As we continue—or for those of us observing the Old Calendar Feast, as we begin—to meditate on the Incarnation of Christ, following our celebration of His Nativity, we can find a luminous source of insight in the typology and prophetic power of Psalm Eight. Fr Patrick Henry Reardon’s classic work, “Christ in the Psalms,” shows us how not only this … [Read more...] about Psalm Eight and the Mystery of the Incarnation
Liturgy, Scripture & The Seasons of the Church
St. Ephrem the Syrian: Hymn of the Nativity
St. Ephrem’s “Hymns on the Nativity” are like a dazzling display of Christmas lights—or better yet, like the brightly shining stars shimmering over the fields of Bethlehem. St Ephrem believes that God reveals Himself through “raze” (symbols, mysteries, hidden meanings) found not only throughout Holy Scripture, but everywhere in nature as … [Read more...] about St. Ephrem the Syrian: Hymn of the Nativity
How to Read the Bible and Why
"The Bible is a biography of God in this world. In it the Indescribable One has described Himself." So declares St Justin Popovich, not only a saint of the Orthodox Church, but one of its greatest theologians of the twentieth century. St Justin’s rapturous love for the Bible emanates from every line of these reflections in a way that sparks a contagious excitement and … [Read more...] about How to Read the Bible and Why
Fr Georges Massouh on the Myrrh-Bearing Women
The true disciple of Jesus, whether a man or a woman, is not the one who carries a Christian identity on account of having been baptized, but the one who imitates the courageousness of Joseph of Aramathea, the Myrrh-Bearing Women, and the martyrs who offered themselves up in order to hold fast to their faith... only the courageous deserve to be beloved of Jesus. By Fr … [Read more...] about Fr Georges Massouh on the Myrrh-Bearing Women
The Stubborn Apostle
The Apostle Thomas, writes Fr. Daniel Sisoyev, was by nature skeptical and stubborn. He demanded to see Christ in his body after the resurrection before he would believe the apostolic testimony that Christ rose from the dead. "The other disciples said unto Thomas, 'We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my … [Read more...] about The Stubborn Apostle