We must prepare ourselves to the Mystery of the Holy Communion by praying, fasting, humble Christian behavior and spirit as well as by confession. Home and church prayers. A person willing to prepare oneself properly to the Holy Christ’s Mysteries must prayerfully prepare himself before the Communion: to pray at home more and with greater … [Read more…]
A Candle. What does a person entering church do first of all? In nine cases out of ten — he buys a candle. Our joining the real Christian rituality begins with a small wax candle. It is impossible to imagine an Orthodox church without burning candles. The interpreter of the Liturgy, the Holy Fool-for-Christ Simeon … [Read more…]
The Church Canon requires 9 various services (offices) to be performed during the day. Each of them has its history, symbolism and duration, but spiritually they form one whole thing called the daily circle. The Orthodox service borrowed many things from Old Testimony prayer traditions. For instance, a new day is considered to begin not … [Read more…]
What is a Catechumen? A Catechumen today is one that has gone a period of discernment and inquiry into the faith of the Church and chooses to take a step toward learning more about the faith and making a commitment to one day be baptized. Even in the ancient church not all of the people … [Read more…]
WHY DO WE NEED TO GO TO CONFESSION? By “Metropolitan Kallistos Ware” “Why do we need to go to confession? Is it not enough to confess our sins with sincerity in our private prayers each evening, will not God forgive us from the very moment that we confess our sins? Yes, as soon as we … [Read more…]