In the first couple of posts I pointed out that Marriage was previously a financial institution that the CHurch decided to make use of. St Paul subverted this cultural tradition by urging the couple trapped in this financial bind to grow love towards each other in spite of the situation. In the 12 Century, French [...]

In the previous post we saw that Christian teaching caused an evolution in Roman and Jewish understandings of the purpose of marriage: it becomes a tool for their salvation. In the West vows are made and the purposes of marriage are enumerated in the traditional ceremony. The vows are clearly a financial transaction – in [...]

A reading from a Sermon by St Maximus of Turin: CHRIST is risen! He has burst open the gates of hell and let the dead go free; he has renewed the earth through the members of his Church now born again in Baptism, and has made it blossom afresh with men brought back to life. [...]

The Daily Office Readings (Morning and Evening Prayer) as published in the authorized Ordo by the Antiochian Western Rite Vicarate together with other devotional material. Saturday First Vespers of Sunday  III Sunday after Easter - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Monday St Bede the Venerable, Confessor - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Tuesday – Feria - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Wednesday – Feria - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Thursday – Feria (St Felix, PM) - MP - EP - Martyrology. [...]

The readings from the AWRV Daily Office Lectionary together with other devotional material.  II Sunday after Easter (St Prudentiana, V, St Dunstand of Canterbury, BC) - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Monday – Feria - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Tuesday – Feria - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Wednesday – Feria - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Thursday – Feria - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Friday – Feria (Vincent of Lerins, C) - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Saturday – Feris (BVM) - MP - EP - Martyrology.

In today’s sermon (for St Thomas Sunday) Fr John drove home the doctrinal fact that Orthodoxy celebrates, today, the sacredness of the Human Body. It was not enough for Jesus to be a ghost, that rose from the dead, or, as the modern ironic and irreverent and blasphemous people say, “Zombie Jesus.” Jesus had to [...]

The Daily office readings for the week of Easter, as according to the AWRV Rite of St Tikhon. Sorry that my recent schedule has been so tight as to not get these posted!  Easter Day - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Monday within the Octave - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Tuesday within the Octave - MP – EP - Martyrology.  Wednesday within the Octave - MP - EP - Martyrology.  Thursday within the [...]

Daily MP & EP readings for Passion Week from the AWRV together with traditional additions from the WR.  Passion Sunday - MP – EP – Martyrology.  Monday in Passiontide (Ss Soter and Caius Mm) – MP – EP – Martyrology.  Tuesday in Passiontide (George, M) – MP – EP – Martyrology.  Wednesday in Passiontide - MP – EP – Martyrology.  St [...]

The Daily Office reading for the Forth Week of Lent, as used by the ARWV, New Calendar, including supplementary material from other sources.  Sunday 4 Lent (Justin, M) – MP – EP – Martyrology.  Monday after Lent IV - MP – EP – Martyrology.  Tuesday after Lent IV - MP – EP – Martyrology.  Wednesday after Lent IV (Anicetus, PM) – [...]

The lessons and martyrology for the week of 3 Lent – 4 Lent, Morning and Evening Prayer according to the New Calendar, using AWRV and other texts.  Sunday 3 Lent – MP – EP – Martyrology.  St Tikhon of Moscow, BC (Monday after Lent III) - MP – EP – Martyrology.  Tuesday after Lent III - MP – [...]