We are saved by Christ as part of the Church and our fellow members of the Body of Christ support us both practically and in their prayers. The prayers of the holy people of God are a ferocious weapon in our defence.

The central importance for the Christian life is almsgiving … helping the poor and those in need.

Subdeacon Immanuel speaks about the new fresco Icon of the Theotokos of the Sign written by Efrem Carrasco on the wall behind the altar at St Aidan’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Levenshulme, Manchester.

If we want to know what our humanity is like and can truly become we need to look at that perfect Undistorted Image which is Christ. Looking at him we shall not descend into destructive narcissism but rather ascend, utterly transformed and beautified by the Holy Spirit, to the Father.

Perhaps it seems capricious and arbitrary of God to deal one way with one situation and remain distant in another; but to demand to know why God does certain things and not others is to demand that He should be answerable to us.

If we are to live effectively in the power of God, if we are to know his power to save even in adverse circumstances; then we must listen to him now and do His will, not put it off, not make excuses.

What happens after we have worked hard, done our best and achieved nothing?

What did Jesus mean when He said to take up our cross and follow Him? Fr. Gregory teaches about the principle of losing ourselves to gain Christ.

Dn. Christopher gives the homily and says that Christ has destroyed death and the power of evil; he dealt with it in His passion. We have to repent to allow this salvation to work within us.

Fr. Gregory Hallam reflects on the new liturgical year and three mighty manifestations of the Divine Glory.