St. Polycarp, the Beloved Peacemaker
Pangratios was born about 69 AD to a Christian family who received its Christian faith from the very Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Apostolic Ages, the young church survived and was strengthened by visits from the chosen Apostles and the Apostles disciples. With such a strong religious background, it is not difficult to understand how one could become such an ardent defender of the Orthodox Faith. History tells us that Pangratios became – …
Treasures of the Fathers: Stewards of the Mysteries of God
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.” After he had cast down their spirit, mark how again he refreshes it, saying, “as ministers of Christ.” Do not then, letting go the Master, receive a name from the servants and ministers. “Stewards;” he says, indicating that we ought not to give these things unto all, but unto whom it is due, and to whom it is – …
Third Sunday of the Blessed Month of Amshir (The Bread of Life)
“Give us this day our daily bread” may be understood both spiritually and literally, because either way of understanding it is rich in divine usefulness to our salvation. For Christ is the bread of life; and this bread does not belong to all men, but it is ours. Just as we say, “Our Fr.” because He is the Fr. of those who understand and believe; we also call it “our bread,” because Christ is the – …
Treasures of the Fathers: 1st Sunday of the Holy Fifty Days (Thomas Sunday)
The following is excerpt from St. John Chrysostom’s Homily 87 on the Commentary on John found in Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers, s. 1, v. 14, edited and published in Treasures of the Fathers Volume 4: The Holy Fifty Days, pp. 47-51. "…24Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, – …
Treasures of the Fathers: Fifth Sunday of Abib, The Five Loaves and Two Fish
“THE FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH” by Saint Augustine Sermon 80 (on John 6:9), NPNF, s. 1, v. 6, p. 1075. It was a great miracle that was wrought, dearly beloved, for five thousand men to be filled with five loaves and two fishes, and the remnants of the fragments to fill twelve baskets. A great miracle: but we shall not wonder much at what was done, if we give heed to Him That did – …