'People often say to me, ‘J.John, what do you do?’ It’s difficult to know what to say. Because if I say to you that I’m a Reverend, which I am, that conjures up certain images in people’s minds as to what I might be. I like to be a bit creative in telling people what I do. I sat next to this la … [Read more...]
Preaching Better – Practical Suggestions for Homilists
One of the complaints made against priests is that their homilies are largely a waste of time. Personally, I think that a good portion of the blame for this lays with the hearer (e.g. lack of preparation, inability to focus, unrealistic expectations), but there is LOT of room for improvement on the … [Read more...]
Advice for priests who feel sorry for themselves (from St. Leo the Great)
I came across this gem while preparing for a Bible Study class on the readings for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (esp. 2 Timothy 3:10-15). This mirrors the advice given to a friend by his doctor when my friend complained about the pain an upcoming procedure was sure to inflict. In hi … [Read more...]
What is a Priest? An Orthodox Statement
by Thomas Hopko The following remarks are intended as a brief apologia for what I understand to be the theological and spiritual vision of the sacrament of the priesthood in the Christian Church. I believe that this vision is rooted in the Church’s understanding of God as the Holy Trinity, with s … [Read more...]
A Reflection on a Quiet Celebration
This past Saturday I had the opportunity to do something special; I concelebrated with a man on the 44th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. From the outside it looked pretty simple: just a quiet service in a small chapel. On this, what I hope to be the first of a "40 Days of (Old Ca … [Read more...]
True, Priestly Image: Bishop, Priest, Deacon
by St. Symeon of Thessalonica Priests are servants of the Creator of all things, who are to serve in the restoration of those, who were alienated by their own free choice and fell into being evil. Priests are ministers of the greatest and most divine work, through which earthly and heavenly beings … [Read more...]
What a Clergyman Should and Should Not Be
Presentation by His Grace Bishop Christoforos of Andida. It is truly an exceptional honour but also a great responsibility for all of us that we have been chosen by God to be clergymen. The Lord Himself affirms: “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16). The Greek word for a c … [Read more...]
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