian Sergei Alekseev

St. Martin, a child of Pannonia,
And the great illuminator of Gaul,
Despised the earthly emperor's honors,
And became a servant of the heavenly King.

Spiritual Disciples of St. Paisius (Velichkovsky)
From the Synaxarion by Hieromonk Makarios of Simonos Petra

by Elder Ephraim of Arizona

In contest you were victorious warriors of the Trinity, and an illustrious pair of martyrs, Sergius godly champion, and Bacchus noble athlete.

Hurricane Helene and the Orthodox St. Nicholas parish in North Carolina

By St. Cyril of Alexandria

The Legacy of St Jonah of Hankou in Manchuria

Luke 7:11-16
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke by Blessed Theophylact

An excerpt from the Prologue of Ochrid (by St. Nikolai Velimerovic)

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

St. John of Kronstadt

Prince Eugene Nikolaevich Trubetskoy was a religious philosopher, an art critic, a lawyer, and a public figure of the late nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries.

A Priest Who Spoke His Mind

Sermon by Bishop Irenei on the Spiritual Culture of the Church Abroad.

A Sermon on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God by Archimandrite John (Krestiankin)

The help of the Most-holy Mother of God has been clearly shown numerous times, to individuals and to nations, in peace and in war, in monastic deserts and in densely populated cities.

St. Ambrose of Optina

Archimandrite Nikolai was the first Orthodox Bishop of London in the nearly nine centuries since the Great Schism of 1054

Luke 6:31-36
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

Hieromartyr Gregory is credited with forging the Christian identity of Armenia through conversion from pagan beliefs.

From Ivan M. Andreev's book, A Brief Overview of the History of the Church of Russia from the Revolution to Our Days (Jordanville, 1952).

By Metropolitan Hierotheos
of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

by St. Luke Archbishop of Simferopol the Surgeon (1877-1961)
Let us not bother with what we hear against religion, losing our bearings. Let us hold on to our faith which is the eternal indisputable truth.

from "Unseen Warfare," by St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain

St. John of Kronstadt from My Life in Christ

by Archbishop Averky (Taushev)

Excerpt from St. John Chrysostom's Homily on the Conception of St. John the Forerunner

by Metropolitan Panteleimon of Antinoes

Luke 5:1-11
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

A Homily on St. Matt. 22:1-14
by Father James Thornton

St. Ninian is acknowledged as Scotland's first saint with the date 397 AD celebrated as the beginning of his mission to his people.

The Parable of the Wedding Feast
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
by Blessed Theophylact

by St. Dimitri of Rostov

By Bishop Alexander and Natalia Bufius
Translated by Anatoly Shmelev

Interviewed by Dmitry Zlodorev

Saint John Maximovitch
On the Exaltation of the Cross
Shanghai 1947

The Exaltation of the Cross is one of the twelve great feasts of the Church. It commemorates two historical events: first, the finding of the Life-giving Cross in the year 326, and second, its recovery from Persia in 628.

The Dedication of the Temple of the Resurrection of Christ at Jerusalem celebrates the founding of the Church built by St Constantine and his mother, the empress Helen.

by St. Gregory Palamas

from The Protoevangelium of James

Homily 63 on Matthew
By St. John Chrysostom

Archimandrite John Krestiankin (+2006)

A Homily on the Gospel Reading for the Twelfth Week of Pentecost
by Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

He was a great faster, intercessor, and wonderworker

Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko, 1893-1978)

And, enduring torments, Mamas glorified the Savior.
The emperor and the empire collapsed to nothing,
While Mamas reigns, even now, with Christ,
And rejoices with the angels of God in heaven.

If Thou Wilt Be Perfect
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew by Blessed Theophylact

St. Silouan of Mt. Athos

Thou soughtest the heights, though parted not from things below;
thy pillar became a chariot of fire for thee.

According to Holy Tradition, Christ entered the synagogue on September 1 to announce His mission to mankind

A Christian missionary, he is credited with restoring Christianity to Northumbria (Northern England).

by St. Theodore the Studite

Homily 61 on Matthew
By St. John Chrysostom

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke

The Man Who Owed Ten Thousand Talents
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew by Blessed Theophylact

The Martyrs Adrian and Natalia were married in their youth for one year prior to their martyrdom.

By Protopriest Peter Perekrestov

Arab Nuns of the Convent of the Mount of Olives Share Their Memories of Abbess Tamara

Her martyrdom took place during a pitched battle between her family and a band of marauding Picts during the fifth century

Interesting summary of “Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television,” by Jerry Mander (1977).
This pre-dates PCs and mobile devices

By St. John Chrysostom
(From Homily 57 and 58 on Matthew)

A Homily on the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
by St. John of Kronstadt

Saint Andrew the General and the 2,593 Soldiers Martyred With Him

Homily From “The One Thing Needful,” Sermons of Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko)

The Martyr Andrew Stratelates was a military commander in the Roman army during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305).

From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew by Blessed Theophylact

The following teachings were taken from Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina, Holy Trinity Publications, 2005

On September 29, 1998, the body of Father Ilie was found completely untouched by decay, exuding fragrance.

Portraits of the First Generation of Jordanville Monastery Fathers

The Bessemer AL Mission humbly asks for generous support

The Dormition of Our Supremely Pure Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

by Elder Ephraim of Arizona

by St. John of Damascus

Homily 50 on Matthew
By St. John Chrysostom

Advice given by St. Theophan the Recluse

by Metropolitan Avgoustinos Kantiotes (+2010)

Parishioners often ask how one should set up a home prayer corner.
An article by Serge Alexeev

Jesus Walking on the Water
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
by Blessed Theophylact

The Synod building is in dire need of repair

by Archpriest Matthew Williams

It is no accident that people quite often turn to him in prayer with requests for help in overcoming despondency and despair

A talk with Bishop Benjamin of Rybinsk and Romanov-Borisoglebsk

St. John Damascene: “Providence is Divine will which maintains everything and wisely rules over everything.”

by + THEODOSIUS
Bishop of Seattle

by St Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica (1296 – 1359)

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

Video presentation by Trisagion Films

by St. Leo the Great ca. 400-461

An article on Marriage and the Christian Home
by Fr. Michael B. Henning

Homily 49 on Matthew
By St. John Chrysostom

On approaching the battle, Oswald set up the sign of the holy cross and on bended knees besought God to send heavenly aid to His worshippers in the hour of their need.

Cathedral was erected between 1555 and 1561 in memory of the annexation of the Kazan Khanate

The Miracle of the Five Loaves and Two Fishes
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
by Blessed Theophylact

The Odessa Convent of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

The Seven Youths hid themselves in a certain cave near Ephesus in the year 250, to escape the persecution of Decius.

This article analyzes Metropolitan Anthony’s resolutions recorded in the Kievan Diocese during 1918

A collection of memories about Priestmonk Alexander (Lisnichuk) by his spiritual son - Priest Theodore Foley

On the Seventh Sunday After Pentecost - Delivered on August 12, 1956 by Archpriest Vsevolod Shpiller

by Fr. Zechariah Lynch

by Hieromonk Roman (Kropotov)

Healing of the Two Blind Men
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
by Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid and Bulgaria

Two years ago, with the blessing of Bishop (now Metropolitan) Nicholas, the Mission was established under the spiritual direction of Archimandrite John (Townsend)

On Friday, August 9, following a lengthy illness, Archpriest Seraphim reposed in the Lord. He was 83 years old.

Homily 29 on Matthew
By St. John Chrysostom

by St. Kosmas Aitolos

St. Mary Magdalen zealously fulfilled the first and greatest commandment: Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind and with all thy strength.

A Homily by Bishop Mitrophan (Znosko-Borovsky) of Boston (+2002)

On the Personality of Saint Mary Magdalene, Equal to the Apostles
by Georgios Zaravelas

Thy Sins Be Forgiven Thee
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew by Blessed Theophylact

Excerpts from notes made by the Royal Martyr Empress Alexandra Fedorovna

"How Will You Get Closer to God While Lying on the Sofa?"

O divine Ezekiel, as God's true Prophet, thou foretoldest unto all the Incarnation of the Lord, the Lamb of God, the Artificer, the Son of God, the Eternal made manifest.

The Holy Prophet Elijah is one of the greatest of the prophets. He was born in Tishba of Gilead into the Levite tribe 900 years before the Incarnation of the Word of God.

by Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen)

Spoken on July 15, 1899 by the holy Patriarch Tikhon the Confessor, during his tenure as Archbishop of the Aleutian Islands and Alaska

An Ecumenical Council is the Church's supreme authority, and possesses the competence to resolve major questions of church life.

From “The One Thing Needful,” Sermons of Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko)

The Asceticism of Growing Up by Priest Pavel Serzhantov

What Have We to Do with Thee?
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
by Blessed Theophylact

Truly beautiful and astonishing are these "Beatitudes" of St. Paisios the Athonite, modeled after the Beatitudes of Christ

On the Athonite Roots of Russian Monasticism

By St. Cyril of Alexandria
"And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve, whom He also named apostles." (Lk 6: 13)

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth

From Journey to Heaven by Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

A Sermon by Protopriest Leonid Kolchev (+1944)

by Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov)

When Diocletian launched the last and most ruthless persecution against Christians, his first victim in Palestine was a young man named Prokopios (Procopius).

The Healing of the Centurion's Servant
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew by Blessed Theophylact

 St. Isaac the Syrian

Stories from the editorial mail of Pravoslavie.ru

The relics of Holy Hierarch Raphael of Brooklyn have been exhumed for the veneration of the faithful

The Concept of the Church of Christ on Earth
by Fr. Michael Pomazansky

by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco

Cosmas and Damian were unmercenary physicians and miracle-workers. These two saints were brothers, born in Rome, baptized and brought up in the Christian spirit

by Ivan Mikhailovich Andreev

As a beautiful fruit of the sowing of Thy salvation, the lands of America doth offer to Thee, O Lord, all the Saints that have shone in her.

A Sermon by Archimandrite John (Krestiankin)
Delivered on the celebration of 1,000 years since the Baptism of Russia in 988.

The Eye is the Lamp of the Body
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
by Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid and Bulgaria

On the Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God by John (Amir) Azarvan

Concerning the 23 March 1933 Epistle of Metropolitan Sergius of Nizhegorod, Deputy Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne

Sermon 82
Saint Leo the Great

Homily Twenty-Eight
by St. Gregory Palamas

by Elder Ephraim

by St Ignatius (Brianchininov)

by St. Luke the Surgeon - Archbishop of Simferopol

By Schema-Archimandrite Sergius, abbot of Saint Tikhon’s Monastery

Sermon by Archbishop Alypy (Gamanovich)

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

Homily of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco

Come Follow Me
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
by Blessed Theophylact

Metropolitan Philaret of Eastern American and New York (+1985)

As a church musician he applied his musical genius to arrangements of hymns based on ancient chants

The 30th Anniversary of the Glorification of St John the Wonderworker

Fr. George stood out for his simple and firm faith and obedience to the Holy Church.

"God's saints are near to believing hearts and, like the truest and kindest of friends, are ready in a moment to help the faithful and pious who call upon them with faith and love."

On June 15-16, the mission celebrated its first All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy with their new rector, Priest Theodore Foley

On the Signs of God’s Chosen
By St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

"Whosoever Shall Confess Me Before Men"
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
by Blessed Theophylact

On St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco

Our Venerable Father Moses (Putilov) was a starets and schema archimandrite among the group of monastics known as the Optina Elders.

To His Brother Living in the World

To sustain the soul, Divine Talents and Heavenly Bread are needed.

The testimony of a Russian Confessor

by St. John Chrysostom

by St. Gregory Palamas

Pentecost: The Gospel of the Descent of the Holy Spirit
From the collected works of St. Nicholai (Velimirovich)

by Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)

Venerable Columba is perhaps the greatest of all Celtic saints

by Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco

by Archpriest Igor Fomin, Rector of St. Alexander Nevsky church of the Moscow State Institute of International Affairs

June 11 this year was the 127th anniversary of the birth of the second daughter of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna

A sermon by Metropolitan Philaret of Eastern America and New York

By Fr. George Florovsky

From the Explanation of the Gospel of St. John
by Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid and Bulgaria

Righteous John of Kronstadt in the recollections of Bishop Arseny (Zhadanovsky)

The Myrrh-Streaming, wonderworking Icon will be with us this Saturday, June 15, from 5pm to around 9pm. It is important for us to be here on time so that the church is not empty when the Mother of God arrives. For this great blessing "let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord God!"

By St. Gregory Palamas

Two sermons for the Feast of the Ascension by Metropolitan Philaret of Eastern America and New York

A Sermon of Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko, 1893-1978)

The Ascension icon shows Christ, with angels, being escorted back to His heavenly home.

Archimandrite George of the Monastery of Saint Gregory of the Holy Mountain at Stratoni of Halkidiki

On the Apodosis of Pascha

by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

By St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

Two sermons by Metropolitan Philaret of New York and Eastern America on the Sunday of the Blind Man

Saint John reposed in the Lord and received the recompense of the labors and toils that he endured for Christ, whom he loved more than all corrupt and fleeting things

From the Explanation of the Gospel of St. John
by Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid and Bulgaria

by Schemamonk Constantine (Cavarnos)
Symeon the New Theologian writes: Those who find themselves amidst the masses of men and amongst the disturbances of the world, if they nonetheless conduct themselves as they should, will find salvation

by St. John of Kronstadt

by Metropolitan Seraphim (Joanta) of Germany and Central Europe

by Fr Nikolaj L Kostur

by Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) (+2008)

“Give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” (John 4:15).

by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

From The Explanation of The Gospel of St. John
by Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid and Bulgaria

A series of films on St. John of Kronstadt (with English subtitles)

Film 1 Part 1 (13:40)
Film 1 Part 2 (12:35)
Film 2 Part 1 (14:50)
Film 2 Part 2 (11:16)

An article by Protodeacon Andrei Psarev
including relevant source material

by Dr. Jeannie Constantinou

A pilgrimage to the holy sites of Georgia

St. John Chrysostom

By Fr. George Calciu

A homily given by Archimandrite Justin (Popovic) on the Sunday of the Paralytic at the Ćelije convent, 1978.

John 5:1-15
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. John
by Blessed Theophylact

A sermon by St John of Shanghai and San Francisco given September 21, 1936 on the qualities that characterize the true theologian

Archpriest John Whiteford on the role of the deaconess in the early church and the contemporary agenda for restoration.

Elder Nikolai Guryanov

ROCOR will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the canonization of St. John - June 28-29 at the Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral in San Francisco

Homily of Saint Gregory Palamas

Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov)

Mark 15:43-16:6
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Mark by Blessed Theophylact

An interview with Archpriest Maxim Nikolsky

An essential text by Ivan M. Andreyev

Excerpt from a Homily by St. John Chrysostom

Archbishop Averky on the Incredulity of Thomas

John 20:19-31
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. John by Blessed Theophylact

St. Onuphry (Gagalyuk) of Kursk

Paschal interview with Metropolitan NICHOLAS from the newspaper "Russian Life"

If any man be devout and loveth God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast!

Paschal Message of His Holiness KIRILL Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

Paschal Epistle of Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

On Great and Holy Saturday the Orthodox Church commemorates the burial of Christ and His descent into Hades.

Fr. Georges Florovsky
on Ezekiel 37
"O Ye Dry Bones"

Given at the Evening Service
by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

On this day, Holy and Great Friday, we celebrate the awesome, holy, and saving Passion of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ

When the glorious disciples at the supper were illumined by the washing of the feet,
then was the impious Judas darkened by the disease of avarice.

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?

Advice from four respected clergymen in Russia – Fr. Valerian Krechetov, Fr. Vladimir Shaforostov, Fr. Maxim Pervozvansky, and Fr. Kirill Kaleda.

Let's explore the meaning of each of the solemn days of Passion Week

By St. Cyril of Alexandria

Excerpt from St. Andrew of Crete's Homily on Palm Sunday

by St. Luke, Archbishop of Crimea
(April 18, 1954)

John 12:1-18
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. John
by Blessed Theophylact

by Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky, +1985)
of Eastern America and New York

Lazarus was a close friend of Christ, from Bethany, about three kilometers east of Jerusalem. He lived there with his sisters Mary and Martha, and they often gave hospitality to Jesus (Luke 10:38-40; John 12:1-3).

A Sermon by Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko, 1893-1978)

This Life of Our Venerable Mother Mary of Egypt was written down in the seventh century by Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

from "The One Thing Needful," Sermons of Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko, 1893-1978)

From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Mark
by Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid and Bulgaria

Elder Iosif of the Monastery of Vatopedi

Elder Sophrony of Essex
From the book His Life is mine

Many scholars agree the Akathist was composed by St. Romanos the Melodist, who reposed in the year 556.

from The Truth of Our Faith, by Elder Cleopa

Archbishop Averky of Syracuse and Holy Trinity Monastery (+1976) on The Ladder of Divine Ascent

Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

By Metropolitan Philaret
From "The Ladder of Divine Ascent," (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978)

From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Mark
by Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid and Bulgaria

St. John Climacus is honored by the Church as a great ascetic and as the author of a remarkable work entitled, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, and therefore he has been named “Climacus,” or “of the Ladder.”

Under apartheid, ROCOR was dissuaded by the state officials to accept African converts

By Reader Vitaly Efimenkov, a graduate of Holy Trinity Seminary, the Slavonic Language Choir Director at the Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral in Los Angeles, CA.

By Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) of Nafpaktos

“O Invincible and incomprehensible and divine power of the precious and life-giving Cross, forsake not us sinners.”
by Professor I. M. Andreyev

By St. Gregory of Neo-Caesarea

Homily on the Third Sunday of Great Lent by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

by St. John Chrysostom

Mark 8:34 - 9:1
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Mark
by Blessed Theophylact

Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco

St. Anthony said, "Man's great labor consists in taking all his transgressions upon himself before the face of God, and expecting temptation to his last breath."

Reasons Why Our Intentions to Lead a Better and Holy Life Do Not Produce Results
From the Conversations of Metropolitan Gregory of Novgorod

On Wednesday, April 3, the Lenten Retreat for clergy of the southern deaneries of the Eastern American Diocese concluded with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts

The Life of St. Gregory Palamas

St. Cyril (315-386) was a distinguished theologian and archbishop of Jerusalem in the early Church.

by Archbishop Chrysostomos of Etna

Near Caves                Far Caves

by Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopedi

From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Mark
by Blessed Theophylact

Synaxarion of the Lenten Triodion and Pentecostarion
Sunday of Orthodoxy - Saint John of Shanghai & San Francisco
What is Orthodoxy? - Archbishop Averky
Sunday of Orthodoxy - Tikhon, Metropolitan of Moscow 1903
Sunday of Orthodoxy - Archbishop Averky 1971

An icon celebrating the veneration of icons is the festal icon for the first Sunday of Great Lent.

A Liturgist and Defender of the Faith
by by Archpriest Vladimir Dolgikh

Johann von Gardner (+1984)

John 1: 43-51
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. John
by Blessed Theophylact

"God sent us the soviet government as punishment, to bring us to our senses; but to some, as a future reward for suffering"

Confession through martyrdom
by Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi

As the result of the Russo-Japanese War, thousands of Russians fled south from Siberia and Manchuria and found temporary refuge in Australia

On the Saturday of the first week of Great Lent, we commemorate an event which occurred in the year 356—a miracle of Great Martyr Theodore the Tyro ("the Recruit").

"O merciful Lord, who art the source and fountain of purity, preserve us in the Fast"

If the soul of a Christian longs for purity and seeks spiritual health, it should strive with all its might to make use of this time so advantageous for the soul.

From the introductory material in the Lenten Triodion
Mother Mary and Bishop Kallistos Ware

By Fr. Tryphon, Abbot of All-Merciful Savior Monastery

by Archimandrite John (Krestiankin)
Given on February 28 (March 13), 1994

Thou didst make the wilderness of Jordan radiantly shine with beams of sacred celestial light

A Sermon on Forgiveness Sunday
Archbishop Seraphim (Soboklev) of Bogucharsk (+1950)
Given March 3, 1946

Matthew 6:14-21
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
by Blessed Theophylact

+NICHOLAS
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Two very different reflections on the novel by ROCOR authors: Archimandrite Constantine (Zaitseff), born in Saint Petersburg 1887 and Bishop Nathanael (L’vov), who was born there in 1906

After a long struggle his Eminence has has joined eternal life. Please pray for the salvation of his soul.

How We Should Conduct Ourselves in Church
By Fr. John Whiteford & Matushka Olympia Sibley

By St. Ephraim the Syrian

St John of Shanghai and San Francisco

A sermon of Archimandrite Markell (Pavuk), the spiritual father of the Kiev Theological Seminary and Academy.

Matthew 25:31-46
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
by Blessed Theophylact

"I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come."
St. John of Shanghai

By Dr. Gernot Seide, translated by Jacqueline Xenia Endres-Nenchin, edited by Hierodeacon Samuel Nedelsky and Reader Isaac Lambertsen.

Abba Dorotheos

Holy Scripture tells us that after St. John the Baptist was beheaded, the impious Herodias forbade the prophet’s head to be buried together with his body.

by St. John of Kronstadt

by St. Ephraim the Syrian

A Sermon of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco

by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

"If there is anything that you realize that you do not know; seek to find out. Lose no opportunity to learn."

Luke 15:11-32
From the Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke by Blessed Theophylact

He was faced with a heavy task. The Empire, threatened by barbarians, was undermined by moral corruption and torn apart by heresies.

by ProtoPriest Alexander Elchaninov (+1934)

Being very interested in the youth of the church, he established the Organization of Russian Orthodox Pathfinders and was appointed by the Holy Synod to oversee the youth programs for all of ROCOR.

Interview conducted by Deacon Andrei Psarev June 18, 2012

by St. Gregory Palamas

He was summoned by the emperor Constantius to Antioch to help defend against the Arian heresy

Bishop Amphilokhy is not well known in ROCOR...he is also not well known in the Orthodox Church in America

On Prayer and Repentance
by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

by Archimandrite Kyprian (Pyzhov)

The Lord early on revealed to the future saint his lofty destiny.

Abbess Maria (Sidiropoulo) of St Elizabeth Convent (ROCOR) in Buchendorf, Germany

Luke 18:10-14
From the Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov) of blessed memory, who reposed on the eve of the Apodosis of the Meeting of the Lord, February 21, 2017

by Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk

A pillar of the Church in our own day, who was like unto the early desert-fathers in his resolute struggle against the prince of darkness.

By St. Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol and All Crimea
(Delivered on February 18, 1945)

The holy hierarch focused special attention on awakening and maintaining in his flock a spirit of true Christian piety.

St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco

By Hieromonk Makarios of Simonopetra

Luke 19:1-10
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke
by Blessed Theophylact

One of the greatest missionaries in the history of the Orthodox Church. A man who, in the course of his life in Japan, left behind over two hundred churches and more than 30,000 Orthodox Christians

excerpt from Russian Monks on Mount Athos by Nicholas Fennell

by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

by St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain

An article by Abbot Tryphon

St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Mission and Refuge of Kenya Lays Cornerstone

By St. Theophan the Recluse

The fortieth day after His birth, the All-Holy Virgin brought her Divine Son into the Temple of Jerusalem, in accordance with the Law

Sts. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom

The Mystery of Holy Communion
by Archpriest Vsevolod Shpiller

A Presentation by St. Seraphim (Sobolev) to the Congress of Moscow July 1948

Archbishop Christodoulos (Paraskevaïdis) of Athens (1998-2008, †)

The Hieromartyr Ignatius was a disciple of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian

By Monk Agapios Landos of Crete

by Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi

"In this Church I have experienced many spiritual joys: in Jordanville, then on Mount Athos, and, finally, in the Holy Land."

by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

Today we celebrate the memory of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian land.

Meditations of a Monk of the Holy Mountain Athos

Lives of some of the Orthodox Faithful who suffered during the Soviet period (1917 to 1991) for their faith.

“Do the bread and wine truly become the actual Body and Blood of Christ?”
by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

Luke 18:35-43
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke by Blessed Theophylact

Orthodox Christian monk and ascetical writer known especially for his courageous fight against heresy

Everything we need to know in order to live is there for us in its simplest and clearest form

St Justin (Popovic) of Celije

From his youth, he lived a life of asceticism - his days and nights in prayer.
Euthymius was a great miracle worker; he expelled demons, and healed the gravely ill.

"They're not your other half, they're your everything"
 - Archimandrite Arsenie (Papacioc)

by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco

St. Cyril of Alexandria

Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of Bogucharsk (+1950)
from the Notes of Archbishop Seraphim’s Spiritual Children

St. Clement of Alexandria

St. John considered love for children to be the foundation of a teacher’s work

by Archbishop Averky of Syracuse and Holy Trinity Monastery
Alas! How few people there are in our times...who understand correctly what Orthodoxy is and wherein its essence lies.

A letter of Elder Ephraim of Arizona

St. Justin Popovic (April 6, 1894-April 7, 1979) touches upon the probable future.

Lessons of the Great Archpastor, the Ever-memorable Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow († November 19, 1867)

The bearer of good tidings who brought the people of Georgia to the path of life and truth

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

by Archpriest Victor Potapov

Homily by His Emience Laurus (Skurla + 2008), Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York.

St George sowed with tears,
At the proper time he reaped cheerfulness.

A Homily by Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen)

Count G.A. Cheremeteff (1887–1971) was born into one of the wealthiest and most respected noble families of Imperial Russia.