Great Lent – Royal Doors

Becoming Byzantine

Akathists and Molebens, Catechism Resources, Christian Life, Christology, Church, Communion with the Catholic Church, Communities, Divine Liturgy, Divine Praises, Domestic Church, Ecumenism, Faith, Fasting, Featured Articles, Great Lent, History, Holy Mysteries, Holy Tradition, Liturgical Year, Liturgy, Pascha, Personal Prayer, Podcasts, Prayer of the Heart, Relations with other Churches, Salvation History, Scripture, Teaching, Theosis, Trinity, UGCC Catechism July 18, 2022 Fr. Michael Winn

The series, Becoming Byzantine, is intended to be an online introduction to Byzantine Catholic Faith, Worship, and Life, based on the teachings of the catechism, Christ Our Pascha. Each month, the series sponsors a 90-minute webinar which will serve as a conversation introducing the topics and themes from the Catechism (which can be read afterwards), […]

New Cooking Show: Eastern Hospitality

Fasting, Featured Articles, Great Lent February 6, 2018 Fr. Roman Planchak

This is an Easter Catholic online cooking show hosted by Fr. Moses and Mother Gabriella. It follows the Traditional cycle of the Liturgical Year which takes us through periods of preparation (fasting) and celebrating (feasting). New episodes will be released this coming Great Lent. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/easternhospitality/ Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/channels/easternhospitality Website: http://www.easternhospitality.org

Meditation on the Prayer of St. Ephrem | Jim Forest

Great Lent, Personal Prayer, Prayer Texts February 5, 2017 Respected Author

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust for power and idle talk. But give to me, your servant, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. O Lord and King, grant to me to see my own faults and not to condemn my brother and sister. […]

The Purpose of the Great Fast

Fasting, Featured Articles, Great Lent February 5, 2017 Fr. Michael Winn

Because we did not fast we were banished from paradise. So then let us fast so as to return back to paradise. (St. Basil, On Fasting, 1) Although our time has brought with it many changes in church laws, traditions, and discipline, and the Second Vatican Council has relaxed the rules for fasting, including the […]

The Seal on Our Repentance

Featured Articles, Great Lent, Holy Mysteries March 31, 2015 Fr. Roman Planchak

Source: Eparchy of Newton During the forty days of the Great Fast the Church urges us to ascetic effort as a preparation for the observances of Holy Week and Pascha. We know that, by His death and resurrection, Christ has achieved the restoration of our human nature in Himself and has enabled us to share […]

Christ in Prophetic Song

Divine Praises, Featured Articles, Great Lent, Scripture March 31, 2015 Fr. Roman Planchak

Source: Eparchy of Newton When the Risen Christ joined the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the Gospel says that, “beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). Where and how did Moses and the prophets speak of Jesus, whom the biblical […]

Hail, O Star Manifesting the Sun!

Akathists and Molebens, Great Lent March 21, 2015 Fr. Roman Planchak

Source: Eparchy of Newton – When is a Lenten service not a Lenten service? A – When it is the Akathist to the Theotokos. In Byzantine Churches of the Greek or “Southern” tradition it is customary to serve Compline with the Akathist to the Theotokos on the Friday evenings during the Great Fast. Due to […]

“See, See That I am God”

Divine Praises, Featured Articles, Great Lent, Scripture March 7, 2015 Fr. Roman Planchak

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 […]

Lent is Time of ‘Joy’ for Eastern Catholics

Domestic Church, Fasting, Featured Articles, Great Lent March 7, 2015 Fr. Michael Winn

by Laura Ieraci The Catholic Telegraph, March 6, 2015 “Joy” is not a word people usually associate with strict fasting and penance — unless they are Eastern-rite Catholics. In the Eastern church, the penitential period that prepares believers to celebrate Easter, is called “Great Lent,” and its prayers invite the faithful to recognize their “need […]

All Souls Saturdays

Featured Articles, Great Lent March 4, 2015 Fr. Michael Winn

ALL SOULS SATURDAY The Holy Fathers were convinced that the commemoration of the departed by alms and sacrifices [Divine Liturgies] brings great comfort and benefit to them. (Synaxarion for Meat-fare Saturday) One of the most venerable traditions in the Church, equally observed in the West as in the East, is the commemoration of the departed […]