9 Mar 2025 at 5:52am
Today we celebrate the Triumph of Orthodoxy—the veneration of the holy icons. And truly, the image is the triumph of the…
Today we celebrate the Triumph of Orthodoxy—the veneration of the holy icons. And truly, the image is the triumph of the Prototype. Christ died not so that he could remain alone, but so that he could bear much fruit. In the midst of the material reality of this world, he desired to restore his image and perfect his likeness. The fruit of his restoration work is manifest in the bodies of his saints, who were made in his image and, by cooperation with divine grace, have been refashioned in his likeness. We in turn perceive and celebrate their triumph through the holy icons, where the glory of their countenance is reflected and revealed. Thus, the triumph of Orthodoxy in the victory of the iconodules is none other than the triumph of Christ himself through his Passion and Resurrection. Therefore, even as we rightly venerate the holy icons, let us redouble our efforts...
2 Mar 2025 at 5:50am
Liturgically, today is known as the Expulsion of Adam; popularly, it is known as Forgiveness Sunday. This reminds us that, as…
Liturgically, today is known as the Expulsion of Adam; popularly, it is known as Forgiveness Sunday. This reminds us that, as soon as we sin, the Lord forgives us—provided that we truly repent. Part of repentance is giving up our grudges against others, since we are the greatest sinners of all. Part of repentance is an acknowledgement of the unstinting depth of our sin. And yet another part of repentance is a resolution to change, to open ourselves up to divine grace, to let ourselves be who he wants us to be, rather than someone fashioned out of our own imagination, according to our own lights. All of these realities underlie the rite of forgiveness, prescribed for the end of Vespers tonight. In the rite of forgiveness, we acknowledge the damage that we have done by our sinfulness—both to those near and those far. We freely forgive others, no matter who come...
23 Feb 2025 at 5:55am
With this Sunday of the Last Judgment, we arrive at the end of the world. As we stand before the Lord at his dread tribunal,…
With this Sunday of the Last Judgment, we arrive at the end of the world. As we stand before the Lord at his dread tribunal, we realize that we have no righteousness, no standing, no excuse. Thankfully, now that we have reached the end, the Lord, in his mercy, allows us to return to the beginning. Next Sunday we leave paradise with our forefather, Adam, so that we can begin to make our way back to paradise with the New Adam, Christ. All Lent long, we will accompany the Lord on his way to the Cross, and finally we will arrive at Golgotha, “the Place of the Skull, where paradise was,” and through the Cross, paradise will be opened again. Therefore, if we wish return to paradise and be found at the right hand at the time of the Lord’s Judgment, we devoutly sign ourselves with the sign of the Cross and seek to embrace, through asceticism and self-denial, the savin...