In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!
On 6th August, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we commemorate the event when our Lord’s human nature was transfigured by the Holy Spirit, proceeding from Our Heavenly Father, Whose voice witnessed to His Son’s divine nature. Continue reading
Filed under Sunday Homilies
∼ Words from the Church Fathers ∼
Temptations come on some people for the cleansing of previous sins, on other for the beautification of their current perfection, and on yet others, as preparation for things to come, except temptations, which are for the increase of a man’s faith and virtue, as it was with Job.
– St. Maximos the Confessor, Chapters on Love, 2.45
Temptations come so that hidden passions may be revealed and so that it will be possible to fight them, and so that the soul may be rid of them. They are also a sign of God’s mercy. So give yourself with trust into God’s hands and ask his help, so that he will strengthen you in your struggle. God knows how much each one can bear and allows temptations according to the measure of our strength. Remember that after temptation comes spiritual joy, and that the Lord protects them that endure temptations and suffering for the sake of His love.
– St. Nektarios of Aegina, The Path to Happiness, 4
Filed under Wisdom of the Church Fathers
SUNDAY 24 JULY
† Fifth Sunday of Matthew | Matthew 8: 28-34,9:1
† St Christina, Great Martyr
• 7.30 – 11.00am Orthros and Divine Liturgy
• 10.30 – 11.00am Sunday School for ages ranging 5 to 17 yrs.
Lessons take place in the building behind the church and begin at the time of Holy Communion until Church dismissal. Lessons are taught in a relaxed, friendly environment. Please bring your children along to learn of their rich Orthodox faith and come close to God and His Love.
• 11.00am – 12.00pm After Church each Sunday, join us for tea & coffee in our Coffee Room.
This Week’s Readings:
Filed under Weekly Program
∼ Words from the Church Fathers ∼
If a person wants to get an idea about the pyramids of Egypt, he must either trust those who have been in immediate proximity to the pyramids, or he must get next to them himself. There is no third option. In the same way a person can get an impression of God: he must either trust those who have stood and stand in immediate proximity to God, or he must take pains to come into such proximity himself.
– St. Nicholas of Serbia, Thoughts on Good and Evil
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As it is impossible to verbally describe the sweetness of honey to one who has never tasted honey, so the goodness of God cannot be clearly communicated by way of teaching if we ourselves are not able to penetrate into the goodness of the Lord by our own experience. -St. Basil the Great, Conversations on the Psalms, 29
Filed under Readings, Wisdom of the Church Fathers
Matthew 8: 28-34,9:1
It may be hard for us to relate to today’s gospel passage. We are not possessed by demons, living in a cemetery, and so frightening that no one will come near us. And probably none of us have ever seen a whole herd of pigs run off a cliff and drown in the sea. On the surface, the story of Jesus Christ casting demons out of these wretched men may seem irrelevant to us. But if we look into the narrative more deeply, and with an eye on our epistle passage from St. Paul, we will see that it speaks to us directly. Continue reading
Filed under Readings, Sunday Homilies
SUNDAY 17 JULY
† Fathers of the Fourth Council | Matthew 5: 14-19 Titus 3:8-15
† St Marina, Great Martyr
• 7.30 – 11.00am Orthros and Divine Liturgy
• 10.30 – 11.00am Sunday School for ages ranging 5 to 17 yrs.
Lessons take place in the building behind the church and begin at the time of Holy Communion until Church dismissal. Lessons are taught in a relaxed, friendly environment. Please bring your children along to learn of their rich Orthodox faith and come close to God and His Love.
• 11.00am – 12.00pm After Church each Sunday, join us for tea & coffee in our Coffee Room.
This Week’s Readings:
Filed under Readings, Weekly Program
∼ Words from the Church Fathers ∼
When are we living in Christ? When we live according to His Gospel and His Church. For He Himself, and not only His Gospel, is in the Church with all of His perfections and virtues.
The Church is the eternally living Body of the God-man Christ. In her we find the medium of the holy mysteries. In her we find the means of holy good deeds.
Our Lord Jesus Christ abides inseparable from the Church in this world. He abides with each member of the Church throughout all ages. He has His entire self for us in the Church, and continually gives Himself to us entirely, so that we might be enabled to live in this world as He lived.
-St. Justin Popovich, Explanation of I John, 4:9, 17
Filed under Readings, Sunday Homilies, Wisdom of the Church Fathers
As Orthodox Christians, what’s the first thing we do when we walk into to the church? If we say ‘have a lengthy conversation with fellow parishioner’ that may be true but of course it is not correct. The first thing we do, or that we are supposed to do, is light a candle, saying a prayer, placing it in the sand, venerating the icon and then taking our place in the nave to worship God. The practice of lighting a candle when entering is rooted in the Paschal tradition of receiving the light of Christ from the priest at the midnight Resurrection service. He exits the altar with a lit candle while the following hymn is chanted: “Come receive the light from the light, that is never overtaken by night; and glorify Christ who is risen from the dead” (Deute lavete phos). The utter darkness within the building is quickly overcome with light as the priest passes the flame to the faithful and they in turn pass it on to others. Continue reading
Filed under Readings, Sunday Homilies
SUNDAY 10 JULY
† 3rd Sunday of Matthew | Matthew 6:22-33 Romans 5:1-10
† 45 Martyrs of Nicopolis
• 7.30 – 11.00am Orthros and Divine Liturgy
• 10.30 – 11.00am Sunday School for ages ranging 5 to 17 yrs.
Lessons take place in the building behind the church and begin at the time of Holy Communion until Church dismissal. Lessons are taught in a relaxed, friendly environment. Please bring your children along to learn of their rich Orthodox faith and come close to God and His Love.
• 11.00am – 12.00pm After Church each Sunday, join us for tea & coffee in our Coffee Room.
This Week’s Readings:
Filed under Readings, Services, Weekly Program
∼ Words from the Church Fathers ∼
Put up your prayers, all your cares to God. He cares for you. Do not become faint-hearted, and do not distress yourselves. He who searches out the hidden depths of a man’s soul, knows your desires too, and has the power to fulfil them as he knows. For your part, ask of God, and do not lose your courage. Do not think that, since the longing you have is holy, you have a right to complain, when are not heard. God fulfils your longings in a way that you do not know. So be at peace then, and call upon God.
– St. Nektarios of Aegina
In times of affliction, unceasingly call out to the merciful God in prayer. The unceasing invocation of the name of God in prayer is a treatment for the soul which kills not only the passions, but even their very operation. As a doctor finds the necessary medicine, and it works in such a way that the sick person does not understand, in just the same way the name of God, when you call upon it, kills all the passions, although we don’t know how this happens.
– St. Barsanuphius the Great, Instructions 421
Filed under Readings, Wisdom of the Church Fathers
Join us every Thursday evening from 8.00pm – 9.00pm. Click on image for more info.
God is greater! Greater than your illness whatever it may be. Greater than your deepest disappointment. Greater than your greatest worry. Greater than your worst enemy. Greater than your most difficult problem. Greater than life. Greater than death. God is greater! Believe it! Live by it! Affirm it! Claim it by faith and use it as a pillow to rest your weary soul. God is greater! If your God is not greater, then the God you believe in is too small. He is not the God the Church believes in. ~ St Isaac the Syrian
Bring your children along to learn of their rich Orthodox faith and to come close to God and His Love.
Join us every Tuesday for the Orthodox Youth Group of Brunswick & Coburg.
St Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church 