St. Symeon the New Theologian Orthodox Church

The Transfiguration of Our Lord

The Light of the Lord’s Transfiguration does not come into being or cease to be, nor is it circumscribed or perceptible to the senses, even though for a short time on the narrow mountain top it was seen by human eyes. Rather, at that moment the initiated disciples of the Lord ‘passed’, as we have been taught, ‘from flesh to spirit’ by the transformation of their senses, which the Spirit wrought in them, and so they saw that ineffable light, when and as much as the Holy Spirit’s power granted them to do so. "

- St. Gregory Palamas

Four Times NOT to leave the Divine Liturgy...

There are especially sacred times when we should try not to leave for a restroom break or other reason, if we can at all help it. During the...
Scripture Readings - Not the Sermon, but the reading of the Word of God. One has to be in church to hear the Word of God as a requirement in order to receive Communion.
The Anaphora - Includes the Creed, the Words of Institution - “Take, eat...Drink ye all of it...”, the Elevation (anaphora- offering up) - “Thine own of Thine own...”. This is the most sacred time of the Liturgy.
The “Our Father” - to pray with the Church the prayer the Lord taught us to pray.
Communion - Not to leave like Judas, if one can help it, unless one has a blessing to go and prepare food in the Hall. We try not to sit when the Chalice is out.

Tell Us!

"O holy Virgin Mary, tell us, thy children, of thy love on earth for thy Son and God:
Tell us how thy spirit rejoiced in God thy Savior!
Tell us of how thou didst look upon His fair countenance, and reflect that this was He Whom all the heavenly hosts wait upon in awe and love!
Tell us what thy soul felt when thou dlidst bear the wondrous Babe in thine arms!
Tell us of how thou didst rear Him, how, sick at heart, thou and Joseph sought Him three long days in Jerusalem!
Tell us of thine agony when the Lord was delivered up to be crucified, and lay dying on the Cross!
Tell us what joy was thine at the Resurrection!
Tell us how thy soul languished after the Lord’s Ascension!
We long to know of thy life on earth with the Lord but thou wast not minded to commit all these things to writing, and didst veil thy secret heart in silence. "

- St. Silouan the Athonite