The more accurate and exacting of the commentators on the four Gospels, say that two women anointed the Lord, one long before his Passion, and one a few days before. One of these women was a harlot, and the other was a chaste, virtuous woman. On this day, the Church commemorates this act of piety […]
Archives for 2009
Synaxarion for Holy Tuesday
On this day we make remembrance of the Parable of the Ten Virgins which Jesus spake along with others as he was coming to the Passion. It teaches us not to rest as though safe in virginity, but to guard it whenever possible, and not to desist from any virtues and good deeds, especially deeds […]
Synaxarion for Holy Monday
On this day begins the anniversary of the holy Passion of the Savior, he of whom Joseph of exceeding beauty is taken as the earliest symbol; for this Joseph was the eleventh of the sons of Jacob, and because his father loved him exceedingly, his brothers envied him and threw him into a pit. Then […]
What are the Bridgegroom Services?
The Orthros for Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday are called the Service of the Bridegroom. The Kingdom of God is compared to a bridal feast and a bridal chamber. The Christ of the Passion is the Bridegroom of the Church. The imagery connotes the final union of the Lover and the beloved. The last days were […]
Holy Week ahead
With Holy Week starting today for the Orthodox, my posting might become somewhat spotty. For those of you in a “Western” church, may the Lord give you a blessed Easter.
Paradosis is all Greek to me
On another blog, I have been having a discussion on the use of the word paradosis which is generally translated “tradition.” I posted on that word before. Go here to read that post. I thought I was done with those posts, but the other discussion has prompted me to cross post my answer below. While […]
Ahh, yes, I like logical thinking
Philosophy of perfection and problems in American history
I had mentioned yesterday that a philosophy of perfection or at least of a high standard of Christian behavior tends to lead to the subtle pressure to minimize one’s faults in order to maintain the image of near perfection. This is particularly true if one has broken away from another group which one claims is […]
Philosophy of perfection and American History
I mentioned yesterday that if you have a philosophy of near perfection, then it can all too easily lead to a minimizing of your imperfections. This is particularly true if your group claims that you separated in order to set up a community that would show what true Christians were really like. This was the […]
On arguing about the Church
Yesterday, I finished my post by saying, “You see, in order to be able to put forth that argument, one has to engage in a self-deception that, in the long run, can leave one open to self-deception in other areas of one’s life.” If you remember, I was talking about the dangers of citing the […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- …
- 44
- Next Page »