[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-urZ8ICy8Mk] Prologue Throughout Christian history, many places have arisen to spiritual prominence due to either their legacy of martyrdom or monasticism. Naturally within peaceful times where there were few people being martyred for the Faith, monasticism assumed a greater role within Christian witness, and within the era of the undivided Christian ecumene, numerous monastic centres became centres of prayer, …

By Anthony Papantoniou (Source: Greek Australian Vema, English Section, June and July 2009 Issues) St Nicholas Cabasilas and his background On 20th June, the Orthodox Church commemorates the feast of our Father among the Saints, St Nicholas Cabasilas. St Nicholas was born in the city of Thessalonica around 1320-23 into a prestigious family. It has been thought in the past …

Introduction The role played by the discipline of fasting  has figured prominently within the spiritual life of Christianity, and has remained integral to the Orthodox Church. Its purpose and meaning is multifaceted, to which entire treatises have been written on the subject. For this reason, we will not labour the point by providing an exhaustive exposition on the subject, since …

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVoUGQ285g0] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVPtsYb9rkY&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL5E8B25EA15D80D47] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL-xP6tNkDI&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL5E8B25EA15D80D47] Foreword After many decades of careful lobbying and raising the profile of their own interests, the gay movement and its activists have forcibly and successfully brought to the fore of public attention in many countries, questions over the definition of marriage. The discussion that they have sought to bring about, has been couched in …

“We have seen the True Light; we have received the Heavenly Spirit; we have found the true Faith, in worshipping the indivisible Trinity; for He has saved us”. (Sticheron at Saturday Great Vespers for Pentecost Sunday)  Introductory Remarks The feastday of Pentecost (Greek: Πεντηκοστή, “the Fiftieth [day]”) is one of the prominent feasts within the Orthodox Christian liturgical year which …

Scriptural Pericope (Genesis 11:1-9) Now the whole earth was one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar (Shennar), and dwelt there. Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them with fire”. They had brick for stone and …