Holy Cross Orthodox Church

From Fr. Gregory:

"The consensus of scriptural witness and of the broader tradition agree that by the fact of our humanity, we are all of us already dwelling in 'the image of God'; the trick lies in our proceeding into His likeness, wedding our own will to His."
– Scott Cairnes, The End of Suffering

Having emerged from the Great Fast of Lent/Holy Week a bit over eight weeks ago, some are no doubt wondering why we've now entered another fasting period. Great Lent's requirements are pretty intense. Why another period following on so closely?

First, there is the fact that every fasting period is a preparation for a major feast of the Church, whether Pascha, Nativity, the Dormition, or, as is the case with this fast, the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. In truth, for us who stand in the great tradition of the Church of Antioch, whose patrons are Sts Peter and Paul, this period of preparation is all the more significant. (Not long ago Patriarch Ignatius even declared that within our Patriarchate this Feast would be treated as a Great Feast of the Church and accorded the same liturgical solemnity.) Antioch played a vital role in the ministries of both apostles, and indeed both apostles left their imprints on the spirituality of Antioch. All of us who are Antioch's inheritors should give thanks to God for this truth and seek to imitate the apostles in their way of living self-sacrificially, in whatever manner that is given expression in our own lives.

Second, and following closely on the above, there is also the fact that, due to our fallen nature we have to struggle to live self-sacrificially. We bear God's sacred image, as the quote above says, but not yet His holy likeness. To make progress on that path so that we bear, in fact manifest, His image and His likeness we must make His will our own will. And that means, over and over again, practicing obedience to Him. In little things and in big things. And it is through obeying the Church's practices that we learn, little by little, over time to fold our own wills into His.

Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, pray to God for us!