580. Fifth Sunday of Great Lent: Saint Mary of Egypt – Flee into the Wilderness!

This story has always captivated me, for reasons I can’t explain. The Monastery of Saint Savas (Mar Sabas) in the Palestinian West Bank down below Jerusalem is one of the oldest continually functioning monasteries in the world. In the late Fourth Century monks from Mar Sabas spent much of Lent alone in the desert. A […]

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575. Last Sunday of Pre-Lent. Forgiveness Sunday.

Last week we talked about how to be saved. This week we’ll talk about a sure way not to be saved. But first: Please pray for the brave people of Ukraine (which is about 75% Orthodox, 35 million people), still being bombarded day after day by Russia in this unjust unholy war, now entering its […]

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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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571. Pre-Lent – already?

Well, actually no. The First Sunday of Pre- Lent (the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee) doesn’t come till February 1. However, next Friday, January 30, I want to talk about the Three Hierarchs’ festival which falls on that very day. So… Today let’s anticipate the Publican and the Pharisee. Then, for the rest […]

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