A Voice from the Isles

Why did our Lord have to suffer and die? We cannot conclude with the benefit of hindsight that this was simply what He had to endure to make the resurrection possible. Orthodox Christianity insists that there is necessary meaning in both the death and resurrection of our Lord.

Today's sermon is given by Dn. Christopher speaking about Saint Mary of Egypt, one of the greatest examples of personal repentance that we have.

Today's sermon is given by Dn. Christopher speaking about Saint Mary of Egypt, one of the greatest examples of personal repentance that we have.

In his sermon on the 4th Sunday of Great Lent, Fr. Gregory says there are two chief enemies of the spiritual life, self-righteous or vainglory and despair.

We need the perspective of the Cross in the midst of Great Lent in order to remind ourselves of the goal of that journey that we undertake through fasting, repentance, almsgiving and prayer. It is that we might come to the beginning of Great and Holy Week with a Godly intention to know nothing else but "Christ and him crucified."

We need the perspective of the Cross in the midst of Great Lent in order to remind ourselves of the goal of that journey that we undertake through fasting, repentance, almsgiving and prayer. It is that we might come to the beginning of Great and Holy Week with a Godly intention to know nothing else but "Christ and him crucified."

According to St. Bede, God uses our suffering to stimulate our fortitude, faith, humility, repentance and vigilance.

According to St. Bede, God uses our suffering to stimulate our fortitude, faith, humility, repentance and vigilance.

The faith that overcomes the world is the true faith, Orthodoxy, not heterodoxy or otherwise believing.

The faith that overcomes the world is the true faith, Orthodoxy, not heterodoxy or otherwise believing.

When did fasting begin? Did Jesus start the whole thing off? The righteous and the repentant fasted in the Old Testament. Well, what about Abraham then? The fact is, humankind was taught to fast right from the very beginning, in the Garden of Eden.

When did fasting begin? Did Jesus start the whole thing off? The righteous and the repentant fasted in the Old Testament. Well, what about Abraham then? The fact is, humankind was taught to fast right from the very beginning, in the Garden of Eden.

In our lives, crucial choices have to be made and upon these choices our eternal destiny depends.

In our lives, crucial choices have to be made and upon these choices our eternal destiny depends.

Although commonly known as the parable of the prodigal son this story in the gospel today is misnamed. It should rather be called: “the parable of the merciful Father” for the story concentrates all its attention on the compassion of the father.