Discovering our Identity
The problems faced by young people within the Orthodox Church are not unique to them. They are experienced by those with an Orthodox faith, those who belong to other Christian…
What is a real man?
We live in an age of great confusion. When I was a child in the 1960s, people would take time out of their lives, often before getting a job, to…
Homily for Thomas Sunday
In our Orthodox Church this first Sunday of the fifty days of Pentecost is often called Thomas Sunday because of the Gospel which we have just heard read. We remember…
Translation – The Book of Councils – Introduction
I am beginning a new project to produce an English translation of the Book of Councils by Severus, bishop of Aschmounain, from the 10th century. It was he who also…
Overcoming the Roots of Sin
We often discover that when one habitual sin becomes partly or completely overcome then the deeper root of that sin is exposed. In the case of many habitual sins it…
Great Lent – The First Sunday
Matthew 6:19-30 The passage we have read from the Gospel of St Matthew seems to me to be full of opposites and full of choices. We are used to having…
Great Lent – Saturday of the First Week
In the passage from the Gospel today, we have heard our Lord Jesus Christ instruct us to pray for our enemies and put up with all manner of injustice and…
Great Lent – Friday of the First Week
There were many times that the Disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ asked questions of him, or of each other. Usually they had completely misunderstood what he was saying, and…
Great Lent – Thursday of the First Week
Today we keep the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple. We remember in the Gospel reading that the Holy Family are greeted by Simeon,…
Great Lent – Wednesday of the First Week
We have a beautiful passage set for us today in Luke 6:35-38. It is short enough to quote here completely. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for…