In the Eastern Churches, we are encouraged to give the Lord more than a single hour on His Day, not to mention throughout the week. Private prayer, reading, fellowship groups, visiting the sick or infirm, all are appropriate ways of sanctifying the Lord’s Day. Saturday evening can be, and is intended to be, a time of anticipation and preparation. Attending Vespers and confession are two public ways of preparing, but you may also reflect on the Scriptures (especially the readi
We often hear the phrase “there’s a time and place for everything,” and though we may use it to correct our children (or remember being told similarly as children ourselves), there is also a time for the Lord. The fourth Mosaic commandment made this clear for the Jews: “Six days shall you labor and perform all your tasks. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. You shall do no work on it; neither shall your sons or daughters or your servants: not even the c a
By Susannah Ritchey Unavoidable anticipation, accompanied by anxious thoughts and a quiver deep in the stomach, pervade your body as you wait patiently for your turn to approach the Priest. Brilliant robes of varying hues, deep red as it is currently Lent, garment the man who has up until now been a friendly face, a sometimes dinner companion, or even a regular friend. Now, however, he is the foe. When your coworker asked you what you were doing for Easter, you told them of t