The Most Useful Tools for Students?

All websites containing such lists claim that their selection is the best of the best. Undoubtedly, most people take the bait and start downloading applications or, in this case, signing up for free web services. This site contains a list of web tools that students could find useful, but also a lot of junk... Feel free to browse through the list of web apps and don't forget to check my blog on a regular basis for more free tools for students. Click HERE or to see the list!

Recommended reading:

Canons of the Orthodox Church is an Orthodox website containing an electronic version of a book by Archd. Prof. Dr. Ioan N. Floca, Canoanele Bisericii Ortodoxe (a book published by Editura Institutului Bibilic şi de Misiune a Bisericii Ortodoxe Române in 1993 and republished in 2005 by Deisis). Unfortunately, the website is in Romanian, but we could try to translate a few excerpts into English (please contact me if you would like to volunteer!)

Romania: Recommended Destinations

"The Fr Zosim Oancea Museum at Sibiel holds the largest existing exposition of icons on glass in Transylvania, a miracle of artistic creativity and religious inspiration born of the riches of the Orthodox Christian tradition and the imagination of Romanian peasant painters.

A unique fusion of Eastern tradition and Western technique, icons on glass emerged and spread throughout this extensive region of Romania in the first decades of the eighteenth century, reaching their apogee between 1750 and the end of the nineteenth century and almost vanishing in the period between the two world wars.

Begun in1969 under the aegis of Fr Zosim Oancea, the people of Sibiel and with the help of institutions and private donors, the collection in this museum with its almost 600 masterpieces, represents all the main types of icons on glass along with works by some of the most famous icon-painters – when their names are known.

A visit to the museum at Sibiel also presents the opportunity to discover the person who gave the museum its name: Fr Zosim Oancea, a truly exceptional man and priest to whose intelligent vision and indefatigable tenacity we owe this extraordinary museum in the heart of Romania." (Source: www.sibiel.net)

Pentecost - Trinity Sunday

Pentecost (Ancient Greek: πεντηκοστή [ἡμέρα], pentekostē [hēmera], "the fiftieth day") is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian liturgical year. The feast is also called Whitsun, Whitsunday, Whit Sunday, Whitsuntide, especially in the United Kingdom. Pentecost is celebrated seven weeks or 49 days after Easter Sunday, hence its name. Pentecost falls on the tenth day after Ascension Thursday. Historically and symbolically related to the Jewish harvest festival of Shavuot, which commemorates God giving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai fifty days after the Exodus, Pentecost now also commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus as described in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2 in the New Testament. For this reason, Pentecost is sometimes described as "the Church's birthday".

Recommended reading:

• Holy Pentecost by Father Alexander Schmemann
  
• How to Celebrate Pentecost at Home by Fr. Anthony Coniaris
• Cincizecimea, punctul de plecare al sfinteniei, si tensiunea ei eshatologica (Romanian)
• Icoana Cincizecimii (Romanian)
  

Hymns

Troparion (Tone 8)

Blessed art You O Christ Our God
You have revealed the fishermen as most wise
By sending down upon them the Holy Spirit
Through them You drew the world into Your net
O Lover of Man, Glory to You!

Kontakion (Tone 8)

When the most High came down and confused the tongues,
He divided the nations;
But when he distributed the tongues of fire
He called all to unity.
Therefore, with one voice, we glorify the All-holy Spirit!

Ancient Evidence for Jesus from Non-Christian Sources

Still need evidence that Jesus lived on earth as a historical figure? Read this article written by Michael Gleghorn, Ancient Evidence for Jesus from Non-Christian Sources, and you'll find out what Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Josephus, or Lucian had to say about Jesus Christ, Our Lord!

Web Tour: Recommended Websites

1. THE FALL OF ORTHODOX ENGLAND. The Ecclesiastical Roots of the Norman Conquest, 1043-1087 by Vladimir Moss available on line HERE!
2. Liturgica.com: Orthodox Liturgics, Books and Music.
3. Irish Ties to the Orthodox Church. On the Trail of the Seven Monks of Egypt. Links between Coptic Orthodox Christianity and the early Irish Church.
4. Personal Experience Of The Holy Spirit According To The Greek Fathers by Kallistos Ware, Bishop of Diokleia.
5. Children and Television by Novice Joseph.

Textkit Helps You Learn Greek and Latin!

Textkit was created to help you learn Ancient Greek and Latin!

Textkit is the Internet's largest provider of free and fully downloadable Greek and Latin grammars and readers. With currently 146 free books to choose from, Greek and Latin learners have downloaded 687,131 grammars, readers and classical e-books.

Featured Resources:

• Greek Grammar, William W. Goodwin
• First Greek Book, John Williams White
• A Brief Introduction to New Testament Greek, Samuel G. Green
• Greek Prose Composition, North and Hillard
• Greek Grammar, Herbert Weir Smyth
• Latin For Beginners, Benjamin L. D'Ooge
• Beginner's Latin Book, Collar and Daniell
• A Latin Grammar, Charles E. Bennett
• New Latin Grammar, Allen & Greenough
• A New Latin Prose Composition, Charles E. Bennett

religion-online.org

Full texts by recognized religious scholars
More than 6,000 articles and chapters. Topics include Old and New Testament, Theology, Ethics, History and Sociology of Religion, Communication and Cultural Studies, Pastoral Care, Counseling, Homiletics, Worship, Missions and Religious Education.

Click HERE to go to the website!

Christ is risen!

Resurrection Troparia and Kontakia in the 8 Tones

Troparion of the Resurrection. First Tone.

When the stone had been sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers where guarding Thine immaculate Body, Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior, granting life unto the world. Wherefore, the Hosts of the Heavens cried out to Thee, O Life-giver: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ. Glory to Thy kingdom. Glory to Thy dispensation, O only Lover of mankind.

Kontakion of the Resurrection. First Tone.

As God Thou didst arise from the tomb in glory, and Thou didst raise the world together with Thyself. And mortal nature praiseth Thee as God, and death hath vanished. And Adam danceth, O Master, and Eve, now freed from fetters, rejoiceth as she crieth out: Thou art He, O Christ, that grantest unto all resurrection.

Troparion of the Resurrection. Second Tone.

When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the Hosts of Heavens cried out: O Lifegiver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.

Kontakion of the Resurrection. Second Tone.

Thou didst arise from the tomb, O omnipotent Savior, and Hades was terrified on beholding the wonder; and the dead arose, and creation at the sight thereof rejoiceth with Thee. And Adam also is joyful, and world, O my Savior, praiseth Thee for ever. Troparion of the Resurrection. Third Tone.

Let the heavens be glad; let earthly things rejoice; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm. He hath trampled down death by death; the first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us and hath granted to the world great mercy.

Kontakion of the Resurrection. Third Tone.

Thou didst rise today from the tomb, O Merciful One, and didst lead us out of the gates of death. Today Adam danceth and Eve rejoiceth; and together with them both the Prophets and Patriarchs unceasingly praise the divine might of Thine authority.

Troparion of the Resurrection. Fourth Tone.

Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting to the world great mercy.

Kontakion of the Resurrection. Fourth Tone.

My Savior and Redeemer hath, as God, raised up the earthborn from the grave and from their fetters, and He hath broken the gates of Hades, and, Master, hath risen on the third day.

Troparion of the Resurrection. Fifth Tone.

Let us, O faithful, praise and worship the Word Who is co-unorignate with the Father and the Spirit, and Who was born of the Virgin for our salvation; for He was pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh and to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection
Kontakion of the Resurrection. Fifth Tone.

Unto Hades, O my Savior, didst Thou descend, and having broken its gates as One omnipotent, Thou, as Creator, didst raise up the dead together with Thyself. And Thou didst break the sting of death, and didst deliver Adam from the curse, O Lover of mankind. Wherefore, we all cry unto Thee: Save us, O Lord.
Troparion of the Resurrection. Sixth Tone.

Angelic Hosts were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou didst despoil Hades and wast not tempted by it. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst rise from the dead, O Lord, glory be to Thee.

Kontakion of the Resurrection. Sixth Tone .

Having by His life-bestowing hand raised up all the dead out of the dark abysses, Christ God, the Giver of Life, hath bestowed the Resurrection upon the fallen human race; for He is the Savior of all, the Resurrection, and the Life, and the God of all.

Troparion of the Resurrection. Seventh Tone.

Thou didst destroy death by Thy Cross, Thou didst open Paradise to the thief. Thou didst change the lamentation of the Myrrh-bearers, and Thou didst command Thine Apostles to proclaim that Thou didst arise, O Christ God, and grantest to the world great mercy.
Kontakion of the Resurrection. Seventh Tone.

No longer will the dominion of death be able to keep men captive; for Christ hath descended, demolishing and destroying the powers thereof. Hades is bound; the Prophets rejoice with one voice, saying: A Savior hath come for them that have faith. Come forth, ye faithful, for the Resurrection.

Troparion of the Resurrection. Eighth Tone .

From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, O Lord, glory be to Thee.

Kontakion of the Resurrection. Eighth Tone.

Having arisen from the tomb, Thou didst raise up the dead and didst resurrect Adam. Eve also danceth at Thy Resurrection, and the ends of the world celebrate Thine arising from the dead, O Greatly-merciful One.

Romania to Legalize Consensual Incest

How do you feel about this? Read the article on Foxnews and join our group to discuss the issue!

The Annunciation to the Theotokos

The Annunciation (or Evangelismos in Greek) to the Theotokos is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthod

ox Church, celebrated on March 25. This is one of only two days during Lent, the other being Palm Sunday, when fish is permitted.

According to the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce to her that she would conceive and bear a son, even though she "knew no man." According to holy tradition Mary had come home to her parents when she was only fifteen when she was visited by Gabriel. This date was selected by the

Church Fathers to be exactly nine months ahead of Christmas, indicating that Christ was conceived in perfection at that time "of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary," as stated in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.

The feast of the Annunciation normally falls during the season of Great Lent, but it is still a joyous day. Many lessen their fast with fish on this

day.

If the feast comes on a weekday of Lent, the Divine Liturgy of the feast is served in the evening with Vespers. When this happens, the fasting rules for the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts are followed. The Divine Liturgy of the Annunciation is the only celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom allowed on a weekday of Great Lent.

If the feast falls on the same day as Pascha, the resultant festival is called Kyriopascha and is celebrated with special rubrics.

Recommended reading:

• Chapter: Pictures of the Virgin Mary, in History of the Christian Church, Volume II: Ante-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 100-325, by Philip Schaff(1819-1893)

--click here or on the chapter title to read/download the text for free--

Important Notice from the Editors of "Orthodox Christianity"

Brothers and sisters!

We are pleased to announce you that a new full-text search system covering the whole Orthodox Internet www.Orthodox-Search.com has been launched.

What makes our service unique is the ability of the search engine to index over 7000 Orthodox sites all over the world Orthodox Internet, while the search index is updated daily thanks to the Google CSE technology. One can submit his search request using the simple search interface, as well as the advanced search form available on the webpage http://www.orthodox-christianity.org/advanced.php. The search results include only the Orthodox websites listed in the Directory www.orthodox-christianity.org, the search results are thereby protected from garbage and exactly match the search request. You can submit your search request on any of the webpages of the Directory, or, alternatively, you can use the simple search interface www.Orthodox-Search.com.

The search service is available in English, Russian, Serbian, Romanian, Greek, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Bulgarian and many other (over 20) world languages. Besides, the search covers only those pages of the Orthodox Internet whose language matches that of the current interface of the search system.

In Christ,
editors of the directory "Orthodox Christianity",
www.orthodox-christianity.org

Important Notice

Dear Friends,
Please think of a schedule for this semester and e-mail me your suggestions.
I suggest we should meet every other Thursday, 4.30 PM if that's okay with you!

Ovidiu

Don't forget to email me for registration and suggestions!

FREE issue of STUDII TEOLOGICE (in Romanian)

Click HERE to download the Janury-March 2005 issue of Studii Teologice - a theological magazine of the Faculties of Theology within the Romanian Patriarchate. I know its old, but some of you might find it useful. Enjoy!

English Newsletter of the Romanian Patriarchate

Click HERE to download the News Bulletin, i.e. the English Newsletter of the Romanian Patriarchate. You also click HERE to sign up to receive every issue of the magazine free of charge (by e-mail).

Free Magazine

February 2009 Issue of The Word Magazine Now Available Online. Click HERE to download .pdf!