The first words of the troparion to St Nicholas extol him as a “rule of faith”. The word “rule” here is a translation of the Greek word “kanon” (often written in English as “canon”), a word used by St Paul and others which originally meant something like a ruler, a measuring rod, or a straight edge. From there it would come to mean different things in different contexts, but all of these would carry the general idea of a norm or ideal. In regard to the Bible canon refers to t

As we near the end of the Paschal season it is worthwhile to look at the account of Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Lord in chapter 20 of St John’s Gospel. Mary went to the tomb of Christ and when she first encountered him mistook him for the gardener. But when Christ spoke her name she immediately knew him and ran to him, presumably to cling to his feet and worship him. Christ stopped her, however, saying: "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to My Fath

Behold, here is love! Behold, here is instruction! Behold, here is humility! Behold, here is an example! As there is in good bread all that is needed for our body, so in every word of the Lord Jesus Christ there is all that is needed for our soul. The divine unity of the nature of the Father and the Son is expressed in the love of the Father for the Son, and the Son for the Father. He who loves, obeys. If you want to know how great your love for God is, measure your obedience

A Paschal Homily by St Justin (Popovic) In our human world, death is the greatest torment and inhumane horror. Freedom from this torment and horror is salvation. Such a salvation was given the race of man by the Vanquisher of death – the Risen God-Man. He related to us all the mystery of salvation by His Resurrection. To be saved means to assure our body and soul of immortality and life eternal. How do we attain this? By no other way than by a theanthropic life, a new life, a