OCR — Lectionary: 13th Sunday of Luke + Commentary
Orthodox Christian Reads
Ephesians 2:14-22 Brethren, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you...
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OCR — Small Compline
Orthodox Christian Reads
Small Compline, the final prayer service of the day which typically occurs after the evening meal and in compunctive preparation for sleep. It is an opportunity to give thanks for the joys and graces we've received during the day, and an honorable way in which to end the day the same way it began: In doxological prayer to God. The translation used is published by in Brookline Massachusetts. It maintains a genuine faithfulness to the original Greek text, while striking a judicious balance between poeticism and interpretation. If you don't have the book already, head on over to treat...
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OCR — Lectionary: 9th Sunday of Luke + Commentary
Orthodox Christian Reads
Ephesians 2:4-10 Brethren, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God: not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship,...
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OCR — St. John Chrysostom and the Jesus Prayer
Orthodox Christian Reads
In honor of the feast day of our father among the saints, John Chrysostom, which we celebrate on November 13th, here is a short selection from his 'philokalic' work, which pertains to the Jesus Prayer and the manner of life that is required to cultivate it. is compiled and translated by the V. Rev. Archimandrite Maximos Constas and Rev. Fr. Peter A. Chamberas, and is published by . New Rome Press not only produces edifying material, but their careful attention to detail and aesthetics is unparalleled. Written as a response to a certain abbot’s request for a spiritual rule of prayer,...
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OCR — Orthodox Christian Evening Prayers
Orthodox Christian Reads
A Manual of Eastern Orthodox Prayers published by Saint Vladimir's Seminary Press. Evening prayers, an opportunity for compunction and thankgiving. These prayers, as well as many others, are found in published by . To access this same episode on YouTube, . 0:00 Intro 0:12 Trisagion Prayers 1:34 Penitential Troparia 2:25 Troparia of Thanksgiving 3:20 Prayer of St. Makarios the Great 4:01 Prayer of St. Antioch 5:00 Prayer of Forgiveness 5:25 12 Prayers of St. John Chrysostom 7:16 Prayer for Children of God 7:35 Prayer to the Mother of God 7:59 Prayer to the Guardian...
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OCR — Orthodox Christian Morning Prayers
Orthodox Christian Reads
Morning prayers, beginning the day with God. The translation used is published by It is one that I love deeply for its faithfulness to the original Greek text while striking a judicious balance between poeticism and interpretation. If you don't have the book already, head on over to treat yourself to one. To access this same episode on YouTube, . 0:13 Trisagion Prayers 1:28 Troparia 2:18 Morning Prayer 3:05 50th Psalm 4:37 Creed (Symbol of Faith) 5:35 Morning Prayer of St. Basil the Great 6:41 The Magnificat 7:01 Final Prayer
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OCR — Reflections of a Humble Heart: A Fifteenth Century Text on the Spiritual Life
Orthodox Christian Reads
The following is an excerpt from (pgs 59-61) "Among the Byzantine manuscripts in the Vatican library there is this portion of the notes of a certain monk Basil concerning his discussions with an elder whose name did not reach us. Either the monk Basil, who recorded the words of the elder of blessed memory, assumed that everyone knew about whom he was speaking, or the elder's name was mentioned in earlier notes that have been lost. It is supposed that the blessed elder was a renowned ascetic of one of the monasteries near Constantinople, and that he lived in the early fifteenth century."...
info_outlineLectionary for the 9th Sunday of Luke (November 20th)
Ephesians 2:4-10
Brethren, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God: not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Luke 12:16-21
The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Commentary by Blessed Theophylact of Ochrid.
To view this same episode on YouTube, click here.
0:00 Intro
0:12 Epistle Reading
1:10 Gospel Reading
2:02 Commentary by St. Theophylact
2:08 We must mimic the mercy of God
2:47 Anxiety over poverty
3:56 Taking credit for God's work
4:36 You can't buy long life
6:06 Aimless acquisition of wealth
6:35 Righteous souls are already with God, and are not demanded
8:09 God is my infinite treasury