Hill Country Homilies

In this homily at Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church, Abp. Irineos invites the faithful—especially those preparing to be received into the Church—to listen closely to the Anaphora of St. Basil the Great as a sweeping proclamation of the entire economy of salvation. Moving from God’s eternal holiness to creation in Paradise, humanity’s fall and exile, and God’s patient preparation through the Law, prophets, saints, and angels, the homily culminates in the Incarnation and the saving work of Christ— the Cross, the descent into Hades, Resurrection, Ascension, and coming judgment. Finally, Abp. Irineos explains how the Divine Liturgy is not mere recollection, but the place where the Holy Spirit gathers us into Christ’s once-for-all offering and forms our faith through prayer: lex orandi, lex credendi!

In this season of Holy Great Lent, we confront one of Christ's most challenging commands: "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me". But what is your cross? This homily explores the deeply personal, yet universally shared, mystery of the cross, reminding us that since each soul's burden is unique, we must follow the instruction of St. Ephraim the Syrian and seek to see our own transgressions, not to judge our brother. In today’s homily, Archbishop Irineos assures us that divine love transforms this difficult path into a bearable and salvific journey, and urges the faithful to heed the solemn warning of the Church Fathers: if we refuse to willingly carry our cross, it will instead carry us toward spiritual peril. May God, by His Grace, enable each of us to to identify our cross, embrace the struggle with joy, and understand why this sacred instrument is nothing less than the very shape of our salvation.

Dive into the profound teachings of St. Gregory Palamas as Abp. Irineos explores one of Christianity's most transformative mysteries: how we actually experience God, not just study about Him. This episode unpacks the ancient controversy between intellectual knowledge and experiential encounter with the Divine, revealing why a simple fisherman can know God more deeply than the most educated scholar. God—while utterly unknowable in His essence—reveals Himself through His uncreated energies in ways you encounter daily: in love, in creation, in the Eucharist, and in acts of mercy. Faith is more than theological degrees and book learning. This episode illuminates the radical path of inner transformation that makes us "partakers of the divine nature" as we explore what it truly means to know God.

In this powerful sermon on Matthew 25, Abp. Irineos emphasizes a startling reality: Christ's description of the Last Judgment is not a parable but a direct account of how all nations will be judged. The Archbishop explains that while other teachings required parables to convey difficult truths, Christ spoke plainly about judgment. He outlines the stark criteria by which humanity will be separated into sheep and goats—feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned—actions done unto "the least of these" that Christ counts as done unto Himself. Challenging the "faith alone" doctrine, Abp. Irineos argues that while no deed merits salvation on its own, our works inevitably reveal our faith, echoing James's teaching that "faith without works is dead". Perhaps most movingly, he distinguishes between God's eternal intentions: the Kingdom was prepared for humanity "from the foundation of the world," while the fires of judgment were prepared only "for the devil and his angels"—a place where the condemned cast themselves through their own negligence, hard-heartedness and lack of love. The Archbishop's message is both sobering and hopeful: God asks us to see Christ in every person we encounter and to love our neighbor not abstractly, but through concrete acts of mercy.

In today's homily, Abp. Irineos explores the Parable of the Prodigal Son, revealing how modern believers enter "the far country" not through physical distance but through spiritual separation from God. The message emphasizes that sin creates a separation "not one of separation of place, but by separation in point of virtue," and that we enter this spiritual exile through digital distractions, consumerism, and neglecting prayer. The homily offers profound hope by highlighting the father's unconditional love—running to meet his son "while he was yet a great way off"—demonstrating that God doesn't wait for perfect repentance but rushes toward us with healing love. Additionally, the teaching addresses the danger of becoming like the older brother, who represents religious pride and serves God while resenting others, reminding Orthodox Christians to celebrate every soul that returns to God rather than judge them. As believers prepare for Great Lent, this message calls them to recognize their own spiritual wandering, trust in God's limitless forgiveness, and embrace both humility in personal struggle and joy in others' repentance.

In this homily, Abp. Irineos conveys that the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee, read on the First Sunday of the Triodion, establishes the essential foundation for authentic Orthodox Christian living by contrasting pride with humility. The homily teaches that external religious practices—fasting, tithing, and meticulous observance—cannot justify us if they stem from pride, as exemplified by the Pharisee who exalted himself above others. In contrast, the despised tax collector's humble, contrite prayer—"God be merciful to me a sinner"—demonstrates the proper approach to God that leads to justification. As the faithful prepare for Great Lent, the Archbishop warns against allowing ascetical practices to become sources of pride or boasting, emphasizing that humility must ground all spiritual endeavors. The core message is clear: true confession and prayer require humility, contrition, and recognition of our complete dependence on God's mercy, not our own worthiness, for only through such childlike trust can we receive justification as a gift from God.

In today's homily, Abp. Irineos reflects on the Parable of the Great Supper from Luke’s Gospel, exploring the excuses given by those who rejected the Master’s invitation and how these mirror the ways people today turn away from God’s call to the Kingdom. He explains how attachments to wealth, worldly concerns, and bodily pleasures can blind us to the mysteries of faith and keep us from embracing life in Christ. Highlighting that God’s invitation extends to all—including the poor, the broken, and even the Gentiles—he urges listeners to examine their own hearts for the excuses that hinder their participation in the divine economy of salvation offered through the Church and the Eucharist. Abp. Irineos calls the faithful to steadfast endurance as “proven and tested soldiers of Christ,” ready to partake in His eternal supper in the Kingdom.

On this Sunday we hear the Gospel of Luke and the account of the blind beggar who called for Christ as he made his way to Jerusalem.  In the homily from December 14 (December 1 OS), Abp. Irineos commends the persistence of the beggar and his immediate transformation from beggar to evangelist as he gives glory to God for his healings.  Let us also be guided by both the beggar's insistence to be heard, calling on God even when the crowd that surrounds us and tries to shut us down.  And whenever we receive the grace of God, let us always give thanks, becoming evangelists of our own day, as we proclaim all the good things God has done for us!

Following Wednesday Vespers, Abp. Irineos shared a little of the life of our father among the saints, Stephen the New.  In this brief talk, he encourages the faithful to stand with the same firmness of faith and speak with the same clarity as St. Stephen.https://www.spreaker.com/episode/st-stephen-the-new--69049441

In today's Gospel reading, we hear the parable of the rich fool.  In the homily, Abp. Irineos touches on the Fool's delusional pursuit of self-sufficiency, his soul killing greed, and ultimately what it means for us to be rich toward God.  Drawing on the patristic teaching, Abp. Irineos urges the faithul to take stock of their own giving of alms and to do what they can, to the greatest extent that they can.

On the 6th Sunday of St. Luke, Abp. Irineos shares the gospel reading of the Gadarene Demoniac and challenges the faithful to consider both the power of Christ and our own weakness before Him.  Beginning with a discussion of the position of the demoniac and the fear of the townspeople, Abp. Irineos compares the Demoniac's transformation by Christ with our own quest for Theosis.

While serving at Holy Annunciation following his ordination, Fr. Pachomios delivered the Sunday homily on the Parable of the Sower.  Fr. Pachomios urged the faithful to be attentive daily to their cross, as a means to assure that we stay within the good ground!

On the second Sunday of St. Luke, Abp. Irineos challenges that faithful to embody Christ's call to us to follow the Golden Rule and love unconditionally with the expectation of personal benefit or recognition.  Drawing on free market theory, Abp. Irineos shows that Christ's call to the faithful is to reject the transactional nature of human relationships that our modern, Western culture has engrained in us, and rather to love in the same way that our Father loves us.

On the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross, Abp. Irineos discusses how the Gospel reading today shifts us from the Feast's veneration where we are called to fall down before the cross in worship to Christ's command that if we are to follow Him we must first deny ourselves and take up our own cross.  This forbearance calls us to patiently endure our own afflictions, fight against the passions, forgive those who have wounded us, and to preach the Gospel in a world that may mock or persecute us.  The Cross does not belong just to Christ, but to all Christians who seek to follow Him.

On the 13th Sunday of Pentecost, the Church appoints for hearing the parable of the Wicked Vinedressers from the Gospel of Matthew.  This parable is full of meaning and the Fathers have expounded on the meaning of it far beyond its obvious prophecy of rejection and murder of Christ.  One of the interpretations holds that the "hedge" placed around the vineyard represents the Law and its design to set the bounds for the conduct of its followers.  As the Church stands as the new Israel, in today's homily, Abp. Irineos ponders what our hedge is and why we need one.

On the Feast of Pentecost, Abp. Irineos speaks on the sending of the Holy Spirit as the culminating act in the gradual revelation of the Holy Trinity.  Drawing on the Festal Oration of St. Gregory Nanzianzen, Abp. Irineos suggests that the revelation of the Trinity to mankind over time reflects a cautious approach of the Father and of Christ, such that man was burdened only with so much as he could bear.Thus, we see the day of Pentecost as that appointed time in which mankind, having encountered the Father and having seen the Son, is now prepared to receive the Spirit in its Divinity, so that we may be drawn to our loving God, for the salvation of our souls.

On the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, Abp. Irineos gives the background on the Arian heresy and, calling on other examples from Church history, reminds the faithful that the truth is never determined by how many adherents or followers are to be counted.  Often time, the bishops of the Church have fallen into heresy or error and been corrected by a small handful of faithful confessors.  From the Arian heresy to the Soviet catacombs, the true faith is determined by faithfully preserving that which is received, not by gathering the greater number of people who would follow you.

On the Sunday of the Blind Man, Abp. Irineos shares the patristic understanding of this Gospel account, and explains how the blind man and his healing represent the salvation of the Gentile race.  May all of us who have received the light, confess Christ before the world as the blind man did before the Pharisees!

On the Sunday of the Paralytic, Abp. Irineos examines the admonition of Christ, " Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee."  Can sin actually make us sick? This is a statement that today is shocking to many – a connection between our sins and bodily illness or infirmity – seems to run counter to what modern science commands us to believe.  But it has been a long held understanding of the apostolic fathers and the Church, that indeed, there is a connection between our sins and our bodily health and integrity.

On the 5th Sunday of Great Lent, Abp. Irineos departs from the Forefeast of the Annunciation to talk about the Life of St. Mary of Egypt, and to examine her ascetic struggle.  Drawing on her life in the desert, he urges the faithful to emulate her example, finding their own spiritual desert to war against the passions, and to engage the concept of repentance  on a deep and life altering level as St. Mary did.  He discusses the church's condescension to repentant sinners, looking at both St. Mary and Abba Moses the Black as examples of soul healing spiritual medicine taking precedence over shallow legalism.

On the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, Abp. Irineos discusses the Ladder of Divine Ascent, and how as lay people we may draw from its wisdom.  He urges the faithful never to fall to despondency when considering the path of the monastics who are the intended audience of the book, but to take courage and climb together in community.

On the Sunday of the Last Judgment, Abp. Irineos discusses the Gospel account of the Last Judgment and compares it to the conceptions of salvation prevalent in western "Christianity."  He reminds the faithful that it is impossible to separate our faith from the works of mercy, love and compassion that bear witness to the flowering of that faith.  In the judgment, the scales are not weighing out the quantity of our works to see if we meet some standard to enter heaven.  Rather, our deeds are testifying to whether or not we had faith in Christ.  The separation of works from any role in salvation is unbiblical, but it is also incredibly dangerous to the salvation of those who understand faith alone to represent a singular or assured moment of salvation.

On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Abp. Irineos looks at the parable and particularly on the beginning of the journey of repentance when the prodigal "comes to himself."  He urges the faithful to see their sins and to turn away from the so that they may run to the father who eagerly awaits their return.  Examining true repentance, he assures the faithful that God awaits our repentance and is eager to receive us, rejoicing as he did even for the prodigal son.Note from Abp. Irineos: Forgive my mispronounciation of the word metanoia.  After pronouncing it correctly last night, I was questioned about it, and did the worst thing I could: I went to the internet which gave me the wrong pronounciation.  Yiayia has thoroughly chastised me for doubting myself and listening to the computer.

On the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, Abp. Irineos examines the first virtue of the Triodion period - humility - and drawing upon St. Gregory Palamas and St. Basil the Great uses the Parable as a teaching example on how to pray and how an excess of pride can lead to prayer the condemns the one praying.  Let us cling to the example of the Publican and in his humility find the prayer that justifies!

On the Sunday after Nativity, while we bask in the joy of the Nativity, the Church appoints for our hearing the Gospel account of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents.  This outrageous act of wrath and anger moves all who hear of it to great sorrow.  It also often serves as ammunition for those who doubt God or seek to justify not following him, as they ask how a loving God can permit this kind of suffering to be inflicted on innocent children.  And, we too, whether in reading scripture or viewing current events, may struggle with the "fairness" of evil being inflicted on those who fall victim to it.  In today's homily, Abp. Irineos explains that this problem has been examined by the fathers many times, and that while the answer may not satisfy the atheist who challenges God's existence, for those of us who believe, we know where God's justice is found.

On the Greek Old Calendar Typikon, the Sundays of Luke are interrupted for the Parable of the Talents.  Looking at the Gospel reading, Abp. Irineos discusses the fathers' understanding of the situation of each of the three men who received the talents from their lord.  He urges the faithful to be diligent in multiplying their talents, to have a will to work for the glory of God, and to raise ourselves above mundane cares.

On the day we commemorate St. Catherine the Great, Abp. Irineos discusses the epistle appointed for the commemoration of righteous women.  Using the language of Paul's corrective to the Galatians, Abp. Irineos looks at the apostle's teaching from three different angles as the Epistle progresses: the law, our baptism into Christ, and fittingly for the time, the incarnation.  Given the continuing heresy of Judaizing, Abp. Irineos examines the purpose of the law before Christ and why it must be fulfilled in Christ.  Paul rebukes the Galatians who had subjected the fullness of Christ to their own obedience of the law, and he reminds them that it is Christ who has fulfilled the promise, who has made them heirs, who has made all mankind One in God, and who has been made incarnate for us and for our salvation.  They that have ears to hear, let them hear!

In today's Gospel reading for the Parable of the Rich Fool, Abp. Irineos focuses on the moral of the parable: "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."   While we can all imagine what it means to lay up treasures for ourselves, the much more difficult question is what it means to be rich toward God.  Drawing on patristic commentary, Abp. Irineos urges the faithful to struggle against the consumerism and egoism of modernity and use whatever means and power we may have to lay up treasures in heaven.

In today's Gospel account, Christ shows compassion upon the grieving widow of Nain and raises her son from his funeral bier.  In his homily, Abp. Irineos challenges the faithful to go beyond the literal account of the scripture and consider how the weeping mother stands in the stead of each of us, and how Christ's compassion extends to our tears as well.

Today's Gospel Readings included Matthew's version of the parable of the wedding feast.   Abp. Irineos draws on the patristic understanding of those who decline the invitation and then urges the faithful to be transformed in love and righteousness, so that their own wedding garment be found fitting when the king calls!

For the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, Abp. Irineos delivers a homily in Spanish and then in English on the reason why we remember the birth of the Theotokos as a great feast of the Church, and how she is truly the beginning of our salvation!

In this homily on the day of the Ecclesiastical New Year, Abp. Irineos speaks about the history of the feast and its origins.  He discusses the relationship between the Incarnation, our understanding of time, and of salvation.  May God bless the crown of the year!

The Gospel of Matthew's Parable of the Unmerciful Servant is appointed for today's Gospel.  Discussing the parable, Abp. Irineos considers the debt incurred by the unmericful servant, the purpose for which he received forgiveness of the debt, and the immensity of the penalty he suffers on revocation of the gift.  Finally, we explore the connection between the debt owed in the parable and the payment of the penalty for our sins on the Cross.

The Gospel reading of Christ walking upon the water and bidding Peter to come to him is instructive in many ways for Orthodox Christians.   Peter conquered the sea, walking upon the waters as he drew near to Christ fell prey to a far lesser threat - the wind - as his faith turned to fear and he began to sink.  Today, we Orthodox have accomplished the more difficult feat - finding Christ in His Church in a world that mocks and belittles faith and piety.  Yet, like Peter, we too remain subject to temptations and assaults of far lesser weight, as the evil one works to sink us!

On the Feast of Pentecost, Abp. Irineos looks back at Genesis and the account of the building of the tower of Babel.  In this short homily he considers the Fall and the confusion of tongues together in their contribution to the state of mankind before the Incarnation.  Expounding on the Orthodox understanding of Pentecost as the reversal of Babel, he then explains how the Incarnation, Pascha, Ascension and Pentecost work together to join a fallen and divided mankind into the unity of Christ in His Church.

On the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, Abp. Irineos looks at both the Epistle and Gospel appointed for today.  He urges the faithful to heed the warning of Paul and always be on guard for those who would pervert the faith.  He then looks at the High Priestly Prayer as both a confirmation of the Creed and a confirmation of the unity and oneness of the Church.

On this Great Feast of the Ascension of Christ, Abp. Irineos draws on the homilies of St. Leo the Great to discuss how Christ's parting from His disciples on the day of His Ascension, rather than being a time of sorrow and mourning became instead a source of great joy and strength.

On the Sunday of the Blind Man, Abp. Irineos looks to the next verse that follows the Gospel reading, where Christ, having revealed His divinity to the man born blind, declares "For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind."  Explicating Christ's meaning, Abp. Irineos then contrasts the life of an Orthodox Christian - one who is born blind but comes into the light - with those "spiritual but not religious" modernist who, like the Pharisees of old, are so beholden to their own wisdom, they fall into the darkness of their own spiritual delusion.

On the 5th Sunday of Great Lent, Abp. Irineos preaches on the Gospel for the Sunday, when James and John entreat Christ to grant them places of honor on his right and left hand.  From the Gospel lesson, Abp. Irineos expounds how Christ's words become a later proof of his voluntary passion, how the disciples and those around them failed to understand the nature of the kingdom, and how Christians to this day suffer the same passion for honors and glory that James and John were burdened with. As we approach Holy Week, let us all be mindful of the call to humility and service that Christ exemplifies and calls us to, and journey with him in his sufferings, struggles and ultimate victory over death they we might truly drink of His cup and be baptized of His baptism.

On the Sunday before Great Lent, we cover a lot of ground. We have the physical Cheesefare, as we prepare for the abstinence of the Fast.  We have the beauty of the rite of mutual forgiveness, as we cleanse ourselves or grudges and retained wrongs, while seeking forgiveness for ourselves as well.  And on this day, the Church calls to remembrance the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise.  In today's homily, Abp. Irineos discusses why the Church puts this image before us and how it is an aid to our own preparation for Great Lent.

On the Sunday of the Last Judgment, Abp. Irineos preaches on the Gospel account of the Last Judgment from Matthew.  Commenting on our modern culture with division and outrage seen as de rigueur when we encounter those who differ from us for any number of reasons, Abp. Irineos asks whether we would be able to be judged among the sheep, or would following culture leave us with no defense before the dread judgment seat.  

On the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, we enter the Triodion with a focus on humility and repentance. Humility and repentance, of course, go hand in had, as in the absence of humility, pride prevents us from making the metanoia necessary to form true repentance. The Publican and the Pharisee approached the temple to pray from two very different perspectives. The Pharisee, in his pride, saw himself through his own eyes, and liking what he saw, thanked God for who he was, condemning those that he was not. But the publican saw himself as God saw him, and sorrowing for his sins, entreated only the mercy of God. As we prepare to enter Great Lent, may God grant us to see ourselves as he sees us, and bless us with the humility of the Publican, that we might make a good repentance as we prepare to receive our risen Lord.

In discussing the geneaology of Christ, Abp. Irineos discusses how the complementary genaologies of Matthew and Luke are important to our understanding of the incarnation, and how God's uniting of divinity to humanity in the incarnation calls us to unite our humanity to his divinity in our struggle for salvation. Understanding then the place of the Church as the Body of Christ, he urges Orthodox Christians to redouble their efforts to unite themselves with Christ as participants of His grace-filled mysteries in the Church.

This Sunday, we heard the Gospel reading of the Parable of the Rich Fool. This man, who has prospered greatly in his business, has such a great harvest he vows to tear down his existing barns which are overflowing, to build even bigger ones so that he might take his rest for many years. But then he hears from the Lord, "You fool, this night thy soul be required of thee. Then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"This is yet another "harsh" parable from Luke, who has given us just recently the Rich Man and Lazarus and the Unjust Steward. And of course it is only Luke who tells of the Prodigal Son, thou reconciled in the end, he suffers much for his wasteful living. In each of the parables, the message to us is clear. None of these material things are "ours" - they are simply gifts from God. And none of it will travel with us to the next life. Let us commit ourselves to live simply with what is provided, being sure to distribute to those in need, as we are able, to minister to their needs with any excess we may be granted. As St. Basil the Great reminds us, it is in our stewardship of these perishable things, that we will be granted the heavenly rewards.

On the Sunday of Luke on which we read the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Abp. Irineos considers how this parable calls each of us to self-appraisal. The Rich Man was condemned, not for his riches, but for his vainglory and gluttony. Lazarus was saved, not for his poverty but for his humility and long-suffering. Lazarus was the rich man's opportunity for salvation, but he passed him by every day. Let us all consider who God may be placing in our path for our salvation, or whether like Lazarus, our call is to patient humility.

On the 4th Sunday of Luke, we read the Parable of the Sower. In this parable Christ both gives the parable to the listeners, but then he explains it to his disciples. In today's homily, Abp. Irineos discusses the four different types of ground discussed by Christ, and how they may present themselves today. More importantly, though he explains that the condition of the ground depends not on its location but on how it has been prepared. We as Christians are called to constantly tend and work the gardens of our hearts. that we may receive the seed of God and bring forth that perfect fruit.

Today's Gospel reading is the Parable of the Wedding Feast of the Son of the King from the Gospel of St. Matthew. In his homily, Abp. Irineos discusses the wedding garment in the parable as a gift from the king, and how that relates to the failure of the guest to wear it. Comparing this parabolical robe to our own baptismal robe, Abp. Irineos urges us to be careful not to dishonor the gift our King has given to us. In closing, he ties this parable to the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers in the opening of the Church to the Gentiles.

This week's Gospel is the parable of the Wicked Vinedressers. Abp. Irineos takes us through the explication of this reading from Blessed Theophylact and along the way poses some questions for us - asking whether not just the heterodox, but also the Orthodox, share too much in common with the evil husbandmen of the parable. Are we rejecting God's providential care for us, just as the Pharisee's rejected the many preparations God offered to the Jews?

At Great Vespers, Abp. Irineos speaks of the trials of St. Catherine of Tyre, and the successive attempts of the governors to force the martyress to sacrifice to the pagan idols. Though we may not face the pain of death or imprisonment (yet) for our beliefs, still, the world it seems is constantly urging us to pay homage to the idols of modernity and challenging us if we refuse. May the holy martyress Catherine be an example and inspiration to us all.

Today we commemorate the Holy Apostle Jude, the kinsman of the Lord. Abp. Irineos discusses the Epistle of Jude, which was read in part at the Liturgy and in full at Great Vespers, and how the Holy Apostle delivers a strident and still relevant message in an epistle composed of a mere 25 verses. Indeed, perhaps the concerns of the Apostle are even more relevant today than they were when he wrote.