‘He who seeks not the Cross of Christ, Seeks not the Glory of Christ’ – St John of the Cross The veneration of the Cross is a topic, which many Orthodox Christians are confused about. The fact is that we worship Crucified Christ not the cross-shaped wood. We venerate the Read more…
The New Testament tells nothing but his name and even the legend and tradition is silent about him, yet a towering and an important spiritual figure of the NT . St. James is not among the first twelve apostles. Truly little is known of them and there is much speculation Read more…
Andrew is often known as the man, who introduced others to Jesus. Andrew was a native of Bethsaida of Galilee (Jn. 1: 44). He was the son of John / Jonas (Matt. 16: 17; Jn. 1: 42; and brother of Simon Peter (Matt. 10: 2; Jn. 1: 40). Both were Read more…
The Apostles’ fast is one among the five canonical fasts in the Orthodox Churches. The fourth fast of our liturgical year, ‘The Apostles’ Fast’ (‘Pathimoonnu nombu’ or ‘Sleeha Nombu’ is from June 16 until June 28. The dates, days, duration, and intensity of the Apostles Fast vary in the differently, Read more…
“And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when morning came, He called unto Him His disciples: and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles” (Lk. 6: 12, 13). Read more…
One would say that Judas Iscariot was the supreme enigma of the New Testament, the Apostle who betrayed his own divine master. Very little is told about him in the New Testament, beyond the bare facts of his name in the apostolate, his treachery and his death. We are told Read more…
St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ was born in Galilee. St. Thomas, the Apostle of India, is known as the Twin; Doubting Thomas; and also, Didymus. In John 11: 16, he is identified and referred to as ‘Thomas, surnamed Didymus, the twin’ (Heb. Thomas, Gk. Didymus– ‘twin). He is called Judas Thomas Read more…
Philip is another of the apostles who has been rescued from the oblivion of the fourth Gospel. The first three Gospels record nothing about him except his name. In the fourth Gospel Philip figures most prominently and becomes a person and a personality. Like the brothers, Peter and Andrew, Philip Read more…
James the son of Alphaeus is one of the more obscure of Jesus’ twelve disciples. His name appears in each of the four lists of the disciples in the New Testament found in Matthew 10: 2–4, Mark 3: 14–19, Luke 6: 13–16, and Acts 1: 13. But not much else Read more…
The Greek Matthias or Maththias, is a name derived from Mattathias, (Heb. Mattithiah, signifying “gift of Yahweh). St. Matthias was not one of the original Apostles but was chosen by the other Apostles when Judas left their rank. One apostle had defected, the deserted office of the betrayer needed to be occupied. According to Acts Read more…