Apostolic Succession – What it is and what it is not!

Apostolic Succession – What it is and what it is not!

For most members of the Orthodox Churches the doctrine, or teaching, about the Apostolic Succession is not often discussed, even though it represents an essential foundation of every Apostolic and Orthodox community. Orthodox Christians might be aware of the consecration of their particular Patriarch or Catholicos. Perhaps the might have seen video or photographs of […]

The Diophysite Christology of the Oriental Orthodox

The Diophysite Christology of the Oriental Orthodox

Very often our adherence to particular phrases becomes no more than sloganeering and we lose any great interest in actually communicating what we believe or understanding what others might be saying. St Paul warns us against this in his first letter to St Timothy, when he writes, “Remind people of these things, solemnly urging them […]

The Spiritual Character of the Preacher

The Spiritual Character of the Preacher

I was blessed indeed to be invited to speak briefly at the European Clergy Conference in 2015. This is the short message I presented to the bishops and priests gathered there. The spirituality of the preacher, the topic on which I have been asked to speak, is not concerned with the techniques we might use […]

After Chalcedon

After Chalcedon

It seems to be received as an historical fact that after the Council of Chalcedon those Christians who refused to accept its decisions and doctrinal statements were immediately isolated and rapidly withdrew into their own communion. This opinion is far from reflecting historical reality, and yet it is often presumed to be true by Oriental […]

Spiritual Life free eBook

Spiritual Life free eBook

This is a collection of 300 short passages or chapters about the Orthodox spiritual life which I have composed over recent years. They are an expression of my own spiritual pilgrimage, understanding and experience of the Orthodox life. This little volume is not intended to be read all at once, but to be to a […]

Homily for Good Friday

Homily for Good Friday

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. When our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ was taken by wicked men and nailed to the cross and crucified, he was not a helpless victim of circumstances. He had already said to his disciples… I lay down My […]

عظة لنخيل الأحد

عظة لنخيل الأحد

“والجموع الذين سبقوا والذين تبعوا صرخوا قائلين أوصنا لابن داود. مبارك الآتي باسم الرب. أوصنا في الأعالي.” متى 21: 9 لبضع لحظات هذا الصباح ، أود أن نفكر في تنوع الأشخاص الذين وجدناهم موصوفين في حسابات أول أحد الشعانين الذي سمعناه للتو. لقد قام ربنا للتو بمعجزة تربية لعازر من بين الأموات ، وفي تقاليدنا […]