574. Third Sunday of Pre-Lent. 1) Meatfare Sunday: More about Fasting from Saint Paul. 2) Judgment Sunday: Who will be saved? We know the answer.

But before we begin: 1  The husband of one of our readers wrote this Haiku (a Japanese form of poetry) after the ICE murder of Alex Pretti, which I think is worth sharing: They shot him 10 times. It was 10 degrees outside. That is such cold blood.   2  Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. When […]

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573. Second Sunday of Pre-Lent: 1) Advice about Fasting. 2)The Prodigal Son (and his faithful stupid Elder Brother)

This Post is based on one I wrote some years ago, which was based on a sermon I delivered many years ago. Each version has become progressively longer. Every time I review my old work I think of more I should have said. Next time (if I’m still around, God willing) it will probably turn […]

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524. Holy Thursday Morning: Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil

We all know that in the Orthodox Church the Divine Liturgy is always a celebration, not allowed during the penitential weekdays of the Great Lenten Fast. We also know that Holy Week is our most penitential period. Furthermore, running with our peculiar Holy Week schedule (which I’ll not go into again here), this actually turns […]

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520. Holy Monday night: Bridegroom Matins

Exaposteilarion at Bridegroom Matins, sung on the first three nights of Holy Week: “Thy bridal chamber I see adorned, O my Savior, but I have no wedding garment that I may enter. O Giver of Light, enlighten the vesture of my soul, and save me.” from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgK0Fc8QUOs   Pat Tsalgakis at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFrdWVEVKYE Chanted in Arabic […]

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519. Holy Monday morning: Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

   The Divine Liturgy is always a festival celebration. That explains why, on the penitential weekdays of Lent and also on the ordinary weekdays of Holy Week, there is no celebration of the full Divine Liturgy. Therefore, at these Liturgies, the Anaphora (the consecration of the Holy Gifts) is omitted, and Holy Communion is received […]

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