Author: Archbishop Stylianos Harkianakis of Australia Entering once again the arena of Great Lent, it is only natural to remember again the basic feats that have always characterised the ascesis of Orthodox Christians. Among these feats, prayer and fasting hold a central position. When an Orthodox speaks of fasting, then prayer spontaneously comes to his mind. And when he speaks …
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“The Lord said: as you would want others to do to you, you also do unto others” Sometimes, dear brothers and sisters, we believe that the standard Christ gives us in today’s Gospel passage is not very different to what was stated in the Old Testament, which was very much in accordance with human logic. The Old Testament stated: “whatever …
Read More »[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DO2oZLx5XQ&feature=related] “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” This declaration of a faithful man of God to his colleague, dear sisters and brothers, is not a mere figure of speech . It is not a mere thought. It is a confession of faith. And …
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“Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house” You have heard, dear brothers and sisters, the story of Zacchaeus many times. Being so distinctive, it is known to all. Who was Zacchaeus? What did he do? Today’s Gospel tells us briefly: “He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought …
Read More »“Save and sanctify all who know You as God” I will try to say a few words to analyse this sublime line taken from the hymn for this great day of Pentecost. In Cyprus, the suffering island, where Greek Orthodox identity is more purely, fully and faithfully upheld, they call this day ‘the day of the flood’. Which means …
Read More »The manner in which Christ healed the blind man was very strange, and caused much questioning among those who witnessed the event. I do not intend to concentrate on the miracle as such, but rather on one detail which is of symbolic significance for anyone who has learnt to look beyond the merely apparent. For the one who has learnt to think, to contemplate, to penetrate the signifiers and …
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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.