Our Venerable and God-bearing Father Theodore the Studite was a hymnographer and theologian as well as the abbot of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Studios, outside of Constantinople, during the ninth century.

His great theological contribution, On the Holy Icons, was for the defense of icons during the Second Iconoclasm Period (814-842). He is also known for his writings and influence on monastic reform.

On our Accomplishing the Days of the Fast Gently and Readily in the Hope of Life Without End

Brethren and fathers, fasting is good if it possesses its own special characteristics, which are to be peaceable, meek, well-established, obedient, humble, sympathetic and all the other forms of virtue. But the devil hurries to suggest the opposite to fasters and to make them insolent, angry, bad-tempered, puffed up, so as to produce hurt more than gain. Read more

By Fr. John A. Peck

The questions a preacher must consider when preparing his sermon are many.  One such question must be: “Is my sermon a vaccination against sin and indifference, or an inoculation against conversion?” Though we certainly believe that vaccinations are good science, the idea that a small, dead amount of something which is good (in this case, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ) can be used to create resistance to the very living thing which heals and cures – and therefore is bad - make this an excellent metaphor for instruction.

I’m indebted to Alan Boyd, pastoral assistant at Assumption Church in Scottsdale, AZ for ideas contributing to this article.

Often a preacher must decide just how much ‘salt’ his congregation or listening audience can stomach (see my article, Sermons and Snickers Bars for more about ‘salting’ your sermons). Just as often, a preacher can default to a minimum announcement of the Gospel to his hearers, presenting a minimum of Gospel platitudes or moralizing, but staying a minimum safe distance from possibly incendiary, but basic, Christian topics (hell and how to get there, tithing and the other 90%, the moral teaching of the Church, etc) which are necessary for life, faith and spiritual growth in the Spirit. Such mini-sermons are often called ‘sermonettes,’ and parishes get to expect sermonettes, as opposed to real sermons. Read more

Happy Feast Day everyone!

Christ is baptized in the Jordan!

And we with Him!

At the completion of the twelve-day festival, starting on December 25, and ending on January 5, known as Christmastide or the twelve days of Christmas, (although some Christian cultures, especially those of Latin America and some in Europe extend it to as many as forty days, ending on Candlemas – February 2).

It goes by other names in various church traditions. In Hispanic and Latin culture, as well as some places in Europe, it is known as Three Kings’ Day (Span: el Dia de los Tres Reyes, la Fiesta de Reyes, or el Dia de los Reyes Magos; Dutch: Driekoningendag). Originally, there was just one Christian feast of the shining forth of God to the world in the human form of Jesus of Nazareth. It included the celebration of Christ’s birth, the adoration of the Wisemen, and all of the childhood events of Christ such as his circumcision and presentation to the temple as well as his baptism by John in the Jordan. There seems to be little doubt that this feast, like Pascha and Pentecost, was understood as the fulfillment of a previous Jewish festival, in this case the Feast of Lights.

In the Orthodox Church, this observance commemorates Christ’s baptism by John the Forerunner in the River Jordan, and the beginning of Christ’s earthly ministry. The Feast of Theophany is the culmination of the Christmas Season, which starts on December 25 and ends on January 6. In mystic commemoration of this event, the Great Blessing of Water is performed on this day, and the holy water so blessed is used by the local priest to bless the homes of the faithful.

Epiphany

This feast is also sometimes referred to as Epiphany by English-speaking Orthodox Christians, but that name more properly refers to the Western Christian feast falling on that same day and commemorating the visit of the Magi to the child Jesus. The term “Epiphany” does appear in the services for this feast, however.

Celebration of the feast

The services of Theophany are set up exactly as those of the Nativity. Historically the Christmas services were established later.

The Royal Hours are read and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is served with Vespers on the eve of the feast. The Vigil is made up of Great Compline and Matins

The Liturgy of the feast begins with psalms of glorification and praise instead of the three normal Antiphons. And the baptismal line from Galatians 3:27 once again replaces the Thrice-Holy.

For as many as been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ! Alleluia!

The Gospel readings of all the services tell of the Lord’s baptism by John in the Jordan River. The epistle reading of the Divine Liturgy tells of the consequences of the Lord’s appearing which is the divine epiphany.

Since the main feature of the feast is the blessing of water. It is prescribed to follow both the Divine Liturgy of the eve of the feast and the Divine Liturgy of the day itself. But most local parishes do it only once when most of the parishioners can be present. The blessing verifies that mankind, and all of creation, were created to be filled with the sanctifying presence of God.

On the Feast of Theophany itself, the priest, wearing white vestments, will celebrate the Great Blessing of Waters, and in some regions frankincense, gold, and chalk.

The blessed chalk is used to write the initials of the three magi over the doors of churches and homes.

Not only do the letters stand for the initials of the Magi (traditionally named Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar), but of the phrase Christus mansionem benedicat, which translates as

“may Christ bless the house.”

In Alaska, candles are used  instead to mark the threshold of every doorway with the sign of the cross.

May Christ bless your home during this holy season, and on this glorious day!

Merry Christmas

to all our faithful readers, members, lurkers and writers!

On this day, the day of our Lord’s birth, we here at the Preachers Institute want to wish you all a very merry, safe, and spiritually fruitful Nativity celebration, and to assure you all of our prayers, particularly on this festive Holy day. This is a great feast, the feast of the Incarnation – the central theological doctrine of the Christian faith.

If the Eternal, unseen, invisible God can become today a little child, then, indeed, anything is possible! Spread the Word! Let no man or creature suffer ignorance of this joy!

Speak to all with joy and love and keep the feast with gladness.

God is with us!

On this Christmas day, we wish you and your loved ones every good thing, every perfect gift from above. May God grant you your heart’s desire.

Preachers Institute will be celebrating the “12 Days of Christmas” by offering daily patristic sermons on Theophany/Epiphany until Jan. 6th. In the meantime, be safe, and have a blessed Nativity!

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

– Fr. John

and your friends at Preachers Institute

Congratulations to our Bloggers who signed up for the 30 (40) Days of Blogging.

Today is the 40th day! Your marathon journey has come to an end! Axios!

I want to thank everyone for participating. I’ve been reading your blogs, and I must say, I’m impressed with your work and the incredible labor that went into it. We will repeat this exercise next year, starting (once again) on Nov. 15th.

In the meantime, I want to especially congratulation some especially distinguished and new bloggers:

Fr. Matthew Thurman, of St. Luke’s Mission in Solon, OH, and his blog “30 Days.”

Fr. David Eynon of Annunciation Church in Decatur, IL, and his blog “Shine Within Our Hearts.”

Fr. Seraphim Holland of St. Nicholas Church in McKinney, TX, and his blog “Redeeming the Time.”

Finally, Fr. Athanasios Haros, of  Transfiguration Church, Florence, SC, who is the author of the “Be Transfigured” blog. He blogged every single day of our 40 Day Challenge. Fr. Athanasios also blogged on the New Testament Challenge, not an easy thing to do with a full pastoral schedule, let alone to blog on. Frankly, it was a herculean feat!

I want to thank our most experienced bloggers, Fr. James Coles and Fr. Peter Michael Preble, who are very experienced and outstanding bloggers. You added some great inspiration, not only to blogging, but to preaching. More than once I have ‘borrowed’ material from your blogs for my sermons.

In fact, I’ve done that with all our bloggers. Thank you for helping me preach with more excellence.

Most of all, congratulations to all! See you next Nativity Fast!

Apart from the many helps for a Christmas sermon, the Preachers Institute would like to offer you one more article to spice up a Nativity service for those who attend your worship. There’s nothing better than when ‘the lights go on’ for our listeners, and they see or hear something perhaps they’ve never understood, or perceived before. Add these Scripture verses to your Christmas sermons, and offer a brief explanation of these points.

If your listeners learn something from your sermon, they will remember it. And that’s good preaching!

Scripture verses for Christmas Sermons

Virgin Birth:  Matthew 1:23

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and you shall call His name, Emmanuel. Isaiah 7:14

A young woman conceiving and bearing a son happens thousands of times a week. It’s no sign from the Lord. Read more

Archbishop Job was an honest homilist, and this was the source of his preaching power. Like the late Bishop Innocent of Anchorage, Archbishop Job honestly and directly addressed the problems he faced in the Church.He spoke with love and passion for the Gospel of Christ, and with love for his beloved flock. This is one of his most inspiring sermons, given on Holy Monday, April 17, 2006.

His Eminence JOB, Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest

Delivered at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, Illinois

1. The Completion of Great Lent

Great Lent is now over.  The school of repentance is closed but the ‘text book’, the Lenten Triodion, remains open and opportunities for repentance are still available to us – even for “those who have delayed until the eleventh hour’ (St. John Chrysostom). Read more

Archbishop Job wrote his ‘Joyful Epistle’ on Dec. 3, 2008, and it reflects his deep understanding and pastoral concern for the Church of Christ, and particularly for those who served the Church.

The Orthodox Church in America turned an important corner, with its face to the future, largely in part to the actions and prayers of Archbishop Job himself.

A JOYFUL EPISTLE

to the venerable Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Diocese of the Midwest

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2)

My Beloved in the Lord,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

It is the afternoon of Thanksgiving Day, and after a joyful and peaceful Divine Liturgy my thoughts, in a stress-free, joyous sense of calm, run to pondering on the drama of the last few weeks emanating from an extraordinary 15th All American Council. In what I have termed “a joyful epistle,” in contrast to others of a sorrowful nature that I have written, I will attempt to share with you my newly-found “joyous sense of calm,” as well as my own experience and observations of that remarkable week in Pittsburgh. Read more

Out of the depths have I cried to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice. (Psalm 129:1)

To the Reverend and Esteemed Clergy of the Diocese of the Midwest

My Beloved in the Lord,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I address this letter to you my co-workers in the Vineyard of the lord – The Diocese of the Midwest – and my friends and brothers in Christ, during this Feast of Pentecost, when we most especially and fervently pray that the Holy Spirit will “come and abide in us and cleanse us from every impurity…”

Using the words of the holy Apostle Paul, Read more

Archbishop Job Osacky

Funeral Arrangements for Archbishop Job

Monday, December 21

Place: Christ the Savior Church, 927 N LaSalle Blvd, Chicago, IL 60610

1- 4 PM Viewing. Body then transported to Holy Trinity Cathedral

Place: Holy Trinity Cathedral, 1121 N Leavitt St, Chicago, IL 60622

6-11 PM Viewing. Panikhida at 7 PM

Tuesday, December 22

Place: Holy Trinity Cathedral

11 Am to 11 PM. Funeral Vigil at 7 PM

Wednesday, December 23

Place: Holy Trinity Cathedral

Funeral Liturgy at 9 AM

After Liturgy body is transported to St. Theodosius Cathedral, Cleveland.

Place: St. Theodosius Cathedral, 733 Starkweather Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113

7:30 – 10 PM. Panikhida with viewing at 8 PM

Saturday, December 26

Place: St. John the Baptist Church, 785 Blaire Rd, Blairsville, PA 15717(Black Lick, PA)

Funeral Liturgy with internment at 10 AM