168. For the Saturday of Souls: What does the Orthodox Church teach about the Afterlife? Part One

This is a subject of considerable interest to me, since I am 81 years old and getting older. Fast. The End All traditional Christians agree here. “All the peoples of the earth will …see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”  Matthew 24:30 Then will be  the Resurrection […]

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167. The Last Three Pre-Lenten Sunday Epistles on How to Keep the Fast

Why not the first Pre-Lenten Epistle? Because it says nothing about fasting, since the first week of Pre-Lent omits the Wednesday and Friday Fast. If you’re reading this Post immediately after it’s published, there’s still time for a Friday cheeseburger! Hurry! If you don’t like cheeseburgers, you should come and try one the way my wife […]

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166. The Divine Liturgy 6 – The True Pro-Anaphora

The intro to last week’s Post tells how to find earlier Posts in this series. Last week we covered the “Pro-Pro-Anaphora”, which leads us to what anciently began the Pro-Anaphora. Namely: The Little Entrance… …so called because it takes a short path, out the North Doors and directly to the Royal Doors. Later the Anaphora […]

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165. The Divine Liturgy 5 – The Pro-Pro-Anaphora

But before we get started: Two years ago for the feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (February 2), I wrote an article “The Groundhog Who Stole Candlemas” which I note that many people are reading this year. (We bloggers know many secrets about you…) So I went back and read it again to see […]

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164. The Divine Liturgy 4 – The Basics

In Posts 151 and 152 we covered the Proskomidia, the Priest’s Preparation for Divine Liturgy. Last week: How the people should prepare. The Purpose of the Liturgy  “Divine Liturgy” is the Orthodox term for what Roman Catholics call the Mass, or Protestants variously title the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion or the Holy Eucharist, though many […]

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