The Pharisee and the Tax Collector | A sermon by Fr. Alexander Schmemann | Great Lent

About this sermon

As Great Lent approaches, we are invited to reflect on a crucial question: Is humility no longer a virtue? In a world consumed by self-promotion and pride, the Church calls us to rediscover the quiet strength of humility. In this powerful sermon, Friar Alexander Schmemann (1921–1983) explores the Gospel parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, urging us to look within: Have we mistaken pride for virtue? Have we forgotten the transformative power of repentance? More than just an ancient story, this message is a wake-up call for today. If humility is fading, what does that mean for our souls, our relationships, and our world? About Alexander Schmemann: An influential Orthodox theologian and priest, Schmemann was a leading voice in the Orthodox Church in America and dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary. His writings on liturgy reshaped Christian thought, and for 30 years, his sermons reached millions in the USSR via Radio Liberty—including listeners like Alexander Solzhenitsyn. 📖 Source: Воскресные беседы / Протопресвитер А. Шмеман. - Москва: Паломник, 1993. 🎥 Credits: https://www.vecteezy.com/free-videos/christian