Category: Resources

How can I deal with hindrances in prayer?

During prayer there sometimes occur moments of deadly darkness and spiritual anguish arising from unbelief of the heart (for unbelief is darkness). Do not let your heart fail you at such moments, but remember that if the Divine light has been cut off from you, it always shines in all its splendour and greatness in …

Why did the evangelist neglect the names of some saintly women like Sara, Rebecca, and others, in the sequence of genealogies, while he mentioned adulterous women like Tamar, Rahab, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and Ruth who is a woman of a foreign race?

ANSWER He wanted to annihilate the haughtiness of the Jews who boast about their grandfathers. He showed them how their grandfathers had sinned. Judah committed adultery with Tamar, his son’s widow, and engendered Perez and Zerah from her. David fell into adultery with the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Boaz, the great grandfather of David, …

Who are the wise men? Why did the star appear to them? How did they overcome the Jews? Was the star a natural star? What are the symbols which the story of the wise men bear, and what are their relationships with the Gentiles and the Jews?

ANSWER The wise men came from the East, probably from the countries of Persia . They were from the rank of princes, scientists, or priests. They worshipped the ancient eastern gods, probably the fire; and they may have been among the followers of Zaradesht. They were experts in astronomy and in the stars. Perhaps they …

Why the Registration by Genealogy From Joseph?

ANSWER This question was asked and answered by Saint John Chrysostom: “How is it declared that Christ is from the posterity of David? since he was not born of a man but from a woman only; and the posterity of the Virgin was not counted?…… and what is the objective in that the evangelist mentioned …

Why did the Apostle Matthew say in the genealogy sequence: “Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matt. 1:1); and mentioned David firstly, although Abraham precedes David as regards time?

Saint John Chrysostom said about that: “He mentioned David firstly, because he was prominent in the mouths of all the people at that time, in view of his dignity, and his majesty, and also because he was more recent in time. Thus they said: “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of …