Daily Meditations Archives

Sts. Cosmas and Damian

11/01/2026

On November 1st of each year, the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the holy Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian, two extraordinary brothers who were renowned physicians and martyrs of the early Church. Born in Asia Minor, these beloved saints of the Church earned a distinctive reputation for offering their services of healing to those in need. In their deeds, Saints Cosmas and Damian were living examples of the commandment of Christ to His disciples: Heal the sick,

To Love and the Lord Loves Us

10/29/2026

Sermon preached by Dn. James Wilcox on Sunday, June 2, 2024 Acts 11:19-30; John 4:5-42 Today, on this fifth Sunday of Pascha, we come to a text — as you just heard —which happens to be the longest interaction between Jesus and any other character presented to us in Scripture. And the extended dialogue we just heard between Jesus and the Samaritan woman all takes place in what can be considered sacred territory. Long before this episode,

Holy Protection of the Theotokos

10/28/2026

The Feast of the Protection commemorates the appearance of the most holy Theotokos in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in the tenth century, as recorded in the life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ’s sake. While the multitudes of the faithful were gathered in church, Epiphanius, the friend of Saint Andrew, through the Saint’s prayers, beheld the Virgin Mary above the faithful and spreading out her veil over them, signifying her unceasing protection

The Consequences of Rationalism in Our Life

10/27/2026

Published by Pemptousia Partnership on December 4, 2019 Archimandrite Athanasios (Anastasiou), Former Abbot of the Holy Monastery of the Great Meteora We might define rationalism as excessive dependence on our reason, its elevation to the supreme authority and absolute value. It’s a culpable attitude of mind and outlook on life rather than a simple sin. Essentially, it’s lack of faith. Rationalism is the most typical and insidious expression of pride, which underlies all our sins, invades all our

Sermon on the feast day of the holy martyrs Demetrios and Nestor (26 & 27 October)

10/26/2026

Published by Pemptousia Partnership on November 2, 2019 Metropolitan of Pisidia Sotirios October 27th is the day the Church honors the Martyr St. Nestor, whose life and martyrdom are directly linked to the glorious Martyr St. Demetrios of Thessaloniki. It is for this reason that the lives and testimony of these famous saints be studied together. In the beginning of the 4th Century, the pagan Roman emperors continued their cruel three hundred year persecution of Christians. In the

The Holy Apostle James the Just

10/23/2026

Brother of the Lord, First Bishop of Jerusalem, and Author of the Epistle “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:8) As one of his last blessings of new church communities, His Eminence Metropolitan Philip of blessed memory graciously granted us a charter and name for our church in honor of St. James the Apostle, First Bishop of Jerusalem and the

Spiritual Advice on Courage and Prayer

10/22/2026

Published by Pemptousia Partnership on November 12, 2019 Saint Theophan the Recluse You’re still worried. Tell me, where might these concerns be coming from? Externally, all’s going well. Internally, you’ve examined everything and put it in order. You’ve taken your decision. So, where’s the worry coming from? It’s all from the enemy, everything. Nowhere else. What else could happen? Are you perhaps thinking about running your life by yourself, relying on your own abilities and efforts? If you

The Opposite of Faith

10/21/2026

Sermon preached by Fr. Antony Hughes on Sunday, February 25, 2024 at St. Mary Orthodox Church in Cambridge, MA In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. One God. Amen. Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever! I haven’t really preached since this past Christmas because of my illness so I’m going to give it a go today. We’ll see what happens! It’s interesting Metropolitan Saba is endearing himself to me

Venerable Gerasimus the New Ascetic of Cephalonia

10/20/2026

Commemorated on October 20 Saint Gerasimus the New Ascetic of Cephalonia was born in the village of Trikkala in the Peloponessos. As a young adult, he became a monk on the island of Zakynthos. On the Holy Mountain he became a schemamonk and studied with the ascetics of Mt Athos. Receiving a blessing from the Elders, the monk went to Jerusalem to worship at the Life-bearing Tomb of the Savior. After visiting many holy places in

The Tears of Our Fathers

10/19/2026

~By Fr. Stephen Freeman, October 14, 2024 The first time I saw my father cry was a day of deep tragedy. An aunt, my mother’s oldest sister, had been brutally murdered by a stranger who came into her office off the street. It made no sense. I was nine years old. I opened the door to my father’s bedroom and saw him lying face-down on his bed. The bed shook as he wept. Grief had