On the Priesthood, Book 1 – The Deception (St. John Chrysostom)
Treatise on the Priesthood, by St. John Chrysostom (source: www.ccel.org/fathers) Book I. The Deception. 1. I had many genuine and true friends, men who understood the laws of friendship, and...
View ArticleOn the Priesthood, Book 2 – On the Qualities of a Good Pastor (St. John...
Treatise on the Priesthood, by St. John Chrysostom(source: www.ccel.org/fathers) Book II. On the Qualities of a Good Pastor. 1. Chrysostom: That it is possible then to make use of deceit for a good...
View ArticleOn the Priesthood, Book 3 – On the Power and Temptations of the Priesthood...
Treatise on the Priesthood. Saint John Chrysostom (source: www.ccel.org/fathers) Book III. The Power and Temptations of the Priesthood 1. Chrysostom: As regards the insult to those who have done me...
View ArticleOn the Priesthood, Book 4 – On the Danger of Unworthy Ordination (St. John...
Treatise on the Priesthood.Saint John Chrysostom(source: www.ccel.org/fathers) Book IV. On the Dangers of Unworthy Ordination Basil heard this, and after a little pause thus replied: If you were...
View ArticleSome Good Advice on (NOT) Taking Offense
If you aren’t following Dn. Michael Hyatt (blog, Twitter, podcast, Facebook), then you have a wealth of practical wisdom waiting for you! In this episode of his podcast, he takes on a critical skill:...
View ArticleChristian Priesthood and Ecclesial Unity
Some Theological and Canonical Considerations by Professor Contantine Scouteris School of Theology of the University of Athens 1. The records of the early Christian tradition leave no doubt that...
View ArticleThe Power of the Priestly Cassock
by Fr. Moses Samaan One of the most disturbing ideas I’ve heard in the recent push to “modernize” the Coptic Orthodox Church and make it more “attractive” to people in today’s society is the idea of...
View ArticleOn the Need to Approach Ordination with Humility
How to Avoid the Priesthood Priest Sergei BegianPravoslavie.ru (16 December 2013) Whoever has been to an ordination knows how grace fills the church at the moment of the imposition of hands…. Joy...
View ArticleSomething to understand about the priesthood…
Abbot Tryphon says at the end of his essay;”I’m sharing all of this with you because I know your priest will not.” He’s right; I’m reluctant to post it myself. I’ve never countenanced whining,...
View ArticleOn the Priesthood, Book 1 – The Deception (St. John Chrysostom)
Treatise on the Priesthood, by St. John Chrysostom (source: www.ccel.org/fathers) Book I. The Deception. 1. I had many genuine and true friends, men who understood the laws of friendship, and...
View ArticleRefresher for the Orthodox Pastor
by Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) 1. Having accepted the grace of ordination, bear in mind of what a gift and of what mercy the Lord has found you worthy – and what responsibility you now bear. A...
View ArticleHow Angels Serve Priests in the Holy Altar
by Fr. Stephanos K. Anagnostopoulos This incident was narrated to the author by the blessed departed Gerondas Gabriel, who for a great period of time was the abbott at the Holy Monastery of Dionysios...
View ArticleDo Clothes Make the Man? Keeping the Cassock
by Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos (The cassock) has a history connected with sacrifices, struggles, tears and blood. … To clergy the cassock reminds them that they are spiritual physicians and...
View ArticleWhat a Clergyman Should and Should Not Be
St. John Chrysostom says: “Grace by itself is insufficient; an ordination is also required for an addition to the Holy Spirit.”
View ArticleTrue, Priestly Image: Bishop, Priest, Deacon
by St. Symeon of Thessalonica Priests are servants of the Creator of all things, who are to serve in the restoration of those, who were alienated by their own free choice and fell into being evil....
View ArticleA Reflection on a Quiet Celebration
This past Saturday I had the opportunity to do something special; I concelebrated with a man on the 44th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. From the outside it looked pretty simple: just...
View ArticleWhat is a Priest? An Orthodox Statement
by Thomas Hopko The following remarks are intended as a brief apologia for what I understand to be the theological and spiritual vision of the sacrament of the priesthood in the Christian Church. I...
View ArticleAdvice for priests who feel sorry for themselves (from St. Leo the Great)
I came across this gem while preparing for a Bible Study class on the readings for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (esp. 2 Timothy 3:10-15). This mirrors the advice given to a friend by...
View ArticlePreaching Better – Practical Suggestions for Homilists
One of the complaints made against priests is that their homilies are largely a waste of time. Personally, I think that a good portion of the blame for this lays with the hearer (e.g. lack of...
View ArticleHow to Describe What We Do
‘People often say to me, ‘J.John, what do you do?’ It’s difficult to know what to say. Because if I say to you that I’m a Reverend, which I am, that conjures up certain images in people’s minds as to...
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