During the holy time of lent, we travel a journey with Jesus along His path to His death and resurrection. When Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God and eating the forbidden fruit, their spirits died because they got separated from God. God did not want them to be separated from Him and decided to sacrifice His Only Begotten Son, …
The True Meaning of Easter
As the joyous time of Easter is approaching, it is important to remind ourselves of what does Easter truly mean for us as believers? For many people, Easter is a time where we go to church and celebrate the Lord’s resurrection from the dead, but that is not all there is to it. Easter celebrates our salvation from the bondage …
Passion Week
Passion Week, also known as the Holy Pascha, is considered to be the most important week in the life of the Church. During this week, the Church re-lives the moments of salvation and the release of Mankind from the chains of sin and Satan’s bondage. These are truly moments patiently waited for by humanity in its entirety. Passion Week commences …
The Cross
The Cross is a symbol of suffering and three crosses symbolize three cases:The cross of Christ is a symbol of suffering for righteousness’ sake, while the other two crosses refer to suffering as a penalty for sin. These are divided into two kinds: one suffers because of his sins then repents and returns while the other suffers because of his …
The Prodigal Son
The story of “The Prodigal Son” is read every third Sunday of the Great Lent. It is a story that reminds us about God’s never- ending compassion, His love for us and His forgiveness. This story is found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15. The story begins with a man with 2 sons. The younger son asks his father …
Jonah the Prophet
Jonah was a prophet in the old testament during the time of Elijah the prophet. It is commonly said that Jonah was “the son of a woman whom Elijah had raised from the dead ” (Synaxarium). Throughout his life, Jonah followed Elijah and was also blessed with the gift of prophesying. One day, Jonah was approached by God who told …
The Rite of the Great Lent
During the Great Lent, we enjoy many special hymns and “siamy” tunes that inspire us to meditate and bring us closer to God. As deacons, we need to know and memorize the rite of the Holy Lent which is divided into two major categories: 1- Saturdays and Sundays RiteSince we are not abstaining from food (still eating vegan), we pray …
Fasting is accompanied by Seclusion and Silence
The same statement was repeated twice in the book of the Prophet Joel:“Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly.”(Joel 1:14, 2:15).Call a solemn assembly, namely retire, so that you may find time for spiritual work. In seclusion, you keep silent, and since you have no one to talk to, you talk to God. However, do not get secluded with …
Christian Love
The month of February is considered the month of love because of Valentine’s day. However, we must not forget the true meaning of love. God is love. God in His essence is love. God shows us the highest form of love: agape. Agape love is selfless love, love that does not seek itself. It is a love of sacrifice. God …
Wedding of Cana of Galilee
Jesus performed His first miracle at Cana of Galilee during His ministry. This event is so important that it is commemorated as one of the minor feasts of our Lord Jesus Christ. This story is only mentioned in the Gospel of St. John. Jesus and St. Mary went to Cana of Galilee to attend a wedding. The wine had run …