533. “Are You Saved?” the Orthodox understanding of Salvation

      Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!   “Here’s how we do it. We visit people, and we ask ‘Do you want to be sure you’re going to Heaven?’ Most of them say ‘Yes’.  Then we say: ‘Just recite these words: “I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior”, and […]

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532. 1) The Newly-revealed Martyrs of Mytilene, 2) Father Alexander Schmemann on Division and Unity, 3) Pope Francis

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!   ______________________________________ The Holy Martyrs the Priest Raphael, Irene and the Deacon Nicholas  commemorated on Bright Tuesday each year Previously forgotten and unknown, these Fifteenth Century martyrs first revealed themselves to the world in 1959! This is an amazing, wonderful story. I wrote about it only a few […]

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531. P.S. How the Theotokos learned of the Resurrection

I promised to write no more, and I meant it. But there’s something important I forgot. My dear cousin Jacklyn wrote to say she identified with the sufferings of the Virgin Mary, as surely have a million mothers who have suffered great loss. I wrote in an earlier Post of how the Theotokos * suffered […]

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530. Great and Holy Pascha

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen! Here are a number of things related to this great Feast, 1) Midnight Paschal Resurrection Service, Paschal Matins and Divine Liturgy After a short “Midnight Office”, the church is darkened, all candles are extinguished, and we are in the tomb with Our Lord and God Jesus Christ. One […]

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528. Holy Friday night Matins: “The Lamentations Service”

Please get to church tonight. If you cannot, please try to find yourself a way to worship live-stream. My recommendation for Holy Week services beautifully done and streamed is Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tfyC_LQojQ This is much too beautiful to miss – my favorite service of the year. Is this a […]

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