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The Great Lent starts on March 3 in the Belarusian Orthodox Church this year. The sisters of Saint Elisabeth Convent will embark on this journey to Easter by reading what the Church Fathers have said about the three pillars of Lent.
Great Lent guides us towards Easter and the Resurrection. While it entails moderating our food intake and leisure activities, fasting is not solely about refraining from food; it is about regaining inner serenity.
How often has it been said that we can imbue our actions and words with one meaning or another! How, and by what means, can we transform this Great Lent from a daunting trial into an inspiring journey?
On 13 March the Church commemorates of St Cassian the Roman (435). He laboured in the Christian West, drawing the foundation for his spiritual struggles and works in from the monasteries of Egypt and the Holy Land.
A perpetual struggle is going on between our passions and God’s grace. If we cannot eradicate our passions, what can we do at least to keep them at bay?
How dreadful would our lives become if we had no words to say “Forgive me” and “Lord will forgive, and I do also”? No worldly wisdom could bring order and restore peace among people without the aid of forgiveness.
Founded in 2002 with the blessing of Archpriest Andrey Lemeshonok the gold embroidery workshop began its work in earnest when Metropolitan Filaret (Vakhromeev) blessed the creation of its first Holy Shroud of Christ.
The Mother of God prays for us, showing us the power of the prayer to change us from within, transform our lives and make a positive difference to the world.
In 1923, the future martyr was only 26 years old. Seeing the unfolding persecution of the Church, he was ordained priest with the words, "We need to protect the faith". Priest Valerian Novitsky was arrested and executed in 1930.
As we pray for our dead, we remember that all the living will enter eternal life in their time. We also realise how vain and fragile our earthly lives are, how finite are our worldly comforts and wealth, how small are many of our daily concerns.
The Dreadful Judgment — why is it called dreadful, and who should dread it? In today's “post-Christian” world, this concept may not hold significance, except for those few who still strive to follow Christ as best they can.
God, who gives the sinners and the righteous their dues, is not someone who lies in waiting to punish a wrongdoer after the fact. What gives us fear and trembling is the hurting wound of not responding to the love that He had given to us.
What is Lenten fasting? For some, it is yet another extended period when certain foods must be avoided. However, to a Christian, it is a time of intense fasting, prayer, almsgiving, and spiritual reflection.
He squandered his father's estate quickly. With freedom but no love, he became a slave. He was feeding swine, but he was not getting any food himself.
On February 15th, the Orthodox will celebrate one of the most joyful feasts of the entire liturgical year - the Meeting (Presentation) of our Lord. This ancient celebration gives a lot of hope and light and inspires us to keep going.
In the realm of art, there exists a profound work by the esteemed Dutch master Rembrandt, titled “The Return of the Prodigal Son.” Its depth, coupled with an unassuming simplicity, is truly remarkable.
The Meeting of the Lord is the feast of our coming together with the Saviour. It is an event that opens our eyes to the reality of our salvation in the incarnate Lord.
St Alexiy of Moscow threw himself into church work with spirit. He ordained bishops, established monasteries, and devoted much effort to maintaining peace with the Golden Horde.
In plain terms, the message from the Lord that we are trying so hard to decline is utterly clear: we should live in love, even towards our enemies, and humbly recognize our own faults while maintaining faith in God.
An ancient Byzantine image, mentioned as early as AD 598 and known as Kathreptis ("Mirror"), became known in the Russian tradition as the “Fiery” icon of the Most Holy Mother of God.
