The essence of the fast is expressed in the following Church hymn: “If you fast from food, my soul, but are not purified of the passions, in vain do we comfort ourselves by not eating. For if the fast does not bring you correction, then it will be hateful to God as false, and you will be like unto the evil demons, who never eat.”
The Akathist Hymn, chanted and in Icons, together with the Miraculous Athonite Akathist icon “Panagia of the Salutations the Myrrhgusher” at Holy Monastery Dionysiou To Thee, the Champ…
Matushka Olga of Alaska is widely venerated among Orthodox Christians. She is known for her care for people who have suffered poverty and abuse.
Akathist of Thanksgiving: The Orthodox Church prays various Akathist hymns, including this beautiful Akathist of Thanksgiving. A reminder to give thanks.
The joining of bluegrass tones to Orthodox sacred music is like perfectly fit gloves on two praying hands, especially in chant: the roots of roots music.
By St. Nektarios of Pentapolis Faith! Divine Gift, fruit of Divine Revelation, knowledge of mysteries, heavenly wisdom, teacher of divine truths, ladder of heaven and earth, link of God and man, evidence of divine friendship and love, expression of the transmission of heavenly gifts. With what words can I describe your power? With what terms can I express your energies? Your power is truly divine, as a divine gift, and your energy is unfathomable, equal to the divine will, because it operates with divine power, and however much people think with their mind will consider it inadequatly. As light you illumine those who have a darkened intellect, you lead those who seek truth in the Scriptures, and you become a secure guide to knowledge. You are heated with divine eros in the hearts and ignite in them divine love. You generate true hope, that rebukes in a secret way and reveals those things in which we hope. You don in the garments of a son of a king those who were enlightened by you. You grace them with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You fill the faithful with the spirit of the fear of God. You generously grace them with the fruits of the Holy Spirit. You fill the heart of the believer with love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, meekness and temperance. Your power has refashioned the person that has been worn away by sin, and restore them to their ancient beauty and present them as an image of God. Your energy, that moves by divine power, convinces the mind to obey you, and informs the heart of the truths that are revealed by your truths. Your Divine Light is poured out on the believer and illumines their mind to understand the Scriptures. You open the eyes of the intellect, and you knock on the strings of the heart to worship the Divine, and to sing hymns of praise to the Divine without ceasing. You teach people to be obedient to God. You teach those things spoken of by the Holy Prophets, teaching people to understand their meanings. You illumine people to understand the teachings of the Holy Apostles. You operate on perfect ethics. You put philosophical thoughts in the believer. You reveal by your divine power and energy the divine character even of unbelievers. You attracted the nations to salvation. You conquered the entire world. You looted the synagogues of people. You overcame atheism. You set up the Honorable Cross as a trophy on the earth. To you kings became subject. To you ran the princes and rulers of the people. You showed the philosophers to be unwise. You proved the poor in spirit to be wise and eloquent orators. You were declared to the people and enlightened the world. You sanctified the nations since you overcame them. You showed to the ancient world grown old by sin to be new by your divine power. You abolished the harsh laws. You restored justice. You condemned wars. You awarded the world with peace. You led to equality. You gave true freedom. You abolished the dominion of the devil. You installed the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. You exiled bitter sadness from the world. You lavishly gave inexpressible joy to the world. Therefore we deservedly honor you. We follow you and have you in our hearts, and with courage hope to acquire the Kingdom of God and eternal goods. Amen. Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
Some of the most heartbreakingly beautiful music was born out of religion. Learn about the Cherubic Hymn, one of the most beautiful pieces in Eastern Orthodox liturgy.
It is my particular pleasure to introduce the Orthodox Illustration Project – an initiative under the aegis of the Orthodox Arts Journal. In brief, the purpose of the project is to make available o…
Coptic Orthodox Icon of Saint Mark 10.5 X 7.5 inch, high quality handmade printed image mounted on a special treated wood with ageing techniques and some other materials . religious icon, birthday gift, (name or day gift), baptism gift, home gift, Sunday school gift
For most of Christian history, learning about Christ could not be done through personal reading, as the majority of the world could not read. Learning was done through listening to preaching, and through the singing of hymns. The events of Holy Week, from the triumphal entry of Christ in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, to the Cross of Good Friday, to the glorious Resurrection on Pascha, have been taught throughout the centuries primarily through song. In fact, the most well-known Orthodox hymn, \"Christ is Risen\", provides in 22 words, a summary of the Resurrection and its meaning for Christian salvation. Holy Week in the Orthodox Church is a journey of nine days and nearly 20 services, that returns us to Jerusalem 2,000 years ago through Scripture, ritual and, most especially, hymnology. Scripture captivates the mind. Ritual captivates the eyes. Hymnology stirs our souls to spiritual renewal, captivating our emotions and our hearts. The Greatest Story Ever Sung: Reflections on the Hymns of Holy Week in the Orthodox Church reflects on both the well-known and lesser-known hymns of the services of the Orthodox Holy Week. It will take you on a journey not only to the week of Christ's Passion, but to the depths of your own faith. This book will capture your emotions, warm your heart and restore your spirit. It will help you remember the saving work of Jesus Christ and allow you to more deeply appreciate Holy Week services in the years to come. The foreword is written by Christopher Kypros, a dedicated choir director and composer, who has poured his soul into leading choirs in singing these beautiful hymns. The author of the book, Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis, has celebrated the services of Holy Week for more than 25 years. Consisting of 61 short reflections, this book guides the reader from the Saturday of Lazarus through the Agape Vespers on Pascha, taking us on a familiar journey that many of us know through Scripture, but, instead, leading us by way of the beautiful and powerful hymns that comprise the greatest story ever sung.
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St. Joseph the Hesychast ☦️, Monastic Wisdom (p. 78). Chant name: The Cherubic Hymn, Voice 1 (A)’. Want to learn more? Join our Q&A at patreon.com/frpeterheers, or sign up for our mailing list on...
As the hymn progresses, various individuals and groups encounter Christ and His Mother. Each has his own need; each his own desire or expectation, and each finds his or her own particular spiritual need satisfied and fulfilled in Our Lord and in the Mother of God. So too, each generation of Orthodox, and each particular person who has prayed the Akathist, has found in this hymn an inspired means of expressing gratitude and praise to the Mother of God for what she has accomplished for their salvation.
Coloring pages for June start with All saints, included Sts Martha and Mary, their hymn and a short lesson. Nativity of John the Baptist, Prophets Elisha and Amos with a short description. Ending w…
Places Orthodox sources—icons, hymns, and prayers—on motherhood into conversation with each other. In so doing, this work brings an anchored vision of motherhood to the twenty-first century—especially the embodied experience of motherhood.
What Are the Special Vows of Great Schema?. Find out about it in our monastery blog. We have been writing about Christianity, church history, church products and crafts, the lives of the great ascetics, etc.
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of the...
St. Isaac the Syrian ☦️, Homily 4. Chant name: The Cherubic Hymn, Voice 1 (A)’. Want to learn more? Join our Q&A at patreon.com/frpeterheers, or sign up for our mailing list on orthodoxethos.com!...
