Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.
Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.
All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.
NEW YORK – The 24th Phidippides Award was bestowed last night to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America for his passionate advocacy of Hellenism and Orthodoxy during the 33rd Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Hellenic Public Radio COSMOS FM 91.5. The event was held at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows, NY.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announces the decision of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, after much consideration and in collaboration with His Eminences’ advisors, to create the following Archdiocesan Regions.
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we celebrate Saint Photios the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople, throughout our Archdiocese, we also remember our first National Shrine, named in his honor. The Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine, founded by Archbishop Iakovos of blessed memory, commemorates the first known Greeks who came to America in the 18th century, long before their distant cousins would begin arriving nearly one hundred years later.
NEW YORK – On February 12, 2020 at 7:00 p.m., the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America will be hosting an event focused on homelessness at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (337 E 74th St, New York, NY 10021). The event will feature a panel, including His Grace Bishop ...
