~Sermon Preached by Fr. Antony Hughes on Sunday, November 12, 2006 In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen Glory to Jesus Christ! It is significant that when the lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to “inherit eternal life” he answers the question by removing the future emphasis. Life is to be lived now. Jesus says that if we want to live, that is,
Protopresbyter Themistoklis Mourtzanos ‘For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life’ (Rom. 5, 10) In our spiritual tradition, the attitude of people towards God is often portrayed as being hostile. God and human beings seem to be two different worlds, between which there’s no love or co-existence, but rather a yawning chasm. It may
~By Father Stephen Freeman, July 25, 2023 Imagine a character in a story who is wraith-like, barely existing. His every move threatens to draw him deeper into non-existence. As it stands, others around him are only able to see him moments at a time. He often disappears for whole days at a time as he lapses into such ghostly non-being that he cannot be seen at all. Each step he takes either diminishes his existence
Dear Stewards,Christmas will find the Nave of Saint Sophia beautified with flowers to enhance the spirit of the holiday. Traditionally about 70 potted poinsettias are arranged throughout the Church. This year stewards of the congregation are invited to donate a poinsettia for a loved one’s health and/or in memory of loved ones. Names will be commemorated by the Clergy at the Proskomidi (preparation of the gifts for Holy Communion) and during the Christmas Liturgy. Please
Dear Saint Sophia Parishioners, On behalf of Father Steve and Father Gabriel, and with their blessings, the Parish Council would like to provide the SSC Community with an update. Liturgical Calendar – every Sunday 8:30 Orthros and 10:00 Divine Liturgy – please see the website, website calendar, bulletins, and emails for other services. SSC Ministries – Weekly and Monthly Reoccurring Events – please see the website, website calendar, bulletins, and emails for updates. Father Steve’s
~ By John Athanasatos There are three sets of Saints named Cosmas and Damian. One pair is from Rome (celebrated July 1st), another Arabia (October 17th) and the one celebrated on November 1st is from Asia Minor. All three pairs are brothers and unmercenary physicians. They each lived at different periods as well. The pair from Rome and Arabia were martyrs. Many Orthodox Churches throughout the world are named after the Holy Unmercenaries (Οί Άγιοι
There is also the myth that Christians condemned the pagan festivities of October 31 by replacing it with All Hallows Eve, the day before the Feast of All Saints in the West. It is often recorded that in 601 AD Pope Gregory I issued a now famous edict to his missionaries concerning the native beliefs and customs of the peoples he hoped to convert. Rather than try to obliterate native peoples’ customs and beliefs, the
~Saint Theophan the Recluse You complain about the volatility of your inner state- sometimes it’s good, at others it’s bad. It can’t be otherwise. ‘I’ve undergone unpleasant spiritual states in a variety of forms and continue to do so’. All we can do is bear them with patience and fortitude, without relaxing our spiritual struggle and without neglecting our observance of God’s commandments, which is exactly what you’re doing. A good spiritual state arrives. It
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