A question from an inquirer: A person pointed out to me that some of the church canons aren’t followed today such as: women not talking in church and polyphonic singing. Do all of the church canons need to be followed? If so doesn’t this mean that the church is self-condemned? Also, I’m wondering if the Read more about Why Do So Many Want to Steer the Ship[…]
The “Liturgy of St. Tikhon” is not a liturgy of St. Tikhon at all, nor was it ever approved by the Russian Synod of Bishops at the behest of St. Tikhon. As explained by the Antiochian Archdiocese: “In 1904, Archbishop Tikhon received a response from the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to his Read more about Did St. Tikhon Write a Western Rite Liturgy?[…]
Matthew 14:14-22
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. 22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
The Gospel reading of the Five Loaves and Two Fish, also known as the Feeding of the 5000, is one of the most popular Gospel stories and frequently preached on. The problem is, when you engage in self-interpretation, you can imagine so many lessons that might be intended here. But was that the intent of the author of the Gospel? In this homily, we will look at the historic understanding of this miracle, and why self-interpretation can lead us away from truth and the important questions raised by this account.
To see the rough draft of this homily, click “Read More” […]
This is a message I wrote prior to my ordination. It was shared on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost in 2015. Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever! In today’s first epistle reading, the reading designated for the 8th Sunday after Pentecost, Paul discusses the ancient sacramental practice of baptism, as it existed in the early Read more about On the Faith of the Fathers and Infant Baptism[…]
Although I am a priest of the Genuine Orthodox Church (also sometimes called “True Orthodox” or “Old Calendarist”) I try not to devote much in this blog to the disagreements we have with the “world orthodox”, those jurisdictions which utilize the new calendar or hold communion with new calendarists. The reason I don’t do this Read more about On the Genuine Orthodox Church and the World Orthodox[…]
On the Sunday of All Saints of North America, Fr. Irineos examines the question of “What is a Saint?” by looking at the readings from Vespers and the Epistle for this Sunday.
A rough transcript is provided below:
On Pentecost Sunday, Fr. Irineos reflects on the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, and the founding of the Church. He also discusses how, though the Spirit may lead us into all Truth, this is only possible through the guidance of the Light of Christ.
Click Read More for Rough Draft
From the weekly bulletin of St. Andrew Orthodox Church It’s said that the Orthodox will bless anything! Houses, icons, horses, cars, soldiers, guns, and of course, people! The blessings are usually accompanied with formal prayers and the sprinkling of Holy Water that was, itself, blessed on the Feast of Theophany. And of course, Read more about Orthopraxy – Blessings[…]
On the Sunday of the Blind Man, where we also commemorate the Holy Evangelist John (May 8 OS), Fr. Irineos discusses how we can put the lessons from today’s readings (and John’s Gospel) to work in our daily lives.
Listen to “Actualizing Grace – Lessons from the Sunday of the Bilnd Man” on Spreaker.
Draft Transcript below:
The article linked below is from a Roman Catholic publication, but it was proudly shared by the Chicago archdiocese of the GOA without correction. Speaking the day before Pope Francis, Bartholomew “offered a blueprint for the future of inter-religious dialogue based upon recognizing the central role religion plays in human life.” In it the ecumenical patriarch Read more about Bishop or Bridge Builder? EP Denies Unique Truth of Orthodoxy[…]