Opuscula Theologica

“Jesus the Good Shepherd, I thank Thee because Thou hast given to me, the small and weak one, the same command that Thou gavest to Thine Apostle, when Thou didst tell him, ‘Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.’ (John 21:17). Never would I dare, O Lord, to accept such a heavy mission if I did not believe that Thy grace ‘healeth that which is infirm and completeth that which is wanting.’ Therefore, in this moment in which I feel my shortcomings so intensely, I, Thy priest, Thy sacrificer, the small shepherd of Thy flock, implore Thee: Uphold me, O Lord; keep my heart pure, whole, free from money and attached to Thy commandments.

Take away from Thy servant selfishness, ostentation and worldliness. Keep him from anger, rancor, envy and jealousy. Make me a man of prayer so that not only with my lips, but also with my heart, I may praise and glorify Thy Holy Name. Help me not forget the holy feelings of my first Divine Liturgy, and by them to chase away the germ of habit which every so often comes into me. Help Thy priest, O Lord, be always an angel of comfort for the afflicted, a source of spiritual invigoration for the disheartened, a guide towards Thy peace, and a source of joy for the wounded. Help me, my Saviour, combine in my life and work tenderness with firmness, tact with strength, sensitivity with strictness. Reduce my faults so that no one may fall because of my weakness. Teach me, O Lord, how to instruct the children, inspire the youth, advise the adults, turn back the sinners, encourage those who are about to die. Teach me, O Lord who knowest the hearts of men, how to perform the Mysteries of Thy Church, and especially the Mystery of Holy Confession. During that time, make me a perfect physician of souls and an affectionate father. Help me be in my parish an inspiration of good works and a leader in God-pleasing endeavors, so that all may be won over for their own happiness and for the glory of Thy Name. Amen.”

Prayer of a Priest by Blessed Papa-Dimitri Gagastathis (1902-1975)

The Divine Liturgy sustains the world! And we are so unworthy of it! There are priests who live this awesome Mystery at every Divine Liturgy. A priest once told me something that a very simple and good priest had once confessed to him, “I have such a hard time during the consuming of the Holy Gifts at the end of the Divine Liturgy. My filthy tears fall into the chalice; I cannot contain them, and this makes me so upset.” And as he was speaking these words he was crying! So the other priest told him, “Please, Father, ask Christ to give some of those ‘filthy’ tears to me too.”

Elder Païsios Eznepidis of Mount Athos (1924-1994)

By the grace of God, and the prayers of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, I was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on their feast day, May 11, 2011.

His Beatitude Metropolitan JONAH performed the ordination.

Standing as an offering to Christ our God.

"The work of the priesthood is done on earth, but is ranked among heavenly ordinances. And this is only right, for no man, no angel, no archangel, no other created power, but the Comforter Himself ordained this succession, and persuaded men, while still remaining in the flesh, to represent the ministry of angels." - St John Chrysostom

Holy Communion

"Priesthood is given as a manifestation of God’s love for mankind." - Hieromonk Athanasios

A special thank you to Simon Scionka and Christopher Patton for taking the pictures.