The Bible is filled with examples of less-than-perfect people who complained, doubted and even disputed with God. And God accepts this. In fact, He invites it. God wants an open, sincere and honest relationship with us in the context of “working things out” and going through life. God does not turn away those who love Him, have striven to serve Him, have sacrificed for Him, and then feel hurt, disappointed or left behind when things do not turn [...continue reading]
|
||||||
|
Today the Holy Church celebrates two great events simultaneously: the raising of Lazarus the Righteous and the triumphal entry of our Lord and Savior into Jerusalem. These events are closely interconnected. The Holy Church sings on this feast: “Thou didst raise Lazarus from the dead. 0 Christ-God, making certain the universal resurrection, be fore Thy Passion…”, (troparion for the feast). Christ’s Resurrection and the raising of Lazarus indicate the future universal resurrection of all man kind. Thus do [...continue reading] Schedule of Services for Holy Week and Pascha 2012
April 7th – Annunciation / Lazarus Saturday 10:00 am – Divine Liturgy followed by blessing of willows and egg painting 5:00 pm – Great Vespers
April 8th – Palm Sunday 10:00 am – Divine Liturgy and blessing of willows
April 9th – Holy Monday 10:00 am – Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts 5:00 pm – Services
April 10th – Holy Tuesday 10:00 am – Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts Friday and Saturday, March 30th and 31st, 2012, the regular Annual Assembly of the Diocese of New Gracanica – Midwestern America was held at the center of the Diocese, New Gracanica Monastery, Third Lake IL. The assembly addressed important issues from the life of the Diocese. Delegates from the church-school congregations and parishes were familiarized with important issues regarding spiritual and material conditions in the Diocese. Appropriate decisions we made and new committees were selected – Diocesan council and [...continue reading] Any serious Orthodox Christian should consider going to the Sacrament of Confession before the great Feast of Pascha, our Lord’s Resurrection. It is a fundamental spiritual discipline to seek out a spiritual father, go to Confession regularly, and use this spiritual doctor to help you in your journey towards our Lord. Through Confession, we cleanse our souls from all that hinders us from drawing closer to God. Many people, however, have never gone to Confession, and hesitate [...continue reading] by V. Rev. Paul Yerger Most Orthodox Christians, if asked what they would miss most if they attended another Church, would probably say, “the worship.” Although we highly value our Church’s theology, moral stance, and stability, somehow what is closest to our hearts is the worship. At the same time, many visitors and seekers find Orthodox worship the most difficult aspect of Orthodoxy to appreciate. To be sure, some visitors are immediately [...continue reading] The idea of “tradition” is deceptively simple. The word itself simply means “handing down” or “that which is handed down.” It is also something with which we are intimately familiar, for each one of us lives within a web of traditions that influences everything from the ways in which we celebrate family or national events to our general world-view, whether an “enlightened” commitment to rational inquiry or a more religious outlook. To be a Christian also means to [...continue reading] Why do we Confess? God is the source of all life and joy. Our separation from His life, from the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, inevitably leads us to corruption, despair and death. In coming into this world and becoming one of us, God the Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, defeats death through His own death and resurrection and offers to all who believe in Him and join themselves to Him the [...continue reading] by Fr. Dimitri Cosby For Orthodox Christians, the center of spiritual effort is our participation in Holy Communion. We draw spiritual sustenance and strength from the Body and Blood of our incarnate Redeemer and the deep inner communion with Him which we experience through them. The Holy Spirit, working through these Holy Gifts, cleanses and invigorates us for our struggle against the passions and our growth in virtue and holiness. Because of their [...continue reading] by Rev. Fr. Eugen Rose After the Lord’s Prayer, the prayer of St. Ephraim is one of the most perfect and beautiful of the Church’s prayers. In simple and yet comprehensive words, the prayer reminds us about what is necessary in our relationship with God and with our neighbor. One could say that the prayer is a Philokalia* in miniature, valid for monks and laymen, for men and women, for old and young, for [...continue reading] |
|
|||||
|
Copyright © 2012 New Gracanica News - All Rights Reserved |
||||||
