The homily discusses the beginning of the advent season, focusing on the Gospel narrative of the angel Gabriel appearing to the priest Zachariah. It highlights that Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth were childless, which was considered a disgrace at the time.

The speaker reflects on several points:

• Faithfulness in Disgrace: Despite being seen as disgraceful by their people, Zachariah and Elizabeth persevered in their faith.
• Zachariah's Doubt: When the angel brings the "good news," Zachariah is doubtful because he and his wife are old. This doubt leads to him being punished.
• The Nature of the Blessing: The sermon questions the nature of this blessing. While Elizabeth's disgrace was taken away, the child, John the Baptist, would grow up to live a difficult prophetic life. The speaker asks if we would truly want a son like John the Baptist or Jesus, given the hardships they faced.
• Our Calling: The homily concludes by connecting this to our own lives. As disciples, we are also called, like John the Baptist, to prepare the way for the Lord. This is not an easy task, but it is about what God wants for us. As we approach Christmas, we are encouraged to think beyond the material aspects and focus on bringing Jesus into our lives and the lives of others.

This episode explores the powerful theme of finding "Grace from Disgrace." Drawing inspiration from the Gospel story of Zachariah and Elizabeth, it contrasts how they were seen as "righteous" in God's eyes, even while their community saw them as a "disgrace."

This message offers two central points for reflection:

• Whose judgment matters? It challenges us to consider if we are more worried about what other people think or what God thinks, reminding us that people's judgments can be wrong.
• Are we judging others? We are asked to reflect on whether our own words or actions make others feel judged, and instead focus on building people up.

This is a comforting reminder of God's unconditional love—that His mercy is greater than our failings, and that He sees grace where the world sees disgrace.

On the Sunday of the Annunciation to the Mother of God, we reflect on one of the most transformative moments in human history—Mary’s yes.

In this homily, His Grace Mar Nicholovos explores:

• Why God chose Nazareth—a place on the margins

• How Mary, a young Jewish girl, carried multiple layers of social oppression

• Why her response to the angel was not merely a surrender but also a courageous act of rebellion

• The contrast between Zechariah’s doubt and Mary’s faithful questioning

• How the Incarnation is the moment when the Creator enters creation, changing history forever

Mary’s "yes" is both humble obedience and bold defiance—choosing God’s will over every earthly limitation. Her faith challenges us today:

When God calls, are we willing to choose His will even when it means standing against the pressures of the world?

📌 Sermon: Annunciation to the Theotokos

📌 Speaker: His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos

The homily explores Mary's courage, noting her fear as a teenage girl confronting an angel, yet her willingness to question the message. The speaker highlights a key difference from the story of Zachariah: the angel patiently explains the miracle of Mary's cousin, Elizabeth, as proof.

The core message revolves around radical submission: Mary's agreement ("Here I am, the handmaid of God") was not merely passive consent. The homily stresses that Mary's "yes" was a complete surrender, putting her life at risk in a society where she could have been legally killed for being pregnant.

This story serves as a challenge for us today: are we willing to obey God, or do we only want God to obey us? Ultimately, the sermon calls every listener to follow Mary's example and become a "God-bearer" (Theotokos) in the world, transforming our lives so that others can see God when they look at us. It’s a call to prepare for Christmas by imitating Mary's life, not just remembering an event.

This episode, "Distracted Living," explores the sermon that argues attention is the most important commodity, and how a life constantly seeking distraction leads to spiritual blindness [01:05].

The speaker emphasizes that genuine spiritual sight requires focus, silence, meditation, and prayer [02:55], contrasting this with the busy, distracted lives many of us lead.

The focus shifts to St. Mary as the ultimate example of a life dedicated to God [04:02]. By focusing on service and prayer, she became the key through which a profound mystery was revealed.

The episode unpacks how Mary is seen as the firm and permanent connection point between God and man [10:15], similar to the Burning Bush, Jacob's Ladder, and the Ark of the Covenant. This great mystery culminates in the lifting of the "curse of old" [10:32], fulfilling the prophecy that God would send a "seed" to crush the head of the serpent [11:41].

It is a powerful Advent message about choosing focus over distraction, reminding us that "Emmanuel—the Lord is with you" [13:15].

In this episode, Fr. Vijay Thomas preaches on Mary’s visit to Elizabeth and connects it to this week’s historic gathering in Nicaea marking 1700 years since the First Council of Nicaea. He reflects on why the Creed matters, why truth matters, and why the Church’s confession about Christ still shapes our lives today.

Through Mary’s Magnificat and Elizabeth’s recognition of the Lord, we learn to see Christ clearly — the eternal Son who entered time for our salvation.

In this Advent message, we reflect on Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth and discover a model of faith that both seeks and obeys. Mary doesn’t accept even an angel’s message blindly—she travels to see for herself, showing us that true obedience includes discernment and courage. Her Magnificat becomes a song of liberation from the perspective of the poor, the oppressed, and the humble. As our patron saint, Mary teaches us how to engage God’s call with sincerity, honesty, and boldness. May her example guide us into a deeper, living faith this season.

In this Advent reflection, we journey with St. Mary to discover the deep mysteries hidden in her visit to Elizabeth. Why does the Church place Mary before us so often before Christmas? Because, as the Fathers teach: Follow the Mother, and you will find the Son.

Drawing rich parallels between Luke’s Gospel and the story of the Ark of the Covenant, this sermon shows how St. Mary is revealed as the true Ark—carrying within her the living Word, the Bread of Life, and the presence of God Himself. We explore how her greeting causes John the Baptist to leap, how Elizabeth echoes David’s awe, and how Revelation reveals Mary’s place at the Second Coming.

This message also lifts up the powerful witness of the saints—from the defense of Constantinople to the teachings of St. Joseph the Hesychast—on the intercession, purity, and motherly protection of the Theotokos.

As we begin the season of Advent (and the Nativity Fast), this sermon invites us to draw near to the Mother of God, to learn from her purity, to seek her prayers, and to allow her to lead us more deeply to Christ.

Speaker: Rev. Fr. Abey George

Parish: St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Long Island, NY