Icon of the Mother of God "the Surety of Sinners" Commemorated on March 7 (also commemorated on May 29) The Icon of the Mother of God “Surety of Sinners” is known by this name because of the inscription on the icon: “I am the Surety of sinners for My Son Who has entrusted Me to [...]
House of God: An Explanation of the Interior of Orthodox Churches by Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald The visitor to an Orthodox Church is usually impressed by the unique features and the external differences between this place of worship and those of the various traditions of Western Christianity. The rich color, distinctive iconography and beauty of the [...]
A COMMENTARY ON THE DIVINE LITURGY Introduction The Divine Liturgy is divided into three parts: 1. The "Proskomidi", or preparation of the Holy Gifts. (Not visible to the Faithful). 2. The "Liturgy of the Catechumens", (the students or learners of the faith). 3. The "Liturgy of the Faithful", (Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist). Priest [...]
July 24 _. † Holy Martyr Christina Born in Tyre, she was the daughter of a rich and famous pagan. Having known the true faith, she destroyed the idols in the house of her father and she was turned over by him as a Christian woman to the most terrible tortures. St. Christina was beaten, [...]
Lit candles and Icon lamps (lampadas) have a special symbolic meaning in the Christian Church, and no Christian service can be held without them. In the Old Testament, when the first temple of God was built on earth the Tabernacle services were held in it with lamps as the Lord Himself had ordained (Ex. 40:5, [...]
LITURGICAL TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS 1. ADVENT -It is of Latin origin, meaning `coming or `arrival, and is used in reference to the coming of Christ at the time of and preparation for His Nativity. 2. AER - -The largest of the three veils used to cover the diskarion and Chalice. 3. AKATHISTOS - A [...]
St. Theophan the Recluse On Prayer From the Letters of Bishop Theophan the Recluse (Feast Day January 6th.) The Art and Science of Prayer (from Letter 15) You write that you prayed fervently and at once you were calmed, receiving an inner assurance that you would be released from oppression; and then, indeed, it was [...]
هل الخوف نعمة أو نقمة؟ بقلم: الأب انطونيوس مقار إبراهيم كي يتسنى لنا التأمل في هذا الموضوع علينا أن نطرح بعضاً من الأسئلة التي ربما تفيدنا في حياتنا: ما هو الخوف؟ وكيف نتخلص منه؟.. وما هو الفرق بين الخوف والمخافة؟ وهل هناك ما يسمى خوف إيجابي وخوف سلبي؟ أو بمعنى أخر: هل من خوف نافع وخوف [...]
The Role of the Theotokos in the Orthodox Church Midwest Region Spring Delegates Meeting - Spring Valley, IL April1998 Bishop Demetri M. Khoury My task this evening is to address the topic of the Role of the Theotokos in the Orthodox Church. This is not easy, especially in so short a time. We have [...]
الأيقونة الأرثوذكسية الأرشمندريت بندلايمون فرح منذ الصغر ترافقنا الأيقونات في كل جهة من الكنيسة، وخاصةً على الأيقونستاس. وكنائسنا هي نوع من الاحتفال، بالشكل واللون، لحضور الله في كنيسته. كما أن للأيقونة مكانتها وتوقيرها في البيت المؤمن، إذ توضع عادةً في إحدى الزوايا، فيتوجّه الجميع إليها بالصلاة. ولكي نفهم معنى استخدام الأيقونة في كنيستنا الأرثوذكسية، لا [...]