Gladsome Light Dialogues - An Orthodox Blog » Greek

The implications of music in the liturgical life of the Church

Fr. Vasile — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:13:37 +0000

I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.(Ps 146:2)

Like with any of the other arts employed by the Orthodox Church in its worship, the music does not serve a purpose in itself. Once used in Church the music drops its role as simply embellishing the services and it is elevated to convey, on a deeper level, the meaning of the prayer contained in the hymns of the church and make them resonate with our souls through its melodies. Great saints of the Church, like John Damascene, Ephraim the Syrian, Roman the Melodios, Andrew of Crete, Joseph the Hymnographer, Kosmas the Poet, John Koukouzelis and many others, have carefully matched the meter of

My Big Fat Greek Festival

Fr. Vasile — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:41:40 +0000

Reposting this older article as we get closer to the 30th Greek Festival in Eules, October 7,8,9 2011. Festival page here We just closed the doors of another Greek Festival at Saint John's. We are all happy, but tired, and some may think, and we cannot blame them, why we do this every year? A short answer would be: we need the money! And it is a good answer, but maybe we could find other ways to raise the needed funds. Still I think, even though we might manage to get there, we should continue doing the festival. And I will present my argument for it. In the present times the Continue reading

Witnessing the Light or What happens after Resurrection?

Fr. Vasile — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:54:42 +0000

O Jerusalem, be exultant, dance and leap for joy, for you have witnessed Christ the King coming forth as a Bridegroom from the sepulcher (Stichera of Pascha) It is magnificent to participate in the Church services on Pascha night, to be part of the joyful festival of light that the Resurrection of Christ brings on earth. The only sad part is that we start with many and end up with a few. Many people come, they receive the light, listen to the Gospel and hasten to go home thinking they have fulfilled their duty as Christians. But just witnessing the Resurrection is not enough, and is not the goal, what comes after is equally important. The miracle Continue reading

Questions and Answers about the Divine Liturgy #4 – Liturgy of the Faithful

Fr. Vasile — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:56:27 +0000

1. Who are the faithful? The faithful are all that have received the Baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity in the Orthodox Church and are found in good ecclesiastical order. As we saw previously the catechumens and the people that were not in good order were leaving the Nave after the Litany of the catechumens and staying in the Narthex Continue reading

Questions and Answers about the Divine Liturgy #3 – Liturgy of the Catechumens

Fr. Vasile — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:46:57 +0000

1. What are the catechumens? The catechumens are those that are preparing to become Christians. 2. Why during the first centuries the catechumens could not participate in the whole liturgy? St. Cyril of Jerusalem explains the situations of the catechumens: „the divine words echoed outside of him; [...] he was a listener of the Christian teachings but they were not penetrating Continue reading

Questions and answers about the Divine Liturgy #2 – About the Proskomidi

Fr. Vasile — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:31:32 +0000

1. What is the Proskomidi? The Proskomidi is the first part of the Divine Liturgy during which the Priest prepares mystically the gifts necessary for the Eucharistic Sacrifice of the Liturgy. It is performed in a special place in the Holy Altar called the Oblation table, Proskomidi or Prothesis. Continue reading

Questions and answers about the Divine Liturgy #1- About the Divine Liturgy in general

Fr. Vasile — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:22:21 +0000

1. What is the meaning of the word Liturgy? The word Liturgy comes from the Greek word leitourgia meaning service or public office. In the primary Church the word liturgy was referring not only to the Church services but to any services rendered to the Christian community Continue reading

Orthodox Christmas Byzantine Hymn (in Greek)

Fr. Vasile — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:41:38 +0000

9th Ode of the Christmas Canon Continue reading