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by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon Although the Apostle Peter enthusiastically confessed the identity of Jesus, he was much slower in accepting the message of the Cross. In fact, when Jesus first spoke of his coming Passion, Peter's immediate response was, "Far be it from you, Lord; this shall not happen to you!" So Jesus, having declared Peter "blessed" for his profession of faith, was obliged---within the span of just a few verses---to tell … [Read more...]
by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon The moment of the Incarnation was not static. To be a living human being is not a static thing. Strictly speaking, the doctrine of the Incarnation does not refer simply to a state, but to a full human life. The Word became a specific human being. This is why St. Cyril of Alexandria---manifestly the standard bearer of orthodox Christology---often spoke of Christ as "one of us" (heis ex hemon). As one of us, Jesus was … [Read more...]
by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon Edgar Allen Poe, in his penetrating review of Bleak House, remarked that no reader can comprehend the real wealth of that work in a single reading. Numerous shades of nuance, Poe explained, and dozens of subtle connections were woven so deeply into the fabric of Bleak House that their presence was not even suspected on a first reading. On a second reading, however, the now enlightened reader knows what to … [Read more...]
by Dr. Bradley Nassif Most of my life's work over the past fifty-one years has been devoted to understanding God's truth as it has been known in the Orthodox tradition. I completed four advanced degrees in New Testament, European History, Orthodox pastoral studies, and my doctoral work in patristics under the late Fr. John Meyendorff. I've been an invited speaker at prestigious conferences around the world, done television documentaries, … [Read more...]
by Hieromonk Damascene (Christensen) This is from a talk given at a conference sponsored by the Northern California Brotherhood of Orthodox Clergy and held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Sacramento, California, October 21, 2006. 1. WHY PREACH THE GOSPEL The theme of today's conference, "Preaching the Gospel of Christ in the Modern World," is relevant to everyone here, not only to those who are called to preach … [Read more...]
by Origen of Alexandria A Christian of the early third century, Origen was the first theologian to formulate a systematic system. He lived in a turbulent period for the Christian Church, a period of Roman persecutions and loose doctrinal consensus. He was a priest, ordained under controversial conditions. His writings were extensive, much of which is not extant. In later centuries some extreme views by followers were attributed to him and … [Read more...]
by St. John Chrysostom Our father among the saints, John, Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities. After his death (or, according to some sources, during his life) he was given the Greek … [Read more...]
by Fr. Hans Jacobse Director of the American Orthodox Institute, and editor of OrthodoxyToday.org, Fr. Hans provides Orthodox Christians today with updated news and articles on social, cultural and political events from an Orthodox Christian moral tradition. His editorials and essays have been published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Duluth News Tribune, International Herald Tribune, Hellenic Voice, Breakpoint website, Front Page Magazine … [Read more...]
by St. John Chrysostom "And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him, and the third day He shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry." THAT is, to hinder their saying, "wherefore do we abide here continually," He speaks to them again of the passion; on hearing which they had no wish so much as to see Jerusalem. And it is remarkable how, when … [Read more...]
by St. John Chrysostom Matt. 17: 10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the Scribes that Elias (Elijah)must first come? Not then from the Scriptures did they know this, but the Scribes used to explain themselves, and this saying was reported abroad among the ignorant people; as about Christ also. Wherefore the Samaritan woman also said, Messiah comes; when He has come, He will tell us all things: John 4:25 and they themselves … [Read more...]
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