9th Ode of the Christmas Canon… Continue reading
Who stole Christmas? – A consumerist Nativity story
From time to time even a benign shopping session at Walmart can give you insight on the status of our society today. The other night, as part of pre-Christmas preparation, I was looking for a copy of the recent Hollywood movie “The Nativity story”. After scouting for a while with no avail in the helter-skelter of the multi-media proposals, I… Continue reading
The Perfect Gift for Christmas
Please take a look at these two wonderful books by Niko Chocheli.
Mr. Choceli was born in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, where he graduated with honors from Tbilisi Nikoladze Art College and Tbilisi State Academy of Fine Arts. Awarded permanent residency status by the U.S. government as Alien of Extraordinary Abilities, Niko has received numerous awards for is artistic achievements. He has illustrated three other children’s books for SVS Continue reading
Why did the People of Israel Crucified Christ?
Here is an interesting topic that I would like you engaged in as we approach Nativity. If Christ, the Messiah was prophesied in the Old Testament, and the people of Israel knew these prophecies, how come that when He actually came they rather said: Crucify Him?
Here is a stichera from Holy Friday Continue reading
The Orthodox Nativity Fast Can Help Prevent Holiday Blues and Christmas Depression – Lisa C. DeLuca
Much of the post-holiday blues and Christmas depression that occur in the United States may have something to do with the way Americans celebrate Christmas. The Orthodox Nativity fast may be the remedy many people need.
When people are suffering in their lives with things like divorce or other losses, financial stress, aging or illness; the sudden onset of pre-Christmas cheeriness may leave them feeling even more isolated and deprived, because the rest of world is portrayed as happy and fulfilled in stark contrast to how they feel.
Others who do embrace pre-holiday celebrations often feel let down and weighed down by food and debt shortly after Christmas day. The novelty of the new material things wears off quickly, friends and family go home, and people may be left feeling blue. This is the feeling known as post-Christmas let-down.
The Orthodox way of celebrating Christmas can yield completely different results. Continue reading
Fos Ilaron – Gladsome Light Hymn
The Akathist of Thanksgiving
I thought I should share this with you on the Thanksgiving Eve. The Akathist of Thanksgiving, a CD by the St. Ignatius of Antioch Antiochian Orthodox Mission in Madison, Wisconsin, was written by Archpriest Gregory Petroff in a Soviet Prison Camp. Continue reading
The true Christmas spirit or Putting back Christ into Xmas
For a first comer in an Orthodox Church the thing that strikes the most is the richness of traditions that abound in the life of the faithful. It seems that we have a tradition for everything: the way we light the candles, the way we venerate the icons, the way we cross ourselves and so on. All conforms to some unwritten rules that are puzzling and difficult to follow Continue reading
The Nativity Story
Why it is Necessary to Know the Old Testament – Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky
We listen to the hymns and readings in Church, and two series of events are revealed before us: the Old Testament – and the New, as the type and the fulfillment, as the shadow and the truth, as the fall and the rising, as the loss and the gain. In the patristic writings and the hymns in the church services Continue reading