Great Lent – Royal Doors

Mar

07

2015

“See, See That I am God”

Faith, Featured ArticlesGreat Lent, Matins, Old Testament

Source: Eparchy of Newton PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH the Church’s morning service (Matins or Orthros) would recognize the term “Ninth Ode.” It refers to the Biblical canticle of the Theotokos which begins, “My soul magnifies the Lord…” (cf., Luke 1:46-55) sung at this service. This hymn expresses the joyful gratitude of the holy Virgin at the incarnation of Christ in her womb. Calling this canticle the “Ninth Ode” raises a question. Where are the other eight? We rarely, if ever, hear of them. There are nine Biblical canticles which at one time were sung at Matins/Orthros. With the development of the…

Feb

24

2015

By Fr. Roman Planchak

Christ, the Living Bread

Christian LifeFasting, Great Lent, Presanctified Liturgy

“THE DISCIPLES OF JOHAN and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to [Jesus], ‘Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days’” (Mark 2:18-20). This exchange, recorded in all three synoptic Gospels, established a principle which…

Feb

08

2015

By Fr. Roman Planchak

Instructions for Lent From Our Lord Jesus: Pray, Fast and Give Alms

Christian Life, Featured ArticlesAlms Giving, Fasting, Great Lent, Prayer

Matthew 6: 1-21, NKJV 1* "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4* so that your alms may be in secret;…

Feb

08

2015

By Fr. Roman Planchak

Lenten Prayer

Featured Articles, PrayerGreat Lent, Prayer

The Prayer of St. Ephrem O Lord and Master of my life, keep from me the spirit of indifference and despair, lust of power, and idle chatter. (Prostration) Instead, bestow on me, your servant, the spirit of wholeness of being, humility, patience, and love. (Prostration) Yes, O Lord and King, grant me the grace to be aware of my sins and not judge my brothers and sisters; for You are blessed, for ever and ever and. Amen. (Prostration) The Lenten Prayer of St Ephrem the Syrian, by Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann Of all lenten hymns and prayers, one short prayer can…

Mar

14

2013

By Fr. Roman Planchak

The Who’s Who of The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Faith, Featured Articles, LiturgyGreat Lent

As we approach Great Lent, the time given to us specifically for repentance, the Church gives us a whole host of images to help us. St. John of Kronstadt teaches that: “Imagery or symbols are a necessity of human nature in our presently spiritually sensual condition; they explain [by the vision] many things belonging to the spiritual world which we could not know without images and symbols.” We need pictures to help us think, to help us digest and understand the truths given to us. What St. Andrew of Crete does in the Great Canon written by him, is to…

Mar

14

2013

By Royal Doors Roving Reporter

The Life of St Mary of Egypt – A Story of Repentance

Faith, Featured ArticlesGreat Lent

The Life of St Mary of Egypt (A Story of Repentance)By St Sophronios "It is good to hide the secret of a king, but it is glorious to reveal and preach the works of God" (Tobit 12.7) So said the Archangel Raphael to Tobit when he performed the wonderful healing of his blindness. Actually, not to keep the secret of a king is perilous and a terrible risk, but to be silent about the works of God is a great loss for the soul. And I (says St. Sophronius), in writing the life of St. Mary of Egypt, am afraid…

Feb

12

2013

By Royal Doors Roving Reporter

A Fastless Fast?

Christian Life, Featured ArticlesFasting, Great Lent

CHEESEFARE SUNDAY IS TRADITIONALLY the last day for eating dairy products until Pascha, as the Great Fast begins tomorrow. This poses a problem in our society where meat and dairy are the substance of every meal. Some people say that they cannot do without meat and so they only fast sporadically. By this they may mean they need protein and are not aware of other sources of protein, such as beans, peas, soy products (tofu), as well as seeds and nuts. But it is perhaps more likely that people miss the taste of meat, fish or dairy products more than…

Mar

25

2012

By Respected Author

Great and Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday

FaithGreat Fast, Great Lent, Holy Week, Lent

The following is excerpted from A Paschal Pilgrimage: A Guide to the Great Fast by Bishop Basil Losten. The Bridegroom Cometh On Palm Sunday evening at Vespers we “pass from the feast of palms and branches… to the saving solemnity of the sufferings of Christ.” On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning of Holy Week, Matins is popularly called the “Bridegroom Service,” because each time we sing the Troparion, “Behold, the Bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night!” (Hear this troparion on Youtube) Each day the Gospel is read. There is Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts on Monday, Tuesday and…