Saint Philothei of Athens in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

A day of special joy is today, especially for Athens, which honors in a particular way the Venerable Martyr Philothei of Athens. And rightly so: in Athens the Saint lived, was sanctified, and was martyred. Even more: there also lie her holy relics. The relics of the saints, as is known, constitute the greatest treasure for a place — provided, of course, that there are faithful Orthodox Christians. For we Orthodox have the “eyes” to be able to see the grace of God in that which for unbelievers is a dead body, a corpse. For us, the “corpse” is the living presence of the saint and the tangible proof that Christ sanctifies the human being completely: both in soul and in body.

Which means: the soul lives the energy of God when it is turned toward Him, and this energy is transmitted also to the body united with it. No materialism is higher or more effective than that of the Orthodox Church. The daily miracles performed by the Saint through her relics confirm the above truth. And further: the relics, fragrant and myrrh-streaming, show how greatly deluded are all those who advocate cremation of the dead. How much spiritual shortsightedness and lack of faith is hidden behind this belief. The service of the day proclaims this joy:

“Today the renowned Athens rejoices, because the divine relics of Philothei are set forth for veneration, and all the people kiss them with longing.”

Prologue in Sermons: February 19

People, Both the Uneducated and Those Living in the World, Can Be Saved

February 19

(Homily of Saint Gennadios, Patriarch of Constantinople, on the fear of God.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Some among the common folk, lazy concerning the work of their salvation, when spoken to about salvation, wishing to justify their negligence, exclaim:

“I am simple and ignorant; I know nothing!”

Others say: 

“I have a wife and children; necessities overwhelm me — I have no time for salvation!”

Let us see, brethren, whether this is truly so.

Why do you trouble yourself, O man, seeking many books that instruct you in what is beneficial, and going to every teacher saying: “Teach me how I may be saved”?

Meatfare Sunday: Love Yes, But What Kind of Love? (Fr. George Metallinos)

Meatfare Sunday: Love Yes, But What Kind of Love?

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Metallinos

“Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me” (Matt. 25:40)

1. Today’s Gospel reading comes to remind us of a great truth. Last Sunday the Holy Gospel spoke about the goodness of God the Father, who awaits His creature to return. But this must not make us forget His justice as well. God is not only a tender Father; He is also a just Judge. “Neither is His mercy without judgment, nor His judgment without mercy,” says Saint Basil the Great. He will judge the world, the Gospel tells us — and indeed not arbitrarily, but according to our deeds.

Thus today’s passage brings us face to face with the fact of judgment. And we say “fact,” because the universal judgment constitutes for our faith an eschatological certainty and reality, confessed in our Creed as an ecclesiastical belief:

“And He shall come again to judge the living and the dead…”

We are therefore called today to realize three things:

First, that our Judge will be Jesus Christ as God. Christ is Savior but also Judge. If the first time He came humbly to earth “to save the world,” now He will come “in His glory” to judge the world. He who became for us a “curse” upon the Cross has every right to judge us if we have allowed His sacrifice to remain inactive within us and within our society.

Saint Leo of Rome in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

This wondrous Father of ours, Leo, because of his exceptional chastity and purity of soul and the sincerity of his life, was ordained by the Holy Spirit as President (Bishop) of elder Rome. He demonstrated a life pleasing to God and genuine, and shepherded his flock in a holy manner; and furthermore: he completely wiped out the blasphemies of the heretics at the time of the Holy and Ecumenical Fourth Synod of the six hundred and thirty Fathers, which was convened in Chalcedon in the year 451 A.D., which expounded many things concerning the Orthodox faith and overturned the dogmas of the heretics, who were speaking nonsense about the one nature and energy and will of Christ our God.

And because those fighters against God were warring against the truth and were attempting to refute the divinely-inspired dogmas of the divine Fathers, this blessed one, being persuaded by the supplication of the entire Synod, after many days of fasting and vigil and intense prayer, was inspired by the life-giving Spirit and set forth in writing on these matters, clearly proclaiming a double energy and two wills in Christ our God. He then sent these by letter to the Synod. This letter the multitude of Holy Fathers received with the conviction that the writing had come forth as if from the mouth of God; thus, as though the Fathers had found rest in it, they opposed with greater boldness the host of the heretics and defeated their complex intrigues. And with these things the most sacred Assembly was dissolved.

And the divinely inspired Leo, after living still many years and shining like the sun with his virtues, departed to the Lord in deep old age.

Prologue in Sermons: February 18

 

 

What Is the Difference Between a Bad and a Good Monk

February 17

(Instructional Word of Saint Ephraim to Monks.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Just as a young tree, in order to grow better and not be shaken by the wind to and fro, needs a support, so also a young monk, in order to become established in good and flee from evil, needs support and guidance as to how he should live, what he should do, from what he should withdraw, and what he should not do. And such instruction, in accordance with what has been said, we offer to monks today. Let them listen attentively to what we shall say.

What, then, should a monk flee, and to what should he cleave?

Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Tiro in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

This Holy Martyr lived in the time of the emperors Maximian and Maximus and came from Amaseia of Pontus, from a village called Choumialon. As soon as he was enrolled among the ranks of the Tirones — that is, the newly-recruited soldiers — under the authority of the officer Brynkas, he was examined by him and confessed that Christ is God, while he mocked the objects of pagan reverence as lifeless idols and works of human hands.

And when he was given the opportunity, he did not remain inactive, but conceived and carried out the greatest of deeds: he burned the idol of the so-called mother of the gods, as the pagans madly claim. For this reason he was arrested, and after confessing that he himself was responsible for the arson, first he was scraped while suspended with iron claws, then he was thrown into a furnace of fire, and there he was perfected in martyrdom.

His synaxis is celebrated on the Saturday of the first week of the Fast, when his miracle of the kollyva also took place and he thus saved the Orthodox people from the defiled eating of food sacrificed to idols.

Prologue in Sermons: February 17

The Tears of Widows Especially Reach God

February 17

(A Word on Those Who Work Signs.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

We often say that the Lord is the defender of widows and orphans. And we speak the truth; for indeed the Lord is their defender and at times reveals to them particular and extraordinary signs of His mercy.

Venerable Sisoes relates the following incident:

“When I was,” he says, “in the skete with Abba Makarios, and once, after leaving it, we went out for the harvest, a certain widow followed behind us, gathering ears of grain and weeping bitterly. Venerable Makarios called the elder of that village and asked him: ‘Why is the old woman who walks behind us gathering the ears of grain continually weeping?’

The elder answered: ‘Her husband entrusted some gold to a certain man for safekeeping, but soon afterward he suddenly died without telling his wife where the gold he had taken was kept. The owner of that gold now wishes to take her children into servitude.’

The Former Metropolitan of Ganos and Chora, Amphilochios, Has Reposed

 

On the night of Saturday, February 14th 2026, the former Metropolitan of Ganos and Chora, Amphilochios, reposed in the Lord at the age of 88.

The news was made known in a post by Archimandrite Nektarios Pokkias, who, with emotion, announced the repose of the respected Hierarch, writing:

“Our sweet Elder, Metropolitan formerly of Ganos and Chora, lord Amphilochios, a few minutes ago journeyed into eternity. Eternal be his memory. May we have his blessing… Now he is near his Elder, the Venerable Amphilochios Makris.”

Homily for Meatfare Sunday -- On the Dread Last Judgment (St. Cleopa of Sihastria)

Homily for Meatfare Sunday
(Sunday of the Dread Judgment)
About the Fearful Last Judgment

By St. Cleopa of Sihastria

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Beloved faithful,

Today all of us present have heard the words of our Savior Jesus Christ about His coming at the most dreadful Last Judgment. Know that from the foundation of the world until the end of the ages nothing is more fearful than the coming of the Lord at the Last Judgment. Not even the angels can describe to us in detail that most terrible coming of the Lord, when He will judge all the nations of the earth from Adam until the end of the world. We, being very weak and uncomprehending, cannot speak fully about that unspeakable terror and fearful coming of the Lord.

But from what we have heard today in the Holy Gospel and from what Divine Scripture shows, as well as from the teachings of the Holy Fathers about the Judgment of the great day, we shall set down here a few teachings, according to our weak understanding, about the Lord’s coming at the Last Judgment. And first we will show, with testimonies from Holy Scripture, in what manner the Lord will come and what will be the first signs of His coming.