Daily Meditations

Sermon on Gratitude

Published by Pemptousia Partnership on January 19, 2020 Metropolitan Anthony Bloom † 17 December 1989 In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Ten lepers came to the Lord; ten men who were ritually unclean and therefore, ritually rejected by their community, unable to attend the common worship of the Temple, unable to come near the habitations of men; and unclean also in the eyes of men because their sickness could be transmitted to

The Space Between

~By Fr Stephen Freeman, July 14, 2025 Is there a God “out there”? God is “everywhere present and filling all things,” we say in our Orthodox prayers, but is He “out there?” For what it’s worth, I want to suggest for a moment that He is not. Largely, what I am describing is what takes place in our imagination – that is, what we picture when we pray and how we think of God as we

Sons of Alphaeus

By Thomas G. Doughty Jr. Brothers abounded among Jesus’s earliest disciples, most notably Peter and Andrew and the sons of Zebedee. According to Eastern Orthodox tradition, another pair of brothers features in the crew of apostles: Matthew, also called Levi, and James the Lesser. James is called the son of Alphaeus in all four New Testament lists of the Twelve. While this definitely distinguishes him from James the son of Zebedee and James the half-brother of

‘My Child, Wake Up and Don’t Waste Your Time on Stupid Things!’

Published by Pemptousia Partnership on September 19, 2019 Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi I received your short letter and I share your pain. I brought to mind the image of how things are and, aware of my own wretchedness, sighed at the possibility of being saved. ‘Alas, Saviour of the world, I am overwhelmed by my iniquities and am unable to see. Hasten, as merciful, and make speed, as compassionate, to our aid, for you can do whatsoever you

The Only Question

Sermon preached by Fr. Antony Hughes on Sunday, October 20, 2024 Today I would like to point out the parts of the Gospel reading that strike me as most important. I might surprise you. I do not believe that the wild and crazy happenings with the demons are the main point of the story at all. The main focus is Jesus who he is and what he does. Not even personified evil is a match

Holy, Glorious Apostle Thomas

The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas was born in the Galilean city of Pansada and was a fisherman. Hearing the good tidings of Jesus Christ, he left all and followed after Him. The Apostle Thomas is included in the number of the holy Twelve Apostles of the Savior. According to Holy Scripture, the holy Apostle Thomas did not believe the reports of the other disciples about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ: “Unless I see in

The Peaches of Paradise

~By Fr Stephen Freeman, May 5, 2025 The parish to which I have retired, St. John of the Ladder in Greenville, SC, has the extreme blessing of an iconographer-in-residence. The Church was built but a few years ago, and has slowly seen its walls frescoed. It is a place of beauty. Serving in the altar, I find that my eyes are frequently drawn to the icons. There are the figures of notable bishops, our heavenly

The Medicine of Immortality

~By Fr. Stephen Freeman, September 9, 2025 Imagine that you’ve been brought into a hospital from a terrible wreck. You’re in the ER and there are a team of doctors and nurses standing by with their amazing array of medical equipment. Also standing nearby is a team of lawyers, specialists in accident litigation. Whom do you want to talk to first? I use this illustration to emphasize the nature of the human problem: we are

Weekly Bulletin

Sunday, October 25, 2026 Sunday, October 18, 2026 Sunday, October 11, 2026 Sunday, October 4, 2026 Sunday, September 27, 2026 * PRINTED HARD COPY VERSION   Sunday, September 20, 2026 Sunday, September 13, 2026 Sunday, September 6, 2026

The Life of Saint Romanos the Melodist

St. Romanos was born in Syria in the fifth century. His parents were neither rich nor famous but they were good Christians and loving parents. Romanos grew up with love for God in his heart. When he grew old enough he became an altar boy and then a singer and reader in church – at first in his home town of Beirut and later in Constantinople. Romanos wanted to serve God to the best of