Feasts Archives — Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

No, the Paschal date difference is not about Passover (and other Orthodox urban legends)

April 17, 2022May 10, 2022 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

Orthodox Christians should find their identity in Christ and in the saving dogmas proclaimed about Him universally in Orthodox tradition. How we calculate Pascha (which was not set by the Apostles) is not one of those things.

The Martyrs’ Blood Against the Demon Hordes: A Reflection on the Akolouthia of the Three Martyrs of Vilnius

April 14, 2022April 13, 2022 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

The Scriptures and all the liturgical services of the Orthodox Church include the theme of spiritual warfare, but it is particularly prominent in the liturgical services for the martyred saints.

Is There a Triumph of Orthodoxy?

March 13, 2022March 11, 2022 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

Ten years ago, I was present at a sermon on the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy given by the late Fr. Thomas Hopko, three years before he died. The title he gave the sermon was “What Triumph of Orthodoxy?” And he said that there never really was such a thing.

Covered in Blood and Gold

August 2, 2021August 2, 2021 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

If we had stood at Golgotha on the day of the Crucifixion, our material eyes would have seen Roman soldiers nailing Jesus to the Cross. But our eyes of faithfulness would have seen the young Warrior, ready to do battle, about to use this Weapon of Peace, the Trophy Invincible, as His means to enter into Hades, smash down its doors, and to defeat the devil and death.

Arise, O God! Great and Holy Saturday

May 1, 2021May 1, 2021 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

Why put these resurrectional themes into a psalm about judging the gods, about putting the fallen angels in their place and working justice upon them? It is because the whole cosmic narrative of the Scripture is about the war begun by these fallen ones against God.

The Defeat of Amalek

September 14, 2020September 14, 2020 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

The cosmic war between God and His enemies the fallen angels is going on all around us and even within us. And we have been given the Cross, the very Staff of God, as a weapon against the demons.

The Forerunner in the Underworld

August 29, 2020November 12, 2020 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

The Forerunner, having announced Christ’s coming to those on earth, is beheaded now and sent to preach even in Hades, announcing His coming even to that place. And his shout rings throughout the underworld, warning that the Lord of Life is coming to break open the gates of death, throw down the lord of death from his throne, and to release those who lie in hope in the underworld.

Pentecost and the Ziggurat

June 7, 2020June 7, 2020 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

Mankind is suffocated by his idolatry. If we want to breathe, to breathe again the Holy Spirit, it begins with repentance. It begins with sacrifice. It begins with worship.