The word Advent means ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’; means in the Orthodox Tradition, the period of fasting and preparation in connection with the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord. The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and
The Orthodox liturgy on Christmas is usually conducted in the silence of night and is designed in such a way as to attract anyone to it. It often creates in the minds of the faithful an inexplicable experience of the coming down of heaven to earth. Prior to the Holy
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OSB on Nov 12th, 2010
Perhaps the most misunderstood sacrament of the Christian Church is confession. How did it originate? What role does a priest play? Is there a special procedure for confession? The Scriptures hold answers to these questions. Concerning our sins, God’s Word gives a marvelous promise. “If we confess our sins, He
Text for Meditation: 2 Timothy 3:14—4:5 Verse for the Day: 2 Timothy 3: 16,17 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Reflection: The Scriptures shapes
Verse for the day: Job 19: 255, 26 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then from my flesh I shall see God… Reflection: The book of Job starts, “There was a man
“Be still and know that I am God!” is the first part of Psalm 46:10. The command to “be still” comes from the stem of the verb (רפה) rapha (meaning to be weak, to let go, to release), which might better be translated as, “cause yourselves to let go” or
Parumala Seminary 1877-95 Pulikkottil Mar Dionysius observed two conflicting situations facing him which weakened the Church as well as affected its future. One was that Mathews Mar Athanasius had strong support in the parishes south of Kottayam and that he encouraged the reform movement there. Secondly, the Old Seminary was
The form of Orthodox Church Government is neither authoritarian (monarchial) nor majority-rule (purely democratic). It believes in sharing of authority, keeping in view the special roles of the Clergy and the Laity – the mind of the community. An exposition of this concept is given by Fr. Dr. K.C. Joseph
Pesaha is one of the most important feasts of the Jewish religion. The word Pesaha literally means ‘exodus’. Church historians are of the opinion that Pesaha must be the combination of two feasts, which existed before the time of Moses. One was linked with the experiences of the time when
The center of the liturgical year in the Orthodox Church is Kymtho, the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection. It is extolled in the services as the Feast of feasts and Triumph of triumphs. Justifiably so, for as the Apostle Paul declares, if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain,
