Fr. John Behr
Rating: 6|Votes: 2
As we present the Theotokos into the temple today, saying to God “Let it be,” let us not misunderstand what it demands of us as ourselves temples of God. May we have the strength to say with her: “Let it be!”
Archimandrite Cleopa (Ilie)
Rating: 7,3|Votes: 9
We Orthodox Christians honor the Theotokos Mary more than all the saints and angels of heaven for she was found worthy to give birth to Christ, the Savior of the world by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. The honor we render to the Mother of the Lord is exceptional, most honorable and most revered, for she is not only "a friend of His,” as are the other saints, but she is Most Holy (Panagia) above all the saints and all the angels.
Rating: 8|Votes: 16
"I always pray that my spiritual children will love God, Who is everything, so that He will make us worthy to enter His earthly uncreated Church. We must begin from here. I always made the effort to pray, to read the hymns of the Church, the Holy Scriptures and the Lives of the Saints. May you do the same. I tried, by the grace of God, to approach God and may you also do the same."
Rating: 2,3|Votes: 3
"Christ called Levi the publican who then repented and became the Apostle Matthew. In this brief encounter with the conversion of the Apostle Matthew and then Christ dining at his house and saying to his critics that he has come to call sinners to repentance, we see an illustration of what the Gospel is amidst those who don’t understand it and criticize Christ for it."
The Nativity Fast