The Holy Apostle and Martyr, Andrew, the First-Called

Troparion of St Andrew Tone 4 Andrew, first-called of the Apostles / and brother of the foremost disciple, / entreat the Master of all / to grant peace to the world / and to our souls great mercy. Kontakion of St Andrew Tone 2 Let us praise Andrew, the herald of God, / the namesake [...]

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St Stephen the New, Monkmartyr and Confessor

Troparion Tone 4 Trained in asceticism on the mountain, / with the weapon of the Cross you destroyed the spiritual assaults of the hostile powers, all-blessed one; / Again you bravely prepared for combat / and slew Copronymus with the sword of faith; / for both struggles you have been crowned by God, monk-martyr Stephen [...]

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St James of Persia

Troparion of Great Martyr James of Persia Tone 4 James the Martyr and scion of Persia/ drowned the dragon in his blood by his contest:/ he was dismembered for the Faith/ and became the Saviour’s trophy-bearer./ He intercedes unceasingly for our souls. Kontakion of Great Martyr James of Persia Tone 2 Thou didst listen to [...]

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In Contemplation of Thanksgiving: The Transfiguration of Suffering

The sad songs are often the sweetest. The richest joys are often the ones seasoned with the saline of our tears. There is something about the human condition which makes pain and sorrow inevitable. Tears are the grace and mercy of the loving God, who himself became a man acquainted with sorrow, who poured out [...]

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The First Christian

And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:27-28 [...]

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The Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary in the Temple

Troparion of the Mother of God Tone 4 Today is the prelude of God’s goodwill/ and the prophecy of the salvation of men./ The Virgin appears openly in the temple of God/ and foretells Christ to all./ So let us cry to her with loud voices:/ Rejoice, thou who art the fulfillment/ of the Creator’s [...]

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The Promise of Grace

For as we advance in the religious life [conversationis] and in faith, our hearts expand [dilatato corde] and we run in the way of God’s commandments with unspeakable sweetness of love [inenarrabili dilectionis dulcedine]. The Rule of St Benedict Prologue 49 This of course is written for the monks under the Rule of our holy [...]

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Christian Philosophy? VI

In my previous post, I put forth the notion that the intellect expresses itself in many differentiated activities that are nonetheless the same in kind. One kind of intellect evaluates and selects among competing choices in actions. Another kind grasps first principles as wholes. Another kind informs productive activity. Yet another kind organizes and systematizes [...]

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Our Father Among the Saints, Gregory the Wonderworker

Troparion of St Gregory Tone 8 You became worthy of your name through your way of life: / through your vigilance in prayer and your constant constant works of mercy. / Therefore, O Father Gregory, beseech Christ God to enlighten our minds, / that we may not sleep in sin, which leads to death! Kontakion [...]

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Christian Philosophy? V

I have been commenting that philosophy and Christianity may be compatible terms if both are seen as ways of living. Philosophy as a way of life is unquestionably (in my view) the ancient understanding of philosophy. A similar way of understanding can be seen among the earliest writings of Christianity, including its own Scriptures. Whether [...]

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