Pre-Festive Days of the Theophany

After the feast of the Circumcision (Jan. 1), the Church turns its gaze from our Lord’s infancy and childhood to his public ministry, which will begin with His baptism (Matthew 3:13-17). The feast of our Lord’s baptism is called the Theophany, meaning “the manifestation” or “appearance of God”, and is celebrated on January 6. During […]

Theophany or Epiphany

1. Theophany or Epiphany and Christmas. Theophany is one of the great Feasts of the Lord of the ecclesiastical year. It is also called Epiphany and the Day of Lights and is celebrated on the 6th of January. The names of this Feast indicate the understanding of the ancient Church concerning this Feast. This understanding […]

The Baptism of Christ and the Baptism of the Christians

PREAMBLE: The Month of January is marked by the Great Dominical Feast of Theophany (or Epiphany), which commemorates the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. This provides us with the occasion to consider both the Baptism of our Lord and also our own Baptism. The text published here is from Bishop Theophilos of Campania. Bishop […]

Epiphany in Eastern and Western Christianity

1. THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY. On the 6th of January Eastern Orthodox and Western Christians celebrated the great Feast of Epiphany (Western) or Theophany (Eastern). This Feast introduced a new period of liturgical celebration, which is still with us – a celebration that goes right back to Christian beginnings and opens up the meaning of […]

On the Circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ

ON THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST With Special Reference to The Oration of Andrew, Archbishop of Crete, The Jerusalemite, On the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ (PG 97, 913-929)   By   Fr. George Dion Dragas, PhD, DD, DTh., Protopresbyter “And when the eight days were fulfilled for his circumcision, he was given t h […]

Saint Basil the Great and the custom of Saint Basil’s Pie

St. Basil the Great Celebrated January 1st  Very few of us realize that the beginning of the Church calendar does not start on January 1st. Actually, our Church calendar begins on September 1st. In our daily living, however, with our friends and neighbors and our society, our year begins on January 1st. This is […]

“John the Blessed” by Photios Kontoglou

Photios Kontoglou, an “emblematic Orthodox painter and novelist,” in the short story “John the Blessed” shows St. Basil the Great (Santa Claus in the Greek tradition) disappointed by human indifference finally finding hope in a young man – a shepherd whom they used to call Yiannis the blessed: “an innocent man like the sheep he […]

Patriarchal Christmas Encyclical 2011

Dec 20, 2011 ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE Prot. No. 1192 + B A R T H O L O M E W By the Mercy of God Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch To the Plenitude of the Church 
Grace, Peace and Mercy from our Savior Born in Bethlehem “Christ is born again and the Angels […]

正教會將於赤柱卜公碼頭舉行主顯節祝水禮

  香港聖路加正教座堂將於主顯節內舉行多項慶祝活動: 由香港及東南亞教區黎大略都主教主領,於2012年1月8日上午十時在中環聖路加正教座堂慶祝事奉聖禮,約下午十二時半於赤柱卜公碼頭舉行祝水禮 [Greater Blessing of the Water],是次祝水禮將是第三年在香港舉行,為時約15分鐘。 主顯節(1月6日)是正教會十二大節慶之一,慶祝三一上帝在基督領洗的顯現。於信奉正教的國家中,該節日歡慶的傳統包括於海邊祝水及擲放十架到水上。年青的信眾會跳入水中取回十架,而首名取回十架的信徒將得到主教的特別祝福。 這是基督宗教中一個頗為獨特的習俗,在正教會中具有悠長歷史。歡迎蒞臨出席参加。 正教會香港及東南亞教區於1996年成立,在港見證正教會傳統。若對是次祝福禮或基督正教信仰有任何查詢,歡迎周一至周六上午+時至下午一時,致電2573 8328,教會辦公室查詢   see more  

The Nativity Sermon of Saint John Chrysostom

BEHOLD a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The Angels sing. The Archangels blend their voice in harmony. The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt His glory. All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead […]