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Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

Founded Upon Fallacies
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Founded Upon Fallacies

A Reply to Metropolitan Hierotheos’ Ukrainian Proposal

Dionysius Redington

It has been a surprise to many that in the recent ecclesiastical conflict, supposedly over Ukrainian autocephaly though with origins in fact much deeper, Metropolitan Hierotheos has championed Constantinople’s position with an eloquence and fervor sadly rare on the other side.

Joy is Given Only to a Poor Spirit
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Joy is Given Only to a Poor Spirit

A Homily on the Gospel Reading for the Twelfth Week of Pentecost

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

Joy is given only to a poor spirit, only to those who humbly pray for grace, following Christ. The young man was saddened because he could not acquire perfection at his own heavy price, and refused to accept it at Christ’s easy price.

Christ Speaks By His Silence
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Рейтинг: 10|Голосов: 11

Christ Speaks By His Silence

Interpretation of the Gospel Readings for Holy Saturday

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

No one has ever spoken like Christ, and Christ has never spoken as He speaks now by His silence. All the words of the Gospel that we were to have read up until today are encompassed in His silence. And there are even more that are not written in these books, and there are even more we cannot now accommodate. All truth, all love, all the fullness of life.

Justice Higher Than Justice
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Рейтинг: 9.9|Голосов: 10

Justice Higher Than Justice

A Homily on the Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

The parable of the unmercirful servant begins with the words, Therefore is the Kingdom of Heaven likened unto a certain king, and that means that the mystery of forgiveness is hidden in Divine grace, in the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven.

He Goes to Make War With Death
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He Goes to Make War With Death

A Homily on the Ninth Sunday After Pentecost

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

We see how fearlessly the Lord walks on the water as the storm rages. He is calm, He is in God’s peace, in faith—that is, in trust of the Heavenly Father’s love. It’s His path to the Cross; He goes to meet the danger that threatens us. He goes to make war with death, to give us life and deliver us from all fear.

Grace Can Straighten That Which Sin Has Twisted
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Grace Can Straighten That Which Sin Has Twisted

Commentary on the Gospel Reading for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Pentecost

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

The woman, receiving the gift of healing, thanks the Lord. Man, having received healing by the mercy of God, cannot but thank God. It is natural for him, and it is a sign of his healing, because no one is able to bring praise to the Lord until his ailing soul has been healed. The grace of Christ can straighten everything that sin has twisted in our lives.

On the Canonization of the Royal Martyrs
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Рейтинг: 9.2|Голосов: 46

On the Canonization of the Royal Martyrs

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

The theme of canonization is truly, above all, the theme of awakening, reflecting on how the people’s memory was stifled, how it was held in a hypnotic state, suggesting that there was nothing, and no tsar. The most forbidden subject was the Tsar.

Thou Good and Faithful Servant
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Thou Good and Faithful Servant

Commentary on the Gospel Reading for the Sixteenth Sunday of Pentecost

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

“Time passes quickly, as a river flows,” says St. Nikolai Velimirovic, “and soon, I repeat,” he says, “soon will come the end of all things.” No one can return back from eternity, to take what he forgot here on Earth, and do what he did not do. Therefore, let us make haste to use the gifts we have received from God for acquiring eternal life.

On the Dormition Fast, and the Cross of Christ
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Рейтинг: 9.8|Голосов: 5

On the Dormition Fast, and the Cross of Christ

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

Again, by God’s mercy, we are entering the Dormition fast. This is the shortest and sweetest of the fasts. It begins with the blessing of honey, and then the blessing of the fruits. This fast is also the lightest, because the Mother of God takes care that the yoke of Christ would be light for us. She takes care for our bodies as well as our souls.

The Threshold of the Eternal Feast
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The Threshold of the Eternal Feast

A Homily for the Third Sunday of Pentecost

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

The Lord speaks today such beautiful, wondrous works about how man should live, pointing to the birds of the heavens, and to the lilies and grass of the fields.

“I have no man.” Homily on the Sunday of the Paralytic
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Рейтинг: 8.2|Голосов: 5

“I have no man.” Homily on the Sunday of the Paralytic

John 5:1-15

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

Perhaps it is because the Second Coming of Christ is near that the Lord today is sweeping aside with such clarity and distinctness all appearance of Christianity, and wants each of us to be placed before a terrible choice: to be without Christ to the end, or to be to the end with Christ.

We See Because God Sees Us
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We See Because God Sees Us

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

We find this story in the life of Blessed Matrona: One day a policeman came to take Matrona, and she said to him, “Go, go quickly—there’s a tragedy at your house! I’m blind and not going anywhere. I just sit on the bed; I don’t want to go anywhere.” He listened, and went home, and found that his wife had badly burned herself on the stove, but he managed to get her to the hospital. He went to work the next day and they asked him, “Well, did you seize the blind lady?”

The True Temple
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The True Temple

A Homily for Bright Friday

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

The Lord reminds us how dangerous is every impiety. From it is gradually created an atmosphere of wickedness—such that, according to Scripture, “the man of lawlessness” will be able to sit in the Temple, representing himself as God.

The Lord of the Vineyard
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The Lord of the Vineyard

Commentary on the Gospel Reading for the Thirteenth Sunday of Pentecost

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

It is clearly seen in the parable that Christ knows what awaits Him ahead and what path His Church must walk. He consciously ascends to His death, to give Himself for the salvation of all, to become the cornerstone upon which life is built and without which all of mankind would bear witness to the destruction of all. Rejection and death await the Lord and His Church, but it is all in order to bring mercy, judgment, and victory for those who love Him.

The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. Gospel Exegesis
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The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. Gospel Exegesis

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

The Most Pure Virgin Mary’s answer is the joyful, prayerful concentration of all ages of Christian sanctity; the fate of every person, into which we are all called to delve. Let everyone who turns his mind and heart to the Lord always stand before this mystery, and with thankfulness witness the joy of today’s feast. The Annunciation has happened. Be it unto me according to thy word.

Contemplation on The Royal Hours on Christmas Eve: First Hour
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Contemplation on The Royal Hours on Christmas Eve: First Hour

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

Our Lord is born today, let us rejoice and be glad! No one may be sad today no matter what sorrow there be, no matter what losses we have suffered, because today is a festival of life for everyone.

Machiavelli and Holy Emperor Nicholas II
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Machiavelli and Holy Emperor Nicholas II

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

What is the practical result of Machiavelli’s teaching for the modern consciousness? A deep divide, an incurable separation between politics and morals. And, subsequently, a lethal contradiction between what they call idealism (mistakenly combined with morality), and what they call realism (mistakenly combined with politics). Thus is born an irreconcilable conflict between morals and pitiless reality.

Entry of the Holy Theotokos Into the Temple
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Entry of the Holy Theotokos Into the Temple

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

What Joachim and Anna have done, offering to God the fruit of their prayers, far exceeds any spiritual labors that we could set up as an example. But let us ponder the following: often we find ourselves in a situation similar to these people – Joachim and Anna, – when misfortune befalls us, when we are in need, when we are ready to promise the Lord everything, say all kinds of words of love, just so He would help us, would deliver us from such a state. And then sorrow passes, need passes. But when the time comes to fulfill our promise, we begin to vacillate.

Second Sunday of Great Lent. St. Gregory Palamas. God is Light
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Рейтинг: 5.7|Голосов: 20

Second Sunday of Great Lent. St. Gregory Palamas. God is Light

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

On the Second Sunday of Great Lent, we celebrate the memory of St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica. On this day, the Holy Church speaks to us about the mystery of light, which we must come to know, if we want to behold the Resurrection of Christ. St. Gregory of Thessalonica and the theological arguments of the fourteenth century connected with his name taught that the light of the Transfiguration is uncreated light.

Miracles of the Royal Martyrs
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Miracles of the Royal Martyrs

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

From that time on we often appealed to the holy Tsar Nicholas, and help came immediately under extraordinary circumstances. Since Tsar Nicholas Aleksandrovich was not only our Sovereign, but also head of a large family, we began to pray to him whenever we had family conflicts and disagreements. Peace was restored to our family very quickly. O holy Royal martyrs, pray to God for us!

The Third Sunday of Great Lent. The Veneration of the Cross
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The Third Sunday of Great Lent. The Veneration of the Cross

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

The human soul is more precious than anything in the world. It must be saved at any price, even if this price seems too high in many people’s opinions. We belong to the Church of martyrs and confessors. The holy martyrs are witnesses: giving your life for Christ means gaining it and accomplishing it to the fullest.

When and How Should We Celebrate the New Year?
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When and How Should We Celebrate the New Year?

Fr. Alexander Shargunov

A Christian lives in two dimensions—time and eternity. May God grant us in this new year to be worthy citizens of our Fatherland, both earthly and heavenly. No matter what trials await us on earth, if we are faithful to the Lord, He will once again prepare heavenly consolations for each of us on the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

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