Sermon by Dcn. John Pelikan on the Sunday of the After-feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross. On the Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross, this homily explores the true ancient meaning of the Cross as a tropaion—a tangible emblem of absolute battlefield supremacy and decisive victory over the devil, sin, and death. Drawing from the life of St. Eustathius the Great Martyr and the ascetical teachings of St. Isaac the Syrian, we learn what Christ truly means when He commands us to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. Discover how the Holy Cross serves as our primary weapon to crucify the passions, halt the "onward flow" of worldly desires, and reclaim the Kingdom of Heaven through the daily, sacramental life of the Orthodox Church. To support our parish and its ongoing ministries as we share the light of Christ with our community, you can give securely online here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=E3E4Q2M6NHJT4 #OrthodoxChristian #ElevationOfTheCross #StIsaacTheSyrian #StEustathius #TakeUpYourCross #OrthodoxSermon #SpiritualWarfare #OrthodoxChurch #ChristianFaith

On the Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick preaches on why Amalek shows up so often in the hymns of the Cross in the Orthodox Church. The day's readings https://www.antiochian.org/epistleliturgicday/4676

Are we approaching the Holy Mysteries of Christ with true fear of God, faith, and love—or with casual presumption? In this homily on the Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22) and Isaiah’s "Song of the Vineyard" (Isaiah 5), Deacon Seraphim warns against reducing the Orthodox Faith to a mere aesthetic, a political identity, or a checklist of duties. Drawing from the Holy Fathers and the hauntingly beautiful hymn of Bridegroom Matins ("Thy Bridal Chamber I See Adorned"), we are invited to stop applying the Scriptures to others and instead examine our own souls. True Orthodoxy is not an external brand—it is the daily, heart-transforming practice of the Resurrection and constant repentance before our heavenly Bridegroom. To support our parish and its ongoing ministries as we share the light of Christ with our community, you can give securely online here:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=E3E4Q2M6NHJT4 #OrthodoxChristian #WeddingGarment #BridegroomMatins #OrthodoxSermon #Repentance #Isaiah5 #Matthew22 #OrthodoxFaith