CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2013 STYLIANOS By the grace of God Archbishop of Australia to all the Reverend Clergy and devout faithful of our holy Archdiocese Brother concelebrants and beloved children of the Church, Once again, we are preparing to celebrate Christmas and the other Feasts of the sacred Twelve Days following. Yet, the phenomena of international violence, together with crime of …
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Perfect God and Perfect Man: Christ Is Born! Glorify Him! God is born on earth, and moreover He is born as a man: perfect God and perfect man—the unique God-man. And He has forever remained as the God-man both on earth and in heaven. Indeed, the God-man is the first perfect man on earth. Perfect man? Yes, because only in …
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By St. Nikolai Velimirovich Prologue From Ochrid, December 25 The Nativity of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son” (Galatians 4:4) to save the human race. And when nine months were fulfilled from the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel had appeared to the Most-holy Virgin in …
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I behold a new and wondrous mystery! My ears resound to the Shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The Angels sing! The Archangels blend their voices in harmony! The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise! The Seraphim exalt His glory! All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and …
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Saint Gregory Thaumaturgos, who lived from about 213 AD until about 270 AD, was the Bishop of Neo-Caesarea. We behold now a great and wondrous mystery. Shepherds with cries of joy come forth as messengers to the sons of mankind, not on their hilly pastures with their flocks conversing and not in the field with their sheep frolicking, but rather …
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By Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos Pleasure and Pain According to St. Maximus the Confessor In his Centuries on Theology St. Maximus the Confessor refers to the nexus of the dualism of pleasure and pain, which, by any standard, is an important subject. This means that we cannot discuss Orthodox Theology if we fail to face this crucial point, because the transcendence …
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THE WORD BECAME FLESH A Sermon by St John of Kronstadt on the Nativity of Christ The Word became flesh; that is, the Son of God, co-eternal with God the Father and with the Holy Spirit, became human – having become incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. O, wondrous, awesome and salvific mystery! The One Who had …
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Date: 22 December Time: 5:00pm – 8:30pm Venue: Festival Hall Address: 300 Dudley St, West Melbourne Cost: All are welcome to attend and entrance is free Refreshments: Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase at the Hall. Concert Presentation Programme: A variety of traditional Christmas Carols in Greek, English and other languages for all ages. This is a combined Christmas celebration for all …
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By “Orthodoxy and the World” Dec 24, 2010 Christmas carols have a deep connection to the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord in western countries, but today one can meet different attitudes toward them among clergy. There are parishes where a priest refuses to use them during or after the Nativity service, and there are priests who allow them …
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ModeOfLife Become love as God exhorts us, for this is the true starting point for changing your life and the world. For it is love that will bring respect, justice and equity into the world, not our personal opinion of what justice or equity is.