The World's Premier Online Orthodox Christian Homiletics Resource
The Preachers Institute, the world’s premier Orthodox Christian homiletics resource, has become a national partner with the Academy of Preachers. The Academy of Preachers is an ecumenical initiative launched through a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment and energized by the conviction that Gospel preaching is a vocation of public and social significance, a calling worthy of the very best and brightest young people. "In our mission to … [Read more...]
Dear friends of the Preachers Institute, During the month of June, I'll be taking a short break from the work at the Preachers Institute. I have been most appreciative of your input, comments, suggestions and offerings during this past year. You have helped make the Preachers Institute better and better each week, and I thank you for that! There are some articles which will be posted, but generally the pace of publication will lessen as I take … [Read more...]
by Fr. John A. Peck TAKE THE POLL! When we were in the early stages of discussing the mission and goals of the Preachers Institute, one that stuck out was the opportunity for advanced, intensive study of homiletics among Orthodox clergy. We decided early on that the professional degree (D. Min.), not an academic degree (such as a Ph.D. or a Th. D) would best fulfill our vision, as it was the preacher on-the-ground, in the parish preaching … [Read more...]
by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov Our father among the saints, Ignatius , was a bishop of the Church of Russia and ascetical writer. He is best known for his spiritual and ascetic writings, particularly 'The Arena.' His feast day is celebrated on April 30. Two beloved disciples asked the Lord for thrones of glory, and He gave them His Cup (Matt. 20:23). The Cup of Christ is suffering. But for those who drink from it on earth, the Cup of Christ … [Read more...]
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 … [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 … [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 … [Read more...]
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, … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
English