THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

People often ask priests: “Why should we go to church every Sunday?” and then they begin to justify themselves. 1. “We need our sleep, then, we need to spend time with the family, do things around the house, etc. And you want us to get up and go to church. What for?” Of course, in order to justify one’s laziness one can come up with various objections. But first we have to understand the meaning behind the weekly trips to church and only then to measure it against our self-ju

by Saint Justin Popovich Without doubt, matter is represented in the human body in a manner which is most puzzling, most mysterious, and most complex. The brain: What wondrous mysteries pass between its physical and spiritual parts! How vast is the experience of the human race! In no manner can one ever fully comprehend or grasp these mysteries. Indeed, little of this is accessible to the human senses or intellectual investigation. So it is also with the heart of man, formed

by Fr. Milan Savich † Fasting is as old as the human race. Fasting was practiced by pagan religions, Judaism and Christianity, and it was generally considered an important element of religious life, although with different practices and understanding. In the ancient religions of the East fasting meant a complete abstention from food for a certain period of time — one day or more. The origin of fasting as a moral discipline, especially among the old pagan religions is very obs

Fr. John Whiteford St. John Chrysostom states that the practice of praying for the dead comes from the Apostles themselves: "Not in vain did the Apostles order that remembrance should be made of the dead in the dreadful Mysteries. They know that great gain resulteth to them, great benefit; for when the whole people stand with uplifted hands, a priestly assembly, and that awful Sacrifice lies displayed, how shall we not prevail with God by our entreaties for them?" (Homily 3 o

by Tony Holden People sometimes ask if we worship Icons. The answer is simple, it is an emphatic No! No Christian worships an image. Christians worship God. We do not worship Icons, but we do venerate them. That means we show special respect for the Icons. We do this because the Icons are a way of joining us to the goodness and holiness of God and His Saints. When an Orthodox Christian goes into Church, he lights a candle, makes the sign of the cross then kisses the Icons of

What is the orthodox stance on ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopacy, and how do you back it up? Answer While a thorough answer to your question is beyond the scope of an email, it can be said that the Orthodox Church precludes the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopacy. It is a matter of Holy Tradition, as well as a vision of ministry as something not limited to the ordained priesthood. In my limited experience of this subject I have come across

What's Inside an Orthodox Church? The visitor to an Orthodox Church is usually impressed by the unique features and the external differences between this place of worship and those of the various traditions of Western Christianity. The rich colour, distinctive iconography, and beauty of the interior of an Orthodox Church generally are in sharp contrast to the simplicity which one finds in many Roman Catholic and Protestant churches. When one enters the interior of the Orthodo

by Fr. John Hainsworth Every night my family gathers around the dinner table. We pray, dish out the food, laugh, argue, and ask and answer questions. The scene is sometimes chaotic, sometimes serious, sometimes silly, but this scene defines our family. This table becomes the heart of our family. My girls, when they come to the table, come as full members of the family. They are not invited to the table but excluded from the food. They belong by right to the household, and the

“Enter the Church and wash away your sins. For here there is a hospital and not a court of law. Do not be ashamed to enter the Church; be ashamed when you sin, but not when you repent.” ~ St. John Chrysostom In the film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones finds himself in a cave, trying to pass three obstacles in order to reach the Holy Grail. To pass the first he is told, “Only a penitent man will pass.” As he repeats this phrase to himself, he approaches the

Physical Exercise Yoga was first presented in the Western world as a kind of “physical exercise”, a method of relaxation and psychological calmness. Its basic difference from the usual physical exercise lays, inter alias, in the characteristic immobility. Many yoga exercises have some positive effects on certain people –something, nevertheless, that occurs with the exercises of other systems as well. Generally speaking, though, these exercises belong to a framework of Hinduis

Upon entering a church one lights a candle. Although it seems simple it is actually a very deep and meaningful act. By lighting a candle it is not only for oneself, but for family members and anyone else for God to watch over. Different meanings Lighting a candle is making an offering to God. It is offering our prayers and thanks to Him for His blessings. Lighting a candle is a symbol of prayer. The act of lighting a candle is a prayer without words, although still say a pray

(written in 1956) You ask me, why is the Orthodox Church against cremation. First of all because it considers it violent. The Serbs still shudder with the crime of Sinan Pasha, who burned the dead body of St. Sava on Vrachar. Do people burn dead horses, dogs, cats and monkeys? I have not heard of this. I have heard of and seen them buried. Why should the dead bodies of people who are the lords of all animals on earth endure violence? Would it not be in all respects much more