Antioch Alexander

Brethren, it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; He has put his seal upon us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.   But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming to Corinth.    Not that we lord it over your faith; we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.   For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit.   For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?   And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.   For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. At that time, Jesus was standing by the lake of Ge...

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.   It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.   For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the Law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh.   But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.   For, neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.   Peace and mercy be upon all, who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.   Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren.   Amen. The Lord said, “No one has ascended into heaven but H...

Brethren, God has exhibited us Apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honour, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill clad and buffeted and homeless; and we labour, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. At that time, a man came up to Jesus and kneeling before Him said, “Lord, have mercy on my so...

The Orthodox Church in Great Britain and Ireland: The Next Forty Years A talk given at  the Summer Conference of the Orthodox Fellowship of St John the Baptist "Forty things you didn't know about Orthodoxy!" 20th July 2019 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen. Setting the scene When we journeyed among the Bulgars, we beheld how they worship in their temple, called a mosque, while they stand ungirt. The Bulgar bows, sits down, looks hither and thither like one possessed, and there is no happiness among them, but instead only sorrow and a dreadful stench. Their religion is not good. Then we went among the Germans, and saw them performing many ceremonies in their temples; but we beheld no glory there. Then we went to Greece, and the Greeks (including the Emperor himself) led us to the edifices where they worship their God, and we knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth. For on earth there is no suc...