Category: Writings

Are the Objections of the Old Calendarists Just Modern Day Donatism?

Posted on by Fr. Irineos

by Bishop Irineos of Illyricum   Even among the New Calendarists, there remain many traditionalists who will condemn, or at least voice uneasiness over, the Calendar innovation of Meletios Metaxakis (sometimes referred to as Meletios Metaxis) or the continuing ecumenism of Bartholomew of Constantinople, and generally will agree with the Genuine Orthodox position on ecumenism, Read more about Are the Objections of the Old Calendarists Just Modern Day Donatism?[…]

Can an Orthodox Christian have a Christmas Tree? Isn’t It Pagan?

Posted on by Fr. Irineos

It has become very fashionable among those who would attack the Church to hurl accusations of paganism at every turn. In almost every instance what these accusations betray is a fundamental lack of understanding of the transformative power of the incarnation. God became matter, sanctifying all matter. We cannot be at war with God’s creation Read more about Can an Orthodox Christian have a Christmas Tree? Isn’t It Pagan?[…]

ST. SPYRIDON VERSUS THE NEW CALENDAR

Posted on by Fr. Irineos

From Vladimir Moss (http://www.orthodoxchristianbooks.com) The new calendarists have had many direct warnings from the Heavenly Church that the path they have embarked on by accepting newcalendarism-ecumenism is false. One such warning was given to the new calendarist Bishop Arsenius of Larissa on December 12/25, 1934, the feast of St. Spyridon according to the Old Calendar, Read more about ST. SPYRIDON VERSUS THE NEW CALENDAR[…]

Homily on the Healing of the Ten Lepers

Posted on by Fr. Irineos

My homily for the 28th Sunday after Pentecost if provided after the “Read More” line.  Unfortunately, the recorder ran out of memory as I was giving the homily, so this is a rough draft of my notes.  The following readings were given on Sunday.

Colossians 1:12-18

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Luke 17:12-19

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Now the homily:

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Why Do So Many Want to Steer the Ship

Posted on by Fr. Irineos

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[…]

Did St. Tikhon Write a Western Rite Liturgy?

Posted on by Fr. Irineos

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?[…]

Loaves and Fish – Understanding the Reading through the Eyes of the Church

Posted on by Fr. Irineos

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” […]

On the Faith of the Fathers and Infant Baptism

Posted on by Fr. Irineos

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[…]

On the Genuine Orthodox Church and the World Orthodox

Posted on by Fr. Irineos

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[…]

Orthopraxy – Blessings

Posted on by Fr. Irineos

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[…]