by St. Basil the Great “Sound the trumpet at the new moon,” says the Psalmist, “in the notable day of your feast.”2 This injunction is prophetic. The Scripture readings indicate to us more loudly than any trumpet and more distinctly than any musical instrument the Feast that precedes these days. For we have learned from […]
On Fasting
March 4, 2011 By
by St. John Chrysostom Fasting is a medicine. But medicine, as beneficial as it is, becomes useless because of the inexperience of the user. He has to know the appropriate time that the medicine should be taken and the right amount of medicine and the condition of the body which is to take it, the […]
More from Palamas on Fasting
August 9, 2010 By
St. Gregory Palamas offers us insights about fasting. The following are excerpts from Homily Six “To encourage Fasting.” The invisible serpent, the originator of evil, is inventive, versatile and extremely skillful in contriving wickedness. He has means to hinder our good purposes and actions as soon as they begin… But we, brethren, should rise above […]
Moses and Elijah as Examples of Fasting
August 8, 2010 By
St. Gregory Palamas gives us the examples of Moses and Elijah as examples to motivate us in our fasting. Moses fasted for many days. Awaken your minds, I entreat You, and lift them up at this opportune time, in company with Moses when he went up the mountain towards God. In this way may you […]
More on Fasting
February 12, 2010 By
by St. John Chrysostom St. John was the Archbishop of Constantinople during the fourth century. He was fearless when denouncing sin in high places, and was a prolific writer, and bold preacher, unafraid to hit the topical issues of the day squarely between the eyes with all the subtlety of a ball peen hammer. His […]
What True Fasting Consists Of
February 12, 2010 By
by St. John Chrysostom St. John was the Archbishop of Constantinople during the fourth century. He was fearless when denouncing sin in high places, and was a prolific writer, and bold preacher, unafraid to hit the topical issues of the day squarely between the eyes with all the subtlety of a ball peen hammer. He […]
