Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church

06/02/2026

The Summer edition of the Resurrection Quarterly Magazine is now available on our website and here: https://online.fliphtml5.com/pasmt/FINAL-Summer-2026-Magazine/ =1

Inside, we've highlighted the accomplishments of our 2026 college and high school graduates, along with a recap of our parish ministry activities over the past few months. Kalo Mina - Good Month!

06/01/2026

Blessed Monday of the Holy Spirit!

In the Orthodox Church, it is tradition that the day after a Great Feast honors those who made the Feast possible. Just as the day after the Nativity of our Lord celebrates the Theotokos, and the day after Theophany celebrates St. John the Forerunner; the day after Pentecost celebrates the Holy Spirit, whose descent fulfilled Christ’s promise.

Today we honor the all-Holy, good, and life-giving Holy Spirit, who descended upon the Apostles at Pentecost in the form of fiery tongues, fulfilling Christ’s promise to send the Comforter to His disciples. The same Holy Spirit continues to dwell within the Church throughout the ages, guiding it “into all truth” (John 16:13).

Before His Passion and Ascension, Christ promised that He would send the Holy Spirit to teach, strengthen, and remain with His followers. On Pentecost, that promise was fulfilled as the Apostles received the Holy Spirit and were empowered to preach the Gospel to all nations. The Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire, symbolizing both purification and the spreading of God’s truth throughout the world. Just as the confusion of languages once scattered humanity, the coming of the Holy Spirit united people once again through the message of Christ.

The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter because He strengthens, guides, and renews us. He continues to work within the Church, granting wisdom, sanctifying the faithful, and drawing all people into the knowledge and love of God. Through the Holy Spirit, the world was filled with divine gifts, and the Gospel began spreading to the ends of the earth.

The entire week following Pentecost is celebrated as a fast-free week, reminding us of the joy and fullness of God’s presence among us.

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Blessed are 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! - Troparion, 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! - Kontakion, Tone 8

05/30/2026

The priest is not the only person who can deliver the “sermon.” The Gospel should be preached on the playground, in the office, at home, on the baseball field, and it should be preached by how we act, not only by what we say.
https://myocn.net/the-holy-spirit-and-many-languages/

05/29/2026

05/27/2026

Did you know how the Orthodox Church understands “speaking in tongues”?

In the New Testament, “tongues” originally referred to real human languages miraculously spoken and understood, especially on Pentecost when the Apostles preached to people from many nations (Acts 2:4–11). The early Church saw this as a sign of the Gospel reaching all peoples.

In the Orthodox tradition, we recognize this miracle, but speaking in tongues — especially as practiced in many charismatic or Pentecostal churches today — is not a regular or encouraged part of our liturgical life. Our services are always celebrated “with understanding,” as Saint Paul urges in 1 Corinthians 14: “If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful... I would rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousand in a tongue.”

That means the Divine Liturgy and all our prayers are meant to be heard and understood by the faithful. The Church avoids confusion or disorder in worship—our worship is meant to reflect the peace and order of heaven.

God can work in people’s lives in powerful ways. Some Orthodox Christians may have had personal spiritual experiences they describe as “tongues.” Still, the Church does not encourage or incorporate this into its prayer life. Instead, the Orthodox Church focuses on inner prayer—simple, deep prayer from the heart and the fruit of the Holy Spirit—especially humility, love, and repentance—as the true signs of life in the Holy Spirit.

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05/23/2026

05/21/2026

The Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

05/12/2026

☘️"We must concern ourselves about only one thing: that when we stand at prayer, at home or in church, we have true prayer in our soul: a true turning and lifting up of our mind and heart to God. Let everyone do this as he is able. …
Do not mutter the prayers like a wound-up machine that plays songs.
No matter how long you stand like that, and mumble the prayers, you have no prayer, when your mind is wandering and your heart is full of empty feelings.
But if you stand at prayer and are accustomed to it, what does it cost you to draw your mind and heart there as well? Draw them there, even if they have become stubborn.
Then true prayer will form and will attract God’s mercy, and God’s promise, “Ask, and it shall be given you,” will be fulfilled.
Often it is not given because there is no petition, only a posture of petitioning. "☦️💟

(Saint Theophan the Recluse)

05/12/2026

WHY IS PASCHA CELEBRATED FOR 40 DAYS?

Pascha is the most important feast in Christianity — and unlike other celebrations, it is not observed for just one day or even a few, but for a full forty days.

So why forty? First, there is a historical reason: after His Resurrection, Christ appeared to His disciples over the course of forty days, and only then did He ascend into heaven.

Beyond that, the number forty carries deep symbolic meaning in Christianity. Whenever it appears in Scripture, it points to a time of action, effort, struggle, completion, and fullness. Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai speaking with God — and later led the people of Israel through the wilderness for forty years. King David ruled Israel for forty years, laying a strong foundation for the nation's power, and his son Solomon reigned for the same span, during which Israel reached its golden age. The Old Testament is filled with such examples.

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ fasted for forty days before beginning His public ministry. In remembrance of this, Great Lent also lasts forty days. The Paschal joy that the Church prolongs for forty days is, in a sense, a mirror image of the penitential season of Lent — a symbol of the fullness of the Resurrection joy that the risen Saviour brought into the world.

Photo: a hand-painted Christ Resurrection icon, created in the icon-painting studio of St Elisabeth Convent.