Sanctifying Life: The Services in Preparation for the Holy Eucharist

 

This is the recording of the Adult Education class offered at Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Austin Texas on Nov. 6, 2024 This classn this current series exploring the Sacraments of our Holy Orthodox Church. The topic of this session is services  in preparation for there . The recording is the transcription of the actual class and is unedited. Please excuse the lack of sophistication. God Bless… FrG

Our Age of Ego and Self Centeredness

Abba Sisoes the Great at the Tomb of Alexander the Great

I read a beautiful reflection on the icon  of  Abba  Sisoes the Great at the tomb of Alexander the Great and wanted to share it. In our present day climate of “likes” and “internet influencers,” I thought this to be very relevant and something for us all to think about as we consider the ego driven pursuit of fame and the values of our age.

Abba Sisoes  was born in 367 and died in AD 429. He became an ascetic in the desert of Thebes in Egypt. His memory is celebrated on July 6  and belongs to the first generation of great ascetics who followed St. Anthony the Great.

The monastery of Abba Sisoes, located in the valley of Nitria in the region of Wadi el Natroun in Egypt, is one of the ancient monasteries of the Skete, the cradle of Christian monasticism, which has been operating since the 4th century AD. The monastery contains the relic of Saint Sisoes which is said to be perfectly preserved on a red cloth.

The monks claim that it is common for Saint Sisoes to perform miracles for the true believers and is also considered one of the most important monastic saints of Orthodox and  Coptic Christians.

The disciples of Saint Sisoes, who are considered to be the first to depict the relevant scene, describe it as follows: ‘Sisoes the Great, at the tomb of the glorious King of the Greeks, Alexander, is terrified and expresses his sorrow over the ephemeral glories of this life.

Saint Sisoes stands at the open tomb of Alexander the Greatso he weeps and exclaims:

‘Seeing you in a grave, I am timid and frightened at your sight and I shed tears from my heart, bringing to my mind the debt that all people have to pay (that is, death), so I will suffer such an end. Ah, ah death, who is the one who can avoid you?’

We hear in the Funeral Service of our Holy Church this prayer:

“Where is the pleasure in life which is unmixed with sorrow? Where the glory which on earth stood firm and unchanged? All things are weaker than shadow, all more elusive than dreams; comes in one fell stroke, and Death in turn, prevails over all these vanities. Wherefore in the Light, O Christ, of Your countenance, and in the sweetness of Your beauty, to him (her) whom You have chosen grant repose, for you are the Friend of Mankind.”  

The reality of death viewed through the saving grace of the Lord is the only comfort and solace we as Orthodox Christians have in our lives. This is the lesson of this beautiful story of Abba Sisoes. God Bless….FrG

The Foundations of the Church: A Study of the Ecumenical Councils (Part 3)

The Triumph of Orthodoxy

The Foundations of the Church is a short study of the first seven Ecumenical Councils. The classes are recorded from the Adult Education Series of Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church –  Austin, Texas. This class is  Part 3 of the series recorded on June 15,  2022. This recording explores the 6th.  and 7th.  Ecumenical Councils and their impact on the orthodoxy and theology of the Church. The  video recordings are unedited transcriptions of the Zoom presentation of the class. Please forgive the lack of polish of the recording. For a better viewing of this segment, please begin at 3:00 min. into the recording. The presenter is Fr. George  P. Bithos  The link to the video is below. God Bless.. FrG

God Save Your Church!!

Icons of the Church of Our Saviour of Chora

The Holy Church of Our Saviour in the Country(Chora) – ἡ Ἐκκλησία τοῦ Ἁγίου Σωτῆρος ἐν τῇ Χώρᾳ, is one of the greatest churches and monastery complexes of Constantinople. Originally build by St. Constantine the Great and continually rebuilt and adorned from the 4th to the 14th centuries, it falls victim to the tyrannical whims of a present day dictator. All these sacred icons and more are now to be desecrated by the decree of the Turkish government. It is being established as a mosque. These steps are part of a continuous attack on the Orthodox Christian legacy of Byzantium. If you wish to be inspired by the other priceless great icons of the Church link to https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=images+and+Icons+of+Chora+Church&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

This current persecution comes only one month after the Blessed Hagia Sophia was opened as a mosque. Let us pray most especially for Our Patriarch and the Patriarchate because these calculated moves are a direct attack on its position in Constantinople. Please take the time and write our elected representatives decrying the lack of Religious Freedom in Turkey. As an Archon of the Great Church, I urge you to stand with us to protect our Church. This effort can be assisted by educating yourself and signing a petition at: https://www.archons.org

God Bless….dn. g

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Christian Brotherhood

Fr. Seraphim Aldea Video Message

Fr Seraphim is a Romanian Monk from the Monastery of All Celtic Saints in Great Britain. He puts the present current events in a Christian perspective. I hope you enjoy and are edified by his message. God Bless Dn. G.

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St. George: The Great Martyr and Trophy-Bearer

St George the Great Martyr
A Trisagion Film

On April 23, our Holy Church commemorates the Great Martyr and Trophy-Bearer St. George. Holy Saint of God Intercede for us. Χρίστος Ἀνέστη!! ….dn g

Apolytikion of Great Martyr George

Fourth Tone

Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick, and champion of kings, O trophy-bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion of Great Martyr George

Fourth Tone

Cultivated by God, you became manifest as an honorable tiller gathering for yourself the sheaves of virtue. For you sowed with tears but reaped with gladness; in the contest you competed with your blood and came away with Christ. By your intercessions, O Holy One, all are granted forgiveness of sins.

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The True Meaning of Πάσχα (in Greek)

https://youtu.be/S58SWKusBOM
This short video gives us a lesson of the reality of Πάσχα (in Greek). This year above all we need to proclaim the truth of Christ and his life giving Resurrection to the entire world.
God Bless….dn g
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The Story of the Church -9: The 6th and 7th Ecumenical Councils

Sunday of Orthodoxy

The 6th and 7th Ecumenical Councils continued the Christological definition of the person of Jesus Christ. The 6th Council discussed and defined the two energies and wills of Christ. The 7th Council defeated Iconoclasm and returned the use of icons into the Church by decreeing that Christ was in truth full Human and fully Divine. The final defeat of this heresy was celebrated with the celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy March 11, 843

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The Akathist Hymn

The Theotokos

The Akathist Hymn is offered during Great Lent to beseech and extoll the Mother of God to pray for the world. Its poetry reveals the great mystery of the miracle of the Theotokos bearing God for the salvation of the world. During these times of great trouble, we all need her prayers and protection. “Hail, O Bride Unwedded”

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