Ο προστάτης του γάμου

 
Ίσως κάποιος αναρωτηθεί. Γιατί ένας ασκητικός Μάρτυρας, ο σήμερα εορταζόμενος Άγιος Προκόπιος, που δεν παντρεύτηκε ποτέ, να είναι ο προστάτης του Γάμου;
 

Η απάντηση κρύβεται στην ίδια την ουσία του γάμου. Ο γάμος απαιτεί θυσία. Για να ζήσουν δύο άνθρωποι αρμονικά κάτω από την ίδια στέγη, πρέπει να «πεθάνει» το εγώ τους και να γεννηθεί το «εμείς». Ο Άγιος Προκόπιος, που θυσίασε τη ζωή του από αγάπη για τον Χριστό, διδάσκει στους συζύγους αυτό ακριβώς το θυσιαστικό πνεύμα. Χωρίς αμοιβαίες υποχωρήσεις, χωρίς συγχώρεση και χωρίς το μαρτυρικό φρόνημα της υπομονής, ο γάμος δεν μπορεί να ριζώσει.
 
Η Μνεία στην Ακολουθία
 
Κατά την αφαίρεση των στεφάνων, ο ιερέας εύχεται:
 
«...ο ευλογήσας τον εν Κανά της Γαλιλαίας γάμον... παράλαβε τους στεφάνους αυτών εν τη Βασιλεία σου... διά των πρεσβειών... του αγίου ενδόξου μεγαλομάρτυρος Προκοπίου...»!
 
Είναι η στιγμή που τα στέφανα της γης -που συμβολίζουν τη δόξα αλλά και το μαρτύριο της κοινής ζωής- παραδίδονται στα χέρια του Θεού για να γίνουν αιώνια. Ο Άγιος Προκόπιος στέκεται εκεί ως εγγυητής, πρεσβεύοντας στον Κύριο να κρατήσει την αγάπη του ζευγαριού άσβεστη, προστατεύοντας το σπιτικό τους από κάθε κλονισμό.
 
Ας επικαλούμαστε τον Άγιο Προκόπιο όχι μόνο την ημέρα του γάμου, αλλά σε κάθε δύσκολη στιγμή της οικογενειακής ζωής. Στις ώρες της παρεξήγησης, της κόπωσης ή της δοκιμασίας, η προσευχή στον Άγιο της «προκοπής» μπορεί να φέρει τη γαλήνη, θυμίζοντάς μας ότι ο γάμος είναι ένας κοινός αγώνας που με τη χάρη του Θεού πάντα οδηγεί στην ανάσταση.

Ο Οδυσσέας στην Αγγλία

 
Σε λίγες ημέρες ένα κανούργιο έργο θα προβληθεί στους κινηματογράφους στην Αγγλία. Είναι η Οδύσσεια του Ομήρου.
 

Η εν λόγω ταινία διαφημίζεται πολύ τελευταία. Μια έμμεση διαφήμιση είναι και ο πίνακας της παρούσας ανάρτησης, από σταθμό του μετρό στο Λονδίνο.

Αγίου Παϊσίου καρδία καιομένη

 
Αξεθύμαστο το άρωμα της μνήμης όλων των Αγίων προστατών μας. Όσο ανασαίνουμε το οξυγόνο τούτου του κόσμου, τόσο θα εισπνέουμε και το άρωμα της Αγιότητάς τους. Ξανά θα το ανασάνουμε λοιπόν, με ακόμα μια εκπομπή-προσευχή για μεσιτεία στον Άγιο Παΐσιο τον Αγιορείτη.
 

Στο κέντρο η καρδιά του, πάντοτε φλεγόμενη από θυσιαστική αγάπη. Όλο και όλα για τους άλλους. Πόσο ταιριαστό το όνομα Κηρυναίος για αυτόν τον ταπεινό γίγαντα! Πόσους Σταυρούς δεν έπαιρνε στους δικούς του ώμους! Δεν δάνειζε, μα χάριζε έλεος και οικτιρμούς. Αναλωνόταν ολόκληρος. Δαπανούσε και την ελάχιστη ικμάδα της δύναμής του μη κρατώντας τίποτα για τον εαυτό του. Πονούσε πολύ και την πατρίδα μας! Λαχταρούσε για μια Ελλάδα Θεοβλόγητη και όχι εγκαταλελειμμένη από θεομάχους και αθεόφοβους ηγήτορες. Θρηνούσε για την πνευματική μας κατάντια η καιομένη καρδιά του.
 
Νώντας Σκοπετέας
 
Το βίντεο είναι εδώ

Constantinople Lecture

 
On Tuesday 24th of June 2026, the AECA held its Annual Constantinople Lecture at St John’s Notting Hill. This year’s lecture was given by Dr Sharon J Kaithavana, who is a medical doctor and a member of the Malankara Orthodox Church, on ‘“Your faith has saved you” Medicine, Faith and Healing – Insights from Indian Orthodoxy and the Ayurvedic Tradition.
 

The evening began with a Choral Evensong, led by our Treasurer, Fr Alan Trigle. Before the main Lecture, The Bishop of Southwark Christopher Chessun, who is also our Anglican President, greeted everyone to this year’s event.
 

The Treasurer, Fr Alan Trigle, introduced our speaker. Dr Sharon J Kaithavana shared his lecture with the participants, so everyone could follow the interesting and engaging talk, linking practice and theory to cultural and religious beliefs found within Indian Orthodoxy.
 

After the Lecture, Fr Will Gibbs thanked the speaker and gave final remarks and comments. The evening ended with a wonderful reception where everyone was able to enjoy the warm weather with a glass of wine and some nibbles. The Lecture will be published in our journal, Koinonia, for our members to read.
 
Dr. Dimitrios Salapatas

Orthodox Monasticism

 
Thursday 3-Saturday 5 December 2026*
IOCS Winter School 2026:
Monastic Tradition and Orthodox Theology Today
At Westminster College, Cambridge
 

*3-4 December will be full days of lectures and discussion, with a full day visit to The Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist, Essex, on Saturday 5 December.
 
Our 2026 Winter School will look at profound and sometimes unexpected ways in which the monastic tradition and theologians formed by it play a vital role in the rediscovery of 'theology as a liturgy of the Church' (Archimandrite Vasileios of Iviron), expressed alike in our teaching and in all facets of life. 
 
We will explore how monastic experience informs, perhaps transforms, our understanding of Scripture and of the human being; how it underpins pastoral service to 'the world'; and its powerful witness to contemporary spiritual seekers hungry for the sacred.
 
Speakers to include:
 
His Eminence, Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London
Archimandrite Antonios Kakalis, Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Newcastle University
Hieromonk Nikolai Sakharov, The Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist, Essex
V Revd. Dr Bogdan Bucur, Associate Professor of Patristics at the St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Yonkers, NY)
Mother Sarah, Parish of St John of Kronstadt, Bath
Mr Aidan Hart, The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts
Dr Kyriacos Markides, Prof. Emeritus of Sociology, University of Maine
More details to follow soon

Όψεις επταλόφου

 
Οι πιο σημαντικές πόλεις του κόσμου είναι κτισμένες πάνω σε επτά λόφους, εξ ου και ονομάζονται επτάλοφες.
 

Το κτίσιμο πάνω σε επτά λόφους, όπως υποστηρίζεται, γίνεται κατά το πρότυπο της αρχαίας Ρώμης.
 

Πολλές πόλεις -σε ολόκληρο τον κόσμο- χρησιμοποιούν αυτόν τον τίτλο για λόγους κύρους ή ιστορικής σύνδεσης.
 

Μια τέτοια επτάλοφη πόλη είναι κι εκείνη που ονομάζεται Clevedon στο North Somerset, στα ΝΔ της πόλης του Bristol.
 

Το όνομα της πόλης αυτής αντανακλά την τοπογραφία της.

 
Προέρχεται δε από τα αρχαία Αγγλικά: cleve (cleave / συνδέομαι στενά) και don (hill / λόφος).

 
Ένα χαρακτηριστικό στοιχείο της πόλης είναι η προβλήτα της, που άνοιξε το 1869 και θεωρείται διατηρητέο μνημείο.

 
Ο Sir John Betjeman περιγράφει την εν λόγω Βικτωριανή προβλήτα ως ‘the most beautiful pier in England’.

Adam and Eve in Islam

 
The story of Adam and Eve is one of the foundational narratives in Islam. Muslims believe that Adam was the first human being and the first prophet, while Hawwa (Eve) was the first woman and his wife. Their story appears throughout the Quran and carries important lessons about free will, temptation, repentance, forgiveness, and humanity's relationship with God.
 

The Creation of Adam
 
Islam teaches that God created Adam directly. The Quran describes Adam as being created from clay or dust, and then God breathed into him a spirit created by Him. Adam was given knowledge that distinguished him from other creatures. One of the first gifts God gave Adam was the ability to learn and understand the names and nature of things. This knowledge became a symbol of humanity's unique capacity for learning, reasoning, and responsibility.
 
The Angels and Adam
 
After creating Adam, God informed the angels of His intention to place a representative (khalifah) on Earth. God then commanded the angels to honour Adam. All obeyed except Iblis. Iblis refused because he considered himself superior. According to the Quran, he said he was created from fire while Adam was created from clay. His arrogance and pride led to his downfall. This event is considered the origin of Satan's rebellion.
 
The Creation of Eve
 
Islam teaches that Eve (Hawwa) was created as Adam's companion. The Quran does not provide extensive details about her creation, but Islamic tradition identifies her as the first woman and Adam's wife. Together they lived in Paradise.
 
Life in Paradise
 
God permitted Adam and Eve to enjoy Paradise freely. They could eat and benefit from everything except one specific tree. The Quran does not identify the type of tree. The emphasis is not on the tree itself but on obedience to God.
 
The Temptation
 
Iblis sought to mislead Adam and Eve. He whispered to them and tempted them to eat from the forbidden tree. Eventually, both Adam and Eve made the mistake of eating from it. A notable difference between the Islamic and some traditional Christian interpretations is that the Quran does not place the blame solely on Eve. Instead, both Adam and Eve share responsibility. The Quran presents them as partners in both the mistake and the repentance.
 
The First Repentance
 
After realizing their error, Adam and Eve immediately turned to God in repentance. They prayed: "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers." Islam teaches that God accepted their repentance. This is one of the most important lessons of the story. Unlike the concept of inherited sin found in some Christian traditions, Islam teaches: Adam sinned. Adam repented. God forgave him. The sin was not passed on to future generations.
 
Descending to Earth
 
After their repentance, Adam and Eve were sent to Earth. Islam views this not merely as a punishment but as part of God's plan for humanity. Earth became the place where: Humans exercise free will. People are tested. Good and evil are distinguished. Spiritual growth occurs. Adam became the first prophet, teaching his descendants about God and worship.
 
No Original Sin in Islam
 
One of the most significant differences between Islamic and many Christian beliefs concerns original sin. Islam teaches: Every child is born pure. No one inherits Adam's sin. Every person is responsible only for their own actions. God's mercy is available through repentance. This principle is central to Islamic theology.
 
Adam as the First Prophet
 
Adam was more than the first human. He was also the first prophet. Islam teaches that God guided humanity through a long line of prophets beginning with Adam and continuing through: Nuh Ibrahim Musa Dawud Sulayman Isa ibn Maryam Muhammad Muslims view all prophets as carrying the same core message: worship the One God.
 
Similarities With Judaism and Christianity
 
All three Abrahamic faiths share several beliefs: Adam was the first human. Eve was the first woman. They lived in Paradise. They were tempted. They ate from a forbidden tree. Humanity descends from them. These common elements form part of the shared heritage of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
 
Key Lessons From Adam and Eve in Islam
 
1. Human Beings Make Mistakes
Even the first humans made mistakes. Perfection belongs only to God.
 
2. Pride Is Dangerous
Iblis fell because of arrogance. Islam repeatedly warns against pride and self-righteousness.
 
3. Repentance Is Always Possible
Adam's story demonstrates that sincere repentance can lead to forgiveness.
 
4. Men and Women Share Responsibility
The Quran presents Adam and Eve as jointly responsible for their actions.
 
5. Every Person Gets a Fresh Start
There is no inherited guilt. Each person is accountable for their own choices.
 
Why the Story Matters Today
 
For Muslims, Adam and Eve are not merely historical figures. Their story explains fundamental questions about human nature: Why humans are imperfect. Why temptation exists. Why forgiveness is possible. Why life on Earth is a test. Why hope should never be lost after making mistakes. The story begins not with humanity's failure, but with God's mercy. Adam and Eve's repentance and forgiveness remain powerful reminders that no matter how great a mistake may be, the door to repentance and God's mercy is always open.
 
SOURCE: MSN