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Holy Councils Then and Now

Fr. Apostolos shares some of the history of Holy Councils through the years, and some reflections about the upcoming council in Crete.




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When Rules Get in the Way of Faith

In this homily, Fr. Apostolos deals with focusing on the positive goal of our faith in Jesus Christ as opposed to getting bogged down in a negative view of merely keeping the "rules."




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When My Best Isn't Good Enough

Fr. Apostolos shares from the first epistle from Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. "Trying to overcome our passions, we often feel like our best is not going to be good enough. If that's the case, you should take heart, because you are not the first, nor will you be the last. You are not alone in that feeling."




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The Grace of God as the Atmosphere of Heaven

Fr. Apostolos talks about the key of humility that unlocks God's grace.




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Treasures in Heaven

It being the parish's Stewardship Sunday, Fr. Apostolos speak about the means whereby our resources can be sacralized and our financial lives brought under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, through tithing.




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Our Oneness in Christ Precludes Bigotry

Working from the Epistle reading in Colossians, Fr. Apostolos underscores the basic spiritual truth that our oneness in Christ precludes every possibility for bigotry of any kind and that we, as Light-bearers, must light the way out of the fear and ignorance that gives rise to such base and passe divisions.




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Pig Pen and Clean Week

Fr. Apostolos shares encouragement for the start of Great Lent.




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The Centrality of the Cross

Fr. Apostolos helps us understand the centrality of the Cross for salvation.




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Divine Worship: the Small Entrance and Scripture

This is lesson three in Fr. Apostolos' series on Divine Worship; this installment addressing the historical development of the Small Entrance and the significance of the Readings in view of the centrality of Holy Scripture in the lives of Christian believers.




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Divine Worship: the Sacrament of Offering

Fr. Apostolos continues the homily series on Divine Worship, addressing the Sacrament of Offering and the potential that exists to redeem our work-a-day lives through the offering up to God of a portion of our labors, in this case the bread and wine of Holy Communion.




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Good Enough

Fr. Apostolos discusses the importance of remembering the love of Christ in our lives, and that we are good enough.




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Are You in An Open Marriage?

Fr. Apostolos Hill unpacks the story of Hosea and Gomer, contrasting the covenant between God and Israel and Gomer's infidelity in her pursuit of an "open marriage." Jesus' words in the Gospel reading today about the exclusive nature of our union with Him in the New Covenant ("whoever loves father, mother, son, daughter more than Me...") indicates that our fidelity to Him cannot be divided.




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Crew Members, Not Passengers

Fr. Apostolos Hill shares a homily centered on the Epistle reading and St. Paul's admonition that we exercise the spiritual gifts given to us for the building up of the Body of Christ.




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Cultivating a Hunger for Heaven

Fr. Apostolos Hill speaks on the theme of the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise and how we acquire a thirst for the Kingdom.




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Forgiveness is the Path to Love

Fr. Apostolos Hill speaks about the Hymn of Kassiani's retelling of the sinful woman who wept her tears of repentance over the feet of Christ and of Jesus' retort to Simon, "He who is forgiven little, loves little...." He also tells about the life and love of St. Mary of Egypt.




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The Descent of the Holy Spirit

On Pentecost, Fr. Apostolos Hill speaks about the operation of the Spirit as addressed in Romans 7 and 8, and elsewhere.




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Citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom

Fr. Apostolos Hill's homily talks about citizenship in the Heavenly Kingdom and how repentance is the entrance exam.




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Fervent, Not Casual Prayer

Fr. Apostolos Hill preaches on the Gospel reading about the difference between casual, ineffective prayer and the fervent prayer required of us in our present difficulties.




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Hair in the Censer

Fr. Apostolos Hill discusses how we should anoint the Body of Jesus through repentance and confession and how we mustn't put "hair in the censer" by substituting our own views for the Gospel.




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Obedience

Fr. Apostolos preaches about the challenge to be obedient to Orthodox hierarchs in the rebellious ethos of modern society.




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A Life of Contentment

Fr. Apostolos Hill gives a sermon on the Gospel reading from the Sermon on the Mount.




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Mental Health in times of Crisis

Fr. Apostolos Hill discusses the phases of crisis and the importance of wisdom to cling to the One who gives us hope.




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When God Breaks Your Legs

Fr. Apostolos Hill returns after undergoing eye surgery to reattach the retina in his left eye. He speaks about the times when God allows us to undergo trials to strengthen our Faith in Him and sharpen and correct our priorities.




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An Example of Urgent Prayer

Fr. Apostolos Hill speaks about the Canaanite woman as an example of urgent prayer.




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Saints in Three Dimensions

Fr. Apostolos Hill delivers an offering on All Saints Sunday, a reflection on the gritty reality of the saints in all three dimensions of life and not the two-dimensional caricatures to which we often reduce them.




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Origen is Still a Heretic

Fr. Apostolos Hill delivers a homily from the commemoration of the 5th Ecumenical Council which condemned the many heresies of Origen of Alexandria and of Universalism in particular.




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Increments and Intervals of Time

Fr. Apostolos Hill shares a homily from the service for the Indiction regarding the Orthodox view of of time and how it is consecrated through the prayer of the Church.




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Divine Judgement

Fr. Apostolos speaks about Divine Judgement and the pardon offered to all through the blood of Christ.




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When We Disagree with Holy Scripture

Fr. Apostolos Hill preaches on what to do when we come upon disagreeable passages in Holy Scripture, such as Abraham's statement to the Rich Man that he has already received his "good things" in his life and can expect nothing more.




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Freedom and not Independence

Fr. Apostolos Hill speaks on the difference between Independence and Freedom with a brief history lesson about Independence Day.




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What is the Relationship Between Being Born Again and Confession?




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How is humility different from simple self-criticism?




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Can We Will Ourselves Into Repentance?




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How Do I Keep the Commandments and Acquire Virtue?




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Which Commandments Should We Obey?




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The Importance of having a Spiritual Father when Praying the Jesus Prayer




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How do we Move from Mere Confession to True Repentance




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Is there a connection between eating animal products and the passions?




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What are the causes of self-love and how can we protect our children?




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The Inner Person in the Orthodox Tradition: Healing the Soul through the Sacraments




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Conditions for Spiritual Fulfillment

Sermon on the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman (John 4:5-42)




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Ten Thousand Lifetimes

Sermon on the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (I Corinthians 9:2-12; Matthew 18:23-35)




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The Challenge of the Good News

Sermon on the Leavetaking of the Elevation of the Precious Cross (Galatians 2:16-20; Mark 8:34-9:1)




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When Justice is Not Enough

Sermon on the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (II Cor 6:1-10; Luke 6:31-36)




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The Eternal Heavenly Banquet

Sermon on the Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Colossians 3:4-11; Luke 14:16-24)




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The Genealogy of Jesus

Sermon on the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ (Hebrews 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40; Matthew 1:1-25)




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Enduring Tests and Facing Temptations (Mt 14:22-34)

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost




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The True Nature of Forgiveness

Sermon on the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (I Corinthians 9:2-12; Matthew 18:23-35)




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Why Must We Love Our Enemies? (Lk 6:31-36)

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost




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The Healing of the Gadarene Demoniac (Luke 8:26-39)

Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost