480. The Story of the Transfiguration (revised)

In case some of you long-time readers feel a sense of deja vu as you read this Post, you are to be congratulated for having a good memory. I promised to write on the Transfiguration, but this was one of the rare weeks when I just couldn’t come up with anything. So I searched back […]

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473. The Ascension: The Feast of Our Future

Jesus: “I go to prepare a place for you, so that where I am, you may be also.” Thomas: “But, Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” He wanted a geographical answer. (“Go to Jericho, then turn right”, or something.) Jesus:  “I am the Way, the Truth and the […]

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470. Doubting Thomas? Part Three: Not Seeking Truth

  “There is no use trying,” said Alice; “one can’t believe impossible things.” “I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”    from Alice’s Adventures […]

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468. Doubting Thomas? Part One: Seeking Truth

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen! Forgive me. This Post is three days late. Just wait till you’re 85 and stay at the Paschal Meal at church till 4:30 in the morning. It was wonderful, and I spent all last  week recovering. This Post has already grown rather long. Therefore I’m splitting into two […]

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466. Holy Saturday night: The Paschal Service, Paschal Matins, Paschal Divine Liturgyu

GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA!   Christ is risen! Truly he is risen! Father Alexander Schmemann called our Orthodox Paschal celebration “an explosion of joy”. Words are inadequate to describe the services. They speak for themselves. (Every time I preached on Pascha I wished I hadn’t. This year my Pascha sermon will consist of: “Christ is […]

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