| The Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles was established by the Orthodox Church to indicate the equal honor of each of the Seventy. They were sent two by two by the Lord Jesus Christ to go before Him into the cities He would visit (Luke 10:1). Besides the celebration of the Synaxis of the Holy Disciples, the Church celebrates the memory of each of them during the course of the year: St. James the Brother of the Lord (October 23); Mark the Evangelist (April 25); Luke the Evangelist (October 18); Cleopas (October 30), brother of St. Joseph the Betrothed , and Simeon his son (April 27); Barnabas (June 11); Joses, or Joseph, named Barsabas or Justus (October 30); Thaddeus (August 21); Ananias (October 1); Protomartyr Stephen the Archdeacon (December 27); Philip the Deacon (October 11); Prochorus the Deacon (28 July); Nicanor the Deacon (July 28 and December 28); Timon the Deacon (July 28 and December 30); Parmenas the Deacon (July 28); Timothy (January 22); Titus (August 25); Philemon (November 22 and February 19); Onesimus (February 15); Epaphras and Archippus (November 22 and February 19); Silas, Silvanus, Crescens or Criscus (July 30); Crispus and Epaenetos (July 30); Andronicus (May 17 and July 30); Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles (October 31); Aristobulus (October 31 and March 16); Herodion or Rodion (April 8 and November 10); Agabus, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon (April 8); Hermas (November 5, November 30 and May 31); Patrobas (November 5); Hermes (April 8); Linus, Gaius, Philologus (November 5); Lucius (September 10); Jason (April 28); Sosipater (April 28 and November 10); Olympas or Olympanus (November 10 ); Tertius (October 30 and November 10); Erastos (November 30), Quartus (November 10); Euodius (September 7); Onesiphorus (September 7 and December 8); Clement (November 25); Sosthenes (December 8); Apollos (March 30 and December 8); Tychicus, Epaphroditus (December 8); Carpus (May 26); Quadratus (September 21); Mark (September 27), called John, Zeno (September 27); Aristarchus (April 15 and September 27); Pudens and Trophimus (April 15); Mark nephew of Barnabas, Artemas (October 30); Aquila (July 14); Fortunatus (June 15) and Achaicus (January 4). |
| “If Anyone Comes to Me and Does not Hate His Father”: Are We Really Called to Hate? Source: Glory to God for All Things Do you hate your father? Do you hate your mother? Christ says: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26). Of course, any Christian with a modicum of understanding knows that such a verse is not to be taken literally. Christ does not mean that we should hate anyone. He certainly does mean that nothing, not even wife and children, should come between us and the Kingdom of God. In truth, we do not truly love our wives and children (and others) rightly if we love them in a manner that comes between us and the Kingdom. The verse is a parallel to Matt. 10:37: “He who loves father or mother more than Me than Me is not worthy of Me.” But the above represents a short, and obvious lesson in reading the Scriptures. A similar verse: your Father, He who is in heaven (Matt. 23:9). Despite the long-running attempts of certain Protestants to distort this verse – it has nothing to do with how priests are addressed or calling our earthly fathers, “father.” Some (in English) feel secure from the strictures of this verse when they call their earthly fathers, “Dad, or Daddy, Papa, etc.” as if Christ somehow only meant to forbid a certain word. The statement concerning our earthly fathers belongs to the same category of statement as the one in Luke 14. They are statements given to us in such an extreme form that their value lies in their ability to startle . The application of Matthew 23:9 to the title of priests distorts its meaning and perverts Christ’s intention. The only value remaining in such a twisted interpretation is its usefulness in insulting otherwise honorable persons. But what do we make of Christ’s intentions? What is it about honoring father and mother, sister and brother that provokes such startling statements? In many respects, modern culture is unable to hear the force of these statements because family has lost its once hallowed position. Within the circle of Christ’s followers (and their culture), family was deeply important. Peter and Andrew are brothers, as are James and John. James the “Brother of the Lord,” is the son of Joseph the Beloved and becomes the leader of the early Jerusalem community. He is followed by Simeon, another “Brother of the Lord.” Research in the traditions surrounding the twelve reveal yet more family connections. Not surprisingly, the early Christian Church was rife with extended family as was all of ancient society. |
| About Pages Проекты «Правмира» Raising Orthodox Children to Orthodox Adulthood The Daily Website on How to be an Orthodox Christian Today Twitter Telegram Parler RSS Donate Navigation Feasts The Tree Heals the Tree 27 September 2022 Archpriest Stephen Freeman The Lights of an Approaching Rescue 21 September 2022 Archpriest Lawrence Farley Preparing the Way of the Lord in our Own Lives 11 September 2022 Priest Philip LeMasters Homily for the Feast of the Beheading of the Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John in the Orthodox Church (Acts 13:25-33; Mark 6:14-30) Mary the Theotokos Full of Grace 28 August 2022 Fr. Theodore Stylianopoulos The Dormition: Pascha of the Summer 28 August 2022 Evagelos Sotiropoulos The Transfiguration – Glory and Sacrifice 19 August 2022 Priest Luke A. Veronis Holy Passion-Bearers, Great Princes Boris and Gleb 06 August 2022 Archpriest Peter Olsen The Despair of Elijah 02 August 2022 Archpriest Lawrence Farley Become Imitators of Us 12 July 2022 Sophia Bekri, Theologian Becoming a Saint 19 June 2022 Priest Luke A. Veronis 1 2 3 … 79 Next News 30 September His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Contracted the Coronavirus 4th Plenary Session between ROC and Coptic Church Held 29 September His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Calls for Prayer for Those Facing Hurricanes Ian and Fiona 28 September Patriarch Kirill: The Church Prays for the Fraternal Strife to End as Soon as Possible Besides intellectual instruction, young people also need prayer, Patriarch Daniel says as new academic year begins 27 September The Synodal Residence in New York hosts the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Voluntary Blood Donation Takes Place in Churches in Serbia 26 September The work of the Church in society is quiet, but full of hope and love, says the Director of Lumina Publications 25 September Epistle of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia 23 September “The models par excellence are the great hesychast saints,” says Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Oradea Commentary All commentary Other media The Word of the Day How to Deal with Sin Ramblings of a Redneck Priest Party Etiquette Praying in the Rain Humility By Accident More RSS About Contact Us Donate Pravmir.ru © 2008-2024 Pravmir.com Developed by Hamburg Church Studio Design by — |
| About Pages Проекты «Правмира» Raising Orthodox Children to Orthodox Adulthood The Daily Website on How to be an Orthodox Christian Today Twitter Telegram Parler RSS Donate Navigation In the Church A Small Affliction Born For God’s Sake 28 March 2022 Archpriest Michael Gillis The Way of the Cross 27 March 2022 Fr. Theodore Stylianopoulos Priceless Friendships in our Journey of Life and Faith 22 March 2022 Priest Luke A. Veronis Great Lent: Path to Renewal in Christ 20 March 2022 Fr. Theodore Stylianopoulos The Fullness of Lent 16 March 2022 Archpriest Stephen Freeman This is the Victory 14 March 2022 Fr. James Guirguis Happy Ignorance With Peace 12 March 2022 Archpriest Michael Gillis The Sign Of Sincere Love 07 March 2022 Fr. James Guirguis Do You Want to Meet God? 28 February 2022 Priest Luke A. Veronis Peace and Unity 25 February 2022 Metropolitan Sotirios Previous 1 … 5 6 7 8 9 … 68 Next News 30 September His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Contracted the Coronavirus 4th Plenary Session between ROC and Coptic Church Held 29 September His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Calls for Prayer for Those Facing Hurricanes Ian and Fiona 28 September Patriarch Kirill: The Church Prays for the Fraternal Strife to End as Soon as Possible Besides intellectual instruction, young people also need prayer, Patriarch Daniel says as new academic year begins 27 September The Synodal Residence in New York hosts the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Voluntary Blood Donation Takes Place in Churches in Serbia 26 September The work of the Church in society is quiet, but full of hope and love, says the Director of Lumina Publications 25 September Epistle of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia 23 September “The models par excellence are the great hesychast saints,” says Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Oradea Commentary All commentary Other media The Word of the Day How to Deal with Sin Ramblings of a Redneck Priest Party Etiquette Praying in the Rain Humility By Accident More RSS About Contact Us Donate Pravmir.ru © 2008-2024 Pravmir.com Developed by Hamburg Church Studio Design by — |
| About Pages Проекты «Правмира» Raising Orthodox Children to Orthodox Adulthood The Daily Website on How to be an Orthodox Christian Today Twitter Telegram Parler RSS Donate Navigation Sermons, Lectures The Fear of Scandal 01 March 2022 Archimandrite Varnavas Lambropoulos Do You Want to Meet God? 28 February 2022 Priest Luke A. Veronis The First and Last Judgments 27 February 2022 Fr. Jeremy He Waits For Us 21 February 2022 Fr. James Guirguis Digging Ourselves Out of the Pig Pen 20 February 2022 Fr. Gabriel Bilas The Feast of Presentation and the Candle of our Souls 15 February 2022 Fr. James Guirguis Not Becoming A Modern Pharisee 14 February 2022 Archpriest Geoffrey Korz Praying with Humility: Our “Cell Phone” to the Heavenly Father 13 February 2022 Dcn. Michael Schlaack Our Friend Zacchaeus 06 February 2022 Fr. James Guirguis Am I the First Among Sinners? 04 February 2022 Priest Luke A. Veronis Previous 1 … 5 6 7 8 9 … 107 Next News 30 September His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Contracted the Coronavirus 4th Plenary Session between ROC and Coptic Church Held 29 September His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Calls for Prayer for Those Facing Hurricanes Ian and Fiona 28 September Patriarch Kirill: The Church Prays for the Fraternal Strife to End as Soon as Possible Besides intellectual instruction, young people also need prayer, Patriarch Daniel says as new academic year begins 27 September The Synodal Residence in New York hosts the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Voluntary Blood Donation Takes Place in Churches in Serbia 26 September The work of the Church in society is quiet, but full of hope and love, says the Director of Lumina Publications 25 September Epistle of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia 23 September “The models par excellence are the great hesychast saints,” says Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Oradea Commentary All commentary Other media The Word of the Day How to Deal with Sin Ramblings of a Redneck Priest Party Etiquette Praying in the Rain Humility By Accident More RSS About Contact Us Donate Pravmir.ru © 2008-2024 Pravmir.com Developed by Hamburg Church Studio Design by — |
| About Pages Проекты «Правмира» Raising Orthodox Children to Orthodox Adulthood The Daily Website on How to be an Orthodox Christian Today Twitter Telegram Parler RSS Donate Navigation Prayers What does the phrase ‘Eternal Memory mean? 27 March 2021 St. Nikolai Velimirovich Pay Attention! See What You See! 22 March 2021 Archpriest Stephen Freeman Lent – An Intimate Journey to God 15 March 2021 Fr. Vasile Tudora Lessons from the sermon on the mount Preparing for Lent in a Time of Pandemic 09 March 2021 Hieromonk Gabriel Why We Pray For The Dead 06 March 2021 Priest Luke A. Veronis Understanding “Saturday of the Souls” The Heart of the Scriptures 02 March 2021 Frederica Matthewes-Green Healing the Inner Pharisee 26 February 2021 Archpriest Stephen Freeman He Went Away Justified 21 February 2021 Fr. James Guirguis Crying Out For Mercy 07 February 2021 Fr. James Guirguis Building Spiritual House That No Wind Can Move 06 February 2021 Archpriest John Moses Previous 1 … 4 5 6 7 8 … 34 Next News 30 September His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Contracted the Coronavirus 4th Plenary Session between ROC and Coptic Church Held 29 September His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Calls for Prayer for Those Facing Hurricanes Ian and Fiona 28 September Patriarch Kirill: The Church Prays for the Fraternal Strife to End as Soon as Possible Besides intellectual instruction, young people also need prayer, Patriarch Daniel says as new academic year begins 27 September The Synodal Residence in New York hosts the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Voluntary Blood Donation Takes Place in Churches in Serbia 26 September The work of the Church in society is quiet, but full of hope and love, says the Director of Lumina Publications 25 September Epistle of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia 23 September “The models par excellence are the great hesychast saints,” says Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Oradea Commentary All commentary Other media The Word of the Day How to Deal with Sin Ramblings of a Redneck Priest Party Etiquette Praying in the Rain Humility By Accident More RSS About Contact Us Donate Pravmir.ru © 2008-2024 Pravmir.com Developed by Hamburg Church Studio Design by — |
| About Pages Проекты «Правмира» Raising Orthodox Children to Orthodox Adulthood The Daily Website on How to be an Orthodox Christian Today Twitter Telegram Parler RSS Donate Navigation History of Christianity Become Imitators of Us 12 July 2022 Sophia Bekri, Theologian We Are Called Upon to Proclaim the Good News of the Truth 05 June 2022 Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) How Our Faith May Be Confirmed 11 May 2022 Archpriest Basil Ross Aden Brave Is the One Who Believes in Resurrection 30 April 2022 Fr. Andrei Gavrilenko The fact which no one disputes is that the history of the Church began in Jerusalem with a small group of twelve people This is the Victory 14 March 2022 Fr. James Guirguis Did God Really Order a Genocide? 05 August 2021 Archpriest Lawrence Farley What is Reality? 10 May 2021 Priest Luke A. Veronis No Conditions 09 May 2021 Archpriest Geoffrey Korz How Does God Guide the Church? 07 May 2021 Archpriest Lawrence Farley Athens and Jerusalem: the Role of Philosophy in Faith, with Analysis by St. Gregory Palamas 17 April 2021 Eric Hyde 1 2 3 … 6 Next News 30 September His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Contracted the Coronavirus 4th Plenary Session between ROC and Coptic Church Held 29 September His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Calls for Prayer for Those Facing Hurricanes Ian and Fiona 28 September Patriarch Kirill: The Church Prays for the Fraternal Strife to End as Soon as Possible Besides intellectual instruction, young people also need prayer, Patriarch Daniel says as new academic year begins 27 September The Synodal Residence in New York hosts the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Voluntary Blood Donation Takes Place in Churches in Serbia 26 September The work of the Church in society is quiet, but full of hope and love, says the Director of Lumina Publications 25 September Epistle of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia 23 September “The models par excellence are the great hesychast saints,” says Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Oradea Commentary All commentary Other media The Word of the Day How to Deal with Sin Ramblings of a Redneck Priest Party Etiquette Praying in the Rain Humility By Accident More RSS About Contact Us Donate Pravmir.ru © 2008-2024 Pravmir.com Developed by Hamburg Church Studio Design by — |
| About Pages Проекты «Правмира» Raising Orthodox Children to Orthodox Adulthood The Daily Website on How to be an Orthodox Christian Today Twitter Telegram Parler RSS Donate Navigation Our Faith On Guard for the Truth 14 September 2022 Archpriest Basil Ross Aden Becoming Coffee Drinking Christians 13 September 2022 Fr. Gabriel Bilas Fighting Boredom and Despondency 09 September 2022 Archpriest Michael Gillis For God So Loved the World 08 September 2022 Fr. Theodore Stylianopoulos Saving Knowledge and Blessed Ignorance 07 September 2022 Archpriest Stephen Freeman Headscarves in the Orthodox Church: Holy Tradition & Practice vs. Modern Feelings 06 September 2022 Archpriest Geoffrey Korz Labor Day and the Kingdom of God 05 September 2022 Priest Luke A. Veronis Spiritual “Potholes” 04 September 2022 Fr. Gabriel Bilas How to Overcome Pride? 03 September 2022 Priest Andrei Chizhenko Is It Normal to Have Doubts in the Faith? 02 September 2022 Priest Dimitry Palamarchuk Previous 1 2 3 4 5 … 260 Next News 30 September His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Contracted the Coronavirus 4th Plenary Session between ROC and Coptic Church Held 29 September His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Calls for Prayer for Those Facing Hurricanes Ian and Fiona 28 September Patriarch Kirill: The Church Prays for the Fraternal Strife to End as Soon as Possible Besides intellectual instruction, young people also need prayer, Patriarch Daniel says as new academic year begins 27 September The Synodal Residence in New York hosts the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Voluntary Blood Donation Takes Place in Churches in Serbia 26 September The work of the Church in society is quiet, but full of hope and love, says the Director of Lumina Publications 25 September Epistle of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia 23 September “The models par excellence are the great hesychast saints,” says Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Oradea Commentary All commentary Other media The Word of the Day How to Deal with Sin Ramblings of a Redneck Priest Party Etiquette Praying in the Rain Humility By Accident More RSS About Contact Us Donate Pravmir.ru © 2008-2024 Pravmir.com Developed by Hamburg Church Studio Design by — |
| About Pages Проекты «Правмира» Raising Orthodox Children to Orthodox Adulthood The Daily Website on How to be an Orthodox Christian Today Twitter Telegram Parler RSS Donate Navigation Sacraments St. Nektarios Kefalas on Confession 16 September 2022 Archpriest Peter Olsen Restoring Our Humanity Through the Eucharist 13 August 2022 Fr. Gabriel Bilas Sharing in the Cup of the Lord or the Cup of Demons 04 August 2022 Archpriest Basil Ross Aden On Secular Churches and the Mystical Sacrifice 15 July 2022 Hieromonk Gabriel Blasphemous and Obsessive Thoughts Come Into My Mind. What Do I Do? 24 May 2022 Fr. Eugene Murzin Lift Up Your Hearts: Attaining a Cheerful Spirit 12 April 2022 Archpriest Basil Ross Aden Excuses Hinder Us From Entering Into the Kingdom God 27 December 2021 Priest Luke A. Veronis Why was Cain’s Offering Rejected?: Augustine on “rightly dividing” one’s worship 19 November 2021 Eric Hyde I Keep Repenting of the Same Sin Over and Over, But I Can’t Get Rid of It. What Should I Do? 30 October 2021 Archpriest Fyodor Borodin The Communion of Friends 07 August 2021 Archpriest Stephen Freeman 1 2 3 … 15 Next News 30 September His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Contracted the Coronavirus 4th Plenary Session between ROC and Coptic Church Held 29 September His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Calls for Prayer for Those Facing Hurricanes Ian and Fiona 28 September Patriarch Kirill: The Church Prays for the Fraternal Strife to End as Soon as Possible Besides intellectual instruction, young people also need prayer, Patriarch Daniel says as new academic year begins 27 September The Synodal Residence in New York hosts the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Voluntary Blood Donation Takes Place in Churches in Serbia 26 September The work of the Church in society is quiet, but full of hope and love, says the Director of Lumina Publications 25 September Epistle of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia 23 September “The models par excellence are the great hesychast saints,” says Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Oradea Commentary All commentary Other media The Word of the Day How to Deal with Sin Ramblings of a Redneck Priest Party Etiquette Praying in the Rain Humility By Accident More RSS About Contact Us Donate Pravmir.ru © 2008-2024 Pravmir.com Developed by Hamburg Church Studio Design by — |
| Homily on the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord and Sunday of the Prodigal Son Today the Church commemorated the Afterfeast of the Meeting of Our Lord. We offer you one more homily on the Feast which was preached yesterday by Fr.Sergei Sveschnikov in Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russian Church in Mulino, Oregon. Today is an unusual day. In this day, two liturgical cycles come together, and we hear two marvelous Gospel reading about the Meeting of man and God. In a certain sense, in this Meeting is the meaning of religion. If we choose to derive the word “religion” from the Latin re-ligare “to re-tie,” then the break which began when “ the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” (Gen. 3:9), ended when the son “arose, and came to his father” (Luke 15:20). In this time of preparation to the Great Lent, the Church teaches us through examples from the Gospel. Last week, we heard about the foolishness of the Pharisee, who brought to God his imaginary “worth” and “earnings,” and about the wisdom of the publican, who in himself saw the true state of mankind – on its knees, burdened with sin, in the mud of its passions – and who brought to God his illness, sorrows and weakness; that is to say, he brought to God his true self, and not a fake mask. Today, Christ calls us through His parable and urges us to get up from our knees and to run to Him, as did the prodigal son when he came to himself (Luke 15:17). But how are we to come to Him, Who is so far away and unreachable, to the King of kings, the Creator of the ages, and the Master of the universe? Is it not natural to appear at a royal reception decorated in lace and medals, wearing hats with feathers and brocade dresses? Is it not normal to show off one’s dignity and to pose (Luke 18:11)? But what is the worth of all of these fake props in the presence of Him Who is the fullness of reality? “My son, give me thine heart…” (Prov 23:26) The Lord is not asking us to give Him anything which did not give to us Himself. It was not Adam who was looking for God, but God Who was calling the lost soul (Gen. 3:9). The son was travelling from far away, but the father was already waiting for him and “when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him… and ran” to him (Luke 15:20). The righteous Simeon prayed to the Master as a servant, but the Master was already lying in Simeon’s arms having Himself become a servant (Luke 2:28). God did not come to us seated on a throne somewhere in the clouds, unreachable, surrounded by armies of angels. God came to us as a weak and helpless Child; He gave Himself completely into our arms, holding back nothing, hiding nothing. |
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