No Other Foundation

The Feast of the Elevation of the Cross could also be called The Feast of Byzantium.

It is easy to misinterpret Christianity as a religion like any other but Fr. Lawrence maintains it is unique.

I sometimes cannot help asking myself three liturgical questions whenever I visit churches which serve the Liturgy in the “classic” pattern I learned in seminary—all of those questions quite rhetorical.

In the Gospel reading Christ even now stands in our midst to speak to our hearts.

We regard it as “Scripture”, a holy text, and of course it is. But it is also a personal letter addressed and written to people other than ourselves.

In the original usage, the Trisagion was sung as a refrain to Psalm 80. The cantor would chant verses of the psalm as all walked in procession and the people sung the Trisagion hymn as its refrain after every verse.

The decrees and canons of the Provincial and Ecumenical Councils today often sound odd in our modern ears.

Fr. Lawrence continues his commentary on the Divine Liturgy with a focus on the Antiphons.

Fr. Lawrence offers commentary on the Divine Liturgy with a focus today on the Great Litany.

The so-called “Holy Fire” is the name given to the fire that appears on ends of the candles of the Patriarch of Jerusalem and others every Holy Saturday.

What does the Orthodox Church think about gay sex? The official answer is not hard to find.

Fr. Lawrence talks about is just released Ancient Faith book "Unquenchable Fire."

How important is it for the people to be there when the Divine Liturgy starts?

Fr. Lawrence asks if we should be trying to convert those of other faiths or not faith to Christianity.

Fr. Lawrence talks about the societal lies that Pascha reveals.

Fr. Lawrence reflects on the questions that must be asked to determine if someone is preaching "another Jesus." He suggests that the blessing of same-sex activity by some churches raise the same questions as in St. Paul's day.

Where would you find yourself on that day when our Lord road into town on the seat of a foal?

Fr. Lawrence says that any sensible discussion of the moral legitimacy of capital punishment must center on the Scriptures and the Tradition of the Church, not on one’s subjective feelings

How do we spend our Sunday mornings? At a thrift store? On a golf course? Before the television set? And if we choose any of these options, what are we teaching others by these choices?

Fr. Lawrence says the Nicene Creed was created to exclude which goes against the grain of our modern secular society, where the word “inclusive” has become a magic word, conjuring up warm feelings of virtue, righteousness, and goodness.

So, what’s the deal with clerical dress and monastic habits? Do they really matter?

Fr. Lawrence suggests there are problems involved in declaring that only Orthodox may be commemorated if no further details are provided, for this sets up the liturgist to be a judge over the souls of men. But who then can be included?