Sermons and Homilies Archives • Orthodox Life

The Plashchanitsa or Epitaphion of Christ

Do Not Sterilize the Sacred!

April 21, 2020

Homily on Holy and Great Fridayat the completion of Great VespersApril 4/17, 2020by His Grace Luke,Bishop of Syracuse Dear Fathers and brothers in Christ, Holy is the Lord our God!Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy I... Read More...

A Man Sent From God

January 21, 2020

Sermons and Homilies

Sermon on the Synaxis of St John the Forerunner and Baptist John (Jan. 7/20, 2020)

Becoming Virtuous through Enduring Patience

December 30, 2019

Sermons and Homilies, Spiritual Discipline

Christ says, "In your patience possess ye your souls." (Lk. 21:19) So what does the virtue of patience have to do with our salvation?

Massachussetts 54th Regiment, depicted in the 1989 film "Glory"

Simply a Matter of Honor

August 16, 2019

Sermons and Homilies

Fr. Alexander Webster illustrates St Paul's exhortation to "outdo one another in showing honor" with examples from the Gospel, film, and his own childhood.

Our Own Personal Cross

October 12, 2018

Editorial, Sermons and Homilies

Fr. Alexander Webster explains the role of the Cross in the life of every Christian and how we must "take up" our Cross to attain the heavenly kingdom.

Lilies, Birds, and Dads

June 22, 2018

Sermons and Homilies

Fr Alexander Webster, dean of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, reflects on our heavenly Father as the model for all earthly fathers.

Archimandrite Luke reading the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete during the first week of Great Lent.

“I Was Born This Way” is Not the Utterance of a Christian

February 22, 2018

Sermons and Homilies

A short exhortation by the abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, Archimandrite Luke, on the eve of Great Lent (Feb. 5/18, 2018) on the constant struggle necessary to change our life in conformity to the Gospel commandments.

Greek Orthodox icon of the Last Judgement

Saint John of Kronstadt on the Last Judgment

February 7, 2018

Sermons and Homilies

Below we offer two sermons on the Sunday of the Last Judgment by the great 20th c. pastor and author of My Life in Christ from the book, Season of Repentance: Lenten Homilies of Saint John of Kronstadt (Holy Tr... Read More...

Banner with icon of the Synaxis of the Holy Forefathers

Many are Called, but Few are Chosen

January 4, 2018

Sermons and Homilies

Sermon by Reader Nicholas Kotar on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers (Dec. 11/24, 2017)

Rejoice, O Life-Giving Cross!

September 28, 2017

Sermons and Homilies

"This notion of a feast of the cross may seem paradoxical to our mind: the cross in the ancient world was an instrument and symbol of inhumane torture and death ... Yet we, Christians, celebrate the Cross of the Lord in a festival and we praise it as the 'preserver of the whole universe … the glory of angels, and the wound of demons.'"

Icon of the Theotokos on the altar in preparation for the singing of the Akathist

Rejoice, Undoubted Boast of the Faithful!

April 3, 2017

Sermons and Homilies

Sermon on the Feast of the Praises of the Mother of God (5th Saturday of Great Lent), delivered at Holy Trinity Monastery.

On Revelation and Humility: Sermon on the Eve of Great Lent

February 26, 2017

Sermons and Homilies

We begin the Great Fast with the command of our Saviour to forgive one another in order to receive from our Lord complete forgiveness of our sins. But this is only the beginning.

Freedom Through Obedience

January 28, 2017

Sermons and Homilies

Homily on Zacchaeus Sunday and the Feast of the Chains of Saint Peter As part of their study of Homiletics at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, students prepare and deliver a series of sermons in the second seme... Read More...