St Andrew's Blog - Theology & Life

Theology and Life (6).jpg

The Presentation of the Lord: A Brief Theological Reflection

By Associate Professor Philip Kariatlis (Sub-Dean)

The Presentation of the Lord, also known as the Feast of Hypapante [Ὑπαπαντή], is a significant event in the Christian tradition, commemorating the moment when the infant Jesus was brought into the Temple in Jerusalem by His mother, Mary and Joseph, in accordance with Jewish law. The term Hypapante means “reception”, signifying the encounter between the Messiah with both the righteous Simeon and the prophetess Anna in the Temple—both of whom had been waiting for this moment for their entire lives. Dating back to the early centuries of the Church, the commemoration of this feast in the Eastern Orthodox tradition is considered one of the Twelve Great Feasts...

Christmas Wishes

By Associate Professor Philip Kariatlis (Sub-Dean)

During this festive season of Christ, where heaven and earth are literally overflowing with an excess of resplendent joy and happiness at the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ upon earth, let us seek to re-orientate our lives to Him, the “true Light of Wisdom”, the “true Light [of] the World” (Jn 1:9).

In doing so, together with the Church, let us joyfully proclaim, with grateful hearts, the song of thanksgiving on Christmas day: “Christ is born, glorify Him! Christ comes from heaven, let us go and meet Him! Christ is on earth, be uplifted!”...

Christian Love: the Antidote to Death

By Associate Professor Philip Kariatlis (Sub-Dean)

As we all know, the love of Christ, and by extension the love of our Trinitarian God, captures the very essence of the Christian Gospel. “God is love [ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν]” (1Jn 4:8) we read, rather simply yet most profoundly, in the first letter of St John the beloved Apostle. God’s love is founded on sacrifice, on compassion and forgiveness; indeed, it is a love so powerful, that it alone is capable of transcending human weakness and societal divisions. It alone is capable of disrupting the cycle of hatred and violence; love alone finds solutions and ways forward when human beings solely see irresolvable and immovable impasses. Ultimately, it is this love of God, that we behold personified in the person of Jesus Christ, which alone has the ability to sprout forth the gift of enduring life out of the finality of death...

Mary and Martha: A Paradigm for Christ-Centred Living

By Associate Professor Philip Kariatlis (Sub-Dean)

The story of Mary and Martha, the two sisters of Lazarus, whom Jesus had brought back to life after his beloved friend had been dead for four days in a tomb, is very instructive for the way that we are called to live a Christ-centred life in the twenty-first century. In the Gospel according to St Luke, we are told that, upon hearing that Jesus would visit their home, both Mary and Martha were overcome with much joy and excitement (cf. Lk 10:38). Furthermore, we learn that whilst both sisters were delighted to welcome Jesus into their home, their ensuing actions, following Christ’s arrival, were quite different, if not entirely antithetical. The Gospel reveals that Martha focused wholly on preparing the house, on shouldering all the tasks associated with extending hospitality when we receive guests into our home. Not necessarily a bad thing! And once Jesus came, she continued stressing and fretting...

The Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

By Associate Professor Philip Kariatlis (Sub-Dean)

Without doubt in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, “our glorious Lady Theotokos”, has a pre-eminent place in the life of the Orthodox Church. The month of August, for example, is dedicated to the Virgin Mother, not to mention other great feasts that are celebrated throughout the entire liturgical year. Not only do we celebrate the Dormition (or Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos [1] in August, but there are Supplication Services which are held every day in the first two weeks of this month leading to the great feast, as well as the designated period of fasting which the Church has prescribed. This betrays both the great devotion attributed to the blessed Mother personally by the faithful of the Church throughout the ages—and rightly so, since we read in the Gospel according to St Luke: “Surely, from now on, all generations will call me blessed” (Lk 1:48)—and the extent to which her person has infused Orthodox spirituality...

Pages

more

Courses

How to Apply

Useful links

Subscribe to our Blog!


Subscribe to our blog written by our Faculty and learn more about your Orthodox Christian faith

Subscribe here