Understanding the Divine Services
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).
The Meaning of the Services
- An excellent series of articles by Fr. Seraphim Slobodskoy on “The Divine Services”
- An excellent series of articles by Fr. Victor Potapov on Vespers, Matins, and the All-night Vigil
- Short article on Vespers and encouragement to pray daily at church
- The Six Psalms in Matins
- Ordination to the Diaconate
The Meaning of the Feasts
Liturgical Resources
“Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40).
Our Mode of Worship
- Festal Salutations (How to greet one another)
- Difference between PASCHA and Easter dates
- On Approaching the Chalice for Holy Communion
- Why We Stand in Prayer
- Standing and Falling in Church
- When to Prostrate in the Presanctified Divine Liturgy
The Eight Tones
- Learn the eight tones that we use in our hymnody: Tones & Melodies used in the Divine Services at St. John the Wonderworker
Reader Services
- On Reader Services (Services without a priest or bishop presiding) by Archbishop Averky of Jordanville
- Guidelines for Conducting Reader Services
Fasting Resources
“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning” (Joel 2:12).
- A Prescription for Preparing for Holy Communion
- Concerning Fasting on Wednesday and Friday from St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (+1809)
- The Meaning of the Great Fast
- Embarking Upon the Great Fast
Scriptural Resources
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
- The Optina Guide to Reading Scripture and the Optina Prayer Rule from the Optina Elders
- A one-year plan for reading the Bible: “The Holy Scriptures lead us to God and open the path to the knowledge of God” (St. John Chrysostom, Conversations on the Gospel of John, 59:2).
- The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers (95-202 AD): When the Apostle Philip asked the Ethiopian eunuch if he understood the Book of Isaiah that he was reading, the eunuch humbly asked, “How can I, except some man should guide me” (Acts 8:31)? Similarly, we look to those who have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit for the correct understanding of Holy Scripture.
Apologetics
“The unfolding of Thy words will give light and understanding unto babes” (Psalm 119:130 [118:130, Septuagint]).
- Demythologizing False Arguments against Christianity (Four Parts)
- Death and the Judgment of Man by Monk Benedict
- Icons: Our Spiritual Mirrors
- A Mother’s Day Saint: St. Monica (+387 AD)
- On the Papacy
- On the Expression of Church Unity Locally
Homilies
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fable” (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
Orthodox Christian Churches and Missions in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington)
