Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/pen-sun-00_2023+doxastikon-for-pentecost+dogma.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/1LmUhnI6XFU An excerpt from a homily on Pentecost, 2023, explaining the Doxastikon for Pentecost, and the reason for all the fuss about DOGMA. 0:00 - 4:45 The Doxastikon for Pentecost explains the Trisagion prayer. Why emphasize the Holy Trinity? 2:38 – 4:45 Dogma IS life. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LmUhnI6XFU

A Private liturgy with Tikhon Almost like a prison liturgy. The private prayers. This is almost a transcript of the video. Yesterday, Tuesday morning, because I was shut out of the prison because of a lockdown, I went early to Tikhon's parent’s house near Rockdale Texas. He is convalescing at his parent’s house in between chemotherapy treatments and he looks pretty good but he's still having a hard time and has daily challenges. I try to help anyway I can. The best way is to pray. I can't do that well but I do pray, every day. Until I develop the character such that my prayer is like that of Elias, I must do other things as well. It's like that for most of us, I think. Prayer is the foundation, but it certainly is not the only thing we do to love our brother. I think a good rule is: “Pray. And if you can do something else, do it”. I went down to where he was staying and celebrated the Divine Liturgy, just him and me. I could have just brought the reserved sacrament, but liturgy is better. They have a cozy enclosed deck, and it was a beautiful morning day we were actually literally facing east, into the rising sun. It was a very intimate setting and I really love these small quiet liturgies. It was like a prison liturgy except that it was not hot, or humid, or smelly or extremely noisy! Actually, there is a significant similarity to prison liturgies. I sing the entire liturgy, and those I serve with are so close to me that no private prayer is private, so I dispense with the usual way of saying the private prayers, and say them all aloud. I like this difference very much. I do not say them this way in regular liturgies in the parish, for many reasons, and I am burying the lead here – it would be hard for everyone to hear the prayers, the liturgy on Sunday would be too long, especially for those whose behavior makes me suspect it is already too long for them, and, my bishop would definitely give me a deserved talking to for liturgical renovationism. In prison liturgies and our liturgy together yesterday, one may take a few liberties. One needs to adapt. In our supposedly enlightened age, where people have the liturgy in the palm of their hand, but do not know the purpose of their life or the cure for their anxiety and unhappiness, or cannot even say the 50th psalm, I think it is good for everyone to be exposed to these prayers. Our theology is fully on display, and all good theology has a heart that cares for people. Actually, now that I think of it, there is no “bad theology”. There is the knowledge of demons, which does not save. All theology comforts, teaches, and strengthen the soul. These intercessory prayers certainly have a heart. They are more powerful, it seems to me, when I pray them aloud with a small group. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kbldIw1X2Y