Homily on the Second Sunday of the Great Fast (Archbishop Averky of Syracuse)

By Archbishop Averky of Syracuse

On the second Sunday of the Great Fast it is as though this triumph of Orthodoxy is repeated and deepened in connection with the celebration of the memory of one of the greatest pillars of Orthodoxy‚ the hierarch Gregory Palamas‚ Archbishop of Thessalonica‚ who by his grace-bearing eloquence and the example of his highly ascetic private life put to shame the teachers of falsehood who dared reject the every essence of Orthodoxy‚ the podvig (in an approximate translation the word podvig means “spiritual struggle”) of prayer and fasting‚ which enlightens the human mind with the light of grace and makes it a communicant of the divine glory.

Homily on the Feast of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (Archbishop Averky of Syracuse)

 

 

By Archbishop Averky of Syracuse

Today we celebrate the memory of one of the greatest saints of the Church of Christ, our holy father Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra the Wonderworker, who as no one else has been revered at all times by all peoples of the world, not only Christians, but even Muslims and pagans.

“I see, brethren, a new sun rising above the earth and bringing sweet consolation to the sorrowful and suffering,” said the Bishop of Patara as he ordained Nicholas to the priesthood. “Joyous is the flock which will be under his ministry; he will strengthen them in faith in the Lord, he will guide them in goodness and piety, he will be an earnest helper to all those in need.”

Wherein Lies Life's Greatest Evil? (Archbishop Averky of Syracuse)

Wherein Lies Life's Greatest Evil?

Archbishop Averky of Syracuse

"Behold, thou art made whole. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." John 5:14

After His glorious Resurrection from the dead, Our Lord Jesus Christ remained on earth for an additional forty days. During this time, He came to His disciples on more than one occasion, "speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). Accordingly, for forty days we glorify Christ's Resurrection, singing joyous Paschal hymns. In addition, the Sundays of this season are dedicated to the commemoration of the people and events that are independently associated with the feast of Christ's Resurrection – such as the week of St. Thomas, and the week of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women – or else of those events that took place precisely at this time of year, the Pentecostal period, and which brilliantly attest to the Divine glory, kingly majesty, and omnipotence of our Lord Jesus Christ; to His sovereignty over the natural world and its laws; intending by this presentation of His Divine power and authority to prevent any shades of doubt in the great truth of His most glorious Resurrection from the dead.