Click here
Donate
Search
Donate

Daily Meditations

The Fifth Day of Christmas Advent. The Lord Christ’s Net

11/19/2025

~Sermon preached by Fr. Antony Hughes for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord 2020 The Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn still visible is a beautiful sight, reminding us of the Christmas Star, although it most likely is not the same. Of course, the Adventists among us are speculating that Christ is soon to return. So they have been for over 2,000 years. Our message to them is, “What are you waiting for?

The Fourth Day of Christmas Advent. The Significance of the Birth of Christ for the Human Race

11/18/2025

Every year, in an atmosphere of joy and delight, the Church celebrates the Birth of Christ, and sings wonderful hymns to God Who became incarnate and re-formed our degenerate human nature. Orthodox hymnography and theology emphasize the great anthropological significance of the divine incarnation: we have been saved from hopeless degradation and from the chaos of destructive hatred by the love of God, which took on flesh and bone within history through the person of

The Third Day of Christmas Advent. Broken Communion

11/17/2025

~Father Stephen Freeman, November 25, 2022 The holidays can make it all too poignant: the terrible fact of broken communion. Often, our festivities bring us into close contact with some (few or many) whom we most commonly avoid. An uncle, an aunt, a brother, a parent whose relationship is marked with pain, misunderstanding, shame, and various other torments. Statistics say that these times (particularly Thanksgiving to Christmas) are frequently marred by things we would otherwise

The Second Day of Christmas Advent. Memory of Apostle and Evangelist Matthew

11/16/2025

The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, was also named Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he was one of the Twelve Apostles (Mark 3:18; Luke 6:45; Acts 1:13), and was brother of the Apostle James Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). He was a publican, or tax-collector for Rome, in a time when the Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire. He lived in the Galilean city of Capernaum. When Matthew heard the voice of Jesus Christ:

The First Day of Christmas Advent. Fasting from the Sentiments of the Feast

11/15/2025

By Father Stephen Freeman I have a favorite Joni Mitchell song. In her very mournful style she sings about the season before Christmas: It’s comin’ on Christmas, They’re cuttin’ down trees, They’re puttin’ up reindeer and singin’ songs of joy and peace. Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on…I would teach my feet to fly! It is a melancholy tune, echoing the bittersweet experience of the culture Christmas. We love

On the Feast of St. Philip the Apostle

11/14/2025

~By S. Michael Phillips, November 14, 2004 In the Name of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Glory to Jesus Christ! “Philip ran to [the Ethiopian eunuch], and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.” [1] Introduction Before it was a

St John Chrysostom: The Golden Trumpet

11/13/2025

~ By John Athanasatos St John Chrysostom is celebrated in the Orthodox Church three times a year. His repose is on September 14 but since that is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Feast was moved to November 13th. In addition, Chrysostom is celebrated on January 27th and again on the Feast of the Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs (Jan 30th), along with St Basil and St Gregory the Theologian. On

The Stewardship of St. John the Merciful

11/12/2025

“We will soon see, Lord, which of us two will win the contest: You, Whoever gives me good gifts, or I, who will never cease distributing them to the poor. For I know well there is nothing of mine that is not owing to Your mercy, which upholds my life.” (Prayer of St. John the Merciful) Born in the year 555 on the island of Cyprus, the saint we remember on November 12 is a

Remembering our Veterans

11/11/2025

By Archpriest Theodore Boback, Syosset, NY Two holidays are brought to us in the Orthodox Church in America on November 11—Veterans Day in the United States of America and Remembrance Day in Canada. In the United States, Veterans Day originally was celebrated as Armistice Day beginning in 1918, celebrating the end of World War I, the “War to end all Wars.”  In 1954, the emphasis changed and the celebration and remembrance became known as Veterans

CHRISTMAS CARD 2025 LISTING

11/10/2025

Dear Friends, It’s that time of the year again when our thoughts turn towards the holidays.  You have responded generously in the past with your time and resources to the needs of our beloved Saint Sophia Community – but don’t stop now!  For over fifty years our annual Community Card has become our traditional way of sharing holiday greetings with each other.  What a wonderful way of sharing the joy with the entire Cathedral community.

Categories
Archives
Trending
Adam Advent Bethlehem Christmas Christmas Advent communion Constantinople Cross death Dormition Egypt Eucharist Fathers Fr. Antony Hughes Fr. Stephen Freeman grace Great Lent heart holy spirit humility incarnation Israel Jerusalem kingdom Kingdom of God lent love Mary Messiah Moses Mother of God Nativity New Testament Old Testament Pascha Paul Pemptousia Pentecost prayer resurrection Saint Paul salvation St. Paul Theotokos Trinity
View Our Live Stream Services
Keep In Touch

Stewardship Application

How to stay connected when separated

Daily Meditations

Father Steve's Daily Meditations & Weekly Bible Study every Tuesday at 7PM

Worship Schedule

Click here to view!

Light a Virtual Candle

Please Light a Virtual "Kandili" (Votive Candle) for Healing and Remembrance

Text-to-Give in 2 easy steps!

1) Text 202-899-7801 to include your donation amount

2) Follow the link to complete the one-time registration

Donate Now

Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral 2815 36th St NW, Washington DC 20007

© 2020 Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral