Month: March 2016

Come and See | Fr Seraphim Holland

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Fr Seraphim Holland of St Nicholas Orthodox Church, McKinney Texas.  Please  check out his church website for more sermons.  http://www.orthodox.net/

Sunday of Orthodoxy

Orthodoxy and life is very deep and complex, but the essence of Christian life is simple. The Gospel today teaches us a simple way, and if we obey the simple apostolic command, we will not be confounded. If we think too much, we will always be confused. We look at the calling of Nathaniel and the simple way he was told to approach his doubts; this applies to EVERY doubt and difficulty in our life. “Come and see!” is the only door to the triumph of Orthodoxy, that is, the fullness of the indwelling of God, in our hearts.

Sunday of Orthodoxy | Fr. Seraphim Holland

~ faithcircleblog

Fr Seraphim Holland of St Nicholas Orthodox Church, McKinney Texas.  Please  check out his church website for more sermons.  http://www.orthodox.net/

The Hymns of the Sunday of Orthodoxy proclaim the restoration of the ikons and their most important teaching – the Incarnation with all its implications, and the reason why we fast. (mp3 format)

Thou who art uncircumscribed, O Master, in Thy divine nature, / wast pleased in the last times to take flesh and be circumscribed; / and in assuming flesh, / Thou hast also taken on Thyself all its distinctive properties. / Therefore we depict the likeness of Thine outward form, / venerating it with an honor that is relative. / So we are exalted to the love of Thee, / and following the holy traditions handed down by the apostles // from Thine icon we receive the grace of healing. (Sunday of Orthodoxy, Vespers, Lord I have cried)

We venerate Thy holy icon, loving Lord, / asking Thee to pardon our transgressions, Christ our God. / For Thou of Thine own will wast pleased in the flesh to ascend upon the Cross, / so to deliver from the bondage of the enemy those whom Thou hast fashioned. / Therefore in thanksgiving we cry aloud to Thee: // Thou hast filled all things with joy, our Savior, when Thou hast come to save the world. (Sunday of Orthodoxy, Troparion, Tone II)

Depicting Thy divine form in ikons, O Christ, we openly proclaim Thy Nativity, Thine ineffable miracles and Thy voluntary Crucifixion. So the devils are driven out in fear and the heretics, their fellow workers, lament in shame and sorrow. (Sunday of Orthodoxy, Matins, Sessional Hymn)

Moses, in the season of abstinence, received the law and proclaimed it to the people. Elijah by fasting closed the heavens; and the three children of Abraham through fasting overcame the lawless tyrant. Count us worthy, O Christ, through fasting to attain the Feast of the Resurrection, as we cry aloud: “Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us!” (Sunday of Orthodoxy, Matins, Praises)

Fast From | Very Rev. Fr. Tryphon

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The Very Rev. Fr. Tryphon, Abbot of All-Merciful Saviour Monastery on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound near Seattle, Washington, provides meaningful support and authoritative guidance for a profitable spiritual life in today’s world.

http://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/morningoffering/fast_from

FAST from self-concern and FEAST on compassion for others.
FAST from discouragement and FEAST on hope.
FAST from lethargy and FEAST on enthusiasm.
FAST from suspicion and FEAST on truth.
FAST from thoughts that weaken and FEAST on promises that inspire.
FAST from shadows of sorrow and FEAST on the sunlight of serenity.
FAST from idle gossip and FEAST on purposeful silence.
FAST from problems that overwhelm you and FEAST on prayer that sustains.
FAST from criticism and FEAST on praise.
FAST from self-pity and FEAST on joy.
FAST from ill-temper and FEAST on peace.
FAST from resentment and FEAST on contentment.
FAST from jealousy and FEAST on love.
FAST from pride and FEAST on humility.
FAST from selfishness and FEAST on service

Sunday of Forgiveness | Fr Seraphim Holland

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Fr Seraphim Holland of St Nicholas Orthodox Church, McKinney Texas.  Please  check out his church website for more sermons.  http://www.orthodox.net/

The Triodion is a textbook for repentance. Sunday of Forgiveness and the Casting out of Adam from Paradise

We examine the following characteristic hymns from the Triodion and learn the pattern of all repentant, expectant and confident prayer and the purpose behind abstinence.

“Adam was cast out from the delight of Paradise: bitter was his eating, when in uncontrolled desire he broke the commandment of the Master, and he was condemned to work the earth from which he had himself been taken, and to eat his bread in toil and sweat. Therefore let us love abstinence, that we may not weep as he did outside Paradise, but may enter through the gate.”.

“Now the season of virtues has come, and the judge is at the door. Let us not hold back with a darkened face, but offering tears, contrition and giving of alms let us keep the fast, and let us cry: our sins are more in number than the sands of the sea, but forgive each of us, that we may receive an incorruptible crown, Savior of all!”

Why Is There a Judgment? | Fr Tom Soroka

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Fr Tom Soroka is the priest at St Nicholas Orthodox Church in McKees Rocks, PA

The Gospel reading for Judgment Sunday is particularly scary, probably the reason it’s only read once a year.  Lent is almost here to allow us the opportunity to ponder the direction of our lives along with the chance to repent and change our ways.