Οι ψυχές των ανθρώπων
http://myocn.net/οι-ψυχές-των-ανθρώπων/
Οι ψυχές των ανθρώπων είναι αιώνιες και παραμένουν πάντα οι ψυχές των συγκεκριμένων ανθρώπων με το συγκεκριμένο όνομα, προσωπικότητα, αναμνήσεις, συναισθήματα κλπ και θα παραμείνουν έτσι, μέχρι να ανασθηθούν και να ξαναπάθουν άφθαρτο και αιώνιο το σώμα τους. Ποια είναι η δική μας σχέση με τις ψυχές αυτές;
Finding God in Prayer
http://myocn.net/finding-god-in-prayer/
In this episode, we begin with a discussion on why Orthodox Christians call Mary the Mother of God, or God-Bearer, Theotokos in Greek. Listen as Fr. Barnabas (Chuck) Powell and Fr. Spiro Bobotas discuss the importance of her title and reasons we venerate her...
The Sunday after Ascension
http://myocn.net/the-sunday-after-ascension-may-24-2015/
In this episode of Good News for a Change, Fr. Constantine describes how, with the Ascension, we leave the joys and symbols of Pascha behind. So, do we need to wait until next year to experience again the reality and significance of Christ’s Glorious Resurrection? Some people sadly follow that approach. They show up for Easter, and they don’t show up in Church again until the next one! But there is a better, more correct way, to approach this transition. Jesus has indeed been raised from the dead, and then ascended into Heaven. But He promises to send the Holy Spirit, so that all Christians, in any part of the World, are energized to fulfill the Gospel Mission. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is with us in all things and in all places. He is everywhere present and filling all things...
Assembly of Bishops Executive Committee to Meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
On June 16, the Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America will travel to Istanbul in order to meet with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who will receive them at the Phanar...
The Samaritan Woman, The Acts of the Holy Apostles, The Holy Ascension, Pentecost, and the Pew Report
Just a few Sundays ago, we read the account of the Samaritan Woman, that marvelous encounter with Jesus, at the same hour as his crucifixion, the 6th hour. The scene was a scandal for everyone. Jesus, alone with a half-breed woman in the middle of the day....
The Church – Protector and Shepherd
http://myocn.net/the-church-protector-and-shepherd/
Before ascending to His Throne, Jesus commanded the Apostles to remain in Jerusalem to await the Holy Spirit. Before departing for his trial, Saint Paul warned the Church that wolves would come to attack the Church, some even from within. Ever since, we have been waiting for the return of Christ, comforted and shepherded by the Holy Spirit, while protected by His Church. But we cannot be shepherded if we insist on ignoring the Church and wandering away from her wings. The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, protects us from the wolves while leading us to heaven. We must be vigilant against the attack of the wolves and learn to recognize when someone is teaching against the Church. At those moments, we must run to the Church for protection...
Overcoming Bias and Intolerance
http://myocn.net/overcoming-bias-and-intolerance/
In a recent study published in Psychological Science, evidence was given to show that the human brain categorizes people within the first second after seeing a face. In other words, our brain very quickly will separate people according to groups, typically in the “us vs. them” category. This separation most often occurs according to race. Even infants as young as 3 months old showed a preference for their own racial group, over some other racial group....
Ο καιρός των εξετάσεων
http://myocn.net/ο-καιρός-των-εξετάσεων/
Είμαστε έτοιμοι άραγε για τις εξετάσεις; Σα μαθητές κι εμείς που τελειώνει η χρονιά, έτοιμοι να εξεταστούμε πόσα μάθαμε, τι εφαρμόσαμε και τι όχι. Εύχομαι ανα πάσα στιγμή να μην πιαστούμε αδιάβαστοι...
Pentecost Sunday: May 31, 2015
http://myocn.net/pentecost-sunday-may-31-2015-2/
In this episode of Good News for a Change, Fr. Constantine Lazarakis shares thoughts on the significance of our Pentecost observance. He begins with a reflection on the “Service of the Kneeling.” “Again and again, on bended knee, let us pray to the Lord.” And we ask God to send the Holy Spirit upon us as He did at that first Pentecost. Jesus is no longer bound to a place or a time, because the power of the Holy Spirit has now been poured out upon us. Every Sunday is a little Pascha. And we are now agents of God’s grace.
Women Saints
http://myocn.net/women-saints/
Have you ever thought about how many times Jesus scolds his disciples and male followers, yet he never even once becomes angry at or reprimands a woman? The priest at my former church once pointed this out in a bible study. He said this to emphasize that while women clearly have different roles in the Orthodox Church, that doesn’t mean they’re any less important or less loved by God. Inaccurate beliefs about women’s value in the Orthodox faith are caused by ignorance, mistranslations or misunderstanding of the New Testament.
Orthodox Monasteries: Living Examples of Humility
http://myocn.net/orthodox-monasteries-living-examples-of-humility/
Teaching children the significance of their faith can be difficult. I can speak of this after being one of those children. We can all think back to the Sundays in church that were composed of fidgeting, staring at the ceiling out of boredom, or leaning on our parents because our feet were sore within the first 10 minutes. We can all think back to a childhood of not exactly understanding what was going on in church and what the significance of everything was. However, can we all think back to the times we visited an Orthodox monastery? I truly believe that my childhood visits to an Orthodox monastery opened my eyes towards God...
St. Vladimir’s Seminary to Honor Metropolitans Tikhon and Joseph at Meyendorff Lecture September 14
[SVOTS Communications / Yonkers, NY] Predrag Matejic, Ph.D., associate professor at Ohio State University’s Center for Slavic and East European Studies and curator of the Hilandar Research Library, will present the third annual Father John Meyendorff Memorial Lecture on Monday, September 14, 2015. Speaking on the topic “Byzantium, the Slavs, and the Rise of the Russian Orthodox Church,” he will focus on three historical periods: the conversion of the Slavs, the 10th–11th centuries, and the Russian Orthodox Church after the fall of Constantinople, including the councils of the 16th century...
Orthodox Campus Ministry: Is it time for change?
http://myocn.net/orthodox-campus-ministry-is-it-time-for-change/
College students are by far one of the most at-risk groups in the Orthodox Church today. On a regular basis, young men and women on college campuses are confronted with an environment that is increasingly hostile to Orthodox Christianity. Today, standing for Orthodox beliefs on a college campus often means presenting oneself as a subject of ridicule. At many colleges, an Orthodox Christian worldview is considered at best a superstitious relic and at worst a form of bigotry...
Divine Liturgy Broadcast: Dormition of the Theotokos
http://myocn.net/dormition-of-the-theotokos/
In birth, you preserved your virginity; in death, you did not abandon the world, O Theotokos. As mother of life, you departed to the source of life, delivering our souls from death by your intercessions.
Kontakion of Dormition of the Theotokos in the Second Tone
Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection. As Mother of life, He who dwelt in the ever-virginal womb transposed her to life.
Valuing Traditions
http://myocn.net/valuing-traditions/
Is Orthodoxy burdened with traditions? Listen as Fr. Chris speaks with Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis, pastor of St. John Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa, FL, about the value of traditions in the Orthodox Faith...
This Week in Orthodoxy
http://myocn.net/this-week-in-orthodoxy-august-28-2015/
Welcome to “This Week in Orthodoxy”, the world’s only online video newscast focused on events in the life of the Orthodox Church.
These are some of the stories making headlines this week:
- St. Vladimir’s Seminary to honor Metropolitans at an annual lecture next month.
- Istanbul’s Greek community wishes to remove patriarchs’ graves from Greek Orthodox cemetery.
- The Islamic State continues its rampage in Syria with kidnappings, beheadings, and the destruction of historial antiquities including the St. Elian Monaster
60th Anniversary of the Tragic Persecution of Christians in Turkey
http://myocn.net/60th-anniversary-of-the-tragic-persecution-of-christians-in-turkey/
Across the world, Christians are suffering for their faith, and we beseech you to remember the past and get involved. Inspired by the Christian Rights and Freedom Institute founded by St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Naples, Florida and the South Florida Archons, the Orthodox Christian Network features important news on current and historical events.
Video about Monasteries in Romania
http://myocn.net/video-about-monasteries-in-romania/
Have you ever wondered why people become monks and nuns? In her graduation film from Coventry University, Brindusa Ioana Nastasa (Grapefruit Productions) captures 10 intimate interviews with various monastics throughout Romania.