PASTORAL LETTER FOR THE FEAST OF THE LORD’S NATIVITY 2020 † NICOLAE by the mercies of God Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the United States of America and Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas To our Beloved Clergy and Orthodox Christians, Grace, peace, and joy from Christ the Lord, and … Read more
† NICOLAE by the mercies of God Archbishop of the Romanian Archdiocese of the United States of America and Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas To the Beloved Clergy and Orthodox Christians of our Holy Archdiocese, peace and unwavering hope from Christ the Risen Lord, and from us Archpastoral Blessings. Let us … Read more
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Below is the letter from our Metropolitan. Following his letter is our parish instructions. Please read carefully! Important The nature of the COVID-19 pandemic changes continually and we are all struggling to do our part to meet this challenge. Health officials, local and national governments, and dedicated citizens … Read more
The Feast of the Protection commemorates the appearance of the most holy Theotokos in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in the tenth century, as recorded in the life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ’s sake. While the multitudes of the faithful were gathered in church, Epiphanius, the friend of Saint Andrew, through the … Read more
“If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven.” What I have often said I shall now repeat, … Read more
In addition to the celebration of the Annunciation, there are three major feasts in the Church honoring Mary, the Theotokos. The first of these is the feast of her nativity which is kept on the eighth of September. The record of the birth of Mary is not found in the Bible. The traditional account of … Read more
The first day of the Church New Year is also called the beginning of the Indiction. The term Indiction comes from a Latin word meaning, “to impose.” It was originally applied to the imposition of taxes in Egypt. The first worldwide Indiction was in 312 when the Emperor Constantine (May 21) saw a miraculous vision … Read more
A Parable by Elder Cleopa When Elder Cleopa was asked, “Why does the Lord allow evil?” He answered with the following story. A long time ago in the Egyptian desert there lived a hermit monk. Sometimes he would go to Alexandria to sell the baskets he wove. The hermit would give almost all the money … Read more
The Catechetical Sermon of St. John Chrysostom is read during Matins of Pascha. If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let … Read more
Saint Justin Popovich We humans find ourselves on the road between paradise and hell, between God and the devil. All our thoughts and reflections, and every one of our feelings, bring the soul a little closer to paradise or hell. If a thought or reflection is rational (that is Godly) and brings us to the … Read more