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welcome… me… just the sinner… a listener, an observer, a thinker, an admirer… I am an Orthodox Catholic Christian interested in computers, electronics, automation, soccer, music, freedom, life, love, Truth, Holy Tradition, the Holy Trinity, the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, the Holy Bible/Holy Scripture, ethics, morality, philosophy, religion, spirituality, asceticism, Creation, and pro-life.

The Orthodox Church in America - Archdiocese of Canada received me into membership by Holy Chrismation by priest/monk Fr. Rev. E.A. (Simeon) Weare, ~~memory eternal~~Memory Eternal, in the parish St. Nicholas the Wonder-Maker in 1992.

—the unworthy servant and chief of sinners, th

Orthodoxy [one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church] is the true faith believed by all the Saints, everywhere, at all times.

We are Orthodox… but not Jewish… We are Evangelical… but not Protestant… We are Catholic… but not Papist… We are Pre-Denominational… but not Divided… We are the Christian Church… but not a Church… We have believed, taught, preserved, defended, and died for the Faith of the Saints… We are the HOLY ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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Favorite Quotations:

“The finest trick of the devil is to persuade you that he does not exist.” —Charles Baudelaire, Paris Spleen (Le Spleen de Paris)

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” —Edmund Burke

“I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.” —Albert Einstein

~~“People will never come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.” —Aldous Huxley~~

“When two men [in business] always agree, one of them is unnecessary.” —William Wrigley Jr., The American Magazine, 1931

“Assume the person you're listening to knows something you don't.” —Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

“I often quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation.” —George Bernard Shaw “Inequality is the price of civilization.” —George Orwell “When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king, the palace becomes a circus.” —Turkish Proverb “During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.” —George Orwell “The ~~only thing we learn~~ further a society drifts from ~~history is~~ the truth, the more it will hate those that ~~we learn nothing from history~~speak it.” ~~—Friedrich Hegel~~—George Orwell

“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.” —George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four

“The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth.” —George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four

“We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men.” —George Orwell

“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” —George Orwell

“People will never come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.” —Aldous Huxley

“The best way to keep a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never knows he's in prison.” —Fyodor Dostoyevsky

“Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself.” — Potter Stewart

“Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it.” —Mark Twain

“Where they burn books, so too will they in the end burn human beings.” —Heinrich Heine

“The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.” —Friedrich Hegel

“Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.” —Edmund Burke

“Those who forget the past, they lose an eye. Those who dwell on the past, they lose both eyes.” —Hungarian Proverb

“According to Hegel, man will be completely free only ‘by surrounding himself with a world entirely created by himself.’ But this is precisely what he has done, and man has never been so enchained, so much a slave as now.” —E. M. Cioran “Hard men make good times, good times make soft men, soft men make bad times.” —Alex Jones, Tucker on X, Ep. 46 “[Behold] I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.” —J. Robert Oppenheimer (, the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 11 verse 32 ~~of the Bhagavad Gita)~~

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” —John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

“The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false-face for the urge to rule it.” —H. L. Mencken

“An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.” —Mahatma Gandhi

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear, and the blind can see.” —Mark Twain

“There's nothing that divides nations like a common language.” —George Bernard Shaw

“Democracy is the dictatorship of the ignorant masses.” —Plato

“Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to that arrogant oligarchy who merely happen to be walking around.” —G. K. Chesterton

“That the dead are as much a part of the present as the unborn is a fundamental conservative idea.” —Armin Mohler

“Having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.” —William Wilberforce

“He who strikes terror in others is himself continually in fear.” —Claudius Claudianus

“Ignorance is the cause of fear.” —Lucius Annaeus Seneca

“Who feareth to suffer suffereth already, because he feareth.” —Michel de Montaigne

“…the brain, in and of its physical self, does not think, any more than a musical instrument can give forth melody without the touch of the musician's hand. The brain is indeed the instrument of thinking, but the mind is the skillful player that makes it give forth the beautiful harmony of thought… … It is because of the disastrous results of fear thought not only on the individual but on the nation, that it becomes the duty of every sane man and woman to establish quarantine against fear. Fear is a psychic disease which is highly contagious and extraordinarily infectious. Fear though is most dangerous when it parades as forethought. Combat fear by replacing it with faith. Resist worry with confidence.” —William Samuel Sadler (1875-1969), M.D., F.A.C.S. Director of the Chicago Institute of Research and Diagnosis

“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.” —Thomas Jefferson

“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.” —Albert Einstein

“There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” —Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

“Time is a violent torrent; no sooner is a thing brought to sight then it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.” —Marcus Aurelius

“The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.” —Marcus Aurelius

“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habbit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” —Lao Tzu

“For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else. It is about your outlook towards life. You can either regret or rejoice.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Men are, unfortunately generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children.” —William Penn

“The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any.” —Fred Astaire

“Political correctness is tyranny with manners.” —Charlton Heston

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be ‘cured’ against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.” —C. S. Lewis, God in the Dock: Essays on Theology (Making of Modern Theology)

“All tyrannies rule through fraud and force, but once the fraud is exposed they must rely exclusively on force.” —George Orwell

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.” —William Pitt the Younger

“In the time of heroes and tyrants, the true heroes are the small men.” —unknown

“Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't.” —unknown

“Don't try to do two things at once and expect to do justice to both.” —Traditional Proverb

“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years.” —Abraham Lincoln

“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” —Friedrich Nietzsche

“Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.” —John Wooden

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” —Nelson Henderson

“Birds of a feather flock together.” —English Proverb

“Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.” —William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 2, Scene 2

“You can want a women for her body, but you can only love her for her character.” —Spanish Proverb

“Silence speaks volumes.” —Traditional Proverb

“Silence is golden.” —Traditional Proverb

“Silence is the element in which great things fashion themselves together; that at length they may emerge, full-formed and majestic, into the daylight of Life, which they are thenceforth to rule.” —Thomas Carlyle

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” —Mark Twain

“It's easier to fool people then to convince them they have been fooled.” —Mark Twain

“The wise speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something.” —Plato

“We must always takes sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” —Elie Wiesel

“The reason it is difficult is that we have been conditioned to laugh at conspiracy theories, and few people will risk public ridicule by advocating them. On the other hand, to endorse the accidental view is absurd. Almost all of history is an unbroken trail of one conspiracy after another. Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception.” —G. Edward Griffin

“Facts don't care about feelings.” —Ben Shapiro

“Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say.” —Edward Snowden

“[The best solution to offensive speech is] more speech, not enforced silence.” —Louis Brandeis, US Supreme Court Justice

“I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it.” —Voltaire

“The holocaust has to be thought as a chapter in the long history of man's inhumanity to man. One cannot ignore the discrimination inflicted on many people because of race, color, or creed. One cannot ignore slavery. One cannot ignore the burning of witches. One cannot ignore the killing of Christians in the Roman period. The holocaust perhaps is the culmination of the kind of horror that can occur when man loses his integrity, his belief in the sanctity of human life.” —Dr. Randolph Braham, Holocaust Survivor

“Do not judge by appearances; a rich heart may be under a poor coat.” —Scottish Proverb

“Don't talk to me of female beauty, rather virtues of her soul. A beautiful woman who has not decorated herself with virtue is like a painted coffin.” —St. John Chrysostom

“A wife is appealing not in the beauty of her body, rather for the virtues of her soul, neither in creams and cosmetics, nor gold and expensive clothes, rather chastity, meekness, and abiding awe before God.” —St. John Chrysostom

“The beauty of woman is the greatest snare. Or rather, not the beauty of woman, but unchastened gazing! For we should not accuse the objects, but ourselves, and our own carelessness. Nor should we say, ‘Let there be no women’, but ‘Let there be no adulteries’. We should not say, ‘Let there be no beauty’, but ‘Let there be no fornication’. We should not say, ‘Let there be no belly’, but ‘Let there be no gluttony’; for the belly makes not the gluttony, but our negligence. We should not say, that it is because of eating and drinking that all these evils exist; for it is not because of this, but because of our carelessness and insatiableness. Thus the devil neither ate nor drank, and yet he fell! Paul ate and drank, and ascended up to heaven!” —St. John Chrysostom, Homily 15 on the Statues, 10

“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.” —Margaret Mead

“Better to be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie.” —Russian Proverb

~~“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act~~“Lies written in ink can never disguise facts written in blood.” ~~—George Orwell~~ ~~“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it.” —George Orwell~~—Lu Xun

“Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed.” —Friedrich Nietzsche

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” —Antoine de Saint-Exupery

“The root of all wisdom is knowing what an asshole you are.” —Tucker Carlson, Tucker on X, Ep. 46

“To err is human; to forgive, divine.” —Alexander Pope

“It is through error that man tries and rises. It is through tragedy he learns. All the roads of learning begin in darkness and go out into the light.” —Hippocrates of Kos

“When the solution is simple, God is answering.” —Albert Einstein

“There's no mask for a treacherous heart like an honest face.” —Captain Kidd (1945)

“[S]he has an honest face even if it is the result of triumph of plastic surgery.” —The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964), s2e13

“Sometimes when you're troubled and hurt, you pour yourself into things that can't hurt back.” —Gentleman's Agreement (1947)

Man never is, but always to be blest:

The soul, uneasy and confin'd from home,

Rests and expatiates in a life to come.” —Alexander Pope (, An Essay on Man, Epistle I, 1733)

“Patriotism is as fierce as a fever, pitiless as the grave, blind as a stone, and irrational as a headless hen.” —Ambrose Bierce

“They knew that the tree is known by its fruit and that injustice corrupts a tree, that its fruit withers and shrivels and falls at last to that dark ground of history where other great hopes have rotted and died, where equality and freedom remains still the only choice for wholeness and soundness in a man or in a nation.” —Gentleman's Agreement (1947)

“Freedom – truthful free speech, open discourse, and debate – is the soil for real science to emerge from which we may uncover truth to identify real problems so as to innovate real solutions for the health of our body, community and world.” —Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai

“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” —Abraham Lincoln

“Only the courteous can love, but it is love that makes them courteous.” —C. S. Lewis, The Allegory of Love

“How long is love blind? Love has eyes and sees. And if love can see, and seeing, you love anyway, that's love.” —Gertrude Berg (, The Goldbergs, s1e10, 1955)

“You never receive love until you learn how to accept it.” —Mr. Roarke (, Fantasy Island, s4e7)

“You never deny love until you learn how to reject it.” —th

“Truth can never be told so as to be understood and not be believed.” —William Blake

“The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of… We know the truth not only by the reason, but by the heart.” —Blaise Pascal

“The human heart can see what is hidden to the eyes, and the heart knows things that the mind does not begin to understand.” —They Might Be Giants (1971)

“At the center of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and by illusion, a point of pure truth, a point or spark which belongs entirely to God, which is never at our disposal, from which God disposes our lives, which is inaccessible to the fantasies of our own mind or the brutalities of our own will. This little point of nothingness and of absolute poverty is the pure glory of God in us… It is like a pure diamond, blazing with the invisible light of heaven. It is in everybody, and if we could see it we would see these billions of points of light coming together in the face and blaze of a sun that would make all the darkness and cruelty of life vanish completely…I have no program for this seeing. It is only given. But the gate of heaven is everywhere.” —Thomas Merton

“I myself am nothing; all that is good in me is accomplished by the grace of God.” —St. John of Kronstadt

“Humility collects the soul into a single point by the power of silence. A truly humble man has no desire to be known or admired by others, but wishes to plunge from himself into himself, to become nothing, as if he had never been born. When he is completely hidden to himself in himself, he is completely with God.” —St. Isaac the Syrian

“Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots.” —Frank A. Clark

“And she [Athens] has brought it about that the name "Hellenes" suggests no longer a race but an intelligence, and that the title "Hellenes" is applied rather to those who share our culture then to those who share a common blood.” —Isocrates

“Those who are able to see beyond the shadows and lies of their culture will never be understood, let alone believed by the masses.” —Plato

“He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare; and he who has one enemy will meet him everywhere.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

“What a lot of things there are a man can do without.” —Socrates

“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” —Aristotle

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” —Aristotle

“Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned,

Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.” —William Congreve (, The Mourning Bride, spoken by Zara in Act III, Scene VIII)

“Control thy passions lest they take vengeance on thee.” —Epictetus

That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him

In my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of heart,

As I do thee.” —William Shakespeare (, Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2, Page 3)

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” —C. S. Lewis

“There are more things in heaven and earth, …

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” —William Shakespeare (, Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 5, Page 8)

“A philosophical vogue is as irresistible as a gastronomic one: an idea is no better refuted than a sauce.” —E. M. Cioran

“Mankind is made of two kinds of people: wise people who know they're fools, and fools who think they are wise.” —Socrates

“I am indeed amazed when I consider how weak my mind is and how prone to error.” ~~—Descartes~~—René Descartes

“…a…transparent mind, …in no way implies clear thinking.” —Columbo (1971)

“While the admission of a design for the universe ultimately raises the question of a Designer (a subject outside of science), the scientific method does not allow us to exclude data which lead to the conclusion that the universe, life and man are based on design. To be forced to believe only one conclusion--that everything in the universe happened by chance would violate the very objectivity of science itself.” —Werner Von Braun, Ph.D., the father of the NASA space program

“With me the horrid doubt always arises whether the convictions of man's mind, which has been developed from the mind of the lower animals, are of any value or at all trustworthy.” —Charles Darwin

“Evolutionary naturalism implies that we should not take any of our convictions seriously, including the scientific world picture on which evolutionary naturalism depends.

That is, naturalism, and therefore atheism, undermines the foundations of the very rationality that is needed to construct or understand or believe in any kind of argument whatsoever, let alone a scientific one.” —Thomas Nagel, Mind and Cosmos

“Supposing there was no intelligence behind the universe, no creative mind. In that case, nobody designed my brain for the purpose of thinking. It is merely that when the atoms inside my skull happen, for physical or chemical reasons, to arrange themselves in a certain way, this gives me, as a by-product, the sensation I call thought. But, if so, how can I trust my own thinking to be true? It's like upsetting a milk jug and hoping that the way it splashes itself will give you a map of London. But if I can't trust my own thinking, of course I can't trust the arguments leading to Atheism, and therefore have no reason to be an Atheist, or anything else. Unless I believe in God, I cannot believe in thought: so I can never use thought to disbelieve in God.” —C. S. Lewis

“Do not say, ‘this happened by chance, while this came to be of itself.’ In all that exists there is nothing disorderly, nothing indefinite, nothing without purpose, nothing by chance… … How many hairs are on your head? God will not forget one of them. Do you see how nothing, even the smallest thing, escapes the gaze of God?” —St. Basil the Great

“There are no coincidences in life. All things are providential. They are allowed for our salvation, in correspondence with our inner state and needs.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina

“Relativity applies to physics, not ethics.” —Albert Einstein

“When people stop believing in God, they don’t believe in nothing – they believe in anything.” —G. K. Chesterton

“Those who stand for nothing, fall for everything.” —Alexander Hamilton

“Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.” —Rick Warren

“Evil preaches tolerance until it is dominant, then it tries to silence good.” —Charles J. Chaput “If everyone has his own truth, where is falsehood? Falsehood hides behind the guise of truth. They say to us: Every person has his own truth, we should respect ~~everyone’s~~ everyone's opinion and have no right to express any opposition to his error because that would be ‘intolerant’. Then where is Truth? Have we erased it? God is absolute Truth.” —Archbishop Stephan (Kalaidjishvili) of Tsageri and Lentekhi, Georgia “Tolerance of falsehood is intolerance to Truth.” —th “Orthodox Christianity is not true because I believe It, I believe It because It is Truth.” —th

“Faithful copies of a counterfeit original yield only more counterfeits.” —unknown

“Seeing, contrary to popular wisdom, isn't believing. It's where belief stops, because it isn't needed any more.” —Terry Pratchett

“To trust God in the light is nothing, but to trust Him in the dark – that is faith.” —Charles Spurgeon

“Faith is not the clinging to a shrine but an endless pilgrimage of the heart.” —Abraham Joshua Heschel

“For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.” —Malachi 1:11

“God tends the pagans too, but the Christian knows the donor.” —St. Tikhon of Voronezh

“We do not worship a created thing, but the Master of created things, the Word of God made flesh. Although the flesh itself, considered separately, is a part of created things, yet it has become the body of God. We do not worship this body after having separated it from the Word. Likewise, we do not separate the Word from the body when we wish to worship Him. But knowing that ‘the Word was made flesh,’ we recognise the Word existing in the flesh as God.” —St. Athanasius the Great, Ep. ad Adelph., par. 3

“Take, in the next place, the subjection by which you subject the Son to the Father. What, you say, is He not now subject, or must He, if He is God, be subject to God? You are fashioning your argument as if it concerned some robber, or some hostile deity. But look at it in this manner: that as for my sake He was called a curse, who destroyed my curse; and sin, who taketh away the sin of the world; and became a new Adam to take the place of the old, just so He makes my disobedience His own as Head of the whole body.

“The Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father, whilst the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and resteth in the Son. But at the same time each Person has Its own particular properties: God the Father is not begotten, not created, does not proceed; the Son is begotten; the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father, whilst the substance of the three Persons is one, a Divine, incomplex substance. This similarity is based upon the words of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who calls Himself the Light of the world, and thus speaks of the Holy Ghost, comparing It in Its actions to the element water: ‘He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive.’ 415 He also compared the Holy Ghost to the air or wind: ‘The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.’” —St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ

“For the Father only is Unbegotten, the Son only is Begotten, and the Holy Ghost from Father Proceeding, Co-eternal to the Father and the Son, for there is One Work, and there is One Operation of the Will in the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. The Father Unbegotten, the Son Begotten, and the Holy Ghost from the Father Proceeding, Co-Eternal to the Father and Son; but That One [i.e. the Son] is Born, yet This One [i.e. the Holy Ghost] Proceeds, just as in the Gospel of Blessed John ye read: ‘The Spirit, Who Proceeds from the Father, He shall announce all things to you.’ Therefore the Holy Ghost is neither to be the Father Unbegotten, nor held to be the Son Begotten; but the Holy Ghost, Who from the Father Proceeds.” —St. Mochta of Ireland, "Profession of Faith" of St. Mochta ~~[+535AD]~~

“For when we mention the Omnipotent Father, the appelation of this Fatherly Name is directed to the Person of the Son, and when we mention the Eternal Son, He is referred to the Person of the Eternal Father; and when we name the Holy Ghost we demonstrate Him to Proceed from the Person of the Eternal Father.” —St. Mansuetus, Letter of St. Mansuetus (Archbishop of Milan) at 679 Synod of Milan to Emperor Constantine IV ~~[+685AD]~~

“This I give you to share, and to defend all your life, the one Godhead and power, found in the three in unit, and comprising the three separately; not unequal, in substances or natures, neither increased nor diminished by superiorities nor inferiorities; in every respect equal, in every respect the same; just as the beauty and the greatness of the heavens is one; the infinite conjunction of three infinite ones, each God when considered in himself; as the Father, so the Son; as the Son, so the Holy Spirit; the three one God when contemplated together; each God because consubstantial; one God because of the monarchia. No sooner do I conceive of the one than I am illumined by the splendor of the three; no sooner do I distinguish them than I am carried back to the one. When I think of anyone of the three I think of him as the whole, and my eyes are filled, and the greater part of what I am thinking escapes me. I cannot grasp the greatness of that one so as to attribute a greater greatness to the rest. When I contemplate the three together, I see but one torch, and cannot divide or measure out the undivided light.” —St. Gregory the Theologian, Orations 40.41, as quoted by Robert Letham, The Holy Trinity, 378

“God – who is truly none of the things that exist, and who, properly speaking, is all things, and at the same time beyond them – is present in the logos of each thing in itself, and in all the logoi together, according to which all things exist… God is whole in all things commonly, and in each being particularly, without separation or being subject to division…but on the contrary is truly all things in all, never going out of His own indivisible simplicity.” —St. Maximus the Confessor

“Perhaps you will say: ‘Then tell me, did the virgin become the mother of the Godhead?’ And to this we reply: There can be no doubt that the living and enhypostatic Word was begotten from Originator the very essence of God his Father, and has his existence without beginning in time, eternally co-existing with his Begetter. He is conceived of as existing in him and with him, but in these last times of the age since he became flesh, that is was united to flesh endowed with a rational soul, he is also said to have been born of a woman in a fleshly manner. This mystery concerning him is in some ways like the mystery of our own birth, for earthly mothers, assisting nature as regards the birth, have the embryonic flesh in their wombs, which in a short time by certain ineffable workings of God, increases and is perfected into the human form. Then God introduces the spirit to this living creature in a manner known to him alone; for ‘he fashions the spirit of a man within him’ (Zech.12.1), as the prophet says. Nonetheless, the Word is different to the flesh, and equally different to the soul. But even if these mothers have produced only the earthly bodies, nonetheless they are said to have given birth to the whole living creature, I mean that of soul and body, and not to have given birth to just a part. To take an example, surely no one would say that Elizabeth was only the mother of the flesh, but not the mother of the soul, since she gave birth to the Baptist who was already endowed with a soul? Surely she is the mother of one thing constituted from both realities; that is a man, of soul and body. We take it, then, that something like this happened in the birth of Emmanuel.” —St. Cyril of Alexandria, the chief opponent of Nestorianism, Saint Cyril of Alexandria and the Christological Controversy

“The power to bear Mysteries, which the humble man has received, which makes him perfect in every virtue without toil, this is the very power which the blessed apostles received in the form of fire. For its sake the Saviour commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until they should receive power from on high, that is to say, the Paraclete, which, being interpreted, is the Spirit of consolation. And this is the Spirit of divine visions. Concerning this it is said in divine Scripture: ‘Mysteries are revealed to the humble’ (Ecclus 3:19). The humble are accounted worthy of receiving in themselves this Spirit of revelations Who teaches mysteries.” —St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 77

“We, therefore, so long as we are beset by the corruptions of the flesh, in no wise behold the brightness of the Divine Power, as it abides unchangeable in itself, in that the eye of our weakness cannot endure that which shines above us with intolerable lustre from the ray of His Eternal Being. And so when the Almighty shews Himself to us by the chinks of contemplation, He does not speak to us, but whispers, in that though He does not fully develope Himself, yet something of Himself He does reveal to the mind of man. But then He no longer whispers at all, but speaks, when His appearance is manifested to us in certainty. It is hence that Truth saith in the Gospel, ‘I shall shew you plainly of the Father’ (John 16, 25). Hence John saith, ‘For we shall see Him as He is’ (1 John 3, 2). Hence Paul saith, ‘Then shall I know even as also I am known’ (1 Cor. 13, 12). Now in this present time, the Divine whispering has as many veins for our ears as the works of creation, which the Divine Being Himself is Lord of; for while we view all things that are created, we are lifted up in admiration of the Creator. For as water that flows in a slender stream is sought by being bored for through veins, with a view to increase it, and as it pours forth the more copiously, in proportion as it finds the veins more open, so we, whilst we heedfully gather the knowledge of the Divine Being from the contemplation of His creation, as it were open to ourselves the ‘veins of His whispering’, in that by the things that we see have been made, we are led to marvel at the excellency of the Maker, and by the objects that are in public view, that issues forth to us, which is hidden in concealment. For He bursts out to us in a kind of sound as it were, whilst He displays His works to be considered by us, wherein He betokens Himself in a measure, in that He shews how Incomprehensible He is. Therefore, because we cannot take thought of Him as He deserves, we hear not His voice, yea, scarcely His whispering. For because we are not equal to form a full and perfect estimate of the very things that are created, it is rightly said, Mine ear as it were by stealth received the veins of whispering; in that being cast forth from the delights of paradise, and visited with the punishment of blindness, we scarcely take in ‘the veins of whispering’; since His very marvellous works themselves we consider but hastily and slightly. But we must bear in mind, that in proportion as the soul being lifted up contemplates His Excellency, so being held back it shrinks from His Righteous Perfectness.” —St. Gregory the Great (Gregory the Dialogist), Book V, Sec. 52, Morals on the Book of Job

“‘And my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him’ (John 14:23). My friends, consider the greatness of this solemn feast that commemorates God's coming as a guest into our hearts! If some rich and influential friend were to come to your home, you would promptly put it all in order for fear something there might offend your friend's eyes when he came in. Let all of us then who are preparing our inner homes for God cleanse them of anything our wrongdoing has brought into them.” —St. Gregory the Great, on Pentecost in Be Friends of God

The three persons of the Holy Trinity constitute the eternal Church.” —St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia, Wounded by Love

~~“In~~ “Christ, invisible to the ~~history of~~ bodily eye, manifests Himself on earth clearly through His Church … The Church is the ~~human race there have been three principal falls: that~~ Body of ~~Adam, that of Judas,~~ Christ both because its parts are united to Christ through His divine mysteries and ~~that of~~ because through her Christ works in the ~~pope~~world.” —St. ~~Justin Popovich~~John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco

~~“But~~ “How does the ~~Church~~ Liturgy begin? ‘Blessed is the kingdom of ~~God is not subject to a wicked pope; nor even absolutely~~the Father, and ~~on all occasions~~of the Son, ~~to a good one~~and of the Holy Spirit.~~” —Archbishop Arnulf~~ Amen.’ …What is this kingdom, which is blessed, glorified, honored…? It is the kingdom of ~~Orléans~~heaven, ~~Synod~~ the kingdom of ~~Verzy~~God. It is paradise, ~~991~~in which Christ has placed us; it is our holy Church. Its king is the God of three suns: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

~~“They [Rome] do not know~~ The servants of the king are the angels and archangels, along with the thrones, principalities, authorities, dominions, powers, the many-eyed cherubim, and ~~do not wish~~ the six-winged seraphim. The king's generals are the saints. Our Lady the Theotokos is the queen. The faithful soldiers of this kingdom are all those Christians who are ready to ~~know~~ follow Christ, whatever the ~~truth~~cost; ~~they argue with~~ all those who ~~proclaim the truth~~ are ready to ~~them~~bear His honorable Name, ~~and assert their heresy~~all those who make up His Church.~~” —St. Basil~~ All of them… are with us during the ~~Great, letter to Eusebius~~ celebration of ~~Samosata~~the Liturgy…

~~“When we Greeks find fault~~ During the celebration of the Liturgy, Christ is with us exactly as he was when he was teaching, when he made the lame leap and walk, the ~~filioque~~blind see, ~~they shake Peter's keys at us… … Nevertheless differences of custom~~ and ~~usage are no sufficient ground for schism~~the dead return to life. ~~Experience shows that arguing about azyma~~ And this is not simply having the memory of Christ within our thoughts, but having Christ Himself truly and ~~Lenten fasts gets nowhere~~concretely present before us. ~~The Greeks should be accommodating and make concessions to~~ He is present – He, the teacher, the ~~ignorant western barbarians~~prophet, ~~hoping that in time they will correct their errors to conform to~~ the ~~apostolic tradition stemming from Jerusalem~~miracle-worker.~~” —Blessed Theophylact of Ochrid~~Christ Who was crucified, ~~The Errors of~~ Who was raised from the ~~Latins in Ecclesiastical Matters~~dead, Who ascended into heaven, is now before us! …

~~“Even if~~ The priest turns his eyes to heaven, and calls the ~~whole universe holds communion with~~ things of heaven down to earth. He commands the ~~[heretical] patriarch~~cherubim, ~~I will not communicate with him. For I know from~~ the ~~writings of~~ seraphim, even the ~~holy Apostle Paul:~~ Holy Trinity, because God gives the ~~Holy Spirit declares that even~~ priest the ~~angels would be anathema if they should begin~~ power to ~~preach another Gospel~~have rights over Jesus Christ. Because He is not visibly present, ~~introducing some new teaching~~Christ delegates His work to His priests.~~” —St. Maximus~~ And when the priest is in the ~~Confessor~~sanctuary, ~~The Life~~ he is beyond every earthly ruler, for he does not govern men, but rather the choirs of ~~St. Maximus~~ saints and the ~~Confessor~~armies of angels…

~~“Those~~ …Saint Gregory Palamas said that the church ‘resides on high, being an angelic and transcendent place’ which ‘raises man to heaven and presents him to the God who ~~do not belong to~~ is above all’ …When we enter church… we are traversing the ~~Truth do not belong~~ distance from earth to heaven. We pass beyond the ~~Church of Christ either; and all~~ stars, we leave the ~~more so, if they speak falsely of themselves by calling themselves, or calling each other~~angels below us, ~~holy pastors~~ and ~~hierarchs; [for it has been instilled in us that] Christianity is characterized not by persons, but by~~ we rise up to the ~~truth and exactitude~~ heights of ~~Faith~~the Holy Trinity.~~” —St. Gregory Palamas~~

~~“Chrysostomos loudly declares not only heretics~~Don't think that when we go to church, we are simply entering and exiting an ordinary building. Instead, we go up to, and make our entrance into, the Holy of Holies, into the heavens themselves… we sinners open the doors of heaven and enter! Although we are sinners, when we enter into the Liturgy, ~~but also those who~~ we go up to the heavenly Jerusalem… So we have ~~communion with them,~~ come to ~~be enemies~~ the church… Let nothing disturb the tranquility of your soul. Godis present.Wherever we look, God is before us!” ~~—St~~—Archimandrite Aimilianos, The Church at Prayer, pp. ~~Theodore the Studite~~54, 56-57, 69, ~~Epistle of Abbot Theophilus~~71-72.

~~“Some have suffered final shipwreck with regard~~ “Whosoever should ever call himself a bishop over all bishops or a universal bishop shall be the forerunner to the ~~faith. Others, though they have not drowned in their thoughts, are nevertheless perishing through communion with heresy~~Antichrist.” ~~—St~~—Pope St. ~~Theodore~~ Gregory (I) the ~~Studite~~Great (Gregory the Dialogist), Forty Gospel Homilies

~~“Guard yourselves from soul-destroying heresy~~“And so I, ~~communion with which is alienation from~~ by the will of God Allmighty the Bishop of Rome, am the Universal Bishop, the Bishop over Bishops, the only Vicar of Christon Earth.” ~~—St. Theodore the Studite~~—Pope Gregory VII, Dictatus Papae

~~“It~~ “We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is ~~better to have discord~~ absolutely necessary for ~~piety’s sake, than harmony full~~ the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the ~~passions~~Roman Pontiff.” ~~—St. Gregory the Theologian, Oration 6, PG 35~~—Pope Boniface VIII, ~~736~~Bull Unam Sanctam

~~“All~~ “Even if the ~~teachers of the Church~~Pope were Satan incarnate, ~~and all the Councils~~we ought not to raise up our heads against him, ~~and all the Divine Scriptures advise us~~ but calmly lie down to ~~flee from the heterodox and separate from their communion.” —St~~rest on his bosom. ~~Mark of Ephesus~~

~~“‘But if~~He who rebels against our Father is condemned to death,~~’ they say, ‘we had devised some middle ground between the dogmas (of the Papists and the Orthodox), then thanks~~ for that which we do to ~~this~~ him we ~~would have united with them and accomplished our business superbly, without at all having been forced~~ do to ~~say anything except what corresponds to custom and has been handed down (by~~ Christ: we honor Christ if we honor the ~~Fathers).’ This is precisely the means by which many, from of old, have been deceived and persuaded to follow those who have led them off the steep precipice of impiety~~Pope; ~~believing that there is some middle ground between~~ we dishonor Christ if we dishonor the ~~two teachings that can reconcile obvious contradictions, they have been exposed to peril.” —St~~Pope. ~~Mark of Ephesus, Encyclical Letter, Orthodox Word, March-April-May, 1967~~

~~“Whoever preserves himself from them (~~I know very well that many defend themselves by boasting: ‘They are so corrupt, and work all manner of evil!’ But God has commanded that, even if the priests, the ~~Latins)~~ pastors, and Christ-on-earth were incarnate devils, we be obedient and ~~keeps his faith pure will stand rejoicing at~~ subject to them, not for their sakes, but for the ~~right hand~~ sake of God, ~~but whoever willfully draws close~~ and out of obedience to ~~them will stand weeping bitterly with them on the left~~Him.” —Catherine of Siena, ‘St. ~~For there is no eternal life for those living in the faith~~ Catherine of Siena’, SCS, pp. 201-202, p. 222 (‘Canonized’ by the ~~Latins or the Saracens…~~RC ‘Church’ in 1461)

~~If someone says to you~~“In the history of the human race there have been three principal falls: ~~‘Both your and our faith are from God’~~that of Adam, ~~you child, must reply to him as follows: ‘Who are you, you heretic? Do you think~~ that ~~God has two faiths? Have you not heard~~of Judas, ~~accursed~~ and ~~perverted as you are by an evil faith~~ that ~~which is written: Thus saith~~ of the ~~Lord: one Lord, one faith, one baptism…’~~pope.” —St. Justin Popovich

~~Thus they~~ “But the Church of ~~evil faith, after holding~~ God is not subject to ~~the Orthodox faith for so many years~~a wicked pope; nor even absolutely, ~~have turned away to an evil faith~~ and on all occasions, to ~~Satan's teaching…~~a good one.” —Archbishop Arnulf of Orléans, Synod of Verzy, 991

~~They have renounced the preaching of the apostles~~ “They [Rome] do not know and do not wish to know the ~~edification of~~ truth; they argue with those who proclaim the ~~holy fathers~~truth to them, and ~~have accepted a faith based on error and a perverted dogma leading to perdition~~assert their heresy. ~~Therefore, they have been torn away from us and set apart…”~~ ” —St. ~~Theodosius~~ Basil the Great, letter to Eusebius of ~~Kiev, 11th century~~Samosata

“That only the canonical Scriptures have infallibility is testified by Blessed Augustine in the words which he writes to Jerome: ‘It is fitting to bestow such honour and veneration only to the books of Scripture which are called 'canonical,' for I absolutely believe that none of the authors who wrote them erred in anything. … As for other writings, no matter how great was the excellence of their authors in sanctity and learning, in reading them I do not accept their teaching as true solely on the basis that they thus wrote and thought.’ Then, in a letter to Fortunatus “The Greeks [~~St. Mark continues in his citations of Augustine~~Orthodox] ~~he writes the following: ‘We should~~ … are not ~~hold~~ heretics or schismatics but the ~~judgment of a man, even though this man might have been orthodox~~ most Christian people and ~~had an high reputation, as~~ the ~~same kind~~ best followers of ~~authority as~~ the ~~canonical Scriptures~~gospel on earth.” —Martin Luther, ~~to the extent of considering it inadmissible for us~~Luther, ~~out of the reverence we owe such men~~Martin (1999), ~~to disapprove and reject something in their writing if we should happen to discover that they taught other than the truth which, with God~~Luther's ~~help~~Works, ~~has been attained by others or by ourselves~~Vol. ~~This is how I am with regard to the writings~~ 32: Career of ~~other men; and I desire that~~ the ~~reader will act thus with regard to my writings also~~Reformer II, J.~~’” —St~~J. ~~Mark of Ephesus~~Pelikan, ~~Second Homily on Purgatorial Fire~~H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, ~~chs~~Ed. ~~15-16; Pogodin~~, ~~pp. 127-132~~59, Philadelphia: Fortress Press

~~“The Ecumenism is a huge lie; they speak in the name of a love outside of Christ, which excludes you from the Truth. If the Ecumenists really loved~~ “When we Greeks find fault with the ~~world~~filioque, they ~~would not disown the truth~~ shake Peter's keys at us… … Nevertheless differences of ~~the value~~ custom and ~~the spiritual richness of Church Tradition and of the Holy Fathers~~usage are no sufficient ground for schism. They disown Christianity from the gracious beauty. God has left from them, what remains is only their ego. No, we don’t need You. We lead the world, we rule the world, we give the bread, we give the happiness on this earth. Jesus must be arrested again not to disturb our march. Eliminating God from the world Experience shows that arguing about azyma and ~~of the soul in any way – this is the goal of the Ecumenism also repelled by Saint Justin Popovich~~Lenten fasts gets nowhere. The ~~Ecumenism~~ Greeks should be accommodating and ~~the globalization are at the forefront of the apocalyptic times. They want~~ make concessions to ~~accustom the eye and the spirit of the Orthodox with~~ the ~~habit to serve together with these heretics~~ignorant western barbarians, ~~until~~ hoping that in time they ~~get to have Communion from the same chalice. Because this could give them the right to build~~ will correct their ~~own churches. But no, they want strategically~~ errors to ~~compromise the shrines and the faint hearted priests who are quick~~ conform to ~~“obedience”. The Ecumenists have~~ the ~~false impression that they will bring something new in the Church of Christ. Let us not forget that the Church is the body whose head is Christ. You can not break it~~ apostolic tradition stemming from ~~Christ Who is the Path, the Truth and the Life~~Jerusalem. The Ecumenists will not fulfill anything. You can not change the reality according to the human interests. The divine reality remains the same in every age. The Holy Spirit speaks through the mouths of the bearers ” —Blessed Theophylact of ~~God~~Ochrid, ~~not of the bearers of human interests.~~ The Christian Church has never gone after the crowd; not the many lead or hold the truth, but the few, chosen, as the carriers of the Holy Spirit. We do work only under this Father’s truth, the Gospel of our Lord and the Orthodox Church Tradition. All this falsehood which has appeared in our world has no other purpose than to embarrass and undermine the whole tradition and the beliefs of a nation. Questions are not posed and answers are not given, and people take for granted everything that has been written at the official level. But, by not solving these dogmatic problems the untruth slowly settles in our Orthodox Christian Church. All the Ecumenical attempts Errors of ~~unifying the other Christian communities found in heresy,~~ the ~~dialogues which have developed~~ Latins in our Orthodox Christian Church, since I know, haven’t got any result because they have false basis, they are untrue and do nothing but disturb the authentic Christian life.” —Elder Justin (Pârvu) of Romania, Din învățăturile și minunile Părintelui JustinEcclesiastical Matters

~~“In our evil time~~“For Petra (Rock) is not derived from Peter, ~~when the servants of the coming Antichrist are putting forth all their efforts so~~ but Peter from Petra; just as ~~to undermine and replace authentic Orthodoxy with a false ‘Orthodoxy’ - an Orthodoxy only in name, there have appeared~~ Christ is not ~~a few ‘pastors’ also who bear only~~ called so from the ~~name of Orthodox~~ Christian, but ~~deny~~ the ~~authentic power and spirit of true Orthodoxy~~Christian from Christ. ~~Precisely such false pastors filled up~~ For on this very account the ~~ranks~~ Lord said, ‘On this Rock will I build my Church,’ because Peter had said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ On this Rock, therefore, He said, which thou hast confessed, I will build my Church. For the Rock (~~Soviet~~Petra) ~~‘Living Church’~~ was Christ; and ~~the ‘Renovationist Church’ clergy in our Russia~~on this Foundation was Peter himself also built. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus.” —St.Augustine of Hippo, Tractate, CXXIV

~~But~~ “There is nothing more serious than the ‘Living Church’ and ‘Renovationalism’ were not recognized by the believing Russian people, who felt in their hearts their whole falsity; and they brilliantly collapsed on the Russian soil, ceasing their official existence. However, the spirit of the ‘Living Church’ and ‘Renovationalism’ has not died, but has continued and up until now continues to live among us also in the Russian homeland, which has been enslaved by the godless, and also abroad among all the Orthodox Local Churches who have become infected with this~~pestilential spirit, not without,~~ sacrilege of ~~course,~~ schism because there is no just cause for severing the ~~most strenuous cooperation of those same servants~~ unity of the ~~coming Antichrist~~Church.” —St. Augustine of Hippo

~~These pseudo-pastors~~“Do not fear sorrows, ~~modernists and ecumenists, in place~~ but fear the stubbornness of ~~true Orthodoxy, preach and insistently propagandize~~ heretics who try to separate a ~~false Orthodoxy~~man from Christ, ~~flattering all the sinful passions and vices of fallen man - striving in everything~~ which is why Christ commanded us to ~~go in step with the times~~ consider them as pagans and ~~to adapt the Christian to the ‘world which lies in evil,’ under all possible cunning and well sounding pretexts~~pharisees. ~~Everywhere now they are seizing the reigns of government in the contemporary Orthodox Local Churches~~” —St. ~~They are striving to play everywhere the leading guiding role, and often they have success, for they skillfully and cunningly make themselves seem to be zealots~~ Anatoly of ~~Orthodoxy.~~Optina

~~But their actual aim~~ “This is ~~to undermine true Orthodoxy by a false ‘Orthodoxy,’ in order to make it come about, in~~ how you have union with the ~~expression of Christ the Savior, ‘that the salt has lost its savor’ (Matthew 5~~Roman Catholics and Protestants:~~13), that it might lose its saltiness - that it might lose its spirit and power~~you baptize them. ~~This is a special kind~~ ” —Bishop Luke of ~~battle against the Church!~~Syracuse

~~Behold of what a frightful undertaking (of which) we are~~ “…anyone joining the Church ought to become renewed [by baptism], in order that within, through the ~~living~~ holy elements, he become sanctified… There being but one baptism, and ~~immediate witnesses! By all means~~ there being but one Holy Spirit, there is also but one Church, founded by Christ our Lord… And for this reason whatever they [heterodox] do is false and empty and vain, everything being ~~conducted in~~ counterfeit and unauthorized… And to those who from error and crookedness come for knowledge of the ~~world a frightful battle against~~ true and ecclesiastic faith we ought to give freely the ~~Faith~~ mystery of ~~Christ~~divine power, ~~by a path~~ of ~~falsification~~ unity as well as of faith, and ~~imitations!~~of truth.” —St. Cyprian of Carthage, Third Holy Council held under St. Cyprian of Carthage, On the Reception of the Heterodox, p. 81

…“Holy priests, you must have large baptismal fonts in your churches so that the entire child can be immersed. The child should be able to swim in it so that not even an area as large as a tick's eye remains dry. Because it is from there (~~this~~the dry area) ~~truly most frightful~~ that the devil advances, and ~~nightmarish phenomenon (~~this is~~) something more frightful than open atheism and warfare against God~~why your children become epileptics, are possessed by demons, have fear, suffer misfortune; they haven't been baptized properly.” —St. Kosmas Aitolos, ~~(for it) threatens to destroy our holy Orthodoxy from~~ On the Reception of the ~~root~~Heterodox, ~~having corrupted it from within…” —Vladyka Averky of Jordanville~~p. 49

~~“Being born, then, of~~ “One Baptism has been handed down to us Orthodox Christians (Ephesians 4:4) by our Lord as well as by the divine Apostles and the holy Fathers; because the ~~light of truth, shun division~~ Cross and ~~bad doctrines. Where~~ the ~~shepherd is, there you, being sheep, must follow. For many wolves there are, apparently worthy~~ Death of ~~confidence~~the Lord, ~~who with~~ in the ~~bait~~ type or similitude of ~~baneful pleasure seek to capture the runners in God's race;~~ which baptism is celebrated, were but ~~if you stand united they will have no success…” —St~~one. ~~Ignatius of Antioch~~

~~“We~~ For this reason the present Apostolic Canon prescribes that any Bishop or Priest will be deposed should he baptize a second time anew and beginning all ~~want God to give unity of faith to the world. But you are confusing things~~over again someone who has been truly baptize as though he were dealing with one utterly unbaptized.

~~The reconciliation~~ This is in accordance with the order given by the Lord and which was spoken of ~~people~~ by the Apostles and divine Fathers. He shall be deposed if he rebaptizes someone who has been baptized in the very same manner as Orthodox Christians, because with this second baptism he is ~~one thing, while~~ re-crucifying and publicly ridiculing the ~~reconciliation~~ Son of ~~religions~~ God, which St. Paul says is impossible, and he is ~~another. Christianity requires all of us~~ offering a second death to ~~love everyone with all our hearts~~the Lord, over whom death no longer has dominion (Hebrews 6:4; Romans 6:5), ~~whatever faith they may have~~according to the same St. Paul.

At Likewise in the ~~same time we are ordered~~ event that any Bishop or Priest should refuse to ~~keep our faith and doctrines intact~~baptize with the regular Orthodox baptism of the Catholic Church one who has been polluted, that is a person who has been baptized by the impious, or in plain language, baptized by heretics. ~~As Christians you must~~ Such a Bishop is to be ~~merciful to~~ deposed, since he is mocking the Cross and death of the ~~whole world, to all people~~Lord. ~~Even your life you should give on their behalf~~” —St.Nikodemos the Hagiorite

~~But you have~~ “This food is called among us the Eucharist, of which no ~~right~~ one is allowed to ~~touch~~ partake but the ~~truths of Christ. Because they~~ one who believes that the things we teach are ~~not yours. The faith~~ true, and who has been washed with baptism for the forgiveness of ~~Christ~~ sins, and who is ~~not our property to do with it~~ living his life as ~~we wish~~Christ has commanded.” —St. ~~Nikolai Velimirovich~~Justin the Martyr

~~“We do not change~~ “Even if the ~~boundaries marked out by our Fathers. We keep~~ whole universe holds communion with the ~~Tradition we have received~~[heretical] patriarch, I will not communicate with him. ~~If we begin to lay down~~ For I know from the ~~Law~~ writings of the ~~Church~~ holy Apostle Paul: the Holy Spirit declares that even in the ~~smallest things~~angels would be anathema if they should begin to preach another Gospel, ~~the whole edifice will fall to the ground in no short time~~introducing some new teaching.” —St. ~~John~~ Maximus the Confessor, The Life of ~~Damascus~~St. Maximus the Confessor

~~“Finally, in~~ “Those who do not belong to the ~~twilight of history,~~ Truth do not belong to the ~~dictator~~ Church of Christ either; and all the ~~world will come~~more so, ~~the son~~ if they speak falsely of ~~perdition… whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth (2 Thess. 2:8). And~~ themselves by calling themselves, or calling each other, holy pastors and hierarchs; [for it has been instilled in ~~all~~ us that ~~time of peace~~] Christianity is characterized not by persons, ~~happiness~~ but by the truth and ~~prosperity, there ‘will be great tribulation such as was not from the beginning of the world, nor will ever be after’ (Mat. 24:21). Because~~ exactitude of ~~these troubles, many will repent and turn to God the Saviour~~Faith. ~~And in them the Lord will have His last harvest~~” —St.Gregory Palamas

~~The countries~~ “Faith is the unreserved acceptance of divine revelation and the ~~world will lead~~ full conviction that all things preached by the ~~fight against Christ and His Church… The Church~~ grace of ~~Christ will be put outside~~ God constitute the ~~law, and public commemoration of Christ's name will be proscribed with severe penalties~~only truth. ~~But only those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved~~” —St. ~~And~~ Basil the ~~Son of Man~~Great, On Faith, ~~when He suddenly comes and destroys the ‘son of perdition’ [i~~PG 31.e677D-680A. ~~Antichrist], that last tyrant, will He find faith on the earth?~~

~~It will be found, but~~ “Chrysostomos loudly declares not ~~in public. It will be found~~only heretics, but ~~not in magnificent temples, such as are present, but in the caves and deserts. It will be found, but not as approved and protected~~also those who have communion with them, ~~but as something tossed~~ to ~~and fro. It will~~ be ~~found, but not in lavish liturgies and psalmody but in the temples~~ enemies of ~~the human heart and in whispered speakings. For the Church began in Martyrdom, and in the end there She will find Martyrdom, O holy brethren~~God.” —St. ~~Nikolai Velimirovich~~Theodore the Studite, ~~The Orthodox Church in the "twilight~~ Epistle of ~~history"~~Abbot Theophilus

~~“So mine is a little flock? But it is not being carried over a precipice~~“Some have suffered final shipwreck with regard to the faith. ~~So mine is a narrow fold? But it is unapproachable by wolves; it cannot be entered by a robber, nor overcome by thieves and strangers. I shall yet see it, I know well~~Others, ~~grow wider… I fear not for the little flock; for it is seen at a glance. I know my sheep and am known of mine. Such are~~ though they ~~that know God and are known of God. My sheep hear from my voice that which I~~ have ~~heard from the oracles of God, which I have been taught by the Holy Fathers, which I have taught in like manner on all occasions,~~ not ~~conforming myself to fashion, and which I will never cease to teach;~~ drowned in ~~which I was born~~their thoughts, ~~and in which I will depart~~are nevertheless perishing through communion with heresy.” —St. ~~Gregory~~ Theodore the ~~Theologian~~Studite

“Concerning the Patriarch I shall say this, lest it should perhaps occur to him to show me a certain respect at the burial of this my humble body, or to send to my grave any of his hierarchs or clergy or in general any of those in communion with him in order to take part in prayer or to join the priests invited to it “Guard yourselves from amongst us, thinking that at some time, or perhaps secretly, I had allowed communion with him. And lest my silence give occasion to those who do not know my views well and fully to suspect some kind of conciliation, I hereby state and testify before the many worthy men here present that I do not desiresoul-destroying heresy, ~~in any manner and absolutely, and do not accept~~ communion with ~~him or with those who are with him, not in this life nor after my death, just as (I accept) neither the Union nor Latin dogmas, which he and his adherents have accepted, and for the enforcement of~~ which he has occupied this presiding place, with the aim of overturning the true dogmas of the Church. I am absolutely convinced that the farther I stand from him and those like him, the nearer I am to God and all the saints, and to the degree that I separate myself from them am in union with the Truth and with the Holy Fathers, the Theologians of the Church; and I am likewise convinced that those who count themselves with them stand far away from the Truth and is alienation from the blessed Teachers of the Church. And for this reason I say: just as in the course of my whole life I was separated from them, so at the time of my departure, yea and after my death, I turn away from intercourse and communion with them and vow and command that none (of them) shall approach either my burial or my grave, and likewise anyone else from our side, with the aim of attempting to join and concelebrate in our Divine services; for this would be to mix what cannot be mixed. But it befits them to be absolutely separated from us until such time as God shall grant correction and peace to His ChurchChrist.” —St. ~~Mark of Ephesus, The Example of, [as quoted in The Orthodox Word, June-July, 1967, pp. 103ff.]~~Theodore the Studite

~~“With all our strength let us beware lest we receive Communion from or give it to heretics. ‘Give not what~~ “It is ~~holy~~ better to ~~the dogs~~have discord for piety’s sake,~~’ says~~ than harmony full of the ~~Lord. ‘Neither cast ye your pearls before swine’, lest we become partakers in their dishonour and condemnation~~passions.” —St. ~~John of Damascus~~Gregory the Theologian, ~~Exposition of the Orthodox Faith~~Oration 6, IVPG 35, 13736

~~“In sum,~~ “All the ~~Ecumenical Patriarchate, in theory embracing almost~~ teachers of the ~~whole universe and in fact extending its authority only over several dioceses~~Church, and ~~in other places having only a higher superficial supervision and receiving certain revenues for this, persecuted by~~ all the ~~government at home and not supported by any governmental authority abroad: having lost its significance as a pillar of truth and having itself become a source of division~~Councils, and at all the ~~same time being possessed by an exorbitant love of power--represents a pitiful spectacle which recalls~~ Divine Scriptures advise us to flee from the ~~worst periods in the history of the See of Constantinople~~heterodox and separate from their communion.” —St. ~~John (Maximovitch)~~ Mark of ~~Shanghai and San Francisco, from Orthodox Word, vol. 8, no. 4 (45), July-August 1972, pp. 166-168, 174-175.~~Ephesus

~~“The Lord of all gave to His apostles the power of the gospel~~“Therefore, ~~and~~ in so far as this is what has been commanded you by ~~them we also have learned~~ the ~~truth~~Holy Apostles, ~~that is~~stand aright, hold firmly to the ~~teaching of the Son of God—as the Lord said to them, ‘He who hears~~ traditions which you ~~hears Me~~have received, both written and he who despises you despises Me, and Him Who sent Me’ [Lk.10:16]. For we learned the plan of our salvation from no other than from those through whom the gospel came to us. The first preached it abroad, and then later by ~~the will~~ word of ~~God handed it down to us in Scriptures~~mouth (2 Thessalonians 2:15), to that you be ~~the foundation and pillar~~ not deprived of ~~our faith. For it is not right to say that they preached before they had come to perfect knowledge, as some dare to say, boasting that they~~ your firmness if you are led away by the ~~correctors~~ delusions of the ~~apostles~~lawless. For after our Lord had risen from the dead, and they were clothed with the power from on high when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were filled with all things and had perfect knowledge. They went out to the ends of the earth, preaching the good things that come to us from God, and proclaiming peace from heaven to all men, all and each of them equally being in possession of the gospel of God.” —St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, III

“Those that wish to discern the truth may observe the apostolic tradition made manifest in every church throughout the world. We can enumerate those who were appointed bishops in the churches by the apostlesMay God, and their successors (or successions) down to our own day, who never taught, and never knew, absurdities such as these men produce. For if the apostles had known hidden mysteries which they taught the perfect in private and in secretWho is all-powerful, ~~they would rather have committed~~ make them also to ~~those to whom they entrusted the churches. For they wished those men to be perfect~~ know their delusion; and ~~unbelievable whom they laughed~~ having delivered us from them as ~~their successors~~ from evil tares, may He gather us into His granaries like pure and ~~to whom they handed over their own office of authority. But as it would be very tedious~~useful wheat, in ~~a book of this sort~~Jesus Christ our Lord, to ~~enumerate the successions in~~ Whom belongs all ~~the churches~~glory, ~~we can found all those who in any way~~honor, ~~whether for self-pleasing~~and worship, ~~or vainglory, or blindness, or evil mindedness, hold on authorized meetings. This we do by pointing to the apostolic tradition and the faith that~~ with His Father Who is ~~preached to men~~without beginning, ~~which has come down to us through the successions of bishops; the tradition~~ and ~~creed of the greatest,~~ His All-holy and ~~most ancient church, the church known to all men, which was founded~~ Good and ~~set up at Rome by the two men most glorious apostles~~Life-giving Spirit, ~~Peter~~ now and ~~Paul. For with this church, because of its position of leadership~~ ever and ~~authority, must needs agree every church, that is,~~ unto the ~~faithful everywhere; for in her the apostolic tradition has always been preserved by the faithful from all parts~~ages of ages. Amen.” —St. ~~Irenaeus~~ Mark of ~~Lyons, Against Heresies, III~~Ephesus

~~"True Christianity is glorifying God~~ “‘But if,’ they say, ‘we had devised some middle ground between the dogmas (of the Papists and the Orthodox), then thanks to this we would have united with them and accomplished our ~~own lives~~business superbly, without at all having been forced to say anything except what corresponds to custom and has been handed down (by the Fathers). ~~To glorify God with our own life~~ ’ This is ~~possible only when we~~ precisely the means by which many, from of old, have ~~true faith~~ been deceived and ~~when~~ persuaded to follow those who have led them off the steep precipice of impiety; believing that ~~faith indeed exists~~there is some middle ground between the two teachings that can reconcile obvious contradictions, ~~we express it in words and in deeds~~they have been exposed to peril.” —St. ~~John (Maximovitch)~~ Mark of ~~Shanghai and San Francisco~~Ephesus, Encyclical Letter, Orthodox Word, March-April-May, 1967

~~“I will tell you my opinion briefly and without reserve. We ought to remain in that Church which was founded by~~ “Whoever preserves himself from them (the ~~Apostles~~ Latins) and ~~continues to this day. If ever you hear of any that are called Christians taking their name not from~~ keeps his faith pure will stand rejoicing at the ~~Lord Jesus Christ, but from some other, for instance, Marcionites, Valentinians, Men~~ right hand of ~~the mountain or the plain, you may be sure that you have there not the Church of Christ~~God, but whoever willfully draws close to them will stand weeping bitterly with them on the ~~synagogue of Antichrist~~left. For there is no eternal life for those living in the ~~fact that they took their rise after the foundation~~ faith of the ~~Church is proof that they are those whose coming~~ Latins or the ~~Apostle foretold.~~Saracens…

~~And let them not flatter themselves if they think they have Scripture authority for their assertions~~My son, ~~since the devil himself quoted Scripture, and the essence of the Scriptures~~ it is not ~~the letter, but the meaning~~appropriate to praise another's faith. Whoever praises an alien faith is like a detractor of his own Orthodox faith. ~~Otherwise~~If anyone should praise his own and another's faith, ~~if we follow the letter, we too can concoct~~ then he is a ~~new dogma~~ man of dual faith and ~~assert that such persons as wear shoes~~ is close to heresy. If anyone should say to you: ‘Your faith and ~~have~~ our faith is from God,’ you, my son, should reply: ‘Who are you, you heretic? Do you consider God to be of two ~~coats must~~ faiths? Have you not ~~be received into~~ heard, accursed and perverted as you are by an evil faith that which is written: Thus saith the ~~Church.” —St. Jerome~~Lord: One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism’ (Ephesians 4:5)?…

~~“Sometimes Japanese protestants come~~ Thus they of evil faith, after holding to me the Orthodox faith for so many years, have turned away to an evil faith and ~~ask me~~ to ~~clarify some place in the Holy Scriptures.~~Satan's teaching…

~~"You~~ They have ~~your own missionary teachers~~renounced the preaching of the apostles and the edification of the holy fathers,~~" I tell them~~and have accepted a faith based on error and a perverted dogma leading to perdition. Therefore, ~~"Go ask them. What do~~ they ~~say?" "We~~ have ~~asked them~~been torn away from us and set apart…” —St. ~~They say: understand as you know how. But I need~~ Theodosius of Kiev Caves, Testament to ~~know~~ the ~~real thought~~ Great Prince Izyaslav of ~~God, not my own personal opinion."~~Kiev

~~…It's not like that with us. Everything~~ “It is ~~clear, trustworthy and simple, since we accept Holy Tradition in addition~~ impossible to recall peace without dissolving the ~~Holy Scriptures. And Holy Tradition is a living, unbroken voice~~ cause of ~~our Church from~~ the ~~time of Christ and His Apostles until now, and which will exist until~~ schism – the ~~end~~ primacy of the ~~world. In it all the meaning of the Holy Scriptures are preserved~~Pope exalting himself equal to God.” —St. ~~Nicholas~~ Mark of ~~Japan~~Ephesus

~~“It~~ “The Holy Spirit is ~~Christ Himself, not~~ nowhere to be found among them (the ~~Bible~~Papists), ~~Who is the true word of God~~because their mysteries are graceless. ~~The Bible, read in the right spirit and with the guidance~~ ” —Dositheos of ~~good teachers, will bring us to Him. We must not use the Bible as a sort of encyclopedia out of which texts can be taken for use as weapons.” —C. S. Lewis~~Jerusalem

~~“The humility of Jesus is not a superfluous detail in the gospel narrative. The humility of Jesus is essential to the gospel. If Jesus lacked humility, there would be no incarnation, no crucifixion,~~ “Holy Orthodoxy has two eternal enemies: Mecca and ~~no redemption~~Rome.” ~~—Jack Wisdom~~—St. Kosmas Aitolos

~~“A false interpretation of Scripture causes that~~ “You should curse the ~~gospel of the Lord becomes the gospel of man, or, which is worse~~Pope, of because he will be the ~~devil~~cause.” —St. ~~Jerome~~Kosmas Aitolos

~~“How long shall we continue in this manner~~“We do not have merely ‘a group of Orthodox that consider Roman Catholics and Protestants to be heretics’ or ‘only pronouncements by particular ecclesiastical writers’, ~~our intellect reduced to futility~~as some erroneously contend, ~~failing to make~~ but the ~~spirit~~ totality of the ~~Gospel~~ Saints of our ~~own,~~ Church who dealt with this issue unanimously conclude that Papism is heresy. There is not ~~knowing what it means to live according to~~ one Saint of our ~~conscience~~Church – no, ~~making no serious effort to keep it pure?~~not one – who contends that Papism is not a heresy.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Mark~~ Anastasios Gotsopoulos, On Common Prayer with the ~~Ascetic~~Heterodox

~~“It is self evident~~“The Anglican Communion ignores the Orthodox Church's dogmas and teachings, ~~however, that sincere Christians who are Roman Catholics, or Lutherans, or members~~ such as the invocation of ~~other non-Orthodox confessions~~Saints, ~~cannot be termed renegades or heretics—i.e. those who knowingly pervert~~ prayers for the ~~truth… They have been born and raised and are living according~~ dead, special honor to the ~~creed which they have inherited, just as do~~ Blessed Virgin Mary the ~~majority~~ Mother of ~~you who are Orthodox; in their lives there has not been a moment~~ God, and reverence for sacred relics, holy pictures and icons. They say of ~~personal~~ such teaching that it is ‘a foul thing, vainly invented, and ~~conscious renunciation~~ grounded upon no warranty of ~~Orthodoxy. The Lord~~Scripture, ~~‘Who will have all men~~ but rather repugnant to ~~be saved’ (I Tim. 2:4) and ‘Who enlightens every man born into~~ the ~~world’~~ word of God’ (~~Jn. 1.43~~Article of Religion, XXII)~~, undoubtedly is leading them also towards salvation in His own way~~.~~” —Metropolitan Philaret of New York~~

~~“You ask, will the heterodox be saved… Why do you worry about them? They have~~ There is a ~~Saviour Who desires~~ striking variance between their wording of the ~~salvation~~ Nicene Creed and that of ~~every human being. He will take care~~ the Holy Orthodox Church; but sadder still, it contains the heresy of ~~them. You and I should not be burdened with such a concern. Study yourself and your own sins… I will tell you one thing, however: should you, being Orthodox and possessing~~ the ~~Truth in its fullness, betray Orthodoxy, and enter a different faith, you will lose your soul forever~~‘filioque.~~” —St. Theophan the Recluse~~’

~~“The~~ I do not deem it necessary to mention all the striking differences between the Holy Orthodox ~~confess~~ Church and the Anglican Communion in reference to the authority of Holy Tradition, the number of the General Councils, etc. Sufficient has already been said and pointed out to show that ~~SHE IS~~ the ~~One~~Anglican Communion differs but little from all other Protestant bodies, and, therefore, there cannot be any intercommunion until she returns to the ancient HolyOrthodox Faith and practices, ~~Universal (katholikos)~~ and ~~Apostolic Ecclesia! Any other model is gnostic~~rejects Protestant omissions and commissions.~~” —St. Irenaeus of Lyons~~

~~“Orthodoxy is what Christ taught~~Therefore, as the official head of the Syrian Holy Orthodox Catholic Apostolic Church in North America and as one who must ‘give an account’ (Hebrews 13:17) before the judgment throne of the ‘Shepherd and Bishop of Souls’ (I St Peter 2:25), that I have fed the ‘flock of God’ (I St. Peter 5:2), as I have been commissioned by the Holy Orthodox Church, and inasmuch as the Anglican Communion (Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States) does not differ in things vital to the well being of the Holy Orthodox Church from some of the most errant Protestant sects, I direct all Orthodox people residing in any community not to seek or to accept the ministrations of the Sacraments and rites from any clergy excepting those of the Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church, for the Apostolic command, that the ~~apostles preached~~Orthodox should not commune in ecclesiastical matters with those who are not of ‘the same household of Faith’ (Galatians 6:10), is clear: ‘Any Bishop; or presbyter or deacon who will pray with heretics, let him be anathematized; and if he allows them as clergymen to perform any service, let him be deposed’ (Apostolic Canon 45). ‘Any bishop, or presbyter, who accepts baptism or the ~~Fathers kept~~Holy Sacrifice from heretics, we order such to be deposed, for ‘what concord hath Christ with Belial, or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?’’ (Apostolic Canon 46).~~” —St~~”—St. ~~Athanasius~~ Raphael of ~~Alexandria~~Brooklyn, On the Anglican Communion

~~“He~~ “If a Bishop or Priest baptize anew anyone that has had a true baptism, or fail to baptize anyone that has been polluted by the impious, let him be deposed, on the ground that he is ~~‘the same yesterday~~ mocking the Cross and ~~today~~ Death of the Lord and ~~forever’ (Hebrews 13:8). Orthodox Christians are committed~~ for failing to ~~the truth claim of the Christian Faith not as ideology but as an expression of holiness~~distinguish priests from pseudo-priests.” ~~—Rev. Dr. George C. Papademetriou, An Orthodox Reflection on Truth & Tolerance~~—Apostolic Canon 47

~~“The beginning of theology is not~~ “Whosoever has fallen from the ~~card catalogue, but doing battle against the passions; and the end of theology is not becoming a professor, but becoming~~ True Faith cannot be called a ~~saint~~Christian.” ~~—Dr~~—St. ~~David Fagerberg~~Athanasius the Great

~~“Only~~ “The heretics obey the ~~Religion of Christ unites and all of us must pray that~~ demons; they ~~come to this. Thus union will occur~~honor falsehood, ~~not by believing that all of us are the same thing~~ and ~~that all religions are the same. They are not the same… our Orthodoxy is not related~~ at every moment they provoke God to ~~other religions~~anger.” —St. ~~Porphyrios~~ Symeon the ~~Kapsokalyvite~~New Theologian

~~“Orthodoxy~~ “Ecumenism is ~~life~~the common name for the pseudo-Christianity of the pseudo-churches of Western Europe. Within it is the heart of European humanism, with Papism as its head. All of pseudo-Christianity, all of those pseudo-churches, are nothing more than one ~~must not talk about it~~heresy after another. Their common evangelical name is: ‘pan-heresy.’ Why? This is because through the course of history various heresies denied or deformed certain aspects of the God-Man and Lord Jesus Christ; these European heresies remove Him altogether and put European man in His place. In this there is no essential difference between Papism, Protestantism, ecumenism, and other heresies, ~~one must live it~~whose name is ‘Legion’.” —St. ~~Nektary of Optina~~Justin Popovich

~~“Orthodoxy can't~~ “For Western Christendom God is indeed dead, and its leaders only prepare for the advent of the enemy of God, Antichrist. But Orthodox Christians know the living God and dwell within the saving enclosure of His True Church. It is here, in faithful and fervent following of the unchanging Orthodox path – and not in the dazzling ‘Ecumenical’ union with the new unbelievers that is pursued by Orthodox modernists – that our salvation is to be ~~comfortable unless it is fake~~found.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina

~~“As for all those who pretend~~ “Orthodoxy has one thing to ~~confess sound Orthodox Faith~~say to the ecumenical movement: here is the truth, ~~but are in communion with people who hold different opinion, if they are forewarned and still~~ join yourself to it; to remain ~~stubborn, you must~~ to ‘discuss’ this truth not ~~only be in communion with them~~merely weakens the Orthodox witness, ~~but you must NOT even call them brothers~~it destroys it.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Basil the Great~~Seraphim Rose of Platina

~~“Today~~“The Ecumenism is a huge lie; they speak in the name of a love outside of Christ, which excludes you from the Truth. If the Ecumenists really loved the world, ~~while~~ they would not disown the truth of the value and the ~~overall teachings~~ spiritual richness of Church Tradition and of the Holy Fathers . They disown Christianity from the gracious beauty. God has left from them, what remains is ~~under attack~~ only their ego. No, we don’t need You. We lead the world, we rule the world, we give the bread, we give the happiness on this earth. Jesus must be arrested again not to disturb our march. Eliminating God from the world and of the soul in any way – this is the ~~shipwrecks~~ goal of ~~Faith~~ the Ecumenism also repelled by Saint Justin Popovich. The Ecumenism and the globalization are ~~numerous,~~ at the ~~mouths~~ forefront of the ~~faithful are silent~~apocalyptic times. ~~Anyone who is capable~~ They want to accustom the eye and the spirit of ~~speaking~~ the ~~truth but remains silent~~Orthodox with the habit to serve together with these heretics, until they get to have Communion from the same chalice. Because this could give them the right to build their own churches. But no, they want strategically to compromise the shrines and the faint hearted priests who are quick to ‘obedience’. The Ecumenists have the false impression that they will ~~be heavily judged by God, especially~~ bring something new in ~~this case~~the Church of Christ. Let us not forget that the Church is the body whose head is Christ. You can not break it from Christ Who is the Path, ~~where~~ the ~~faith~~ Truth and the ~~very foundation~~ Life. The Ecumenists will not fulfill anything. You can not change the reality according to the human interests. The divine reality remains the same in every age. The Holy Spirit speaks through the mouths of the bearers of God, not of the ~~entire~~ bearers of human interests. The Christian Church has never gone after the crowd; not the many lead or hold the truth, but the few, chosen, as the carriers of the ~~Orthodox is in danger~~Holy Spirit. ~~To remain silent~~ We do work only under ~~these circumstances is to betray these~~this Father’s truth, the Gospel of our Lord and the ~~appropriate witness belongs~~ Orthodox Church Tradition. All this falsehood which has appeared in our world has no other purpose than to ~~those~~ embarrass and undermine the whole tradition and the beliefs of a nation. Questions are not posed and answers are not given, and people take for granted everything that ~~reproach (stand up for~~ has been written at the ~~faith)~~official level.~~” —St~~But, by not solving these dogmatic problems the untruth slowly settles in our Orthodox Christian Church. ~~Basil~~ All the Ecumenical attempts of unifying the other Christian communities found in heresy, the ~~Great~~dialogues which have developed in our Orthodox Christian Church, since I know, haven’t got any result because they have false basis, epthey are untrue and do nothing but disturb the authentic Christian life. 92” —Elder Justin (Pârvu) of Romania, Din învățăturile și minunile Părintelui Justin

~~“I beseech you~~ “We must prepare for martyrdom and beyond this, I would not have to do speak if people were not powerless in spirit and mind to ~~carry out good~~ understand. It's not easy to ~~all men~~ live these days. But if the Lord has so pleased that we should suffer these times, then we must obey and receive with ~~care and assiduity, becoming~~ joy all ~~things to all men~~that comes upon us, as from the ~~need~~ hand of ~~each is shown to you; I want and pray you to be wholly harsh~~ God, and ~~implacable with the heretics only in regard to cooperating with them or in any way whatever supporting their deranged belief. For I reckon it hatred towards man and a departure~~ not from ~~Divine love to lend support to error, so that those previously seized by it might be even more greatly corrupted.” —St. Maximus~~ the ~~Confessor, Patrologia Graeca, Vol. 91~~enemy…

~~“Be aware~~ Therefore, please stop looking for solutions. Human solutions are not existent, my dears! The solution is to ~~be corrupted from love of the heretics;~~ die for ~~this reason do not accept any false belief (dogma) in~~ Christ. Fathers will give up their sons, mothers, their daughters, unto death. Behold, we witness the ~~name~~ fulfillment of ~~love~~this prophecy.~~” —St. John Chrysostom~~If the mother will let the child be vaccinated, it's as if giving him over to die…

~~“Genuine love is displayed~~Therefore I say to you, ~~not by~~ trust that the ~~common table, nor by lofty addresses or flattering words~~Lord will give you power to confess Him. We live in an anarchic world, ~~but by~~ the ~~correcting~~ entire political class is an enemy of Christ and ~~the seeking~~ a servant of ~~the benefit of one's neighbour~~ evil, that is why even living our simple life without abdicating our Christian principles is a daily confession and ~~the lifting up of the one who has fallen.” —St~~martyrdom. ~~John Chrysostom~~

~~“Never, never, never let anyone tell~~ So: do not receive this vaccine or anything that the new political powers bring you today. The Zionists rule the world and the Americans work for them and they think they have come to own it because they have no shyness. Everything is in sight and they are aware thatthey have no opponent to fear and they fight to depopulate the world, ~~in order~~ with the few who will remain to ~~be Orthodox~~worship them. Now they're studying and sorting, and the way they're going to distinguish people from each other is the chips. Do you ~~must also be eastern. The West was Orthodox for~~ or do you not have a ~~thousand years, and her venerable liturgy~~ chip? For what is ~~far older than any of her heresies~~the chip after all? A weapon against Man.~~” —St~~And we have no weapons; our youth is weary, that even if they want to rise from the spell in which they live, they have no power. ~~John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco~~

~~“Where~~ Our only weapons are spiritual ones: prayer, humility, love, but also confession [of Faith]. You can't love without confession [of Faith]. Love is sacrificial, and if we fear to confess the ~~bishop~~ truth, what sacrifice do we have? Or if we do not care about our neighbor who isunaware and we do not inform him and we let him fall prey to this system, ~~there let~~ what love do we have? Those who still struggle today to awaken their brother, who have not remained indifferent to the ~~multitude~~ future of ~~believers be; even as where Jesus is~~a nation and a church, ~~there is~~ those are the children of the ~~Catholic Church.” —St. Ignatius~~ love of ~~Antioch~~God, who lay their lives down for their brethren…

~~“Take care~~ It is important to do oppose all ~~things in harmony with God, with the bishop presiding in the place of God, and with the presbyters in the place of the council of the apostles,~~ antichrists and die with ~~the deacons, who are most dear~~ dignity; not to ~~me, entrusted with the business of Jesus Christ, who was with the Father from the beginning and is at last made manifest~~have a cowardly position.” ~~—St. Ignatius~~ —Elder Justin (Pârvu) of ~~Antioch, Letter to the Magnesians 2, 6:1~~Romania

~~“Moreover~~“Modern man lives on the dregs of Christianity, on Christian experience digested and turned into ‘ideas’ for mass consumption. Hence the parody of Christianity is to be seen in ~~the Catholic Church itself~~modern ideas like ‘equality’, ~~all possible care must be taken~~‘brotherhood’, ~~that we hold that faith~~ ‘charity.’ … And Christian messianism - the coming Kingdom which is not of this world (Jon 18:36) - has been ~~believed everywhere, always, by all. For~~ perverted into the coming Kingdom in this world that ~~is truly and~~ practically everyone believes in today. Even those who see through the delusion of idealism… fall prey to the ~~strictest sense ‘Catholic~~second idea,~~’ which~~the idea that Truth can somehow be realized in this world, as in the ~~name itself and the reason~~ coming age of the ~~thing declare~~‘spirit, ~~comprehends all universally~~’ or in the relation of ‘man with man. ~~This rule we shall observe if we follow universality~~’ But this world cannot hold the Truth in its fullness, ~~antiquity, consent. We shall follow universality if we confess that one faith~~ any more than it could tolerate the presence in it of the God-Man; for man is called upon to be ~~true~~more than man, ~~which the whole Church throughout the world confesses; antiquity~~he is called to deification, ~~if we~~ and this can only happen fully in ~~no wise depart from those interpretations~~ the ‘other world’ - which , though it ~~is manifest were notoriously held by our holy ancestors and fathers; consent~~constantly impinges on this world, ~~in like manner~~never does so more than partially, ~~if in antiquity itself we adhere to the consentient definitions~~ giving us warnings and ~~determinations~~ indications of ~~all~~what is to come. This world must end, man as we know him must die, ~~or at the least of almost all priests and doctors~~must be crucified before that ‘other’ world can come into being.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Vincent of Lérins, Commonitory, For the Antiquity and Universality~~ Seraphim Rose of ~~the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies., Chapter II (circa 434 AD)~~Platina

~~“Roman Catholics teach that original sin robbed Adam of the original righteousness~~“Let not us, ~~grace-filled perfection~~who would be Christians, ~~but did not harm his very nature~~expect anything else from it than to be crucified. ~~And the original righteousness, according~~ For to be Christian is to ~~their teachings~~be crucified, ~~was not an organic part of~~ in this time and in any time since Christ came for the first time. His life is the ~~spiritual~~ example – and ~~moral nature of man~~warning – to us all. We must be crucified personally, ~~but an external gift of grace~~mystically; for through crucifixion is the only path to resurrection. If we would rise with Christ, ~~a special addition~~ we must first be humbled with Him – even to the ~~natural forces of man~~ultimate humiliation, being devoured and spit forth by the uncomprehending world. ~~Hence~~ And we must be crucified outwardly, in the ~~sin~~ eyes of the ~~first man, which consists in rejecting~~ world; for Christ’s Kingdom is not of this ~~purely external~~world, ~~supernatural grace~~and the world cannot bear it, ~~separating man from God, is nothing more than depriving~~ even a ~~person~~ single representative of ~~this grace~~it, ~~depriving~~ even for a ~~person of primitive righteousness and returning man~~ single moment. The world can only accept Antichrist, now or at any time. No wonder then, that it is hard to be a ~~purely natural state~~Christian – it is not hard, it is impossible. No one can knowingly accept a ~~state~~ way of ~~grace. The very same human nature remained after~~ life which, the ~~fall as~~ more truly it ~~was before~~ is lived, lead the ~~fall~~more surely to one’s own destruction. ~~Before sin~~And that is why we constantly rebel, ~~Adam was like a royal courtier~~try to make life easier, try to be half-Christian, ~~from whom external glory was taken away because~~ try to make the best of ~~a crime~~both worlds. We must ultimately choose – our felicity lies in one world or the other, ~~and he returned~~ not in both. God give us the strength to pursue the ~~original state~~ path to crucifixion; there is no other way to be Christian.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina, from his journal as printed in ~~which he had been before.~~the biography Father Seraphim Rose: His Life and Works by Hieromonk Damascene

~~The decrees of the Council of Trent concerning original sin state that the progenitor sin consisted~~ “One who merely knows these truths in the loss of the holiness and righteousness granted to them, but it did not define exactly what kind of holiness and righteousness they were. There it is stated that there is absolutely no trace of sin or anything in a regenerated person that would mind will be ~~unpleasant~~ helpless to ~~God. Only lust remains, which, due to its motivation~~ resist the temptations of a person to fight, is more useful than harmful to people. In any case, it is not sin, although it itself from sin and entails sin. The fifth decree says: ‘The Holy Council confesses and knows that lust remains among baptized persons; but she, as left to fight, cannot bring harm to those ~~who disagree with her~~times, and ~~those~~ many who ~~bravely fight by~~ recognize the ~~grace~~ Antichrist when he comes will nonetheless worship him – only the power of ~~Jesus~~ Christ~~, but, on~~ given to the ~~contrary, crowns the one who~~ heart will ~~gloriously struggle~~have strength to resist him. The Holy Council declares that this lust, which the Apostle sometimes calls sin, the Universal Church never called sin in the sense that it is true and proper to the regenerated, but that it is from sin and entails sin” —Fr.’Seraphim Rose of Platina

~~This Roman Catholic teaching is unfounded, since it represents~~ “A lukewarm clergy lulls the ~~original righteousness and perfection of Adam as an external gift, as an advantage, which is added~~ people to ~~nature from the outside and from nature separable. Meanwhile~~sleep, it is clear from the ancient apostolic-church doctrine that this primitive righteousness of Adam was not an external gift and advantage, but an integral part of his divinely-created nature. The Holy Scripture claims that sin has shaken and leaves them in their former condition so they won't be upset ~~human nature so deeply that a person is weak for good and when he wants, he cannot do good ( Rom~~.~~7: 18-19 )~~‘Look’, ~~but he cannot commit it just because sin has a strong influence on the nature of man~~they say. ~~In addition, if sin did not damage human nature so much,~~ ‘By all means don't say that there ~~would~~ 'll be ~~no need for the Only Begotten Son of God to incarnate~~a war, ~~come into~~ or the ~~world as the Savior and demand from us a complete bodily and spiritual rebirth ( In.3: 3~~Second Coming, ~~3: 5-6 )~~that one must prepare oneself for death. ~~In addition, Roman Catholics can~~ We must not ~~give the correct answer to the question: how can the intact nature carry lust in itself? What is the relation between this lust and the healthy nature?~~make people alarmed!’

~~In the same way, there is an inaccurate Roman Catholic statement that in~~ And others speak with a ~~regenerated person nothing remains sinful and unpleasant to God and that all this gives way to that which is immaculate~~false kindness, holy and pleasing to God. For we know from Holy Revelation and the teachings of the ancient Church that the grace given to a fallen man through Jesus Christ does not act mechanically, does not give sanctification saying: ‘We mustn't expose heretics and ~~salvation immediately, in the blink of an eye~~their delusions, ~~but gradually penetrates all the psychophysical powers of man, in proportion~~ so as to ~~his personal feat in the new thus he simultaneously heals from all sinful ailments, and sanctifies in all thoughts, feelings, desires and deeds~~show our love for them. It is an unreasonable exaggeration to think and argue that the regenerated have absolutely no remnants of sinful ailments when the mystery beloved by Christ clearly teaches: ‘If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” ( 1 John 1: 8 ); and the great Apostle of the Nations writes: “I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil that I do not want’ Today's people are water-soluble. ~~But if I do what I do not want, it is~~ There's no ~~longer I who do it, but the sin that lives~~ leaven in ~~me’ ( Romans 7: 19-20 : Wed: Romans 8: 23-24 )~~them.~~” —St. Justin Popovich, Orthodox philosophy of truth (Dogma of the Orthodox Church)~~

~~“The candles lit before icons of saints reflect their ardent love for God for Whose sake they gave up everything that man prizes in life~~If I avoid upsetting myself to protect my fleshly comfort then I'm indifferent to holiness! Spiritual meekness is one thing, ~~including their very lives, as did the holy apostles, martyrs~~ and ~~others~~softness and indifference are quite another. ~~These candles also mean that these saints are lamps burning for us~~ Some say: ‘I'm a Christian and ~~providing light for us by their own saintly living, their virtues~~ therefore I have to be joyful and ~~their ardent intercession for us before God through their constant prayers by day and night~~calm.’ But they're not Christian. They're simply indifferent. ~~The burning candles also stand for our ardent zeal and the sincere sacrifice we make out of reverence and gratitude to them for~~ And their ~~solicitude on our behalf before God.” —St~~joy is only a worldly joy. ~~John of Kronstadt~~

~~“The saints~~ He in whom these worldly seeds are present is no spiritual person. A spiritual person consists of ~~God live even after their death~~nothing but pain. ~~Thus~~In other words, ~~I often hear~~ he's in ~~church the Mother of God singing her wonderful~~pain at what's going on, ~~heart-penetrating song which she said~~ he's in the house of her cousin Elizabeth, after the Annunciation of the Archangel. At times, I hear the song of Moses; the song of Zacharias--the father of the Forerunner; that of Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel; that of the three children; and that of Miriampain for people's condition. And ~~how many holy singers of the New Testament delight until now the ear of the whole Church of God! And the Divine service itself--the sacraments, the rites? Whose spirit~~ divine comfort is ~~there, moving and touching our hearts? That of God and of His saints~~bestowed upon him for his pain.” —St. ~~John~~ Paisios of ~~Kronstadt, My Life in Christ~~Mt. Athos

~~“Each person is an icon of God~~“You have grown soft. So the worthless have risen up against the honourable, ~~of God in heaven and of God on~~ the ~~cross. Yet~~disreputable against the renowned, ~~each person is also an icon of~~ the ~~Mother of God~~foolish against the wise, ~~who bears Christ through~~ the ~~Holy Spirit~~young against the aged. ~~Our soul~~Righteousness and peace are far from you, ~~therefore, unites itself in two images; participating in~~ inasmuch as you have abandoned the ~~principles and realities~~ fear of ~~both Christ~~ God and ~~his Mother. These are age old archetypes, symbols by which the soul orients itself on the journey~~become blind in faith.” —St. ~~Maria Skobtsova, On The Imitation of the Mother~~ Clement of ~~God~~Rome

~~“The Christian~~ “In our evil time, when the servants of the coming Antichrist are putting forth all their efforts so as to undermine and replace authentic Orthodoxy with a false ‘Orthodoxy’ - an Orthodoxy only in name, there have appeared not a few ‘pastors’ also who ~~does not feel that~~ bear only the name of Orthodox but deny the authentic power and spirit of true Orthodoxy. Precisely such false pastors filled up the ranks of the (Soviet) ‘Living Church’ and the ~~Virgin Mary is his or her mother is an orphan~~‘Renovationist Church’ clergy in our Russia.~~” —Pope Francis~~

~~“Creating man according to his image~~But the ‘Living Church’ and ‘Renovationalism’ were not recognized by the believing Russian people, ~~God diffused into man's very being the longing for~~ who felt in their hearts their whole falsity; and they brilliantly collapsed on the ~~divine infinitude of life~~Russian soil, ~~of knowledge~~ceasing their official existence. However, ~~and~~ the spirit of ~~perfection. It is precisely for this reason that~~ the ~~immeasurable longing~~ ‘Living Church’ and ~~thirst of humanity is~~ ‘Renovationalism’ has not ~~able~~ died, but has continued and up until now continues to ~~be completely satisfied~~ live among us also in the Russian homeland, which has been enslaved by ~~anything or anyone except God. Declaring divine perfection as~~ the ~~main purpose for humanity's existence in~~ godless, and also abroad among all the ~~world – ‘Be ye therefore perfect~~Orthodox Local Churches who have become infected with this pestilential spirit, ~~even as your father who is in heaven is perfect.’ (Matth. 5: 48) – Christ~~not without, ~~the Savior~~of course, ~~answered~~ the most ~~elemental demand and need~~ strenuous cooperation of those same servants of ~~our God-like and God-longing humanity~~the coming Antichrist.~~” —St. Justin Popovich, Orthodox Faith and Life in Christ, Highest Value and Last Criterion in Orthodoxy~~

~~“Concerning the charge~~ These pseudo-pastors, modernists and ecumenists, in place of ~~idolatry: Icons are not idols but symbols. Therefore~~true Orthodoxy, ~~when an Orthodox venerates an icon~~preach and insistently propagandize a false Orthodoxy, ~~he is not guilty~~ flattering all the sinful passions and vices of ~~idolatry. He is not worshiping~~ fallen man - striving in everything to go in step with the times and to adapt the Christian to the ~~symbol~~‘world which lies in evil, ~~but merely venerating it~~’ under all possible cunning and well sounding pretexts. ~~Such veneration is not directed toward wood, or paint or stone, but towards~~ Everywhere now they are seizing the reigns of government in the ~~person depicted~~contemporary Orthodox Local Churches. ~~Therefore relative honor is shown~~ They are striving to ~~material objects~~play everywhere the leading guiding role, and often they have success, ~~but worship is due~~ for they skillfully and cunningly make themselves seem to ~~God alone~~be zealots of Orthodoxy.~~” —St. John of Damascus~~

~~“We do not bow before~~ But their actual aim is to undermine true Orthodoxy by a false ‘Orthodoxy,’ in order to make it come about, in the ~~nature~~ expression of ~~wood~~Christ the Savior, ~~but we revere~~ ‘that the salt has lost its savor’ (Matthew 5:13), that it might lose its saltiness - that it might lose its spirit and ~~bow before the one who~~ power. This is ~~depicted.” —St. John~~ a special kind of ~~Damascus~~battle against the Church!

~~“We do not make obeisance to the nature~~ Behold of what a frightful undertaking (of ~~wood, but~~ which) we ~~revere~~ are the living and ~~do obeisance to Him who was crucified on~~ immediate witnesses! By all means there is being conducted in the ~~Cross… When~~ world a frightful battle against the ~~two beams of the Cross are joined together I adore the figure because~~ Faith of Christ ~~who was crucified on the Cross~~, ~~but if the beams are separated, I throw them away~~ by a path of falsification and ~~burn them.” —St. John of Damascus~~imitations!

~~“The whole earth~~ …(this) truly most frightful and nightmarish phenomenon (is ~~a living icon of the face of~~ ) something more frightful than open atheism and warfare against God~~. … I do not worship matter, but the Creator of matter~~, ~~who~~ (for ~~my sake became material and deigned~~ it) threatens to ~~dwell in matter, who through matter effected my salvation. Never will I cease honoring~~ destroy our holy Orthodoxy from the ~~matter which wrought my salvation! I honor it~~root, ~~but not as God. Because of this I salute all remaining matter with reverence, because God has filled~~ having corrupted it ~~with his grace and power. Through it my salvation has come to me.” —St. John~~ from within…” —Archbishop Averky (Taushev) of ~~Damascus~~Syracuse

~~“That which~~ “The fundamental task of the ~~word communicates by sound,~~ servants of the ~~painting shows silently by representation.” —St. Basil~~ coming Antichrist is to destroy the ~~Great, On~~ old world with all its former concepts and ‘prejudices’ in order to build in its place a new world suitable for receiving its approaching ‘new owner’ who will take the ~~40 Martyrs~~ place of ~~Sebaste~~Christ for people and give them on earth that which Christ did not give them…

~~“We depict Christ as our King and Lord~~One must be completely blind spiritually, ~~and do~~ completely alien to true Christianity not deprive Him of His army. The saints constitute the Lord's army. Let the earthly king dismiss his army before he gives up his King and Lord. Let him put off the purple before he takes honour away from his most valiant men who have conquered their passions. For if the saints are heirs of God, and co-heirs of Christ, to understand all this!” —Archbishop Averky (~~Rom. 8.17~~Taushev) ~~they will be also partakers of the divine glory of sovereignty.” —St. John~~ of ~~Damascus~~Syracuse

~~“Our afflictions~~ “Those forces that are ~~well known without my telling;~~ preparing the ~~sound~~ appearance of ~~them has now gone forth over all Christendom~~Antichrist will have a leading significance in public life. ~~The doctrines of~~ Antichrist will be a man and not the ~~fathers are despised; apostolical traditions are set at nought; the speculations of innovators hold sway in the churches~~devil incarnate. ~~Men have learned~~ … That man wants to be ~~theorists instead of theologians. The wisdom of the world has the~~ in place of ~~honour, having dispossessed the boasting of the cross. The pastors are driven away, grievous wolves are brought in instead~~Christ, to occupy His place and ~~plunder the flock of~~ possess that which Christ~~, Houses of prayer are destitute of preachers; the deserts are full of mourners: the old bewail, comparing what is with what was; more pitiable are the young, as not knowing what they are deprived of~~ought to possess. ~~What has been said is sufficient~~ He wants to ~~kindle~~ possess the ~~sympathy of those who are taught in~~ same attraction and authority over the ~~love of Christ, yet compared with the facts, it is far from reaching their seriousness.” —St. Basil the Great, ep~~whole world. 90

~~“Let us be firm~~And he will receive that authority before his own destruction and that of the whole world. He will have a helper, ~~my brothers~~a Magus, ~~on the rock of faith~~who, in by the ~~tradition~~ power of ~~the Church~~false miracles, will fulfill his will and kill those that do not ~~remove or change~~ recognize the ~~boundaries established by our Holy Fathers~~authority of Antichrist.” —St. ~~Let us close the road to innovators~~ John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and ~~not permit them to demolish the structure of the holy, catholic~~San Francisco, The Antichrist and ~~apostolic Church of God. If we allow, however,~~ the ~~introduction~~ Signs of ~~any innovation, we unconsciously support~~ the ~~collapse~~ End of the ~~Church. No~~World, ~~my brothers, you who love Christ, no, you children of~~ Homily on the ~~Church, you will never want to surround your Mother Church with confusion.” —St. John of Damascus, Concerning Images, III.41~~Last Judgement

~~“Therefore, brethren, let us stand on the rock of faith and on the tradition~~ “The miracles of ~~the Church, and not remove the boundaries which our Holy Fathers have set. Thus, we~~ Antichrist will ~~not give~~ be chiefly manifested in the ~~opportunity to those who wish to innovate and destroy the edifice of the holy~~aerial realm, ~~catholic and apostolic Church of God~~where Satan chiefly has dominion. ~~For if permission is granted to everyone who wants it, little by little the whole body of the Church will be destroyed~~” —Fr. ~~Do not, brethren, do not, oh Christ-loving children of the Church~~ Seraphim Rose of ~~God …” —Patriarch Jeremias II, prophetic warning of to the Lutheran scholars~~Platina

~~“Unbelief~~ “Without sanctification and illumination from above, our love – if it indeed is within us – lacks Gospel purity and holiness. It is ~~an evil offspring of an evil heart; for the guileless~~ poisoned by our self-love and egoism, which is so subtle and ~~pure of heart discovers~~ hard to grasp that we do not even notice it. We think that we truly love God ~~everywhere~~and our neighbor, ~~everywhere discerns Him~~but in reality this is self-love, not love for God and ~~always unhesitatingly believes in His existence~~neighbor.” ~~—St. Nectarios~~ —Archbishop Averky (Taushev) of ~~Aegina~~Syracuse

~~“He who learns must sufferAnd even~~ “The faithful remnant of Christians in ~~our sleep pain that cannot forgetFalls drop by drop upon~~ the ~~heart~~last days,~~And in~~ as our ~~own despite~~Lord has told us, ~~against our~~ willbe very small; the vast majority of those who call themselves Christians will welcome Antichrist as the Messiah … those who are not true Orthodox Christians belong the ‘new Christianity’,~~Comes wisdom to us by~~ the ~~awful grace~~ ‘Christianity’ of ~~God~~Antichrist.~~” —Aeschylus~~

~~“The greatest wisdom often emerges~~ The Pope of Rome and practically everyone else today speaks of ‘transforming the world’ by Christianity: priests and nuns take part in demonstrations for ‘racial equality’ and similar causes. These have nothing to do with Christianity: they do nothing but distract men from their true goal, which is the ~~deepest wounds~~Kingdom of Heaven.~~” —Jane Lee Logan~~

~~“Monarchy can easily be debunked, but watch the faces, mark well the debunkers. These are the men whose taproot in Eden has been cut: whom no rumour~~ The coming age of ~~the polyphony~~‘peace’, ~~the dance~~‘unity’, ~~can reach - men to whom pebbles laid in a row are more beautiful than an arch. … Where men are forbidden to honour a king they honour millionaires~~and ‘brotherhood’, ~~athletes or film stars instead: … For spiritual nature, like bodily nature~~if it comes, will be ~~served; deny it food and~~ the reign of Antichrist: it will ~~gobble poison.” —C. S~~be Christian in name, but Satanic in spirit. ~~Lewis~~

~~“There~~ Εveryone today seeks happiness on earth, and they think this is ~~nothing impossible unto those who believe~~‘Christianity’; ~~lively and unshaken faith can accomplish great miracles in~~ true Orthodox Christians know that the ~~twinkling~~ age of ~~an eye. Besides~~persecutions, ~~even without our sincere and firm faith~~which began again under the Bolsheviks, ~~miracles are accomplished, such as the miracles of the sacraments; for God's Mystery~~ is ~~always accomplished~~still with us, ~~even though~~ and that only by much sorrow and tribulation are we ~~were incredulous or unbelieving at~~ made fit to enter the ~~time~~ Kingdom of its celebration. 'Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?' (Rom. 3:3). Our wickedness shall not overpower the unspeakable goodness and mercy of God; our dullness shall not overpower God's wisdom, nor our infirmity God's omnipotenceHeaven.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~John~~ Seraphim Rose of ~~Kronstadt, My Life in Christ~~Platina

~~“The~~ “It may be, brethren, that soon you will again experience a time of turmoil, and some of you will be called to take the path of denying those sacred laws and to submit to laws established by mere human ~~spirit needs places where nature has~~ authority. Beware of such a path! Beware of the path taken by the thief on the left, for by the weight of blasphemy, by the weight of reviling Christ he went to his eternal perdition. Those who revile the laws of the Church revile Christ Himself, Who is the Head of the Church, for the laws of the Church were given by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles. And the laws of local Churches are based on those same laws and canons of the Church. Let us not ~~been rearranged by~~ consider ourselves wiser than those saints and hierarchs who established the ~~hand~~ rules of ~~man~~the Church; let us not imagine ourselves to be great sages.Rather, let us humbly call out together with the wise thief: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom!” ~~—unknown~~—St. John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco, Homily on the Sunday of Orthodoxy

~~“People were created to be loved~~“Brothers and sisters! Let us aspire towards ascetic labor, in which is expressed precisely the essence of our Orthodox Christian faith, which is the labor of imitating Christ in bearing the cross and self-crucifixion – a faith of labor and, laboring lawfully as the Word of God teaches, let us suffer all things for the Truth, not moving away from it, as do many because of their poverty of spirit or self-interest. ~~Things were created to be used. The reason why~~ And let us remember well: where there is no labor, where there is no steadfastness in the ~~world~~ faith – there is neither Orthodoxy nor true faith in ~~chaos is because things are being loved~~ God and ~~people are being used~~in His Christ. Amen.” ~~—unknown~~—Archbishop Averky (Taushev) of Syracuse

~~“No man stands so tall as when he stoops~~ “Being born, then, of the light of truth, shun division and bad doctrines. Where the shepherd is, there you, being sheep, must follow. For many wolves there are, apparently worthy of confidence, who with the bait of baneful pleasure seek to ~~help a child~~capture the runners in God's race; but if you stand united they will have no success…” —St.~~” —unknown~~Ignatius of Antioch

~~“If we could look into each others hearts~~“We must not mind insulting men, ~~and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think~~ if by respecting them we ~~would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care~~offend God.” ~~—Marvin J~~—St. ~~Ashton~~John Chrysostom

~~“Teach me to feel another's woe~~“A time is coming when men will go mad, ~~to hide the fault I~~ and when they seesomeone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, ‘You are mad; ~~that mercy I to others show, that mercy show to me~~you are not like us.’” —St.~~” —Alexander Pope~~Anthony the Great

~~“The human heart can~~ “There will come a time when corruption and lewdness among the youth will reach the utmost point. There will hardly be any virgin youth left. They will see ~~what~~ their lack of punishment and will think that everything is ~~hidden~~ allowable for them to ~~the eyes~~satisfy their desires. God will call them, however, and ~~the heart knows things~~ they will realize that ~~the mind does~~ it will not ~~begin~~ be possible for them to ~~understand~~continue such a life.~~” —They Might Be Giants (1971)~~

~~“The greatest thing a man can do to a woman is~~ Then in various ways they will be led to God… that time will be beautiful. That today they are sinning greatly, will lead ~~her closer~~ them to ~~God than to himself~~a deeper repentance. Just like the candle before it goes out, it shines strongly and throws sparks; with its light, it enlightens the surrounding darkness; thus, it will be the Church’s life in the last age.~~” —unknown~~

~~“A snowflake~~ And that time is ~~one~~ near.” —St. Seraphim of ~~God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!” —unknown~~Vyritsa

~~“God cannot give us happiness and peace apart~~ “When I remember the evil sins from ~~Himself because it is not there. There is no such thing~~which the Lord has delivered me, I have imperishable food for salvation.” ~~—C. S~~—St. ~~Lewis~~Mary of Egypt

~~“The supreme happiness~~ “We all want God to give unity of ~~life is~~ faith to the ~~conviction of being loved for yourself, or more correctly, being loved in spite of yourself~~world. But you are confusing things.~~” —Victor Hugo~~

~~“It~~ The reconciliation of people is ~~hardly complimentary~~ one thing, while the reconciliation of religions is another. Christianity requires all of us to ~~God that we should choose him as an alternative to hell.” —C. S~~love everyone with all our hearts, whatever faith they may have. ~~Lewis~~

~~“Hell can't~~ At the same time we are ordered to keep our faith and doctrines intact. As Christians you must be ~~made attractive~~merciful to the whole world, ~~so the devil makes attractive the road that leads there~~to all people.~~” —St~~Even your life you should give on their behalf. ~~Basil the Great~~

~~“If~~ But you ~~die before you die, than when you die, you will~~ have no right to touch the truths of Christ. Because they are not yours. The faith of Christ is not ~~die~~our property to do with it as we wish.” ~~—written on a cell wall, St. Paul's Monastery, Mt~~—St. ~~Athos~~Nikolai Velimirovich

~~“War~~ “We do not change the boundaries marked out by our Fathers. We keep the Tradition we have received. If we begin to lay down the Law of the Church even in the ~~name of religion is war against religion~~smallest things, the whole edifice will fall to the ground in no short time.” ~~—His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew~~—St. John of Damascus

~~“Believe me~~“At this dawn of modern history, ~~if God revealed to us~~ the ~~disasters to which we were exposed and~~ thirteenth century, all the seeds of modern mentality are present. And modern history follows logically from these seeds. Essentially, it is one thing – the search for a new Christianity which ~~He protected us~~is better than Orthodoxy, better than the Christianity of the Holy Fathers, ~~our whole lives would not suffice~~ which Christ gave to ~~offer Him thanks.” —H.H~~us. ~~Pope Shenouda~~

~~“In heaven~~Later on, ~~God~~ this will take forms which go through atheism and all kinds of wild beliefs, but essentially the search remains the same, and in the end the world will be Christian, because it's Antichrist who gives them a new religion, which is not ~~ask us why we have sinned; He~~ something foreign to Christianity. It will ~~ask us why we did~~ not ~~repent~~be some kind of paganism.~~” —H~~It will be something which everyone will accept as Christianity, but will be anti-christian.HA substitute for Christianity which denies the very essence of Christianity. ~~Pope Shenouda III~~

~~“Even if all spiritual fathers, patriarchs, hierarchs~~And that is why the main history of the rebellion against Christ is no less than the apostasy which St. Paul talks about. It is not by means of persecution as it was in the beginning, but by means of taking Christianity and ~~all~~ changing it so that it will no longer be Christian. And this is what we can call the Unfolding of the ~~people forgive you, you are unforgiven if you don’t repent~~ Mystery of Iniquity in ~~action~~preparation for Antichrist.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Kosmas Aitolos~~Seraphim Rose of Platina, excerpt from Orthodox Survival Course

~~“Nobody is as gracious~~ “We who wish to remain in the true tradition of Orthodoxy will have to be zealous and ~~merciful~~firm in our Orthodoxy without being fanatics, as and without presuming to teach our bishops what they should do. Above all we must strive to preserve the ~~Lord is~~true fragrance of Orthodoxy, ~~but even He does not forgive the sins~~ being at least a little ‘not of this world’, detached from all the ~~man who does not repent; … we are being condemned not because~~ cares and politics even of the ~~multitude of our evils~~Church, ~~but because we do not want to repent~~nourishing ourselves on the otherworldly food the Church gives us in such abundance.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Mark the Ascetic~~Seraphim Rose of Platina

~~“As a handful of sand thrown into~~ “Test your bishops in only one respect: try and find out whether they are Orthodox, whether they teach dogmas contrary to the ~~ocean~~true Faith, ~~so are the sins~~ and whether they concelebrate with heretics, or schismatics. As far as other things, they act out of ~~all flesh as compared with~~ ignorance or because the ~~mercy of~~ days are evil and they will give an account to Godonly.” —St. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~Gennadios (II) Scholarios, Patriarch of Constantinople

~~“Just as a strongly flowing fountain~~ “Regarding the affairs of the Church, in the words of the Saviour, one of the most awesome phenomena of the last days is ~~not blocked up by a handful~~ that at that time ‘the stars shall fall from heaven’ (Matt. 24.29). According to the Saviour’s own explanation, these ‘stars’ are the Angels of the Churches, in other words, the Bishops (Rev. 1.20). The religious and moral fall of ~~earth~~the Bishops is, so therefore, one of the ~~compassion~~ most characteristic signs of the ~~Creator~~ last days. The fall of the Bishops is particularly horrifying when they deviate from the doctrines of the faith, or, as the Apostle put it, when they ‘would pervert the Gospel of Christ’ (Gal. 1.7). The Apostle orders that such people be pronounced ‘anathema’. He said, ‘If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that which ye have received, let him be accursed (anathema)’ (Gal. 1.9). And one must not ~~overcome by~~ be slow about this, for he continues, ‘A man that is an heretic, after the ~~wickedness~~ first and second admonition reject, knowing that he that is such is subverted, being condemned of ~~his creatures~~himself’ (Titus 3.~~” —St~~10-11). ~~Isaac~~ Moreover, you may be subject to God’s judgement if you are indifferent to deviation from the ~~Syrian~~truth: ‘So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth’ (Rev. 3.16).” —Archbishop Theophan of Poltava

~~“God is loving~~ “The bishops of the end times will be subservient [obedient and compliant] to ~~man, and loving in no small measure. For say not, I have committed fornication and adultery: I have done dreadful things, and not once only, but often: will He forgive? Will He grant pardon? Hear what~~ the ~~Psalmist says: ‘How great is the multitude~~ powerful of ~~Your goodness, O Lord!’ Your accumulated offenses surpass not the multitude of God's mercies: your wounds surpass not~~ the ~~great Physician's skill. Only give yourself up in faith: tell the Physician your ailment: say thou also~~world, ~~like David: ‘I said, I~~ and they will ~~confess me my sin unto~~ make decisions according to the ~~Lord’:~~ gifts they receive from everywhere, and consulting the ~~same shall be done in your case, which he says immediately: ‘And you forgave~~ rational logic of the ~~wickedness of my heart~~academics.’” ” —St. ~~Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 2, On Repentance and Remission of Sins and Concerning the Adversary, Ezekiel xviii. 20-23~~Pambo

~~“Years are~~ “Do not ~~needed for true repentance,~~ show obedience to bishops who exhort you to do and to say and to believe in things which are not ~~days~~to your benefit. What pious man would hold his tongue? Who would remain completely calm? In fact, ~~but only an instant~~silence equates to consent.” —St. ~~Ambrose~~ Meletios of ~~Optina~~Antioch

~~“There~~ “Geronda, is the silence of the Church an indication of approval?Yes. Someone wrote some blasphemous things about Panaghia and no ~~sin which cannot be pardoned except that~~ one ~~which lacks repentance~~spoke up. Then I told someone, ‘Did you see what so-and ~~there is no gift which is not augmented save that which remains without acknowledgement~~-so has written?’ And he told me, ‘Well, what can you do with those people? You'll get soiled if you try to deal with them. ~~For the portion of the fool is small in his eyes.” —St~~’ They're afraid to speak up. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~

~~“When a man abandons his sins and returns~~ What did he have to ~~God~~fear, ~~his repentance regenerates~~ Geronda?That people might write something about him and ~~renews~~ ridicule him ~~entirely~~in the press. And so he tolerates blasphemous things about Panaghia! We want others to pull the chestnuts out of the fire so that we can have our peace of mind. This indicates a lack of love.~~” —St~~Then man begins to act out of self-interest. ~~Isaiah the Solitary~~”—Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos, Spiritual Counsels II, Spiritual Awakening, p. 40

~~“And so it is incumbent upon us~~ “If Christians don't begin to ~~strive~~witness their faith, ~~rather~~to resist evil, then the destroyers will become even more insolent. But today's Christians are no warriors. If the Church keeps silent, to ~~correct our faults and to improve our behavior.~~avoid conflict with the government, if the Metropolitans are silent, if the monks hold their peace, then who will speak up?” ~~—St~~—Elder Paisios of Mt. ~~John Cassian~~Athos

~~“Let us strive to purify ourselves through repentance and humility~~“When they are blaspheming your faith, and ~~to unite all our senses as one to the God who is good, and transcends the good. Then, truly, everything which I have not quite been able to say or to demonstrate with my many words~~you stay silent, you ~~will be taught in an instant, all at once. You will hear with your sight, and see with your hearing. You will be taught while seeing and, again, hear what is unveiled~~become worse than that blasphemer.” —St. ~~Symeon the New Theologian~~Gabriel Urgebadze of Georgia, Confessor and Fool for Christ

~~“Where there is God~~“The clergy in the last years will become an instrument of the Antichrist. They will teach blind obedience as a virtue of peace and salvation. A satanic obedience, ~~there is no evil. Everything coming~~ which will require from ~~God is peaceful, healthy~~ the believer ‘ignorance’ and contempt for the teachings of the Saints and ~~leads a person~~ indifference to the ~~judgment of his own imperfections~~ truth and ~~humility~~superficial piety.” —St.Niphon of Constantia (Cyprus)

~~When a person accepts anything Godly~~“Christian shepherds, ~~then he rejoices in his heart~~that is, ~~but when he has accepted anything devilish~~bishops and priests, ~~then he becomes tormented~~are going to be filled with vainglory (with some exceptions), utterly failing to distinguish the right way from the left… The Churches of God are going to be deprived of godly and pious shepherds.” —St. Nilus the Myrrhgusher of Mt.Athos

~~The devil is like a lion~~“Just as the unskilled doctor sends many people to the gates of Hades [physical death], ~~hiding in ambush (Ps 10:19~~similarly, ~~1Pe 5:8). He secretly sets out nets of unclean~~ the incompetent and ~~unholy thoughts~~irresponsible spiritual father sends many souls to Hades. SoO, ~~it is necessary~~ what a terrible evil for someone to ~~break them off as soon as we notice them, by means~~ find [spiritual] death while seeking treatment.” —St. Nektarios of ~~pious reflection and prayer.~~Aegina

~~It is necessary that the Holy Spirit enter our heart~~“The time will come when you will be sold by your shepherds. ~~Everything good that we do, that we do for Christ, is given to us~~ They will watch you being ripped apart by the ~~Holy Spirit, but prayer most of all, which is always available~~ wild beasts and they will not come to usyour help.” —Elder Justin (Pârvu) of Romania

~~A sign~~ “In the last days, evil and heresy will have spread so widely that the faithful will not be able to find a priest or shepherd to protect them from delusion and guide them to salvation. At that time, the faithful will not receive safe guidance from men; but their guide will be the writings of ~~spiritual life is~~ the ~~immersion~~ Holy Fathers. Especially at this time, every believer will be responsible for the whole fulness of the Church. Brethren, it is time for us all to undertake our responsibility to God and to history. Do not tolerate any more foolishness or misguidance from priests or archpriests. Do not turn a ~~person within himself and the hidden workings within his heart~~blind eye for you will be co-responsible. The Saints are forewarning you.” —St. ~~Seraphim~~ John (Maximovitch) of ~~Sarov~~Shanghai and San Francisco

“The ~~Spirit offers its own light to every mind~~last days are starting. Soon, ~~to help it in its search for truth~~there will be an ecumenical council called ‘holy’. But that will be the very ‘eighth council’ which will be the assembly of the godless. All religions will unite into one at that council.~~” —St~~Then, all fasts will be canceled, monasticism will be completely destroyed, bishops will be married. ~~Basil~~ The new calendar will be implimented in the ~~Great~~Universal Church.

~~“Sometimes a man~~Be vigilant. Try to go to God's ~~happiness is so deep inside him that he may forget it~~church while they are still ours. Soon, you won's t be able to go there ~~and start looking elsewhere hunting a fantasy~~. Everything will change. Only the chosen will see this. They will be forcing people to go to church, ~~an illusion~~but we should not go there under any circumstances.Stand in the Orthodox Faith until the end and you will be saved!” ~~—Mr~~—St. ~~Roarke~~ Kuksha (~~Fantasy Island, s2e14~~Velichko)of Odessa

~~“If he seeks answers to questions related to his faith~~“When the traces of the past historical order have become extinguished, ~~his purpose in life~~and the new order has taken ground, he the Holy Mount will ~~find happiness~~have no peace. Monastic dignity will be destroyed or disposed of for the freedom of the state and the bishops to squander its priceless treasures and relics.” —Elder ~~Justin (Pârvu)~~ Costas the Caveot and Fool for Christ of ~~Romania~~Mt. Athos

~~“The person~~ “But woe to the monks in those days who ~~loves God values knowledge~~ will be bound with possessions and riches, who because of ~~God more than anything created by God~~love of peace will be ready to submit to the heretics. They will lull to sleep their conscience, saying, ‘We are preserving and ~~pursues such knowledge ardently~~ saving the monastery and ~~ceaselessly~~the Lord will forgive us.’ The unfortunate and blind ones do not at all consider that through heresy the demons will enter the monastery and then it will no longer be a holy monastery, but merely walls from which grace will depart.” —St. ~~Maximus~~ Anatoly the ~~Confessor~~Younger of Optina

~~“A time is coming~~ “Let us flee from those who reject patristic interpretations and attempt by themselves to deduce the complete opposite. While pretending to concern themselves with the literal sense of the passage, they reject its godly meaning. We should run away from them more than we would from a snake, for when ~~men will go mad~~a snake bites it kills the body temporarily, separating it from the immortal soul, ~~and~~ but when ~~they see someone who is not mad~~these evil men get their teeth into a soul, they ~~will attack him~~separate it from God, ~~saying~~which is eternal death for that soul. Let us escape as far as we can from such people, ~~‘You are mad; you are not like us~~and take refuge with those who teach piety and salvation in accordance with the traditions of the Fathers.’” ” —St. ~~Anthony~~ Gregory Palamas, Homily 34, On the ~~Great~~Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus

~~“Adorn yourself with truth~~“Brother Christians! Raise your voices in defense of the Church's Apostolic Faith, the holy things of the Church, ~~try~~ the Church's heritage. Defend your right to ~~speak truth~~ believe and confess your faith as you learned it in ~~all things; and do not support a lie~~days of old, ~~no matter who asks~~ as youwere taught it by the holy apostles, the holy martyrs, the God-wise fathers of the Church, the Christian ascetics.If Take care of the holiness of your souls, the freedom of your consciences. Say loudly that you ~~speak~~ have been accustomed to pray and save yourselves in the churches, that the holy things of the ~~truth and someone gets mad at~~ Church are dearer to you than life itself, that without them salvation is impossible. No power can demand from youthat which is against your faith, ~~don’t be upset~~your religious conscience: ‘We must obey God rather than men’, ~~but take comfort in~~ said the ~~words of~~ holy apostles. That is what we, too, must say. The apostles joyfully suffered for the ~~Lord:Blessed~~ faith. Be you also ready for sacrifice, for podvig, and remember that physical arms are powerless against those who ~~are persecuted for~~ arm themselves with powerful faith in Christ. Faith moves mountains, ‘the faith of the Christians has conquered the pagan boldness’. May your faith be bold and courageous! Christ destroyed Hades. He will also destroy the ~~sake~~ snares of ~~truth, for theirs is~~ the ~~Kingdom~~ enemies of ~~Heaven (Matt~~our Church. 5Believe - and the enemy will flee from before your face. Stand in defense of your faith and with firm hope say:~~10).”~~ ‘Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered!’” —St. ~~Gennadius~~ Hermogenes, Hieromartyr and Bishop of ~~Constantinople~~Tobolsk, ~~The Golden Chain, 26,2~~response to the Bolshevik tyranny in 1918

~~“You that are strong with all might~~ “The times ahead, more perhaps than ever before in the ~~inner man ought by rights to carry on~~ Church's history, are a time of what St. Gregory the ~~struggle against~~ Theologian called ‘suffering Orthodoxy.’ We truly live in apocalyptic times: atheism is conquering the ~~enemies of~~ public sphere in the ~~truth~~whole world, false religion increases as never before and ~~not to shrink~~ captures many of those who awaken from the ~~task~~sleep of unbelief, ~~that we fathers may be gladdened by~~ the ~~noble toil~~ ecumenical movement draws nearer its goal of ~~our sons; for this is~~ a false world church (the ~~prompting~~ harlot of the ~~law of nature: but as you turn your ranks~~Apocalypse), and ~~send against us~~ the ~~assaults~~ spirit of ~~those darts~~ the coming Antichrist begins to place its seal on everywhere. Those who would be faithful to Christ in these terrible times must be prepared for sufferings and trials which ~~are hurled by~~ will truly test the ~~opponents~~ faithfulness of ~~the truth~~our hearts to Him. And yet, greater than these sufferings and ~~demand that their hot burning coals and their shafts sharpened by knowledge falsely so called should~~ the prince of this world who will inflict them upon us is He Who has promised to be ~~quenched~~ with us even to the ~~shield~~ end of ~~faith by us old men~~the age (Matt. 28:20).” ~~—St~~—Archbishop Averky (Taushev) of Syracuse, The Apocalypse, translated by Fr. ~~Gregory~~ Seraphim Rose of ~~Nyssa~~Platina

~~“I shall set forth the best contributions of the philosophers of the Greeks, because whatever there is of good~~ “Satan has ~~been given to men from above by God~~spread 666 traps. His seal will be made not only invisibly but also visibly, ~~since ‘every best gift~~ on the forehead and ~~every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights’ (Js. 1.17)~~arm. If~~, however, there~~ the seal impression is ~~anything that is contrary to the truth~~made by force, ~~then~~ in God’s sight it is will be considered like a ~~dark invention of the deceit of Satan and a fiction of~~ virgin disgraced. The hardest trial for Christians will be their relatives who accepted the ~~mind of an evil spirit, as that eminent theologian Gregory once said (Homily 39~~seal.3)The seal won’t affect if made against someone's will. ~~In imitation of the method of the bee, I shall make my composition from those things which are conformable with the truth and from our enemies themselves gather~~ But imagine the ~~fruit of salvation. But all that is worthless and falsely labeled as knowledge I shall reject. Then, next, after this, I shall~~ trap set ~~forth in order the absurdities of the heresies hated of God, so that~~ by ~~recognizing~~ the ~~lie we may more closely follow the truth~~antichrist for a mother having left with five children. Then, with God's help and by His grace I shall expose the truth–that truth which destroys deceit and puts falsehood to flight and which, as with golden fringes, has been embellished and adorned by the sayings of the divinely inspired prophets, the divinely taught fishermen, and the God-bearing shepherds and teachers–that truth, the glory of which flashes out from within How to ~~brighten with its radiance, when they encounter it,~~ feed them ~~that are duly purified and rid of troublesome speculations. However, as I have said, I shall add nothing of my own, but shall gather together into one those things which have been worked out by~~ if she does not accept the ~~most eminent of teachers and make a compendium of them, being in all things obedient to your command.” —St. John of Damascus, The Fount of Knowledge~~seal?

~~“If we have obtained~~ At first, the seal will be offered to volunteers. However, within the ~~grace~~ enthronement of Antichrist everyone will be forced to accept the seal. Disobedience will be claimed a treachery. People will flee to the forests. Precautions should be taken to move in groups of about ten-fifteen, as the demons might try to nudge single people from the cliffs. The believers will be protected by the Holy Spirit. Whatever happens, never lose your hope. Help each other. Godwill clear your mind and you will know how to react. The one who endures will be saved. No true believer will feel either hunger, ~~none shall prevail against us, but we shall~~ or thirst. The believers won't wither in the time of disasters. The Lord will work miracles for them. One leaf of a plant will be enough food for a month. Even the lump of the earth will be ~~stronger than all who oppose us~~changed into the bread by making a sign of the cross over it.” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Gabriel Urgebadze of Georgia, Confessor and Fool for Christ

~~“But our opinion~~ “Everyone is ~~in accordance with~~ under the ~~Eucharist~~influence of a power that masters the mind, the will, and all the powers of the ~~Eucharist in turn establishes our opinion~~soul.~~” —St~~And this power is cunning, because its source is the devil, and his tools are cunning people. Through them work the Antichrist and his forerunners. ~~Irenaeus~~ The Apostle said, ‘Because of ~~Lyons~~that, ~~Against Heresies~~God delivered them into the spirit of delusion, ~~4:18:5~~of deception, because they did not accept the love of the truth’. Something dark and scary is coming over the world. The human will stay more or less under his mastery, and the more the power of that cunning one has on the human under his mastery, the less the human will be aware of what he is doing.” —St. Barsanuphius

~~“If~~ “The servants of Antichrist more than anything else strive to force God out of the ~~poison~~ life of ~~pride is swelling up in you~~men, so that men, satisfied with their material comfort, might not feel any need to turn to ~~the Eucharist; and that Bread~~God in prayer, ~~Which is your~~ might not remember God ~~humbling and disguising Himself~~, ~~will teach you humility~~but might live as though He did not exist. If Therefore, the ~~fever~~ whole order of ~~selfish greed rages~~ today's life in ~~you~~the so-called ‘free’ countries, where there is no open bloody persecution against faith, ~~feed on this Bread; and you will learn generosity. If~~ where everyone has the right to believe as he wishes, is an even greater danger for the ~~cold wind~~ soul of ~~coveting withers you~~a Christian (than open persecution), ~~hasten~~ for it chains him entirely to the ~~Bread of Angels; and charity will come~~ earth, compelling him to ~~blossom in your heart~~forget about heaven. ~~If you feel the itch~~ The whole of ~~intemperance~~contemporary ‘culture’, ~~nourish yourself with~~ directed to purely earthly attainments and the ~~Flesh and Blood~~ frantic whirlpool of ~~Christ, Who practiced heroic self-control during His earthly~~ life~~; and you will become temperate. If you are lazy and sluggish about spiritual things, strengthen yourself~~ bound up with ~~this heavenly Food; and you will grow fervent. Lastly~~it, ~~if you feel scorched by the fever~~ keeps a man in a constant state of ~~impurity~~emptiness and distraction which gives no opportunity for one to go at least a little deeper into his soul, ~~go to the banquet of the Angels;~~ and so the ~~spotless Flesh of Christ will make you pure and chaste~~spiritual life in him gradually dies out.” ~~—St. Cyril~~ —Archbishop Averky (Taushev) of ~~Alexandria~~Syracuse, True Orthodoxy and the Contemporary World

~~“Don~~“They have built a church career for themselves on a false but attractive premise: that the chief danger to the Church today is lack of strictness. No – the chief danger is something much deeper – the loss of the savor of Orthodoxy, a movement in which they themselves are participating, even in their ‘strictness.’… ‘Strictness’ will not save us if we don't ~~be anxious about what you~~ have~~, but about what you are~~any more the feeling and taste of Orthodoxy.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Gregory the Great~~Seraphim Rose of Platina

~~“The soul that is~~ “We ourselves have a feeling–based on nothing very definite as yet–that the best hope for preserving true Orthodoxy in ~~all things devoted to~~ the years ahead will lie in such small gatherings of ~~God rests quiet~~ believers, as much as possible ‘one in ~~Him~~mind and soul.’ The history of the twentieth century has already shown us that we cannot expect too much from the ‘Church organization’; there, ~~for she knows of experience and~~ even apart from heresies, the ~~Holy Scriptures that~~ spirit of the ~~Lord loves us much~~ world has become very strong. Archbishop Averky, and ~~watches over~~ our ~~souls~~own Bishop Nektary also, ~~quickening all things by His grace in peace and love. Nothing troubles the man who is given over~~ have warned us to prepare for catacomb times ahead, when the ~~will~~ grace of God, may even be ~~it illness, poverty or persecution~~taken away from the ‘Church organization’ and only isolated groups of believers will remain. ~~He knows that the Lord in His mercy is solicitous for~~ Soviet Russia already gives us~~. The Holy Spirit~~an example of what we may expect–only worse, ~~whom~~ for the ~~soul knows, is witness therefore. But the proud and the self-willed~~ times do not ~~want to surrender to God's will because they like their own way, and that is harmful for the soul~~get better.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Silouan the Athonite (From the~~ Seraphim Rose of Platina, Hope, Father Seraphim Rose: His Life and ~~Teachings of Elder Siluan by Bishop Alexander and Natalia Bufius translated~~ Works by ~~Anatoly Shmelev)~~Hieromonk Damascene

~~“The man who cries~~ “In those days the remnant of the faithful are to experience in themselves something like that which was experienced once by the Lord Himself when He, hanging on a cross, felt Himself so forsaken by His Divinity, that He cried out ~~against evil men~~‘My God, ~~but does not pray for them~~ why hast Thou forsaken me?’ The last Christians will ~~never know~~ experience in themselves a similar abandonment of humanity by the ~~grace~~ Grace of God, but only for a short time.” —St. ~~Silouan the Athonite~~Seraphim of Sarov

~~“Those who dislike and reject their fellow-man are impoverished~~ “Finally, in ~~their being~~the twilight of history, the dictator of the world will come, the son of perdition… whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth (2 Thess. 2:8). ~~They do~~ And in all that time of peace, happiness and prosperity, there ‘will be great tribulation such as was not ~~know~~ from the ~~true God~~beginning of the world, ~~who is all-embracing love~~nor will ever be after’ (Mat.~~” —St~~24:21). ~~Silouan~~ Because of these troubles, many will repent and turn to God the Saviour. And in them the ~~Athonite~~Lord will have His last harvest.

~~“If we detect hatred in our hearts~~ The countries of the world will lead the fight against ~~any man whatsoever for committing any fault~~Christ and His Church… The Church of Christ will be put outside the law, ~~we are utterly estranged from love for God~~and public commemoration of Christ's name will be proscribed with severe penalties. But only those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. And the Son of Man, ~~since love for God absolutely precludes us from hating any man~~when He suddenly comes and destroys the ‘son of perdition’ [i.~~” —St~~e. ~~Maximus~~ Antichrist], that last tyrant, will He find faith on the ~~Confessor~~earth?

~~“One must~~ It will be found, but not ~~harbour anger nor hatred towards a person that is hostile towards us~~in public. On It will be found, but not in magnificent temples, such as are present, but in the ~~contrary~~caves and deserts. ~~You must love him~~ It will be found, but not as approved and do protected, but as ~~much good as possible towards him~~something tossed to and fro. ~~Following~~ It will be found, but not in lavish liturgies and psalmody but in the ~~teaching~~ temples of ~~our Lord Jesus Christ~~the human heart and in whispered speakings. For the Church began in Martyrdom, and in the end there She will find Martyrdom, O holy brethren.” —St. ~~Seraphim~~ Nikolai Velimirovich, The Orthodox Church in the "twilight of ~~Sarov~~history"

~~“Do not ask for love~~ “During the days of Antichrist, the strongest temptation will be the anticipation of salvation coming from the cosmos, from humanoids–that is from ~~your neighbor~~extraterrestrials, ~~for if you ask and he does not respond~~who are actually demons. One should rarely look up to search the skies with the naked eye, ~~you will~~ since the signs might be ~~troubled. Instead show your love for your neighbour~~ deceptive and ~~you will~~ one might be ~~at rest, and so will bring your neighbour to love~~deceived.” —St. ~~Dorotheos~~ Gabriel Urgebadze of ~~Gaza~~Georgia, Confessor and Fool for Christ

~~“Love should never~~ “So mine is a little flock? But it is not being carried over a precipice. So mine is a narrow fold? But it is unapproachable by wolves; it cannot be ~~sacrificed~~ entered by a robber, nor overcome by thieves and strangers. I shall yet see it, I know well, grow wider… I fear not for the ~~sake~~ little flock; for it is seen at a glance. I know my sheep and am known of mine. Such are they that know God and are known of God. My sheep hear from my voice that which I have heard from the oracles of ~~some dogmatic difference~~God, which I have been taught by the Holy Fathers, which I have taught in like manner on all occasions, not conforming myself to fashion, and which I will never cease to teach; in which I was born, and in which I will depart.” —St. ~~Nektarios of Aegina~~Gregory the Theologian

~~“No term~~ “If it should happen that a patriarch, metropolitan, or bishop is ~~used–and misused–among~~ a heretic, and such a heretic publicly professes heresy and disseminates heretical opinions boldly and confidently among the ~~Orthodox~~ people ~~in America more often than the term canonical~~, whoever separates from him will not only not be punished, but rather honored, for they deserve recognition for separating from an association with a certain faith.” —Fr. ~~Alexander Schmemann, The Problems of Orthodoxy in America, The Canonical Problem~~Joannes Zonaras (9th century Byzantine canonist and historian on Canon 15)

~~“Men~~ “If every Orthodox Christian is commanded by the canons to depart from a heretical bishop even before he is officially condemned, or be guilty also of his heresy, how much more must we depart from those who are ~~converted to God not because someone was able to give brilliant explanations~~worse (and more unfortunate) than heretics, ~~but~~ because they ~~saw in him that light, joy, depth, seriousness, and love which alone reveal~~ openly serve the ~~presence and power~~ cause of ~~God in the world.~~Antichrist?” —Fr. ~~Alexander Schmemann~~Seraphim Rose of Platina, Letter 40, 1970

~~“Even~~ “Concerning the ~~slightest thought~~ Patriarch I shall say this, lest it should perhaps occur to him to show me a certain respect at the burial of this my humble body, or to send to my grave any of his hierarchs or clergy or in general any of those in communion with him in order to take part in prayer or to join the priests invited to it from amongst us, thinking that at some time, or perhaps secretly, I had allowed communion with him. And lest my silence give occasion to those who do not know my views well and fully to suspect some kind of conciliation, I hereby state and testify before the many worthy men here present that is I do not ~~founded on love destroys~~ desire, in any manner and absolutely, and do not accept communion with him or with those who are with him, not in this life nor after my death, just as (I accept) neither the Union nor Latin dogmas, which he and his adherents have accepted, and for the enforcement of which he has occupied this presiding place, with the aim of overturning the true dogmas of the Church. I am absolutely convinced that the farther I stand from him and those like him, the nearer I am to God and all the saints, and to the degree that I separate myself from them am in union with the Truth and with the Holy Fathers, the Theologians of the Church; and I am likewise convinced that those who count themselves with them stand far away from the Truth and from the blessed Teachers of the Church. And for this reason I say: just as in the course of my whole life I was separated from them, so at the time of my departure, yea and after my death, I turn away from intercourse and communion with them and vow and command that none (of them) shall approach either my burial or my grave, and likewise anyone else from our side, with the aim of attempting to join and concelebrate in our Divine services; for this would be to mix what cannot be mixed. But it befits them to be absolutely separated from us until such time as God shall grant correction and peaceto His Church.” ~~—Archimandrite Thaddeus Strabulovich~~—St. Mark of Ephesus, The Example of, [as quoted in The Orthodox Word, June-July, 1967, pp. 103ff.]

~~“What does love look like? It has the hands~~ “With all our strength, therefore, let us beware lest we receive Communion from or give it to ~~help others~~heretics. ~~It has~~ ‘Give not what is holy to the ~~feet to hasten to~~ dogs,’ saith the ~~poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want~~Lord. ~~It has ears to hear the sighs~~ ‘Neither cast ye your pearls before swine’, lest we become partakers in their dishonour and ~~sorrows of men. That is what love looks like~~condemnation.” —St. ~~Augustine~~ John of Damascus, Exposition of ~~Hippo~~the Orthodox Faith, IV, 13

~~“Your Lord is love: love Him and in Him all men~~“And, ~~as His Children in Christ. Your Lord is fire: do not let your heart be cold~~you see, ~~but burn with faith and love. Your Lord is light: do~~ people are not ~~walk in darkness~~ at all aware that we are living during the signs of ~~mind~~the times, ~~without reasoning or understanding, or without faith~~that the sealing is already advancing. ~~Your Lord~~ This is ~~a God of mercy and bountifulness: be also a source of mercy and bountifulness to your neighbors. If you~~ why the Sacred Scripture says that even the elect will be ~~such, you will find salvation yourself with everlasting glory~~deceived.” —St. ~~John~~ Paisios of ~~Kronstadt~~Mt. Athos, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. II, Spiritual Awakening, p. 198

~~“I guard you in advance against beasts in the form of men~~“The Church is suffering today because Divine illumination is missing and people understand things as it suits them. The human element gets involved; passions are aroused, ~~whom you must not only not receive~~and then, ~~but if it~~ the devil comes and thrashes about. That is ~~possible~~ why people who are governed by their passions should not ~~even meet, but only pray for them, if perchance they may repent…”~~ seek to govern others.” —St. ~~Ignatius~~ Paisios of ~~Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans, A.D~~Mt. ~~117~~Athos

~~“Until you have eradicated evil~~“In sum, do the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in theory embracing almost the whole universe and in fact extending its authority only over several dioceses, and in other places having only a higher superficial supervision and receiving certain revenues for this, persecuted by the government at home and not ~~obey your heart; for it will seek more~~ supported by any governmental authority abroad: having lost its significance as a pillar of ~~what it already contains within~~ truth and having itselfbecome a source of division, and at the same time being possessed by an exorbitant love of power--represents a pitiful spectacle which recalls the worst periods in the history of the See of Constantinople.” —St. ~~Mark the Ascetic~~John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco, from Orthodox Word, vol. 8, no. 4 (45), July-August 1972, pp. 166-168, 174-175.

~~“Whatever~~ “The Lord of all gave to His apostles the power of the gospel, and by them we also have learned the truth, that ~~which~~ is ~~best has flowed into~~ , the ~~heart~~teaching of the Son of God—as the Lord said to them, ‘He who hears you hears Me, and he who despises you despises Me, and Him Who sent Me’ [Lk.10:16]. For we ~~should~~ learned the plan of our salvation from no other than from those through whom the gospel came to us. The first preached it abroad, and then later by the will of God handed it down to us in Scriptures, to be the foundation and pillar of our faith. For it is not ~~pour out without need; for~~ right to say that they preached before they had come to perfect knowledge, as some dare to say, boasting that ~~which has been gathered can be free~~ they are the correctors of ~~danger~~ the apostles. For after our Lord had risen from ~~visible~~ the dead, and ~~invisible enemies only~~ they were clothed with the power from on high when ~~it is guarded~~ the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were filled with all things and had perfect knowledge. They went out to the ends of the earth, preaching the good things that come to us from God, and proclaiming peace from heaven to all men, all and each of them equally being in possession of the ~~interior~~ gospel of ~~the heart~~God.” —St. ~~Seraphim~~ Irenaeus of ~~Sarov~~Lyons, Against Heresies, III

~~“No one professing faith sins~~“Those that wish to discern the truth may observe the apostolic tradition made manifest in every church throughout the world. We can enumerate those who were appointed bishops in the churches by the apostles, and their successors (or successions) down to our own day, who never taught, and never knew, ~~nor does does anyone possessing love hate~~absurdities such as these men produce. ~~The tree is~~ For if the apostles had known ~~by its fruit; thus~~ hidden mysteries which they taught the perfect in private and in secret, they would rather have committed them to those to whom they entrusted the churches. For they wished those ~~who profess~~ men to be ~~Christ's will~~ perfect and unbelievable whom they laughed as their successors and to whom they handed over their own office of authority. But as it would be ~~recognized~~ very tedious, in a book of this sort, to enumerate the successions in all the churches, we can found all those who in any way, whether for self-pleasing, or vainglory, or blindness, or evil mindedness, hold on authorized meetings. This we do by ~~their actions. For~~ pointing to the apostolic tradition and the ~~work~~ faith that is ~~a matter not~~ preached to men, which has come down to us through the successions of bishops; the tradition and creed of ~~what one promises now~~the greatest, and most ancient church, ~~but~~ the church known to all men, which was founded and set up at Rome by the two men most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul. For with this church, because of its position of ~~persevering to~~ leadership and authority, must needs agree every church, that is, the ~~end~~ faithful everywhere; for in her the ~~power of faith~~apostolic tradition has always been preserved by the faithful from all parts.” —St. ~~Ignatius~~ Irenaeus of ~~Antioch (to the Ephesians)~~Lyons, Against Heresies, III

~~“Indeed~~“If you wait for the perfect conditions to work out your salvation, ~~man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible~~then you will never begin a God-pleasing life.” —St. ~~Augustine~~Nikon of Optina

~~“The confession of evil works~~ "True Christianity is glorifying God with our own lives. To glorify God with our own life is ~~the first beginning of good works~~possible only when we have true faith and when that faith indeed exists, we express it in words and in deeds.” —St. ~~Augustine~~John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco

~~“The evil powers love~~ “When I, while still in Australia, began to receive information from America already post factum that here [in New York City] there had been protests, demonstrations, and even molebens in front of the ~~darkness~~ Soviet consulate, I became quite alarmed and ~~tremble at every light~~regretted that I was not here, ~~especially at that which belongs~~ since I would have decisively opposed much of what took place. In particular, holding a moleben in such a place. Did they not sing the Lord's song in a strange land? What cause was there to ~~God and~~ display the holy things of the Church's services before the gaze of the frenzied servants of Antichrist? Was it really not possible to ~~those who please Him.” —St. Nikolai Velimirovich~~pray in church?

~~“The one who has not yet obtained divine knowledge activated~~ I must say frankly that I am always seized by ~~love makes a lot~~ dismay when I hear of protests, demonstrations, and the ~~religious works he performs~~like. ~~But~~ In the USSR, life is governed by him (the one with horns) who fears only Christ and His Cross; and who fears nothing else in the world. And he merely chortles over protests and demonstrations. Public opinion? Why, the antichrist regime has ~~been deemed worthy~~ nothing but the uttermost contempt for it! They wanted to seize Czechoslovakia and they seized it, paying no heed to the commotion that was raised. They wanted to invade Afghanistan and they invaded it, again paying no attention to ~~obtain this says with conviction~~ the ~~words which~~ protests and threats of the various Carters & Co. All attempts to shape public opinion in the so-called Free World in favor of those suffering from Communism are powerless and fruitless, since the ~~patriarch Abraham spoke when he was graced with~~ Free World stubbornly closes its eyes and imitates the ~~divine appearance~~ostrich, ~~‘I am but earth~~ which hides its head under its wing and imagines that it cannot be seen…” —Metropolitan Philaret of New York, A letter from Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) to ROCOR Priest Victor Potapov concerning Father Dimitry Dudko and ~~ashes.’” —St. Maximus~~ the ~~Confessor~~Moscow Patriarchate

~~“Do~~ “That only the canonical Scriptures have infallibility is testified by Blessed Augustine in the words which he writes to Jerome: ‘It is fitting to bestow such honour and veneration only to the books of Scripture which are called 'canonical,' for I absolutely believe that none of the authors who wrote them erred in anything. … As for other writings, no matter how great was the excellence of their authors in sanctity and learning, in reading them I do not ~~say~~ accept their teaching as true solely on the basis that ~~‘mere faith~~ they thus wrote and thought.’ Then, in ~~our Lord Jesus Christ can save me~~a letter to Fortunatus [St.~~’ For~~ Mark continues in his citations of Augustine] he writes the following: ‘We should not hold the judgment of a man, even though this ~~is impossible unless you acquire love~~ man might have been orthodox and had an high reputation, as the same kind of authority as the canonical Scriptures, to the extent of considering it inadmissible for ~~him through works. For~~ us, out of the reverence we owe such men, to disapprove and reject something in ~~what concerns mere believing~~their writing if we should happen to discover that they taught other than the truth which, with God's help, ~~‘even~~ has been attained by others or by ourselves. This is how I am with regard to the ~~devils believe~~ writings of other men; and ~~tremble~~I desire that the reader will act thus with regard to my writings also.’” —St. ~~Maximus the Confessor~~Mark of Ephesus, Second Homily on Purgatorial Fire, chs. 15-16; Pogodin, pp. 127-132

~~“We see~~ “All who foolishly and proudly reject the ~~water of a river flowing uninterruptedly and passing away~~Holy Fathers, who approach the Gospels directly with foolish brazenness and ~~all that floats on its surface, rubbish or beams of trees, all pass by. So does our life. I was an infant, and that time has gone. I was an adolescent,~~ unclean mind and ~~that too has passed. I was a young man~~heart, ~~and that too is far behind me~~fall into lethal self-deception. The ~~strong and mature man that I was is no more. My hair turns white~~Gospel has rejected them, ~~I succumb to age, but that too passes; I approach the end and will go the way of all flesh. I was born in order to die. I die that I may live~~for it only accepts those who are humble. ~~Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom!~~” —St. ~~Tikhon~~ Ignatius Brianchaninov (Bryanchaninov) of ~~Voronezh~~Caucasus, The Field, Chapter 3

~~“You~~ “The holy scriptures were not given to us that we should enclose them in books, but that we should ~~look downward. Remember: you are earth and you will return to the earth~~engrave them in our hearts.” —St. ~~Ambrose of Optina~~John Chrysostom

~~“Just as a pauper~~“I will tell you my opinion briefly and without reserve. We ought to remain in that Church which was founded by the Apostles and continues to this day. If ever you hear of any that are called Christians taking their name not from the Lord Jesus Christ, but from some other, for instance, Marcionites, Valentinians, ~~seeing~~ Men of the ~~royal treasures~~mountain or the plain, ~~all~~ you may be sure that you have there not the ~~more acknowledges his own poverty; so also the spirit~~Church of Christ, ~~reading~~ but the ~~accounts~~ synagogue of Antichrist. For the fact that they took their rise after the ~~great deeds~~ foundation of the ~~Holy Fathers, involuntarily~~ Church is ~~all~~ proof that they are those whose coming the ~~more humbled in its way of thought.” —St~~Apostle foretold. ~~John Climacus~~

~~“Do~~ And let them not ~~shun poverty~~ flatter themselves if they think they have Scripture authority for their assertions, since the devil himself quoted Scripture, and ~~affliction~~the essence of the Scriptures is not the letter, but the ~~fuel~~ meaning. Otherwise, if we follow the letter, we too can concoct a new dogma and assert that ~~gives wings to prayer~~such persons as wear shoes and have two coats must not be received into the Church.” ~~—Evagrios the Solitary~~—St. Jerome

~~“What~~ “The key [to interpreting Holy Scripture]… is the ~~meaning~~ Tradition of the ~~exclamation so often sung in church: ‘Lord, have mercy upon us’? It is the lament of~~ Church… Now if you want to interpret the ~~guilty~~way you want, ~~condemned sinner~~due to your satanic pride, ~~imploring forgiveness of an irritated justice~~then you will most certainly fail. ~~We are all under the eternal curse and doomed to eternal fire for our innumerable sins~~You will become a heretic, and it heresy is ~~only~~ nothing other than the ~~Grace~~ logical interpretation of ~~Our Lord Jesus Christ, interceding for us before the Heavenly Father,~~ dogma. When I attempt to interpret things that ~~saves us from eternal punishment. It is the lament of the repentant sinner~~cannot be interpreted with logic and intellect, ~~expressing his firm intention~~ when I attempt to ~~amend~~ interpret a deep mystery using my mere mind and ~~begin a new life~~my intellect, ~~becoming for a Christian~~then I go astray. ~~It is~~ ” —Elder Athanasios Mitilinaios, Homiles on the ~~lament~~ Book of the ~~repentant sinner, ready to forgive others~~Revelation, ~~as he himself was and is immeasurably forgiven by God, the Judge of his deeds~~Vol.~~” —St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ~~I, pgp. ~~406~~46

~~“It seems that we do~~ “Christianity did not ~~understand one thing~~come from Judaism: it rather, Judaism is ~~not good when we return the love~~ a perversion of ~~those who love us, yet hate those who hate us~~Christianity. ~~We are not on the right path if we do this~~” —St. ~~We are the sons of light and love – the sons of God, his children. As such, we must have His qualities and His attributes of love, peace, and kindness towards all.” —Elder Thaddeus~~ Ignatius of ~~Vitovnica~~Antioch

~~“We suffer because we have no humility and we do not love our brother. From love of our brother comes the love~~ “Jesus Christ is King of ~~God~~Israel. ~~People do not learn humility, and because of their pride cannot receive the grace of the Holy Spirit, and therefor~~ Christians are the ~~whole world suffers~~Israelite race.” —St. ~~Silouan~~ Justin the ~~Athonite~~Martyr

~~“Some suffer much from poverty and sickness, but are not humbled~~“The synagogue is a refuge for demons, and ~~so they suffer without profit. But one who~~ it is ~~humbled will be happy in all circumstances, because~~ more correct to say not only the ~~Lord is his riches and joy~~synagogue but also Jewish souls; if you consider yourself a true Jew, ~~and all people will wonder at~~ then why are you burdening the ~~beauty of his soul~~Church.” —St. ~~Silouan~~ John Chrysostom, Against the ~~Athonite~~Jews (Adversus Judeos), Homily 1 IV:2

~~“My joy,~~ “So it is that I ~~beg~~ exhort you~~, acquire~~ to flee and shun their gatherings. The harm they bring to our weaker brothers is not slight; they offer no slight excuse to sustain to the ~~Spirit~~ folly of ~~Peace~~the Jews. ~~That means~~ For when they see that you, who worship the Christ whom they crucified, are reverently following their rituals, how can they fail to ~~bring oneself~~ think that the rites they have performed are the best and that our ceremonies are worthless? For after you worship and adore at our mysteries, you run to ~~such~~ the very men who destroy our rites. Paul said: ‘If a ~~state~~ man sees you that ~~our spirit will~~ have knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not his conscience, being weak, be ~~disturbed by anything. For one must go through many sorrows~~ emboldened to eat those things which are sacrificed to ~~enter~~ idols’? And let me say: If a man sees you that have knowledge come into the ~~Kingdom~~ synagogue and participate in the festival of ~~Heaven~~the Trumpets, shall not his conscience, being weak, be emboldened to admire what the Jews do? He who falls not only pays the penalty for his own fall, but he is also punished because he trips others as well. ~~This~~ But the man who has stood firm is rewarded not only because of his own virtue but people admire him for leading others to desire the ~~way all righteous men were saved and inherited the Heavenly Kingdom…”~~ same things.” —St. ~~Seraphim of Sarov~~John Chrysostom, Against the Jews (Adversus Judeos), Homily 1 V:7

~~“My will, therefore, He took to Himself, my grief. In confidence~~ “But do not be surprised that I ~~call it grief, because I preach His Cross~~called the Jews pitiable. ~~Mine is the will which He called His Own, for as Man He bore my grief, as Man He spake,~~ They really are pitiable and ~~therefore said, ‘Not as I will, but as Thou wilt~~miserable.~~’ Mine was the grief~~When so many blessings from heaven came into their hands, they thrust them aside and ~~mine the heaviness with which He bore it, for no man exults when~~ were at ~~the point~~ great pains to ~~die~~reject them. ~~With me and~~ The morning Sun of Justice arose for ~~me He Suffers, for me He is sad, for me He is heavy. In my stead therefore~~them, but they thrust aside its rays and still sit in ~~me He grieved Who had no cause to grieve for Himself~~darkness.” —St.John Chrysostom, Against the Jews (Adversus Judeos)

~~Not Thy Wound~~“Certainly it is the time for me to show that demons dwell in the synagogue, not only in the place itself but ~~mine~~also in the souls of the Jews. As Christ said: ‘When an unclean spirit is gone out, ~~hurt Thee, Lord Jesus;~~ he walks through dry places seeking rest. If he does not ~~Thy Death~~find it he says: I shall return to my house. And coming he finds it empty, ~~but our weakness~~swept, ~~even as~~ and garnished. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself and they enter into him and the ~~Prophet saith: ‘For He~~ last state of that man is ~~afflicted for our sakes’--~~made worse than the first. So shall it be also to this generation.’ Do you see that demons dwell in their souls and wethat these demons are more dangerous than the ones of old? And this is very reasonable.” —St. John Chrysostom, ~~Lord, esteemed Thee afflicted, when Thou grievedst not for Thyself, but for me.~~Against the Jews (Adversus Judeos)

~~And what wonder if He grieved for all, Who wept for one? What wonder if, in~~ “The teachers of Judaism refuse to admit that the ~~hour of death, He~~ Septuagint is ~~heavy for all, Who wept when at the point~~ correct. They attempt to ~~raise Lazarus from~~ frame another translation of the ~~dead? Then, indeed~~Scriptures. Observe that they have taken away many Old Testament Scriptures, ~~He was moved~~ by ~~a loving sister~~which the proof of Christ's tears, for they touched His human heart,--here by secret grief He brought it to pass that, even as His Death made an end of death, and His Stripes healed our scars, so also His Sorrow took away our sorrowcrucifixion is set forth.” —St. ~~Ambrose of Milan, (+397), Ch. 7, Book II, Exposition on~~ Justin the ~~Christian Faith~~Martyr

~~“Peace is not absence of struggle~~“The Jews are wise only in doing evil, ~~but absence~~ and are thus unable to know the hidden plan of ~~uncertainty and confusion~~God.” ~~—Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh~~—St. Justin the Martyr

~~“Humility~~ “It is ~~perfect quietness~~ absurd to speak of ~~heart~~Jesus Christ with the tongue, ~~it is~~ and to ~~expect nothing,~~ cherish in the mind a Judaism which has now come to ~~wonder at nothing that~~ an end. For where there is ~~done to me, to feel nothing done against me~~Christianity there cannot be Judaism. It For Christ is ~~to be at rest when nobody praises me~~one, in whom every nation that believes, and ~~when I am blamed or despised~~every tongue that confesses, is gathered unto God. ~~It is to~~ And those that were of a stony heart have ~~a blessed home in~~ become the ~~Lord~~children of Abraham, ~~where I can go in and shut~~ the ~~door,~~ friend of God and ~~kneel~~ in his seed all those have been blessed who were ordained to ~~my Father~~ eternal life in ~~secret~~Christ.” —St. Ignatius of Antioch, ~~and am at peace as in~~ On the Delusion of Being a ~~deep sea of calmness~~‘Jewish’ Christian, Epistle to the Magnesians, ~~when all around and above is trouble.” —Andrew Murray~~Chapter X

~~“However great~~ “Jews are slayers of the Lord, murderers of the prophets, enemies of God, adversaries of Grace, enemies of their Fathers’ faith, advocates of the ~~afflictions we suffer~~devil, a brood of vipers, slanderers, scoffers, men of darkened minds, ~~what are they compared with~~ the ~~promised future reward.~~leaven of Pharisees, a congregation of demons, sinners, wicked men, haters of Goodness!” —St. ~~Macarius the Great~~Gregory of Nyssa

~~“Shun~~ “It is true that Muhammad started from the ~~praise of men~~ east and ~~love~~ came to the ~~one who~~west, in as the ~~fear of~~ sun travels from east to west. Nevertheless he came with war, knives, pillaging, forced enslavement, murders, and acts that are not from the good God but instigated by the ~~Lord~~chief manslayer, ~~reprimands you~~the devil.” —St. ~~Pachomius~~Gregory Palamas

~~“When people begin~~ “They furthermore accuse us of being idolaters, because we venerate the cross, which they abominate. And we answer them: ‘How is it, then, that you rub yourselves against a stone in your Ka'ba and kiss and embrace it?’ Then some of them say that Abraham had relations with Agar upon it, but others say that he tied the camel to ~~praise us~~it, ~~let us hurry~~ when he was going to ~~remember~~ sacrifice Isaac. And we answer them: ‘Since Scripture says that the mountain was wooded and had trees from which Abraham cut wood for the ~~multitude of ours transgressions~~holocaust and laid it upon Isaac, [108] and ~~we will see~~ then he left the asses behind with the two young men, why talk nonsense? For in that place neither is it thick with trees nor is there passage for asses.’ And they are embarrassed, but they still assert that the stone is Abraham's. Then we say: ‘Let it be Abraham's, as you so foolishly say. Then, just because Abraham had relations with a woman on it or tied a camel to it, you are ~~truly unworthy~~ not ashamed to kiss it, yet you blame us for venerating the cross of Christ by which the power of the demons and the deceit of the Devil was destroyed.’ This stone that they talk about is a head of that ~~which~~ Aphrodite whom they ~~say~~ used to worship and ~~do in our honor~~whom they called Khabár.~~” —St~~Even to the present day, traces of the carving are visible on it to careful observers. ~~John Climacus~~

~~“…Don't~~ As has been related, this Mohammed wrote many ridiculous books, to each one of which he set a title. For example, there is the book On Woman, in which he plainly makes legal provision for taking four wives and, if it be ~~frightened at~~ possible, a thousand concubines—as many as one can maintain, besides the four wives. He also made it legal to put away whichever wife one might wish, and, should one so wish, to take to oneself another in the same way. Mohammed had a friend named Zeid. This man had a beautiful wife with whom Mohammed fell in love. Once, when they were sitting together, Mohammed said: ‘Oh, by the way, God has commanded me to take your ~~burden; our Lord~~ wife.’ The other answered: ‘You are an apostle. Do as God has told you and take my wife.’ Rather—to tell the story over from the beginning—he said to him: ‘God has given me the command that you put away your wife.’ And he put her away. Then several days later: ‘Now,’ he said, ‘God has commanded me to take her.’ Then, after he had taken her and committed adultery with her, he made this law: ‘Let him who will ~~help you~~ put away his wife. And if, after having put her away, he should return to her, let another marry her. For it is not lawful to ~~carry~~ take her unless she have been married by another. Furthermore, if a brother puts away his wife, let his brother marry her, should he so wish.’ [110] In the same book he gives such precepts as this: ‘Work the land which God hath given thee and beautify it. And do this, and do itin such a manner’ –not to repeat all the obscene things that he did.” —St. John ~~Vianney~~of Damascus, Fount of Knowledge, Heresies in Epitome: How They Began and Whence They Drew Their Origin

~~“Every tribulation reveals~~ “Sometimes Japanese protestants come to me and ask me to clarify some place in the ~~state~~ Holy Scriptures. ‘You have your own missionary teachers,’ I tell them, ‘Go ask them. What do they say?’ ‘We have asked them. They say: understand as you know how. But I need to know the real thought of God, not my own personal opinion.’ … It's not like that with us [Orthodox]. Everything is clear, trustworthy and simple, since we accept Holy Tradition in addition to the Holy Scriptures. And Holy Tradition is a living, unbroken voice of our Church from the time of Christ and His Apostles until now, and which willexist until the end of the world. In it all the meaning of the Holy Scriptures are preserved.” —St. ~~Mark the Ascetic~~Nicholas of Japan, Diary, January 15, 1897

~~“Every affliction tests our will~~“It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, ~~showing whether it~~ Who is ~~inclined~~ the true word of God. The Bible, read in the right spirit and with the guidance of good teachers, will bring us to ~~good or evil~~Him. ~~That is why an unforeseen affliction is called a test, because it enables~~ We must not use the Bible as a ~~man to test his hidden desires~~sort of encyclopedia out of which texts can be taken for use as weapons.” ~~—St~~—C. ~~Mark the Ascetic~~S. Lewis

~~“Many are~~ “If Scripture is perfect and sufficient for everything, why is the ~~wiles of~~ Church's interpretation necessary? Because, quite plainly, Scripture is not accepted by everyone as having the ~~enemy to despoil us of inner peace, so watch!~~same meaning.” —St. ~~Theophan the Recluse~~Vincent of Lérins

~~“In every situation confusion~~ “The humility of Jesus is not a superfluous detail in the gospel narrative. The humility of Jesus is ~~from~~ essential to the ~~devil~~gospel. If Jesus lacked humility, there would be no incarnation, no crucifixion, ~~from whom may the Lord shield~~ and ~~protect us~~no redemption.” ~~—St. Leo of Optina~~—Jack Wisdom

~~“It should be noted~~ “When they are refuted by the Scriptures, they take to maligning the Scriptures themselves. … But when we refer them to that ~~when~~ tradition which originates with the apostles and which is preserved in the churches through the succession of the presbyters, they attack the ~~fallen spirit wants to get dominion over Christ's ascetics~~tradition, ~~he does~~ claiming that they themselves are wiser not ~~act imperiously or domineeringly,~~ merely than the presbyters but ~~tries~~ even than the apostles. [However] anyone who wants to ~~draw a man to consent~~ see the truth can look to the ~~proposed delusion, and after getting his consent he takes possession~~ tradition of the ~~person~~ Apostles which is clearly manifested throughout the whole world; and we can list those who ~~has given his consent. Holy David,~~ were set up as bishops in ~~describing his~~ the ~~fallen angel attacks man~~different churches as well as their successors right down to our own time, ~~has very rightly said: "He lurketh in~~ men who neither taught nor knew anything like what these [Gnostics] are raving about. For if the apostles had known secret ~~as a lion~~ doctrines which they were in ~~his den, that he may ravish~~ the ~~poor;~~ habit of teaching to ~~ravish~~ the ~~poor~~“perfect” clandestinely and apart from the rest, ~~when he getteth him into his net."” —St~~they would most certainly have communicated these things to those to whom they were entrusting the churches themselves. ~~Ignaty Bryanchaninov, The Arena, chapter 11, On the Solitary Life~~

~~“The devil presents minor sins as insignificant~~ And if a dispute should arise over some point or other, should we not have recourse to the most ancient churches, in ~~our eyes~~which the apostles were actively interested, ~~because otherwise he would~~ and find out from them what is certain and clear with regard to the point at issue? What if, in fact, the apostles had left us no Writings? Would it not be ~~able lead us into major ones.~~necessary to follow the line indicated by the tradition which they handed down to those to whom they entrusted the churches?” —St. ~~Mark the Ascetic~~Irenaeus of Lyons

~~“Do~~ “[Heretics] should not ~~leave unobliterated~~ be admitted to any ~~fault, however small, for it may lead you on to greater sins.” —St. Mark~~ discussion of the ~~Ascetic~~Scriptures…

~~“He who honours~~ The Lord Jesus sent the ~~Lord does~~ apostles to preach. … Now what they actually preached can, as I must here likewise prescribe, be proved only by those very same churches which the ~~Lord bids~~apostles themselves founded by preaching to them both viva voce, as they say, and later by letters. ~~When he sins or~~ Such being the case, it is consequently certain that any doctrine which agrees with [what is ~~disobedient~~held by] these apostolic churches, moulds and original sources of the faith, ~~he patiently accepts what comes as something he deserves.” —St~~must be considered the truth, undoubtedly containing that which these churches received from the apostles, the apostles from Christ, and Christ from God; but any other doctrine must be presumed false, since it smacks of opposition to the truth of the churches, of the apostles, of Christ, of God. ~~Mark the Ascetic~~

~~“It is a great~~ Come now! Would they all have fallen into error ? Would the steward of God, the Vicar of Christ [the Holy Spirit] have neglected His duty by allowing the churches to ~~think~~ understand and believe otherwise than what He Himself taught the apostles? Is it likely that ~~you must undertake important~~ so many and ~~great labors, whether for heaven, or, as~~ such outstanding churches would all have strayed into the ~~'progressives' think, in order to make~~ one~~'s contribution to humanity. That is not necessary at all. It is necessary only to do everything~~ [false] faith? No chance happening ever has the same outcome in ~~accordance with~~ the ~~Lord's commandments~~case of many different individuals.~~” —St~~A doctrinal error in so many different churches would of necessity have taken different forms. ~~Theophan~~ But when unity exists amid diversity, this can be the ~~Recluse~~result, not of error, but only of Tradition.

~~“When we are immersed in sins~~Let us inquire, therefore, whether tradition, ~~and our mind is occupied solely with worldly cares~~unless it be written, should be accepted. Certainly we do shall say that it ought not ~~notice~~ to be accepted if we can allege as precedent no cases of other practices which we justify without any written document, but solely on the grounds of tradition and because of the ~~state~~ approval of ~~our soul~~subsequent custom… If you demand scriptural justification for these and other such practices, you will find none. Tradition will be held out to you as their author, custom as their consolidator, and faith as their observer.” ~~—St. John Maximovitch~~—Tertullian

~~“We have to be aware that what is being pounded in upon us is all~~ “Since there are many who think they share the mind of ~~one piece; it has a certain rhythm, a certain message to give us, this message~~ Christ and yet some of ~~self-worship~~them think differently from their predecessors, let the preaching of ~~relaxing~~the Church be held fast, that preaching which has been handed down from the apostles through the ranks of ~~letting go, of enjoying yourself, of giving up any thought of~~ succession and perdures in the ~~other world … It is actually an education in atheism. We have~~ churches to ~~fight back by knowing just what~~ the ~~world~~ present day. That alone is ~~trying~~ to ~~do to us…” —Fr~~be believed as the truth which varies in no wise from ecclesiastical and apostolic tradition. ~~Seraphim Rose of Platina~~” —Origen

~~“I saw the snares~~ “It suffices as proof of our thesis that we have a tradition coming to us from the ~~enemy spreads out over~~ fathers, like a legacy handed down from the ~~world and I said groaning, "What can get~~ apostles through ~~from such snares?" Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Humility~~the saints who followed them in succession.’” ” —St. ~~Anthony the Great~~Gregory of Nyssa

~~“Learn~~ “Of the beliefs and practices [disciplinary regulations] preserved in the Church, some we possess from teaching handed down in written form; others we have received as delivered to ~~love humility, for it will cover all your sins. All sins are repulsive before God, but~~ us in a mystery from the ~~most repulsive of all is pride~~ tradition of the ~~heart. Do not consider yourself learned and wise; otherwise, all your efforts will be destroyed~~Apostles, and ~~your boat will reach~~ both of these have the ~~harbor empty. If you have great authority, do not threaten anyone with death. Know that, according to nature, you too are susceptible to death, and that every soul sheds its body~~ same force as far as ~~its final garment~~religion is concerned.” —St. ~~Anthony~~ Basil the Great

~~“Wouldst thou comprehend~~ “There is need of tradition also; for not everything can be found in Scripture. That is why the ~~height of God? First comprehend~~ most holy apostles left some things in writing and others in tradition. Paul affirms this very fact as follows: ‘as I handed it on to you.’ Likewise in another passage: ‘This is my teaching and thus have I handed it on to the ~~lowliness of God~~churches. ~~Condescend~~ ’ Similarly: ‘If you continue to ~~be humble for thine own sake, seeing that God condescended~~ cling firmly to ~~be humble for thy sake too~~it, ~~for~~ as I preached it ~~was not~~ to you—unless your faith has all been for ~~his own~~nothing.” ’” —St. ~~Augustine~~Epiphanius

~~“The greatness of a man consisteth of humility~~“Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for ~~in proportion as a man descendeth to humility~~themselves let them do so. Otherwise, ~~he becometh exalted to greatness~~let their parents or other relatives speak for them.” ~~—Paradise~~ —St. Hippolytus of ~~the Holy Fathers~~Rome, The Apostolic Tradition, ~~Vol. 2~~21:16

~~“It is easier to measure the entire sea~~ “We baptize even infants, though they are not defiled by sins, so they too may be given holiness, righteousness, adoption, inheritance, brotherhood with ~~a tiny cup than to grasp God's ineffable greatness with the human mind~~Christ, and membership in Him.” —St. ~~Basil the Great~~John Chrysostom

~~“You don't~~ “We believe the first man created by God to have fallen in Paradise, when, disregarding the Divine commandment, he yielded to the deceitful counsel of the serpent. And as a ~~soul~~result hereditary sin flowed to his posterity; so that everyone who is born after the flesh bears this burden, and experiences the fruits of it in this present world. But by these fruits and this burden we do not understand [actual] sin, such as impiety, blasphemy, murder, sodomy, adultery, fornication, enmity, and whatever else is by our depraved choice committed contrarily to the Divine Will, not from nature. For many both of the Forefathers and of the Prophets, and vast numbers of others, as well of those under the shadow [of the Law], as well as under the truth [of the Gospel], such as the divine Precursor, and especially the Mother of God the Word, the ever-virgin Mary, did not experience these [sins], or such like faults. ~~You are~~ But only what the Divine Justice inflicted upon man as a ~~Soul. You have~~ punishment for the [original] transgression, such as sweats in labor, afflictions, bodily sicknesses, pains in child-bearing, and, finally, while on our pilgrimage, to live a ~~body~~laborious life, and lastly, bodily death.” ~~—C. S. Lewis~~—Confession of Dositheus, Synod of Jerusalem, 1672, Decree 6

~~“Learn~~ “We believe Holy Baptism, which was instituted by the Lord, and is conferred in the name of the Holy Trinity, to ~~love humility~~be of the highest necessity. For without it none is able to be saved, as the Lord says, ‘Whoever is not born of water and of the Spirit, shall in no way enter into the Kingdom of the Heavens.’ {John 3:5} And, therefore, baptism is necessary even for infants, since they also are subject to original sin, and without Baptism are not able to obtain its remission. Which the Lord showed when he said, not of some only, but simply and absolutely, ‘Whoever is not born [again],’ which is the same as saying, ‘All that after the coming of Christ the Savior would enter into the Kingdom of the Heavens must be regenerated.’ And since infants are men, and as such need salvation, needing salvation they need also Baptism. And those that are not regenerated, since they have not received the remission of hereditary sin, are, of necessity, subject to eternal punishment, and consequently cannot without Baptism be saved. So that even infants should, of necessity, be baptized. Moreover, infants are saved, as is said in Matthew; {Matthew 19:12} but he that is not baptized is not saved. And consequently even infants must of necessity be baptized. And in the Acts {Acts 8:12; 16:33} it ~~will cover all your sins~~is said that the whole houses were baptized, and consequently the infants. ~~All sins~~ To this the ancient Fathers also witness explicitly, and among them Dionysius in his Treatise concerning the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy; and Justin in his fifty-sixth Question, who says expressly, ‘And they are ~~repugnant before God but~~ guaranteed the benefits of Baptism by the ~~most repugnant~~ faith of ~~all~~ those that bring them to Baptism.’ And Augustine says that it is ~~pride~~ an Apostolic tradition, that children are saved through Baptism; and in another place, ‘The Church gives to babes the feet of others, that they may come; and the hearts of others, that they may believe; and the tongues of others, that they may promise;’ and in another place, ‘Our mother, the Church, furnishes them with a particular heart.’

~~Do not consider yourself learned~~ Now the matter of Baptism is pure water, and ~~wise; otherwise~~no other liquid. And it is performed by the Priest only, or in a case of unavoidable necessity, by another man, provided he is Orthodox, and has the proper intention to Divine Baptism. And the effects of Baptism are, to speak concisely, firstly, the remission of the hereditary transgression, and of any sins of any kind that the baptized may have committed. Secondly, it delivers him from the eternal punishment, to which he was liable, ~~all your effort will be destroyed~~ as well for original sin and ~~your boat will reach~~ for mortal sins he may have individually committed. Thirdly, it gives to the ~~harbor empty~~person immortality; for in justifying them from past sins, it makes them temples of God.

~~If you~~ And it cannot be said that there is any sin which may have ~~great authority~~been previously committed that remains, though not imputed, that is not washed away through Baptism, For that were indeed the height of impiety, and a denial, rather than a confession of piety. Indeed, truly, all sin existing, or committed before Baptism, is blotted out, and is to be regarded as never existing or committed. For the forms of Baptism, and on either hand all the words that precede and that perfect Baptism, do indicate a perfect cleansing. And the same thing even the very names of Baptism do signify. For if Baptism is by the Spirit and by fire, {Matthew 3:11} it is obvious that it is in all a perfect cleansing; for the Spirit cleanses perfectly. If it is light, {Hebrews 6:4} it dispels the darkness. If it is regeneration, {Titus 3:5} old things are passed away. And what are these except sins? If the baptized puts off the old man, {Colossians 3:9} then sin also. If he puts on Christ, {Galatians 3:27} then in effect he becomes free from sin through Baptism. For God is far from sinners. This Paul also teaches more plainly, saying: ‘As through one [man] we, being many, were made sinners, so through one [are we made] righteous.’ {Romans 5:19} And if righteous, then free from sin. For it is not ~~threaten anyone with~~ possible for life and deathto be in the same [person]. ~~Know~~If Christ truly died, then remission of sin through the Spirit is true also. Hence it is evident that ~~according~~ all who are baptized and fall asleep while babes are undoubtedly saved, being predestinated through the death of Christ. Forasmuch as they are without any sin; – without that common [to ~~nature~~all], because delivered from it by the Divine laver, ~~you too~~ and without any of their own, because as babes they are ~~susceptible~~ incapable of committing sin; – and consequently are saved. Moreover, Baptism imparts an indelible character, as does also the Priesthood. For as it is impossible for any one to ~~death and that every soul sheds its body~~ receive twice the same order of the Priesthood, so it is impossible for any once rightly baptized, to be again baptized, although he should fall even into myriads of sins, or even into actual apostasy from ~~itself as~~ the ~~final garment~~Faith. For when he is willing to return unto the Lord, he receives again through the Mystery of Penance the adoption of a son, which he had lost.” —Confession of Dositheus, Synod of Jerusalem, 1672, Decree 16

~~In Byzantium there existed an unusual~~ “A dangerous lie is preached by sectarians when they say that children should not be baptized, but when children grow up and know what faith is, then they should be baptized. Man and ~~instructive custom during the crowning~~ son of man, shut your ears from such crazy words. Because if your child dies unbaptized, he will enter the ~~emperors~~ other world as unclean and undone by God. With whom, then, will he be in ~~the Church of the Divine Wisdom [St~~eternity, and whose name will he be? Look, you don't wait for your child to grow up and find out what water and milk and honey and bread and medicine are, and only then can you give him all that. ~~Sophia]~~But you give it to him even though he doesn't know it. ~~The custom was that when the patriarch placed the crown on the emperor~~You know what's ~~head~~good and life saving for her, at does she have to know that in the ~~same time~~cradle? And if your child has cough, ~~he handed~~ will you treat it, or will you wait until it grows up and find out what cough is? And hereditary sin is an unequally heavier pain than gout. So when you are treating your child from gout, treat him ~~a silk purse filled with dirt~~ also from that more serious illness, for which the ~~grave~~cure is baptism. Don't let your unbaptized child die, because otherwise you will never and anywhere in eternity meet his soul.” —St.Nikolai Velimirovich

~~Then,~~ “…[T]here were no New Testamental writings for the earliest Christians and yet they possessed the fullness of the truth and faith of Christianity. On the day of Pentecost the Church was born and yet there were no Gospels as we know them today. It would not be a theological exaggeration to assert that the Church would be the Church in Her fullness even if She did not possess the New Testament. For many raised on the Reformational principle of ‘sola scriptura’ this may seem a radical – even heretical – statement. …[T]here was a time when the ~~emperor would recall death~~ Church did not possess this corpus of inspired writing and ~~to avoid~~ yet the Church existed in Her fullness, Christians experienced the truth of the faith in all ~~pride and become humble~~its fullness.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Anthony~~ Georges Florovsky, The Byzantine Fathers of the ~~Great~~Fifth Century

~~“Pride~~ “… Word and sacrament long ago lost touch with each other and became subjects of independent study and definition … I daresay that the gradual ‘decomposition’ of scripture, its dissolution in more ~~than anything else~~and more specialized and negative criticism, ~~deprives people~~ is a result of ~~both their good deeds~~ its alienation from the Eucharist - and ~~help~~ practically from ~~God~~the Church herself - as an experience of a spiritual reality.” —Fr. ~~Where there is no humility~~Alexander Schmemann, The Eucharist, ~~pride takes its place~~p.~~” —St. Macarius of Optina~~66

~~“This~~ “Anti-sacramental, anti-ritual evangelicalism emphasizes a personal relationship with God, but tends to encourage what Anthony Giddens calls ‘pure relationship,’ a relationship that is not tacked down with external anchors and supports. A live-in relationship, without benefit of the ~~wisdom~~ rites and ~~power~~ legalities of marriage, is a pure relationship. Evangelicalism tends to encourage a live-in relationship with Jesus. This is wrong, a departure from Christian tradition, and unbiblical. It also places unbearable burdens on the soul. Tempted by the devil, Luther slapped his forehead to remind himself of his baptism. His standing before God: was anchored in Christ, to whom he had been joined by baptism. For evangelicals, assurance cannot be ~~victorious through weakness~~grounded in anything so external and objective. Spontaneous enthusiasm is the test of sincerity, ~~exalted through humility~~and the source of assurance. But eternal, ~~rich through poverty~~self-scrutinizing vigilance is necessary to ensure that the enthusiasm is really spontaneous. Enthusiasm was supposed to liberate the soul from all the dead forms, but it comes with its own set of chains.” ~~—St~~—Rev. Dr. Peter J. ~~Gregory Palamas~~Leithard

~~“You will lose nothing~~ “In the Orthodox approach to Scripture, it is the job of the individual not to strive for originality in interpretation, but rather to understand what ~~you have renounced for~~ is already present in the traditions of the ~~Lord’s sake~~Church. ~~For in its own time~~ We are obliged not to go beyond the boundary set by the Fathers and Creeds of the Church, but to faithfully pass on the Tradition just as we have received it ~~will return~~ . To do this requires a great deal of study and thought–but even more, if we are to ~~you greatly multiplied~~truly understand the Scriptures, we must enter deeply into the mystical life of the Church.” ~~—St~~—ibid. ~~Mark the Ascetic~~, p. 44

~~“Where can I flee? A place cannot save you because there~~ “The scriptures and the Church are reduced here to the category of two formal authorities, two ‘sources of faith’ – as they are called in the scholastic treatises, for which the only question is which authority is ~~no place you can flee from yourself~~the higher: which ‘interprets’ which…” —Ibid.~~” —St~~, p. ~~Nikon of Optina~~66

~~“If our purpose is~~ “For if we proclaim holy scripture to ~~fight~~ be the supreme authority for teaching the ~~spiritual fight and to defeat, with God's help,~~ faith in the ~~demons of malice~~Church, ~~we should take every care to guard our heart from~~ then what is the ~~demon~~ ‘criterion’ of ~~dejection, just as a moth devours clothing and a worm devours wood, so dejection devours a man’s soul~~scripture? Sooner or later it becomes ‘biblical science’ – i. ~~It persuades him to shun every helpful encounter and stops him accepting advice from his true friends or giving them a courteous and peaceful reply~~e. ~~Seizing the entire soul~~, ~~it fills it with bitterness and listlessness. Then it suggests to~~ in the ~~soul that we should go away from other people~~final analysis, ~~since they are the cause of its agitation~~naked reason…” —Ibid. ~~It does not allow the soul to understand that its sickness does not come from without~~, ~~but lies hidden within, only manifesting itself when temptations attack the soul because of our ascetic efforts~~p.66-67

~~A man can be harmed by another only through~~ “It is therefore clear that [the ~~causes of the passions which lie within himself. It is for this reason~~ apostles] did not teach everything in epistolary form, but that ~~God~~they taught many things besides in unwritten form, ~~the Creator of all~~ and ~~the Doctor of men’s souls~~these things, too, ~~who alone has accurate knowledge~~ are worthy of acceptance. Wherefore we should consider the ~~soul’s wounds, does not tell us to forsake the company~~ tradition of ~~men; He tells us to root out~~ the ~~causes~~ Church also as worthy of ~~evil within us and to recognize that the soul’s health~~ belief. If there is ~~achieved not by~~ a man’s separating himself from his fellows, but by his living the ascetic life in the company of holy men. When we abandon our brothers for some apparently good reason, we do not eradicate the motives for dejection but merely exchange themtradition, ~~since the sickness which lies hidden within us will show itself again in other circumstances~~look no further.” —St. John ~~Cassian~~Chrysostom

~~“A life lived in the world can be as good, in the eyes~~ “Certain men who hold different opinions (i.e. heretics) misuse these passages. They essentially destroy free will by introducing ruined natures incapable of ~~God,~~ salvation and by introducing others as ~~one spent~~ being saved in such a ~~monastery. It is indeed only the keeping of God's commandments, love of all, and a true sense of humility~~ way that ~~matter, wherever we are~~they cannot be lost.” ~~—Elder Macarius of Optina~~—Origen

~~“Those who, because~~ “A false interpretation of Scripture causes that the gospel of the ~~rigor~~ Lord becomes the gospel of ~~their own ascetic practice~~man, ~~despise the less zealous~~or, which is worse, ~~think that they are made righteous by physical works. But we are even more foolish if we rely on theoretical knowledge and disparage~~ of the ~~ignorant~~devil.” —St. ~~Mark the Ascetic~~Jerome

~~“A remedy against straying thoughts is mental attention~~“Truth cannot be acquired, ~~attention to~~ the ~~fact that~~ flesh with its passions and lusts cannot be crucified, the ~~Lord is before us~~ heart cannot be filled with the Light of Christ and we united with Him, through salvation, unless these are ~~before Him~~preceded by frequent prayer.” ~~—St. Theophan the Recluse~~—The Way of a Pilgrim

~~“The roots~~ “How long shall we continue in this manner, our intellect reduced to futility, failing to make the spirit of ~~evil thoughts are~~ the ~~obvious vices~~Gospel our own, ~~which we keep trying~~ not knowing what it means to live according to ~~justify in~~ our ~~words and actions.~~conscience, making no serious effort to keep it pure?” —St. Mark the Ascetic

~~“Guard your speech from boasting~~ “It is self evident, however, that sincere Christians who are Roman Catholics, or Lutherans, or members of other non-Orthodox confessions, cannot be termed renegades or heretics—i.e. those who knowingly pervert the truth… They have been born and ~~your thoughts from presumption~~raised and are living according to the creed which they have inherited, just as do the majority of you who are Orthodox; ~~otherwise you may~~ in their lives there has not been a moment of personal and conscious renunciation of Orthodoxy. The Lord, ‘Who will have all men to be ~~abandoned by God~~ saved’ (I Tim. 2:4) and ~~fall~~ ‘Who enlightens every man born into ~~sin~~the world’ (Jn. 1. ~~For man cannot do anything good without the help of God~~43), ~~who sees everything~~undoubtedly is leading them also towards salvation in His own way.” ~~—St. Mark the Ascetic~~—Metropolitan Philaret of New York

~~"The higher~~ “You ask, will the heterodox be saved… Why do you worry about them? They have a ~~person’s position in society~~ Saviour Who desires the ~~more he~~ salvation of every human being. He will take care of them. You and I should ~~help others without ever reminding them of his position~~not be burdened with such a concern. Study yourself and your own sins… I will tell you one thing, however: should you, being Orthodox and possessing the Truth in its fullness, betray Orthodoxy, and enter a different faith, you will lose your soul forever.” ~~—Tsar St~~—St. ~~Nicholas II~~Theophan the Recluse

~~“If you want your sins to be absolved by Christ~~“The Orthodox confess that SHE IS the One, ~~then don't speak to others about any virtue that you may have~~Holy, ~~because God will treat our sins the same way we treat our virtues~~Universal (katholikos) and Apostolic Ecclesia! Any other model is gnostic.” —St. ~~Mark the Ascetic~~Irenaeus of Lyons

~~“If any man~~ “Orthodoxy is ~~able in power to continue in purity~~what Christ taught, to the ~~honour of the flesh of our Lord~~apostles preached, ~~let him continue so without boasting; if he boasts, he is undone; if he become known apart from~~ and the ~~bishop, he has destroyed himself~~Fathers kept.” —St. ~~Ignatius of Antioch~~Athanasius the Great

~~“Guarding~~ “He is ‘the same yesterday and today and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8). Orthodox Christians are committed to the ~~mouth wakes up~~ truth claim of the ~~conscience to God, if it is with knowledge that a man keeps silence~~Christian Faith not as ideology but as an expression of holiness.” ~~—St~~—Rev. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~Dr. George C. Papademetriou, An Orthodox Reflection on Truth & Tolerance

~~“Silence~~ “The beginning of theology is ~~more profitable than speech~~not the card catalogue, ~~for as it has been said~~but doing battle against the passions; and the end of theology is not becoming a professor, ~~"The words of wise men are heard even in quiet~~but becoming a saint."” ~~—St~~—Dr. ~~Basil the Great~~David Fagerberg

~~“Never give your opinion if you~~ “Men are converted to God not ~~asked for it~~because someone was able to give brilliant explanations, ~~even if you think~~ but because they saw in him that ~~your view is~~ light, joy, depth, seriousness, and love which alone reveal the presence and power of God in the ~~best~~world.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Josemaria Escriva~~Alexander Schmemann

~~“Not only~~ “When conversion does take place, the process of revelation occurs in a very simple way: a person is in need, he suffers, and then somehow the other world opens up. The more you are in suffering and difficulties and are desperate for ~~every idle word must man give an account~~God, ~~but for every idle silence~~the more He is going to come to your aid, reveal Who He is, and show you the way to get out.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Ambrose~~ Seraphim Rose of ~~Milan~~Platina, Father Seraphim Rose: His Life and Works by Hieromonk Damascene, p. 98

~~“Somewhere~~ “We think we know a lot, but what we know is very little. Even all those who have striven all their life to bring progress to mankind – learned scientists and highly educated people – all realize in the end that ~~without silence words lose~~ all their ~~meaning, that without listening speaking no longer heals, that without distance closeness cannot cure~~knowledge is but a grain of sand on the seashore. All our achievements are insufficient.” ~~—Henri Nouwen~~—Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives

~~“Let your mouth continually administer blessing~~“Men are often called intelligent wrongly. Intelligent men are not those who are erudite in the sayings and books of the wise men of old, but those who have an intelligent soul and can discriminate between good and evil. They avoid what is sinful and harms the soul; ~~then~~ and with deep gratitude to God they resolutely adhere by dint of practice to what is good and benefits the ~~scorn of anyone will never hurt you~~soul. These men alone should truly be called intelligent.” —St. ~~Isaac~~ Anthony the ~~Syrian~~Great, On the Character of Men and on the Virtuous Life: One Hundred and Seventy Texts, Text 1, The Philokalia: The Complete Text, Vol. 1

~~“Just as swine run~~ “It is impossible to replace the spiritual with the emotional. If anyone tries to ~~a place where there is mire~~forcibly replace one with the other, ~~and bees dwell where there are fragrances and incense, likewise demons gather where there are carnal songs and the grace~~ then he will assimilate lies instead of ~~the Holy Spirit settles where there are spiritual melodies~~truth, ~~sanctifying both mouth and soul~~falsehood masquerading as truth.” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Ignatius Brianchaninov (Bryanchaninov) of Caucasus, The Refuge, Chapter 9, p. 119

~~“A psalm implies serenity of soul; it~~ “Not knowledge that you learn, but knowledge that you suffer: that is ~~the author of peace, which calms bewildering and seething thoughts~~Orthodox spirituality. ~~For~~” —Gerontissa Gabrielia, ~~it softens the wrath~~ Sayings of the soul, and what is unbridled it chastens. A psalm forms friendships, unites those separated, conciliates those at enmity. Who, indeed, can still consider as an enemy him with whom he has uttered the same prayer to God?Gerontissa Gabrielia

~~So that psalmody, bringing about choral singing, a bond~~“Our religion is founded on spiritual experience, seen and heard as sure as ~~it were, toward unity~~any physical fact in this world. Not theory, ~~and joining the people into a harmonious union of one choir~~not philosophy, ~~produces also the greatest of blessings~~not human emotions, ~~charity~~but experience. A psalm is a city of refuge from the demons, a means of inducing help from the angels, a weapon in fears by night, a rest from toils by day, a safeguard for infants, an adornment for those at the height of their vigor, a consolation for the elders, a most fitting ornament for women” —St.Nikolai Velimirovich

~~It peoples~~ “Only the ~~solitudes; it rids the market place~~ Religion of ~~excesses; it is the elementary exposition~~ Christ unites and all of ~~beginners~~us must pray that they come to this. Thus union will occur, ~~the improvement~~ not by believing that all of ~~those advancing,~~ us are the ~~solid support of~~ same thing and that all religions are the ~~perfect, the voice of the Church~~same. ~~It brightens~~ They are not the ~~feast days; it creates a sorrow which~~ same… our Orthodoxy is ~~in accordance with God~~not related to other religions.” —St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

~~For, a psalm~~ “Orthodoxy is ~~the work of angels~~life, ~~a heavenly institution~~one must not talk about it, ~~the spiritual incense~~one must live it.” —St. ~~Basil the Great~~Nektary of Optina

“Through the Holy Spirit comes our restoration to paradise, our ascension into the kingdom of heaven, our return to the adoption of sons, our liberty to call God our Father, our being made partakers of the grace of Christ, our being called children of light, our sharing in eternal glory, and, in a word, our being brought into a state of all "fulness of blessing," both in this world and in the world to come, of all the good gifts that are in store for us, by promise hereof, through faith, beholding the reflection of their grace as though they were already present, we await the full enjoyment“Orthodoxy can't be comfortable unless it is fake.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Basil the Great~~Seraphim Rose of Platina

~~“Humility consists~~“As for all those who pretend to confess sound Orthodox Faith, but are in communion with people who hold different opinion, if they are forewarned and still remain stubborn, you must not only be in ~~condemning our conscience~~communion with them, but ~~in recognizing God's grace and compassion~~you must NOT even call them brothers.” —St. ~~Mark~~ Basil the ~~Ascetic~~Great

~~“Children, I beseech you to correct your hearts and thoughts, so~~ “It is a commandment of the Lord that ~~you may be pleasing to God. Consider that although~~ we ~~may reckon ourselves to~~ should not be ~~righteous and frequently succeed~~ silent when the Faith is in ~~deceiving men~~peril. So, ~~we can conceal nothing from God. Let us therefore strive to preserve the holiness~~ when it is a matter of ~~our souls and to guard~~ the ~~purity of our bodies with all fervor. Ye are the temple of God~~Faith, one cannot say, ‘Who am I? A priest, a ruler, a soldier, a farmer, ~~says the divine Apostle Paul; If any~~ a poor man ~~defile the temple of God~~? I have no say or concern in this matter.’ Alas! The stones shall cry out, ~~him shall God destroy.~~and you remain silent and unconcerned?” —St. ~~Nicholas of Myra~~Theodore the Studite

~~“Those~~ “At the present time of universal wavering, disturbance of minds and corruption, it is especially demanded of us that we should confess the true teaching of the Church no matter what might be the person of those who ~~suffer~~ listen and despite the unbelief which surrounds us. If for the sake of ~~true devotion receive help~~adaptation to the errors of this age we shall be silent about the truth or give a corrupt teaching in the name of pleasing this world, then we would actually be giving to those who seek the truth a stone in place of bread. ~~This must~~ The higher is the standing of one who acts in this way, the greater the scandal that is produced by him, and the more serious can be ~~learnt through obeying God's law and our own conscience~~the consequences.” ~~—St. Mark the Ascetic~~—Metropolitan Philaret of New York

~~“When you are wronged~~ “Today, while the overall teachings of the Fathers is under attack and ~~your heart and feelings~~ the shipwrecks of Faith are ~~hardened~~numerous, ~~do not be distressed, for this has happened providentially; but be glad and reject~~ the ~~thoughts that arise within you, knowing that if they~~ mouths of the faithful are ~~destroyed at~~ silent. Anyone who is capable of speaking the ~~stage when they are only provocations~~truth but remains silent, ~~their evil consequences~~ will be ~~cut off~~heavily judged by God, ~~whereas if~~ especially in this case, where the ~~thoughts persist~~ faith and the very foundation of the entire Church of the Orthodox is in danger. To remain silent under these circumstances is to betray these, and the ~~evil may be expected~~ appropriate witness belongs to ~~develop~~those that reproach (stand up for the faith).” —St. ~~Mark~~ Basil the ~~Ascetic~~Great, ep. 92

~~“Struggle~~ “I beseech you to do and to carry out good to all men with care and assiduity, becoming all things to ~~become immortal from now~~all men, ~~by dying here on~~ as the need of each is shown to you; I want and pray you to be wholly harsh and implacable with the ~~earth~~ heretics only in regard to ~~your bad self~~cooperating with them or in any way whatever supporting their deranged belief. ~~In this way~~For I reckon it hatred towards man and a departure from Divine love to lend support to error, ~~you won't~~ so that those previously seized by it might be ~~sad~~even more greatly corrupted.” —St. Maximus the Confessor, ~~but you'll be very glad~~Patrologia Graeca, ~~living together with Christ~~Vol.~~” —Elder Porphyrios~~91

“This being He placed in Paradise, whatever the Paradise may have been, having honoured him with the gift of Free Will (in order that God might belong to him as the result of his choice, no less than to Him who had implanted the seeds of it), “Be aware not to till the immortal plants, by which is meant perhaps the Divine Conceptions, both the simpler and the more perfect; naked in his simplicity and inartificial life, and without any covering or screen; for it was fitting that he who was from the beginning should be such. Also He gave him a Law, as a material for his Free Will to act upon. This Law was a Commandment as to what plants he might partake of, and which one he might not touch. This latter was the Tree of Knowledge; not, however, because it was evil corrupted from the beginning when planted; nor was it forbidden because God grudged it to us…Let not the enemies of God wag their tongues in that direction, or imitate the Serpent…But it would have been good if partaken love of at the ~~proper time, for the tree was, according to my theory, Contemplation, upon which it is only safe for those who have reached maturity of habit to enter~~heretics; ~~but which is not good~~ for ~~those who are still somewhat simple and greedy in their habit; just as solid food is~~ this reason do not ~~good for those who are yet tender, and have need of milk.~~ accept any false belief (~~Hebrews 5:12~~dogma) But when through the Devil's malice and the woman's caprice, to which she succumbed as the more tender, and which she brought to bear upon the man, as she was the more apt to persuade, alas for my weakness! (for that of my first father was mine), he forgot the Commandment which had been given to him; (Genesis 3:5) he yielded to in the ~~baleful fruit; and for his sin he was banished, at once from the Tree~~ name of Life, and from Paradise, and from God; and put on the coats of skins…that is, perhaps, the coarser flesh, both mortal and contradictory. This was the first thing that he learned – his own shame; (Romans 1:22-31) and he hid himself from God. Yet here too he makes a gain, namely death, and the cutting off of sin, in order that evil may not be immortal. Thus his punishment is changed into a mercy; for it is in mercy, I am persuaded, that God inflicts punishmentlove.” —St. ~~Gregory the Theologian, Oration 38, XII, On Theophany, On the Birth of our Saviour (On the Nativity of Christ)~~John Chrysostom

~~“I saw that there was no tragedy in God. Tragedy~~ “If anyone prays with heretics, he is ~~to be found solely in the fortunes of the man whose gaze has not gone beyond the confines of this earth~~a heretic.” ~~—Archimandrite Sophrony~~— Pope St. Agatho I

“The Christian world nowadays presents a terrifying and cheerless picture of profound religious and moral decay. The servants of Antichrist do their utmost to completely displace God from people’s lives, in order that mankind“Genuine love is displayed, ~~content with its material well-being, would~~ not ~~feel any need to turn to God in prayer~~by the common table, ~~would not think of God at all~~nor by lofty addresses or flattering words, but ~~would live as though God did not exist. Thus~~ by the correcting and the ~~entire structure~~ seeking of ~~contemporary life in~~ the ~~so-called ‘free’ world, where there is no open~~ benefit of one's neighbour and ~~bloody persecution~~ the lifting up of ~~faith, where everyone~~ the one who has ~~the right to believe as he wishes, represents a far greater danger to a Christian’s soul by drawing the Christian wholly down to earth and making him forget heaven~~fallen.” —St.John Chrysostom

~~The entire modern culture, which~~ “It is not the case that there is ~~aimed~~ one church at ~~purely worldly achievements~~Rome and another in all the world beside. Gaul and Britain, Africa and Persia, India and the ~~resultant whirlwind~~ East worship one Christ and observe one rule of ~~everyday life~~truth. If you ask for authority, ~~keep~~ the world outweighs its capital. Wherever there is a ~~person in such a state of constant bustle and absent-mindedness that he has no opportunity for any soul-searching~~bishop, whether it be at Rome or at Engubium, whether it be at Constantinople or at Rhegium, whether it be at Alexandria or at Zoan, his dignity is one and ~~spiritual life within~~ his priesthood is one. Neither the command of wealth nor the lowliness of poverty makes him ~~gradually becomes extinguished~~more a bishop or less a bishop. All alike are successors of the apostles.” ~~—Archbishop Averky (Taushev) of Syracuse~~—St. Jerome, Letter CXLVI to Evangelus

“In advising against being carried away by artificial practices such as Transcendental Meditation I am but repeating the age-old message of the Church … The way of the Fathers requires firm faith and long patience, whereas our contemporaries want to seize every spiritual gift“Never, ~~including even direct contemplation of the Absolute God~~never, by force and speedily, and will often draw a parallel between prayer in the Name of Jesus and yoga or Transcendental Meditation and the like. I must stress the danger of such errors … He is deluded who endeavors to divest himself mentally of all never let anyone tell you that ~~is transitory and relative in order to cross some invisible threshold, to realize his eternal origin, his identity with the Source of all that exists~~, in order to ~~return and merge with him~~be Orthodox, ~~the nameless transpersonal Absolute~~you must also be eastern. ~~Such exercises have enabled many to rise to suprarational contemplation of being, to experience~~ The West was Orthodox for a ~~certain mystical trepidation~~thousand years, ~~to know the state of silence of mind, when mind goes beyond the boundaries~~ and her venerable liturgy is far older than any of ~~time and space~~her heresies. ~~In such like states man may feel the peacefulness of being withdrawn from the continually changing phenomena of the visible world, may even have a certain experience of eternity~~” —St. ~~But the God~~ John (Maximovitch) of ~~Truth, the Living God, is not in all this.~~Shanghai and San Francisco

It “Where the bishop is ~~man’s own beauty~~, ~~created in~~ there let the ~~image~~ multitude of ~~God, that is contemplated and seen~~ believers be; even as ~~divinity, whereas he himself still continues within the confines of his creatureliness. This~~ where Jesus is ~~a vastly important concern. The tragedy of the matter lies in the fact that man sees a mirage which~~, in his longing for eternal life, he mistakes for a genuine oasis. This impersonal form of ascetics leads finally to an assertion of the divine principle in the very nature of man. Man is then drawn to the idea of self-deification—the cause of the original Fall. The man who there is ~~blinded by~~ the ~~imaginary majesty of what he contemplates has in fact set his foot on the path to self-destruction~~Catholic Church. He has discarded the revelation of a personal God … The movement into the depths of his own being is nothing else but attraction towards the non-being from which we were called by the will of the Creator” —St.~~” —Archimandrite Sophrony~~ Ignatius of ~~Mt. Athos, His Life is Mine, 115-116~~Antioch

~~“Christ said, 'I came not~~ “Take care to ~~send peace~~do all things in harmony with God, ~~but a sword' and 'division'. Christ summoned us to war on~~ with the bishop presiding in the ~~plane~~ place of ~~the spirit~~God, and ~~our weapon is '~~with the presbyters in the place of the ~~sword~~ council of the ~~Spirit~~apostles, ~~which is~~ and with the ~~word of God.' Our battle is waged in extraordinarily unequal conditions. We~~ deacons, who are ~~tied hand and foot. We dare not strike~~ most dear to me, entrusted with ~~fire or sword: our sole armament is love~~the business of Jesus Christ, ~~even for enemies. This unique war in which we are engaged is indeed a holy war. We wrestle~~ who was with the ~~last~~ Father from the beginning and ~~only enemy of mankind death. Our fight~~ is ~~the fight for universal resurrection~~at last made manifest.” ~~—Archimandrite Sophrony~~ —St. Ignatius of ~~Mt. Athos~~Antioch, Letter to the Magnesians 2, ~~His Life is Mine~~6:1

~~“I ask you to try something. If someone grieves you~~“Moreover, in the Catholic Church itself, ~~or dishonors you~~all possible care must be taken, ~~or takes something of yours~~that we hold that faith which has been believed everywhere, ~~then pray like this: ‘Lord~~always, ~~we are~~ by all ~~your creatures~~. ~~Pity your servants,~~ For that is truly and ~~turn them to repentance~~in the strictest sense ‘Catholic,’ which, as the name itself and ~~then you will perceptibly bear grace in your soul~~the reason of the thing declare, comprehends all universally. This rule we shall observe if we follow universality, antiquity, consent. ~~Induce your heart~~ We shall follow universality if we confess that one faith to ~~love your enemies~~be true, which the whole Church throughout the world confesses; antiquity, if we in no wise depart from those interpretations which it is manifest were notoriously held by our holy ancestors and ~~the Lord~~fathers; consent, ~~seeing your good will~~in like manner, ~~shall help you~~ if in antiquity itself we adhere to the consentient definitions and determinations of all ~~things~~, ~~and will Himself show you experience. But whoever thinks evil~~ or at the least of ~~his enemies does not have love for God~~ almost all priests and ~~has not known God~~doctors.” —St. ~~Silouan the Athonite~~Vincent of Lérins, ~~Writing~~Commonitory, IXFor the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies.21, Chapter II (circa 434 AD)

~~“When I~~“‘Shun profane novelties of words, ~~while still in Australia, began~~ ’ which to receive ~~information from America already post factum that here [in New York City] there had been protests, demonstrations,~~ and ~~even molebens in front~~ follow was never the part of Catholics; of ~~the Soviet consulate, I became quite alarmed and regretted that I~~ heretics always was ~~not here~~. In truth, ~~since I would have decisively opposed much of~~ what ~~took~~ heresy ever burst forth save under a definite name, at a definite place~~. In particular~~, ~~holding~~ at a ~~moleben in such~~ definite time? Who ever originated a ~~place. Did they~~ heresy that did not ~~sing~~ first dissever himself from the ~~Lord's song~~ consentient agreement of the universality and antiquity of the Catholic Church? That this is so is demonstrated in ~~a strange land? What cause was there~~ the clearest way by examples. For who ever before that profane Pelagius attributed so much antecedent strength to Free-will, as to ~~display~~ deny the ~~holy things~~ necessity of ~~the Church~~God's ~~services~~ grace to aid it towards good in every single act? Who ever before his monstrous disciple Cœlestius denied that the ~~gaze of~~ whole human race is involved in the ~~frenzied servants~~ guilt of ~~Antichrist? Was it really not possible to pray in church~~Adam's sin?” —St. Vincent of Lérins, Commonitory, 62

~~I must say frankly that I am always seized~~ "But if neither injunctions nor ecclesiastical decrees may be violated, by ~~dismay when I hear~~ which, in accordance with the sacred consent of ~~protests~~universality and antiquity, ~~demonstrations~~all heretics always, and ~~the like. In the USSR~~, ~~life is governed by him (the one with horns) who fears only Christ~~ last of all, Pelagius, Cœlestius, and ~~His Cross;~~ Nestorius have been rightly and deservedly condemned, then assuredly it is incumbent on all Catholics who ~~fears nothing else in the world. And he merely chortles over protests and demonstrations. Public opinion? Why~~are anxious to approve themselves genuine sons of Mother Church, to adhere henceforward to the ~~antichrist regime has nothing but~~ holy faith of the ~~uttermost contempt for it! They wanted~~ holy Fathers, to be wedded to ~~seize Czechoslovakia and they seized~~ it, ~~paying no heed~~ to ~~the commotion that was raised. They wanted to invade Afghanistan and they invaded~~ die in it~~, again paying no attention~~ ; but as to the ~~protests and threats~~ profane novelties of ~~the various Carters & Co. All attempts~~ profane men— to ~~shape public opinion in the so-called Free World in favor of those suffering from Communism are powerless and fruitless~~detest them, abhor them, ~~since the Free World stubbornly closes its eyes and imitates the ostrich~~oppose them, ~~which hides its head under its wing and imagines that it cannot be seen…” —Metropolitan Philaret~~ give them no quarter.” —St. Vincent of ~~New York~~Lérins, ~~A letter from Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) to ROCOR Priest Victor Potapov concerning Father Dimitry Dudko and the Moscow Patriarchate~~Commonitory, 86

~~“The whole therapeutic method~~ “Roman Catholics teach that original sin robbed Adam of the ~~Orthodox Church is not aimed simply at making human beings morally and socially balanced~~original righteousness, grace-filled perfection, but ~~at re-establishing their relationship with God and one another~~did not harm his very nature. ~~This comes about through~~ And the ~~healing~~ original righteousness, according to their teachings, was not an organic part of the ~~soul's wounds~~ spiritual and moral nature of man, but an external gift of grace, a special addition to the ~~cure~~ natural forces of man. Hence the ~~passions through~~ sin of the ~~Sacraments~~ first man, which consists in rejecting this purely external, supernatural grace, separating man from God, is nothing more than depriving a person of this grace, depriving a person of primitive righteousness and returning man to a purely natural state, a state of grace. The very same human nature remained after the ~~Church's ascetic practice~~fall as it was before the fall.~~” —Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos~~Before sin, ~~The Science~~ Adam was like a royal courtier, from whom external glory was taken away because of ~~Spiritual Medicine: Orthodox Psychotherapy~~ a crime, and he returned to the original state in ~~Action~~which he had been before.

~~“A wise heart can transfer an affliction into~~ The decrees of the Council of Trent concerning original sin state that the progenitor sin consisted in the loss of the holiness and righteousness granted to them, but it did not define exactly what kind of holiness and righteousness they were. There it is stated that there is absolutely no trace of sin or anything in a ~~blessing~~regenerated person that would be unpleasant to God. Only lust remains, ~~even~~ which, due to its motivation of a person to fight, is more useful than harmful to people. In any case, it is not sin~~!! He benefits~~ , although it itself from itsin and entails sin. The fifth decree says: ~~contrition~~‘The Holy Council confesses and knows that lust remains among baptized persons; but she, ~~humility~~as left to fight, cannot bring harm to those who disagree with her, ~~keenness~~ and ~~sympathy for sinners~~those who bravely fight by the grace of Jesus Christ, but, on the contrary, crowns the one who will gloriously struggle.~~” —H.H~~The Holy Council declares that this lust, which the Apostle sometimes calls sin, the Universal Church never called sin in the sense that it is true and proper to the regenerated, but that it is from sin and entails sin. ~~Pope Shenouda III~~’

~~“Humility~~ This Roman Catholic teaching is unfounded, since it represents the original righteousness and perfection of Adam as an external gift, as an advantage, which is added to nature from the outside and from nature separable. Meanwhile, it is clear from the ancient apostolic-church doctrine that this primitive righteousness of Adam was not an external gift and advantage, but an integral part of his divinely-created nature. The Holy Scripture claims that sin has shaken and ~~suffering free~~ upset human nature so deeply that a person is weak for good and when he wants, he cannot do good ( Romans 7: 18-19 ), but he cannot commit it just because sin has a strong influence on the nature of man ~~from all~~ . In addition, if sin; did not damage human nature so much, there would be no need for the ~~first cuts out spiritual passions~~Only Begotten Son of God to incarnate, come into the world as the Savior and ~~the latter~~ demand from us a complete bodilyand spiritual rebirth ( John 3: 3, 3: 5-6 ).~~” —St. Maximus~~ In addition, Roman Catholics can not give the correct answer to the question: how can the intact nature carry lust in itself? What is the relation between this lust and the ~~Confessor~~healthy nature?

~~“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for~~ In the same way, there is an ~~extraordinary destiny~~inaccurate Roman Catholic statement that in a regenerated person nothing remains sinful and unpleasant to God and that all this gives way to that which is immaculate, holy and pleasing to God. For we know from Holy Revelation and the teachings of the ancient Church that the grace given to a fallen man through Jesus Christ does not act mechanically, does not give sanctification and salvation immediately, in the blink of an eye, but gradually penetrates all the psychophysical powers of man, in proportion to his personal feat in the new thus he simultaneously heals from all sinful ailments, and sanctifies in all thoughts, feelings, desires and deeds. It is an unreasonable exaggeration to think and argue that the regenerated have absolutely no remnants of sinful ailments when the mystery beloved by Christ clearly teaches: ‘If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us’ ( 1 John 1: 8 ); and the great Apostle of the Nations writes: ‘I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil that I do not want. But if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that lives in me’ ( Romans 7: 19-20, Romans 8: 23-24 ).” ~~—C. S~~—St. ~~Lewis~~Justin Popovich, Orthodox philosophy of truth (Dogma of the Orthodox Church)

~~“The soul of man~~ “In all the Eastern Churches, candles are lit even in the daytime when one is to read the Gospels, in truth not ~~impure at birth~~to dispel the darkness, but ~~pure~~as a sign of joy…in order under that factual light to feel that Light of which we read in the Psalms (119:105): Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” ~~—Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos~~—St. Jerome, Works, part IV, 2nd ed., Kiev, 1900, pp.301-302

~~“By nature~~ “The candles lit before icons of saints reflect their ardent love for God for Whose sake they gave up everything that man prizes in life, including their very lives, as did the ~~soul is passionless… so you must believe~~ holy apostles, martyrs and others. These candles also mean that these saints are lamps burning for us and providing light for us by their own saintly living, their virtues and their ardent intercession for us before God through their constant prayers by day and night. The burning candles also stand for our ardent zeal and the ~~passions do not belong~~ sincere sacrifice we make out of reverence and gratitude to ~~the soul by nature~~them for their solicitude on our behalf before God.” —St. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~John of Kronstadt

~~“Just as~~ “The saints of God live even after their death. Thus, I often hear in ~~legal marriage~~church the Mother of God singing her wonderful, heart-penetrating song which she said in the ~~pleasure derived from procreation cannot exactly be called a gift~~ house of ~~God~~her cousin Elizabeth, after the Annunciation of the Archangel. At times, ~~because it is carnal and constitutes a gift~~ I hear the song of Moses; the song of ~~nature and not~~ Zacharias--the father of ~~grace (even though~~ the Forerunner; that ~~nature has been created by God)~~of Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel; ~~even so~~ that of the ~~knowledge~~ three children; and that ~~comes from profane education, even if well used~~of Miriam. And how many holy singers of the New Testament delight until now the ear of the whole Church of God! And the Divine service itself--the sacraments, the rites? Whose spirit is ~~a gift of nature~~there, moving and ~~not~~ touching our hearts? That of ~~grace-a gift which~~ God ~~accords to all without exception through nature,~~ and ~~which one can develop by exercise~~of His saints.” —St. ~~This last point-that no one acquires it without effort and exercise-is an evident proof that it is a question~~ John of ~~a natural~~Kronstadt, ~~not a spiritual, gift.~~My Life in Christ

It “Each person is ~~our sacred wisdom that should legitimately be called a gift~~ an icon of God , of God in heaven and ~~not a natural gift, since even simple fishermen who receive it from~~ of God on ~~high become, as Gregory~~ the ~~Theologian says~~cross. Yet, ~~sons~~ each person is also an icon of ~~Thunder, whose word has encompassed~~ the ~~very bounds~~ Mother of God, who bears Christ through the ~~universe~~Holy Spirit. ~~By this grace~~Our soul, therefore, ~~even publicans are made merchants of souls~~unites itself in two images; participating in the principles and ~~even the burning zeal~~ realities of ~~persecutors is transformed~~both Christ and his Mother. These are age old archetypes, ~~making them Pauls instead of Sauls, turning away~~ symbols by which the ~~earth to attain ‘the third heaven’ and ‘hear ineffable things’. By this true wisdom we too can become conformed to~~ soul orients itself on the ~~image of God and continue to be such after death~~journey.” —St. ~~Gregory Palamas~~Maria Skobtsova, ~~Triads in Defence~~ On The Imitation of the ~~Holy Hesychasts, Philosophy does not save, pages 29-30~~Mother of God

~~“Fiery lust, the desire for marriage, sexual union … and all the other things~~ “The Christian who does not feel that~~, as most people think,~~ the ~~body seeks for - it~~ Virgin Mary is ~~not the body as such … but the soul, which through the body seeks pleasure by their means… Let no one think he~~ his or her mother is ~~being driven towards these things and compelled by his own body… the body cannot be moved to anything apart from the soul~~an orphan.” ~~—St. Symeon the New Theologian~~—Jorge Mario Bergoglio ("Pope Francis")

~~“Just as~~ “Creating man according to his image, God diffused into man's very being the ~~virtues are begotten in~~ longing for the ~~soul~~divine infinitude of life, of knowledge, ~~so are the passions~~and of perfection. ~~But~~ It is precisely for this reason that the ~~virtues are begotten in accordance with nature, the passions in a mode contrary~~ immeasurable longing and thirst of humanity is not able to ~~nature~~be completely satisfied by anything or anyone except God. ~~For what produces good or evil in~~ Declaring divine perfection as the ~~soul is the will~~main purpose for humanity's ~~bias… For our inner disposition~~ existence in the world – ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father who is ~~capable of operating~~ in ~~one way or another, since it bears within itself both virtue and vice~~heaven is perfect.’ (Matth. 5: 48) – Christ, the ~~first as its natural birthright~~Savior, answered the ~~second as the result~~ most elemental demand and need of ~~the self~~our God-like and God-~~incurred proclivity of our moral will~~longing humanity.” —St. ~~Gregory of Sinai~~Justin Popovich, Orthodox Faith and Life in Christ, Highest Value and Last Criterion in Orthodoxy

~~“The heart of a perfectly healthy man becomes weakened for faith and love~~ “He who refuses to give in to ~~God and~~ his neighbor, and easily gives itself up to carnal desires: to slothfulness, negligence, coldness, gluttony, avarice, fornication, pride. Whilst the heart of a sick man, or a wounded, oppressed, weary heart, is strengthened in faith, hope, and love, and is far removed from carnal passions~~. This is why~~ does the ~~Heavenly Father, Who careth for our salvation, chastises us by various sicknesses. The oppression~~ same as he who refuses to bow down and ~~afflictions of sickness make us turn again to God~~worship idols.” —St. ~~John of Kronstadt~~Theophan the Recluse

~~“If you wish to live long on~~ “Concerning the ~~earth, do~~ charge of idolatry: Icons are not ~~hurry to live in a carnal manner~~idols but symbols. Therefore, ~~to satiate yourself~~when an Orthodox venerates an icon, ~~to get drunk, to smoke, to commit fornication, to live in luxury, to indulge yourself~~he is not guilty of idolatry. ~~The carnal way of life constitutes death, and therefore, in~~ He is not worshiping the ~~Holy Scripture~~symbol, ~~our flesh~~ but merely venerating it. Such veneration is ~~called mortal~~not directed toward wood, orpaint or stone, ~~‘the old man~~but towards the person depicted. Therefore relative honor is shown to material objects, ~~which~~ but worship is ~~corrupt according~~ due to ~~the deceitful lusts~~God alone.” —St.~~’ If you wish to live long, live through the spirit; for life consists in the spirit: ‘If ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds~~ John of ~~the body, ye shall live,’ both here on earth and there in heaven.~~Damascus

~~One cannot eat and drink and smoke continually. One cannot turn human life into constant eating, drinking, and smoking, although there are men who~~ “We do ~~eat, drink, and smoke almost uninterruptedly; and thus~~ not bow before the ~~spirit~~ nature of ~~evil has turned life into smoking~~wood, but we revere and ~~made~~ bow before the ~~mouth, which ought to be employed in thanking and praising the Lord, into a smoking furnace~~one who is depicted. ~~The less and lighter the food and drink you take, the lighter and more refined your spirit will become~~” —St.John of Damascus

~~Smoking is a whim. From this comes foot pain~~ “We do not make obeisance to the nature of wood, but we revere and ~~depression. That~~ do obeisance to Him who was crucified on the ~~devil is~~ Cross… When the ~~father~~ two beams of the ~~cigarette~~ Cross are joined together I ~~especially figured out today: something impacted negatively upon me from head to toe. I felt that~~ adore the figure because of Christ who was crucified on the ~~enemy nested in my sides and in my heart and he opposed me strongly~~Cross, ~~preventing me from saying~~ but if the ~~prayer~~beams are separated, ~~scaring me, paralyzing me~~ I throw them away and ~~saddening me to the point~~ burn them.” —St. John of ~~sin.~~Damascus

~~By smoking an unclean spirit enters a person. Last night after smoking the devil made his presence felt through continuous hiccups which pestered me from~~ “We do not worship the ~~time~~ relics of the ~~Cherubic Hymn until a little before Holy Communion. My nerves were stretched~~martyrs, ~~my voice was ‘escaping’ me, I was shivering and I was exhausted~~but honor them in our worship of Him Whose martyrs they are. ~~That's why smoking is futile. It is a silly whim, a desecration of~~ We honor the ~~lips, a large and unnecessary irritation, a fog~~ servants in order that ~~covers voluntarily~~the respect paid to them may be reflected back to the Lord.” —St.Jerome

~~The taste~~ “The whole earth is a living icon of ~~a cigarette~~ the face of God. … I ~~cannot compare~~ do not worship matter, but the Creator of matter, who for my sake became material and deigned to ~~anything~~ dwell in matter, who through matter effected my salvation. Never will I cease honoring the matter which wrought my salvation! I honor it, but ~~something diabolical~~not as God. ~~And how do I know~~ Because of this ~~smoking? How do~~ I ~~allow myself~~ salute all remaining matter with reverence, because God has filled it with his grace and power. Through it my salvation has come to ~~do something like this?~~me.” —St. John of Damascus

~~I came to church~~“That which the word communicates by sound, ~~falling on my knees with a contrite heart before~~ the ~~Holy Altar~~painting shows silently by representation.” —St. ~~How could I serve my enemy every day and not~~ Basil the ~~Lord with zeal? Lord~~Great, ~~help me to be free from all evil, because I am an evil man, dirty, full~~ On the 40 Martyrs of ~~sins.~~Sebaste

“We depict Christ as our King and Lord, and do not deprive Him of His army. The saints constitute the Lord ~~knows our weaknesses~~'s army. ~~He is ready to forgive us everything, as long as we repent~~ Let the earthly king dismiss his army before he gives up his King and ~~seek forgiveness~~Lord. Let him put off the purple before he takes honour away from his most valiant men who have conquered their passions. ~~The essential thing is that our hearts not become petrified~~For if the saints are heirs of God, ~~that is to stop hesitating to think~~ and co-heirs of ~~our committed sin~~Christ, ~~to immediately repent, and to leave ourselves to~~ (Rom. 8.17) they will be also partakers of the ~~mercy~~ divine glory of ~~God~~sovereignty.” —St. John of ~~Kronstadt~~Damascus

~~“Suffering reminds~~ “We define that the ~~wise man~~ holy icons should be exhibited in the holy churches of God… and in houses and along the roads, namely the icons of our Lord Godand Savior Jesus Christ, ~~but crushes~~ that of our Lady the Theotokos, those of the venerable angels and those of all saintly people… We define also that they should be kissed and that they are an object of veneration and honor… He who ~~forget Him~~venerates the icon, venerates in it the reality for which it stands.” ~~—St. Mark the Ascetic~~—The Seventh Ecumenical Council

~~“God permits tribulations and adversities to befall people – even~~ “In the radiance of His light the ~~saintly – so that they may persist~~ world is not commonplace. The very floor we stand on is a miracle of atoms whizzing about in ~~humility~~space. ~~But if we harden our hearts against adversities~~ The darkness of sin is clarified, and ~~tribulations~~its burden shouldered. Death is robbed of its finality, ~~he also hardens these tribulations against us~~trampled down by Christ's death. ~~On the other hand if we accept them in humility and with~~ In a ~~contrite heart~~world where everything that seems to be present is immediately past, everything in Christ is able to participate in the eternal present of God ~~will mingle tribulation with mercy~~.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~Alexander Schmemann

~~“But do not be troubled or sad~~“Christ surpasses both ends of the world, where the drama ends and where it began. Of all the mysteries, the greatest mystery is He. ~~The Lord sometimes allows people who are devoted~~ From His Nativity to ~~Him~~ His Crucifixion on the Cross, From His Crucifixion on the Cross to ~~fall into such dreadful vices; and this~~ His Resurrection, He is ~~in order to prevent them from falling into a still greater sin – pride. Your temptation will pass and you will spend~~ the ~~remaining days~~ true measure of ~~your life in humility. Only do not forget your sin~~all God's creation.” —St. ~~Seraphim of Sarov~~Nikolai Velimirovich

~~“We must be prepared to accept~~ “Let no one think that there is anything interpretive in the ~~will~~ works of ~~God. The Lord permits all sorts of things to happen to us contrary to our will, for if we always have it our way, we will not be prepared for~~ the ~~Kingdom of Heaven~~six days.” ~~—Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, "Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives"~~—St. Ephrem the Syrian

~~“What should not be heard by little ears~~“It is [the Lord] that sitteth upon the orb (חוּג, ~~should not be said by big mouths~~γῦρον, gyrum) of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as locusts: he that stretcheth out the heavens as nothing and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.” ~~—unknown~~—Isaiah 40:22

~~“I am incurably convinced~~ “For if the world, being made spherical, is confined within the circles of heaven, and the Creator of the world is above the things created, managing that by His providential care of these, what place is there for the second god, or for the ~~object of opening~~ other gods? … Beautiful without doubt is the ~~mind~~world, excelling, as well in its magnitude as in the arrangement of ~~opening~~ its parts, both those in the oblique circle and those about the ~~mouth~~north, ~~is to shut it again on something solid~~and also in its spherical form.” —G—St. Athenagoras of Athens, A Plea for the Christians, Ch. K8 and 16 (Father of the Church, Ante-Nicene Christian apologist, c. ~~Chesterton~~175, E)

~~“What~~ “Let's start with the earth: you see how big it is and how many every creature is ~~slander? It~~ on it – living and soulless. Looking at the earth in all directions, you notice that it seems to be flat; in fact, it is ~~every sort~~ round like a ball: land surveyors have found this out as surely as possible, and we ourselves can be sure of ~~wicked word we would dare not speak in front~~ this. You are often by the sea – look into the distance for departing ships or steam ships. At first you see the whole ship, but the farther it goes, the more the bottom of the ~~person whom~~ ship is hidden from you, so that at last you see only the sails or one smoke from the steam ship, and finally this also disappears, as if the ship had sunk into a hole. Why does this happen? Because the earth is spherical. If at first glance it seems flat to us, it is because we are ~~complaining about~~very small in comparison with the earth, and the earth is too large and, with its size, its sloping is imperceptible to us, insignificant ones. So, brethren, the earth is round.” —St. ~~Anthony the Great~~John of Kronstadt, Diaries of Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt, 1857–1858

~~“If~~ “You often see, brethren, that the Lord Almighty is mostly written on icons with a ball, on top of which is a cross. This ball means the globe of the earth and is called the power – from the fact that in ancient times the Roman kings had the custom, on solemn occasions, to hold it in their hands. Our Lord Jesus Christ holds in his hand the globe of the earth, as the king of heaven and earth, as the Almighty. We say this in order to show you ~~want~~ that our earth is round like a ball. But how is the sphericity of the earth proved by the phenomena at the rising and setting of the sun? As follows: if the earth were not spherical, but flat; then the sun would now hide under the earth, or come out from under it, and immediately leave us either in the full shadow of the earth, or illuminate us with full light. Now, since the earth is round, we use the remnants of light from the sun even when it illuminates the sloping side of the earth, when the sun, so to ~~overcome~~ speak, is under the mountain and produces a dawn for us, as if the glow of a huge fire. This dawn happens because the rays of the setting or rising sun, illuminating the ~~spirit~~ sloping side of ~~slander~~the earth, at the same time illuminate the air that is near the earth and surrounds it like water, ~~blame not~~ and thus makes the light of dawn. Watching the ~~person who falls~~dawn, ~~but~~ we see from the gradual decrease in light – from the ~~demon~~ way it gradually becomes paler and paler from light pink - that ~~prompted them to sin~~the earth is exactly round, and the sun, as it were, glides, step by step, evenly, in a circle.” —St. John ~~Climacus~~of Kronstadt, Catechetical Talks

~~“You cannot be too gentle~~“How does the sun rule by day? Because carrying everywhere light with it, ~~too kind~~it is no sooner risen above the horizon than it drives away darkness and brings us day. ~~Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy~~Thus we might, without self deception, ~~radiant joy~~define day as air lighted by the sun, ~~streams from~~ or as the ~~face~~ space of ~~him~~ time that the sun passes in our hemisphere… Those who ~~gives and kindles joy in~~ have written about the nature of the universe have discussed at length the ~~heart~~ shape of ~~him who receives. All condemnation is from~~ the ~~devil~~earth. ~~Never condemn each other. We condemn others only because we shun knowing ourselves. When we gaze at our own failings~~If it be spherical or cylindrical, ~~we see such~~ if it resemble a ~~swamp that nothing~~ disc and is equally rounded in ~~another can equal~~ all parts, or if it~~. That~~ has the forth of a winnowing basket and is ~~why we turn away~~hollow in the middle; all these conjectures have been suggested by cosmographers, ~~and make much~~ each one upsetting that of his predecessor. It will not lead me to give less importance to the ~~faults~~ creation of ~~others. Instead~~ the universe, that the servant of ~~condemning others~~God, Moses, ~~strive~~ is silent as to ~~reach inner peace~~shapes; he has not said that the earth is a hundred and eighty thousand furlongs in circumference; he has not measured into what extent of air its shadow projects itself while the sun revolves around it, nor stated how this shadow, casting itself upon the moon, produces eclipses. ~~Keep silent~~He has passed over in silence, ~~refrain from judgment. This will raise you above the deadly arrows of slander~~as useless, ~~insult and outrage and will shield your glowing hearts against~~ all ~~evil~~that is unimportant for us.” —St. ~~Seraphim of Sarov~~Basil the Great, Hexaemeron, Homily 6:8; 9:1

~~“A man may seem~~ “Verily, it is most true what one of heathen culture is recorded to have said, that it is the mind that sees and the mind that hears. Else, if you will not allow this to be ~~silent~~true, you must tell me why, when you look at the sun, as you have been trained by your instructor to look at him, you assert that he is not in the breadth of his disc of the size he appears to the many, but if that he exceeds by many times the measure of the entire earth. Do you not confidently maintain that it is so, because you have arrived by reasoning through phenomena at the conception of such and such a movement, of such distances of time and space, of such causes of eclipse? And when you look at the waning and waxing moon you are taught other truths by the visible figure of that heavenly body, viz. that it is in itself devoid of light, and that it revolves in the circle nearest to the earth, and that it is lit by light from the sun; just as is the case with mirrors, which, receiving the sun upon them, do not reflect rays of their own, but those of the sun, whose light is given back from their smooth flashing surface. Those who see this, but do not examine it, think that the light comes from the moon herself. But that this is not the case is proved by this; that when she is diametrically facing the sun she has the whole of the disc that looks our way illuminated; but, as she traverses her own circle of revolution quicker from moving in a narrower space, she herself has completed this more than twelve times before the sun has once travelled round his ~~heart~~ ; whence it happens that her substance is not always covered with light. For her position facing him is not maintained in the frequency of her revolutions; but, while this position causes the whole side of the moon which looks to us to be illumined, directly she moves sideways her hemisphere which is turned to us necessarily becomes partially shadowed and only that which is ~~condemning others~~turned to him meets his embracing rays; the brightness, he in fact, keeps on retiring from that which can no longer see the sun to that which still sees him, until she passes right across the sun's disc and receives his rays upon her hinder part; and then the fact of her being in herself totally devoid of light and splendour causes the side turned to us to be invisible while the further hemisphere is all in light; and this is ~~babbling ceaselessly~~called the completion of her waning. But ~~there may be another who talks~~ when again, in her own revolution, she has passed the sun and she is transverse to his rays, the side which was dark just before begins to shine a little, for the rays move from ~~morning till night~~ the illumined part to that so lately invisible. You see what the eye does teach; and yet ~~he is truly silent~~it would never of itself have afforded this insight, without something that looks through the eyes and uses the data of the senses as mere guides to penetrate from the apparent to the unseen. It isneedless to add the methods of geometry that lead us step by step through visible delineations to truths that lie out of sight, ~~he says nothing~~ and countless other instances which all prove that apprehension is ~~not profitable~~the work of an intellectual essence deeply seated in our nature, acting through the operation of our bodily senses.” ~~—Abba Poemen~~—St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Soul and the Resurrection

~~“If your tongue~~ “As, when the sun shines above the earth, the shadow is ~~used~~ spread over its lower part, because its spherical shape makes it impossible for it to ~~chattering~~be clasped all round at one and the same time by the rays, and necessarily, on whatever side the sun's rays may fall on some particular point of the globe, if we follow a straight diameter, we shall find shadow upon the opposite point, and so, continuously, at the opposite end of the direct line of the rays shadow moves round that globe, keeping pace with the sun, ~~your heart will remain dim~~ so that equally in their turn both the upper half and ~~foreign to~~ the ~~luminous intuitions~~ under half of the ~~Holy Spirit~~earth are in light and darkness.” —St. ~~John~~ Gregory of ~~Dalyatha~~Nyssa, On the Soul and the Resurrection

~~“He who does not control his tongue when he~~ “Further, some hold that the Earth is in the form of a sphere, others that it is in that of a cone. At all events it is ~~angry~~much smaller than the heaven, and suspended almost like a point in its midst. And it will ~~not control his passions either~~pass away and be changed. But blessed is the man who inherits the Earth promised to the meek.” ~~—Abba Hyperchius~~—St. John of Damascus, Orthodox Faith, Book 2, Ch 10

~~“Are you angry? Be angry at your sins~~“Thus, ~~beat your soul~~by His transcendent might He established the heavens, ~~afflict your conscience~~and by His incomprehensible understanding He ordered them: the earth He separated from the water now encircling it, ~~be strict in judgement~~ and ~~a terrible punisher~~ firmly grounded it on the unshakable foundation of ~~your~~ His own ~~sins. This is~~ will … about antipodes: ‘The ocean, impassable for men, and the worlds beyond it are governed by the ~~benefit~~ same decrees of ~~anger, wherefore God placed it in us.”~~ the Master’…” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Clement of Rome, ~~Homilies on Ephesians 2~~Epistle to the Corinthians

~~“Firmly purpose in your soul to hate every sin of thought, word, and deed~~“Clement indeed, ~~and when you are tempted to sin resist it valiantly and with~~ a ~~feeling~~ disciple of ~~hatred for it; only beware lest your hatred should turn against~~ the ~~person~~ apostles, mentions those whom the Greeks call ‘people of ~~your brother who gave occasion for the sin. Hate~~ the ~~sin with all your heart, but pity your brother; instruct him~~opposite earth’, and ~~pray for him to~~ speaks of other parts of the ~~Almighty~~world which none of our people can reach, ~~Who sees all~~ nor can any of those who live there cross over to us ; and ~~tries our hearts~~ these parts themselves he called ‘worlds’, when he says, ‘The ocean is impassable to men, and ~~innermost parts.” —St. John~~ the worlds beyond it are governed by the same ordinances of ~~Kronstadt~~God the Ruler’…” —Origen, On First Principles

~~“These eight passions should~~ “But if the light first created enveloped the earth on all sides, whether it was motionless or travelling round, it could not be ~~destroyed as follows: gluttony~~ followed anywhere by ~~self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing~~ night, because it did not vacate any place to make room for night. But was it made on one side, so that as it travelled it would permit the ~~blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for~~ night to follow after from the ~~poor; anger by goodwill and love for~~ other? Although water still covered all ~~men; worldly dejection by spiritual joy; listlessness by patience~~the earth, ~~perseverance and offering thanks~~ there was nothing to ~~God; self-esteem~~ prevent the massive watery sphere from having day on one side by ~~doing good in secret and by praying constantly with a contrite heart; and pride by not judging or despising anyone in~~ the ~~manner~~ presence of light, and on the ~~boastful Pharisee (cf. Luke 18 : 11–12)~~other side, ~~and~~ night by ~~considering oneself~~ the ~~least~~ absence of ~~all men~~light. ~~When~~ Thus, in the ~~intellect has been freed in this way~~ evening, darkness would pass to that side from which light would be turning to the ~~passions we have described and been raised up~~ other … These writers are then asked why Saturn is cold. Its temperature should be higher in proportion to ~~God,~~ the rapid movement it ~~will henceforth live~~ has by reason of its height in the ~~life of blessedness~~heavens. For surely when a round mass is rotating, ~~receiving~~ the ~~pledge of~~ parts near the ~~Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Cor. 1 : 22). And when it departs this life~~center move more slowly, ~~dispassionate~~ and ~~full of true knowledge~~those near the edge more rapidly, ~~it will stand before~~ so that the ~~light of the Holy Trinity~~ greater and ~~with~~ lesser distances may be covered simultaneously in the ~~divine angels will shine in glory through all eternity.”~~ same circular motion…” —St. ~~John~~ Augustine of ~~Damascus~~Hippo, On the ~~Virtues and the Vices, from The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)~~Literal Interpretation of Genesis

~~“We must consider~~ “The prophet David, our Saints, Basil the Great, who wrote about creation, all ~~evil~~ of them, with the Grace of God knew everything about the creation by God. The Holy Spirit took them to the depths of the waters, He showed them and they saw the earth revolving around the sun, and many other things. The Saints, ~~even the passions which war against us~~however, spoke to people according to ~~be not our own, but~~ the knowledge of ~~our enemy the devil~~their age. This is ~~very important~~so that they wouldn't look like fools by revealing everything to their age that they saw with the Grace of God. ~~You can only conquer a passion when you do~~ Since simple people were not able to see all those things and understand them, they would not ~~consider it as part of you.~~have believed them!” —St. ~~Nikon~~ Paisios of ~~Optina~~Mt. Athos, «ΣΚΕΥΟΣ ΕΚΛΟΓΗΣ: ΓΕΡΩΝ ΠΑΙΣΙΟΣ», 1924-1994, p. 142

~~“A sinful soul~~“Truly, ~~full of passions~~is this necessary? No, not at all, ~~cannot have peace~~ for we know that many and ~~rejoice in~~ great scientists were at the ~~Lord~~same time great believers. For example, ~~even if it had charge over~~ such was the Polish astronomer Copernicus who laid the foundation of all ~~earthly riches, even if it ruled over the whole world~~contemporary astronomy. ~~If it~~ Copernicus was not only a believer but was ~~suddenly said to such~~ also a ~~king~~cleric. Another great scientist, ~~happily feasting and sitting on his throne, 'King~~Newton, ~~now you will die,' his soul would be troubled and~~ whenever he ~~would tremble with fear~~mentioned the word God, ~~and~~ he ~~would see~~ removed his ~~powerlessness~~hat. ~~But how many beggars there are, whose only wealth is love for~~ He was a great believer… Would Haeckel therefore dare say that these men did not have enlightened minds because they believed in God~~, and who, if you said to them, 'You will die now,' would answer peacefully, 'Let God's will be done~~?” —St. ~~Glory to~~ Luke the ~~Lord~~Surgeon, ~~that He has remembered me~~ On Science and ~~wants to take me to Himself.'” —St. Silouan the Athonite~~Religion

~~“To reach satisfaction in alldesire its possession in nothing.To come to possession in alldesire~~ “The faithful have little need for scientists now, the ~~possession~~ world is full of ~~nothing.To arrive at being alldesire to be nothing.To come to the knowledge~~ them! They are in need of ~~alldesire the knowledge~~ holy men, of ~~nothing.To come to the pleasure you have notyou must go by~~ those who live the ~~way in which you enjoy not.To come to the knowledge you have notyou must go by the way in which you know not.To come to the possession you have notyou must go by the way in which you possess not.To come by the what you are notyou must go by a way in which you are not.When you turn toward somethingyou cease to cast yourself upon the all.For to go from all to the allyou must deny yourself~~ holy life; of ~~all in all.And when you come to~~ those who can attract the ~~possession~~ Grace of ~~the allyou must possess it without wanting anything.Because if you desire~~ God to ~~have something in allyour treasure in God is not purely your all~~them.” ~~—St. John of the Cross, Ascent~~ —Elder Justin (Pârvu) of ~~Mount Carmel~~Romania

~~“Man’s will~~“Once, ~~out~~ when standing before a window at night, St. Barsanuphius (of Optina) pointed to the moon and said to his spiritual children:"Look – what a picture! This is left to us as a consolation. It is no wonder the Prophet David said, ‘Thou hast gladdened me’, he says, although this is only a hint of ~~cowardice~~that wondrous beauty, ~~tends away from suffering~~incomprehensible to human thought, ~~and man~~which was originally created. We don't know what kind of moon there was then, ~~against his own will~~what kind of sun, ~~remains utterly dominated by~~ what kind of light… All of this changed after the ~~fear~~ fall."” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of ~~death~~Platina, Genesis, Creation, andEarly Man: The Orthodox Christian Vision, ~~in his desire to live, clings to his slavery to pleasure.” —St~~p. ~~Maximus the Confessor~~44

~~“Sin makes man a coward~~“As for the ‘scientific’ information given in the book of Genesis – and since it talks about the formation of the world we know, there cannot but be some scientific information there – contrary to popular belief, there is nothing ‘out-of-date’ about it. Its observations, it is true, are all made as seen from earth and as affecting mankind; but ~~a life~~ they do not put forth any particular teaching, for example, on the nature of the heavenly bodies or their relative motions, and so the book can be read by each generation and understood in the ~~Truth~~ light of ~~Christ makes Him bold~~its own scientific knowledge.~~” —St~~The discovery in recent centuries of the vastness of space and the immensity of many of its heavenly bodies does nothing but add grandeur in our minds to the simple account of Genesis. When the Holy Fathers talk about Genesis, of course, they try to illustrate it with examples taken from the natural science of their time; we do the same thing today. All this illustrative material is open to scientific criticism, and some of it, in fact, has become out-of-date. ~~John Chrysostom~~But the text of Genesis itself is unaffected by such criticism, ~~Homilies~~ and we can only wonder at how fresh and timely it is to each new generation. And the theological commentary of the Holy Fathers on the ~~Statues~~text partakes of this same quality.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina, Genesis, Creation and Early Man: The Orthodox Christian Vision, ~~VIII~~p. 287

~~“Of all~~ “One who has the ~~good things in the world, life is dearest to men, and men love life better than truth, although there is no life in truth. The highest good, then~~judgment of Christ before his eyes, ~~is life, but truth is the foundation of life. He~~ who ~~loves life must also love truth. But what is~~ has seen the ~~way to truth? 'I am the way', says the Lord. 'I am the way',~~ great danger that ~~none should think that there is some other way~~ threatens those who dare to ~~the truth besides the Lord Jesus. It was for that He was born as a man:~~ subtract from or add to ~~show men~~ those things which have been handed down by the ~~way. And for this that He was crucified~~Spirit, must not be ambitious to ~~make~~ innovate, but must content himself with those things which have been proclaimed by the ~~way plain by His blood~~saints.” —St. ~~Nikolai Velimirovich~~Basil the Great, Against Eunomius 2, PG 29.573-652

~~“The natural passions become good~~ “Our afflictions are well known without my telling; the sound of them has now gone forth over all Christendom. The doctrines of the fathers are despised; apostolical traditions are set at nought; the speculations of innovators hold sway in ~~those who struggle when~~the churches. Men have learned to be theorists instead of theologians. The wisdom of the world has the place of honour, ~~wisely unfastening them from~~ having dispossessed the ~~things~~ boasting of the ~~flesh~~cross. The pastors are driven away, ~~use them to gain heavenly things. For example they can change appetite into~~ grievous wolves are brought in instead, and plunder the ~~movement~~ flock of ~~a spiritual longing for divine things~~Christ, Houses of prayer are destitute of preachers; ~~pleasure into pure joy for~~ the ~~cooperation~~ deserts are full of mourners: the ~~mind~~ old bewail, comparing what is with ~~divine gifts~~what was; ~~fear into care~~ more pitiable are the young, as not knowing what they are deprived of. What has been said is sufficient to ~~evade future misfortune due to sin and sadness into corrective repentance for present evil~~kindle the sympathy of those who are taught in the love of Christ, yet compared with the facts, it is far from reaching their seriousness.” —St. ~~Maximus~~ Basil the ~~Confessor~~Great, ep. 90

~~“How good~~ “I urge you not to faint in your afflictions, but to be risen by the love of God and to increase every day to your zeal, knowing that it is necessary to preserve in you this relic of the true religion that the Lord will find when He comes to ~~conquer~~ the ~~passions! After~~ earth. Even if the ~~victory one feels such lightness~~ bishops are trained out of ~~heart~~their churches, don't be dismayed. If traitors have appeared among the clergy, do not betray your trust in God. We are saved not by names, but by our mind and by our purpose, ~~such peace~~ and ~~greatness~~ by a true love to our Creator. Think that in the attack of ~~spirit!~~our Lord, the great priests and the scribes and the elders have designed the conspiracy, and that few people have been found getting the Word. Remember that it is not the multitude that is being saved, but the elected ones of God. So don't be scared by the multitude of people who are swept away by the winds like the waters of the sea. If one is saved, as a Lot in Sodom, he must remain in a fair judgment, keeping his hope in Christ steadfast, for the Lord will not abandon His saints. Say hello to all the brothers in Christ from me. Pray with fervor for my miserable soul.” —St. ~~John of Kronstadt~~Basil the Great

~~“He who believes~~“So, ~~fears; he who fears~~ to the question, ‘Do we believe in conspiracy theories?’, the answer is ~~humble; he who is humble becomes gentle~~, ‘We don't believe in them, we have long experience of them.~~” —St~~’” —Fr. ~~Maximus the Confessor~~Peter Heers, On Demonic Methodology, Part II: Q & A, May 6, 2020

~~“For every humble person is gentle~~“Let us be firm, my brothers, on the rock of faith, in the tradition of the Church, and not remove or change the boundaries established by our Holy Fathers. Let us close the road to innovators and not permit them to demolish the structure of the holy, catholic, and ~~every gentle person is invariably humble~~apostolic Church of God. ~~A person is humble when he knows that his very being is on loan~~ If we allow, however, the introduction of any innovation, we unconsciously support the collapse of the Church. No, my brothers, you who love Christ, no, you children of the Church, you will never want to ~~him~~surround your Mother Church with confusion.” —St. ~~Maximus the Confessor~~John of Damascus, Concerning Images, III.41

~~“A humble person lives~~ “Therefore, brethren, let us stand on ~~earth as~~ the rock of faith and on the tradition of the Church, and not remove the boundaries which our Holy Fathers have set. Thus, we will not give the opportunity to those who wish to innovate and destroy the edifice of the holy, catholic and apostolic Church of God. For if in permission is granted to everyone who wants it, little by little the ~~Kingdom~~ whole body of ~~Heaven~~ the Church will be destroyed. Do not, brethren, do not, oh Christ- ~~always happy~~loving children of the Church of God …” —Jeremiah II (Jeremias II) Tranos, ~~peaceful~~ Ecumenical Patriarch and ~~satisfied with everything~~Archbishop of Constantinople, letter to the Most Wise Theologians, Residents of the Famous City of Tübingen, in the month of May, 1579, Indiction 7, pp.~~” —St. Anthony~~ 197-8 (prophetic warning of ~~Optina~~to the Lutheran scholars)

~~“Not every quiet man~~ “For to err is ~~humble~~human, but ~~every humble man~~ the correction is ~~quiet~~angelic and salvific.” ~~—St~~—Jeremiah II (Jeremias II) Tranos, Ecumenical Patriarch and Archbishop of Constantinople, letter to the Most Wise Theologians, Residents of the Famous City of Tübingen, in the month of May, 1579, Indiction 7, p. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~210

~~“If you wish to be truly humble, then consider yourself lower than all, worthy~~ “Unbelief is an evil offspring of ~~being trampled on by all~~an evil heart; for ~~you yourself daily, hourly trample upon~~ the ~~law~~ guileless and pure of ~~the Lord~~heart discovers God everywhere, everywhere discerns Him, and ~~therefore upon the Lord Himself~~always unhesitatingly believes in His existence.” —St. ~~John~~ Nectarios of ~~Kronstadt~~Aegina

~~“You wish to be great, begin from the least. You are thinking to construct some mighty fabric~~ “He who learns must sufferAnd even in ~~height; first think of~~ our sleep pain that cannot forgetFalls drop by drop upon the ~~foundation of humility.~~ heart,And ~~how great soever a mass of building one may wish and design to place above it~~in our own despite, against our will, ~~the greater the building is~~ Comes wisdom to ~~be,~~ us by the ~~deeper does he dig his foundation~~awful grace of God.” ~~—St. Augustine~~—Aeschylus

~~“A humble person lives on earth as if in~~ “The greatest wisdom often emerges from the ~~Kingdom of Heaven - always happy, peaceful and satisfied with everything~~deepest wounds.” ~~—St. Anthony of Optina~~—Jane Lee Logan

~~“In them [~~“Monarchy can easily be debunked, but watch the ~~Lives of~~ faces, mark well the debunkers. These are the ~~Saints] it is clearly and obviously demonstrated~~men whose taproot in Eden has been cut: ~~There is~~ whom no ~~spiritual death from which one cannot be resurrected by the Divine power~~ rumour of the ~~risen and ascended Lord Christ; there is no torment~~polyphony, ~~there is no misfortune~~the dance, ~~there is no misery~~can reach - men to whom pebbles laid in a row are more beautiful than an arch. … Where men are forbidden to honour a king they honour millionaires, ~~there is no suffering which the Lord will not change either gradually~~ athletes or ~~all at once into quite~~film stars instead: … For spiritual nature, like bodily nature, ~~compunctionate joy because of faith in Him~~will be served; deny it food and it will gobble poison.” ~~—St~~—C. S. ~~Justin Popovich~~Lewis

~~“A servant~~ “There is nothing impossible unto those who believe; lively and unshaken faith can accomplish great miracles in the twinkling of an eye. Besides, even without our sincere and firm faith, miracles are accomplished, such as the miracles of the ~~Lord~~ sacraments; for God's Mystery is ~~he who in body stands before men~~always accomplished, ~~but in mind knocks~~ even though we were incredulous or unbelieving at ~~Heaven with prayer~~the time of its celebration. 'Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?' (Rom. 3:3). Our wickedness shall not overpower the unspeakable goodness and mercy of God; our dullness shall not overpower God's wisdom, nor our infirmity God's omnipotence.” —St. John ~~Climacus~~of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ

~~“In~~ “The quality of mercy is not strained.It droppeth as the ~~Christian East – in fact,~~ gentle rain from heavenUpon the place beneath. It is twice blest:It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.'Tis mightiest in the ~~East in general – we love old age because we think that~~ mightiest; it ~~is made for praying~~becomesThe thronèd monarch better than his crown. ~~When one is old~~His scepter shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and ~~feels~~ majestyWherein doth sit the ~~nearness~~ dread and fear of ~~God across~~ kings;But mercy is above this sceptered sway.It is enthronèd in the ~~increasingly transparent surface~~ hearts of ~~biological life~~kings;It is an attribute to God Himself;And earthly power doth then show likest God'sWhen mercy seasons justice. Therefore, ~~one becomes in consciousness a child~~Jew, ~~returned to the Father~~Though justice be thy plea, ~~made light~~ consider this:That in ~~spirit by~~ the ~~proximity~~ course of ~~death~~justice none of usShould see salvation. We do pray for mercy, ~~transparent~~ And that same prayer doth teach us all to ~~another kind~~ renderThe deeds of ~~light~~mercy.I have spoke thus muchTo mitigate the justice of thy plea,Which, if thou follow, this strict court of VeniceMust needs give sentence 'gainst the merchantthere.” —William Shakespeare, Portia, The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1

~~A civilization in which one no longer prays is a civilization in which old age~~ “The human spirit needs places where nature has ~~no meaning. One walks backward towards death, pretending to be young; it’s an agonizing spectacle, because a wonderful possibility is offered, a journey towards ultimate relinquishment, and it is~~ not ~~taken advantage~~ been rearranged by the hand ofman.” —unknown

~~We need old people who pray, who smile, who live with a disinterested love, who marvel; they alone can show young people that that living~~ “People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in chaos is ~~worth the effort,~~ because things are being loved and ~~that oblivion is not the last word~~people are being used.” —unknown

~~Every monk whose spiritual practice has born fruit is called in the East, whatever his age, 'a beautiful old~~ “No man~~.' He is beautiful with the beauty that rises from the heart. In him all the periods of his life have come into harmony,~~ stands so tall as ~~with a symphony, one might say. And especially the original child is found again: shining with a transfigured shining, the beautiful old man has the eyes of~~ when he stoops to help a child.” ~~—Olivier Clément~~—unknown

~~“It is of great significance if there is a person who truly prays in a family. Prayer attracts God's grace~~ “If we could look into each others hearts, and ~~all~~ understand the ~~members~~ unique challenges each of ~~the family feel it~~us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, ~~even those whose hearts have grown cold~~and care. ~~Pray always~~” —Marvin J.~~” —Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica~~Ashton

~~“Prayer is~~ “Teach me to feel another's woe, to hide the ~~place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness~~fault I see; that mercy I to others show, ~~a protection against sadness~~that mercy show to me.” ~~—St. John Chrysostom~~—Alexander Pope

~~“He who angers~~ “Tolerance is the last virtue of a depraved society. When youhave an immoral society that has blatantly, ~~controls you!~~proudly, violated all of the commandments of God, there is one last virtue they insist upon: tolerance for their immorality.” ~~—Bishop Melchisedek Pleska~~—Dennis James Kennedy

~~“[The desire for] equality~~ “The greatest thing a man can do to a woman is ~~from the Devil, because it comes entirely from envy~~to lead her closer to God than to himself.” ~~—Fr. Alexander Schmemann~~—unknown

~~“In your prayer seek only righteousness and the kingdom~~ “A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, ~~that is, virtue and spiritual knowledge; and everything else 'will be given to you' (Matt. 6:33).~~but look what they can do when they stick together!” ~~—St. Evagrius of Ponticus~~—unknown

~~“Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride~~ “God cannot give us happiness and ~~envy~~peace apart from Himself because it is not there. ~~Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven~~There is no such thing.” ~~—St~~—C. S. ~~Ephrem the Syrian~~Lewis

~~“Even if we stand at~~ “The supreme happiness of life is the ~~very summit~~ conviction of ~~virtue~~being loved for yourself, or more correctly, ~~it is by mercy that we shall be saved~~being loved in spite of yourself.” ~~—St. John Chrysostom~~—Victor Hugo

~~“The goodness of~~ “It is hardly complimentary to God ~~is so rich in graces,~~ that ~~it seeks a cause~~ we should choose him as an alternative to ~~have mercy on a person~~hell.” ~~—St~~—C. S. ~~Anthimus of Chios~~Lewis

~~“The Holy Spirit has accomplishing in each believer~~ “Hell can't be made attractive, so the ~~work of Christ. Each Christian is a communicant of~~ devil makes attractive the ~~spirit. This is something so necessary,~~ road that ~~in fact whoever does not have the Spirit is not of Christ~~leads there.” —St. ~~Theophan~~ Basil the ~~Recluse~~Great

~~“The Church~~ “What is hell? I maintain that it is ~~nothing but~~ the ~~world on the way~~ suffering of being unable to ~~deification; for the Church, the world is no longer a tomb but a womb~~love.” ~~—Olivier Clément~~—Fyodor Dostoyevsky

~~“The church is an earthly heaven in which the super-celestial God dwells and walks about~~“If you die before you die, than when you die, you will not die. ” ~~—St~~—written on a cell wall, St. ~~Germanus of Constantinople~~Paul's Monastery, Mt. Athos

~~“Nothing is more abiding than~~ “War in the ~~Church: she~~ name of religion is ~~your salvation; she is your refuge~~war against religion.” ~~—St. John Chrysostom~~—His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

~~“There is no need~~ “Believe me, if God revealed to ~~weep much over~~ us the ~~destruction of a church; after all, each of us, according~~ disasters to ~~God's mercy, has or should have his own church - the heart - go in there~~ which we were exposed and ~~pray~~from which He protected us, ~~as much as you have strength and time. If this church is~~ our whole lives would not ~~well made and is abandoned (without inward prayer), then the visible church will be of little benefit~~suffice to offer Him thanks.” ~~—Archbishop Barlaam~~—H.H. Pope Shenouda

~~“Our prayer reflects our attitude towards~~ “In heaven, God. will not ask us why we have sinned; He ~~who is careless of salvation has a different attitude toward God from him who has abandoned sin and is zealous for virtue but has~~ will ask us why we did not ~~yet entered within himself and works for the Lord only outwardly~~repent. ~~Finally, he who has entered within and carries the Lord within himself, standing before Him, has yet another attitude~~” —H. The first man is negligent in prayer, just as he is negligent in life, and he prays in church and at home merely according to the established custom, without attention or feeling. The second man reads many prayers and goes often to church, trying at the same time to keep his attention from wandering and to experience feelings in accordance with the prayers which are read, although he is seldom successful. The third man, wholly concentrated within, stands with his mind before God, and prays to Him in his heart without distraction, without long verbal prayers, even when standing for a long time at prayer in his home or in church. … Every prayer must come from the heart and any other prayer is no prayer at all. Prayer-book prayers, your own prayers and very short prayers, all must issue forth from the heart to God, seen before you.” —StH. ~~Theophan the Recluse~~Pope Shenouda III

~~“It is sometimes well during prayer to say a few words of your own~~“Even if all spiritual fathers, ~~breathing fervent faith and love to the Lord. Yes~~patriarchs, ~~let us not always converse with God in the words of others~~hierarchs, ~~not always remain children in faith~~ and ~~hope; we must also show our own mind, indite a good matter from our own heart also. Moreover, we grow too accustomed to~~ all the ~~words of others and grow cold in prayer. And how pleasing this lipsing of our own is~~people forgive you, ~~coming from a believing, loving, and thankful heart. It is impossible to explain this; it is only needful to say that when~~ you are ~~praying to God with your own words the soul trembles with joy, it becomes wholly inflamed, vivified, and beatified. You will utter few words, but~~ unforgiven if you ~~will experience such blessedness as you would not have obtained saying the longest most touching prayers of others, pronounced out of habit and insincerely~~don’t repent in action.” —St. ~~John of Kronstadt~~Kosmas Aitolos

~~“Chastisement through~~ “Nobody is as gracious and merciful, as the ~~trials imposed on us~~ Lord is ~~a spiritual rod~~, ~~teaching us humility when in~~ but even He does not forgive the sins of the man who does not repent; … we are being condemned not because of the multitude of our ~~foolishness~~ evils, but because we ~~think too much of ourselves~~do not want to repent.” —St. ~~Thalassios~~ Mark the ~~Libyan~~Ascetic

~~“Goodness is not confirmed without trial. Every Christian is tested by something: one by poverty, another by illness,~~ “As a ~~third by various thoughts~~handful of sand thrown into the ocean, ~~a forth by some calamity or humiliation, while another by various doubts. And, through this, firmness~~ so are the sins of ~~faith, hope and love~~ all flesh as compared with the mercy of God ~~are tested~~.” —St. ~~Ambrose of Optina~~Isaac the Syrian

~~“Sometimes men are tested~~ “Just as a strongly flowing fountain is not blocked up by ~~pleasure~~a handful of earth, ~~sometimes by distress or by physical suffering. By means of His prescriptions~~ so the ~~Physician~~ compassion of ~~souls administers~~ the ~~remedy according to~~ Creator is not overcome by the ~~cause~~ wickedness of ~~the passions lying hidden in the soul~~his creatures.” —St. ~~Maximus~~ Isaac the ~~Confessor, Philokalia~~Syrian

~~“If you want~~“God is loving to man, and loving in no small measure. For say not, ~~or rather intend~~I have committed fornication and adultery: I have done dreadful things, ~~to take a splinter out~~ and not once only, but often: will He forgive? Will He grant pardon? Hear what the Psalmist says: ‘How great is the multitude of ~~another person~~Your goodness, ~~then do~~ O Lord!’ Your accumulated offenses surpass not ~~hack at it with a stick instead~~ the multitude of ~~a lancet~~God's mercies: your wounds surpass not the great Physician's skill. Only give yourself up in faith: tell the Physician your ailment: say thou also, like David: ‘I said, ~~for you~~ I will ~~only drive it~~ confess me my sin unto the Lord’: and the same shall be done in ~~deeper~~your case, which he says immediately: ‘And you forgave the wickedness of my heart.” ’” —St. ~~John Climacus~~Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 2, On Repentance and Remission of Sins and Concerning the Adversary, Ezekiel xviii. 20-23

~~“To exalt oneself is one thing, not~~ “The Lord calls to ~~do so another~~Him all sinners; He opens His arms wide, ~~and~~ even to ~~humble oneself is something less entirely~~the worst among them. ~~A man may always be passing judgement on others~~Gladly He takes them in His arms, ~~while another man passes judgement neither on others nor on himself. A third, however, though actually guiltless, may always be passing judgement on himself~~if only they will come to Him.” —St. ~~John Climacus~~Macarius of Optina

~~“If a man accuses himself, he~~ “Repentance is ~~protected on all sides~~the daughter of hope and the refusal to despair.” —St. ~~Poemen~~John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent

~~“It is~~ “Years are not ~~then wealth that is the foundation of pleasure, nor poverty of sadness~~needed for true repentance, ~~but our own judgment~~ and ~~the fact that the eyes of our mind neither see clearly nor remain fixed in one place~~not days, but ~~flutter abroad~~only an instant.” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Ambrose of Optina

~~“One who knows oneself~~“There is no sin which cannot be pardoned except that one which lacks repentance, ~~knows God:~~ and ~~one who knows God~~ there is ~~worthy to worship Him as~~ no gift which is ~~right~~not augmented save that which remains without acknowledgement. ~~Therefore, my beloveds~~ For the portion of the fool is small in ~~the Lord, know yourselves~~his eyes.” —St. ~~Anthony~~ Isaac the ~~Great~~Syrian

~~“In whatever state~~ “When a ~~person is, he sometimes finds himself making pure and intense prayers. For even from that first~~ man abandons his sins and ~~lowest sort, which has~~ returns to ~~do with recalling the future judgment~~God, ~~the one who is still subject to the punishment of terror and the fear of judgment is occasionally so struck with compunction that he is filled with no less joy of spirit from the richness of~~ his ~~supplication than the one who, examining the kindnesses of God and going over them in the purity of his heart, dissolves into unspeakable gladness~~ repentance regenerates him and ~~delight. For, according to the words of the Lord, the one who realizes that more has been forgiven~~ renews him ~~begins to love more~~entirely.” —St. ~~John Cassian~~Isaiah the Solitary

~~“If a man's self~~ “Through repentance the filth of our foul actions is washed away. After this, we participate in the Holy Spirit, not ~~kept clean~~ automatically, but according to the faith, humility and ~~bright, his glimpse~~ inner disposition of the repentance in which our soul is engaged. For this reason it is good to repent each day as the act of ~~God will be blurred~~repentance is unending.” —C—St. ~~S. Lewis~~Symeon the New Theologian, The Philokalia

~~“The pure heart sees~~ “There is nothing higher than what is called repentance and confession. The sacrament is the offering of God ~~as in~~ 's love to mankind. In this perfect way a ~~mirror~~person is free of evil. We go and confess and we sense our reconciliation with God; Joy enters us and guilt departs. In the Orthodox Church there is no impasse.” ~~—Abba Philemon~~—St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

~~“The blessedness~~ “…confession is such a potent treatment that it immediately neutralizes every poison of ~~seeing God~~ pardonable and mortal sin, which is ~~justly promised~~ an infinite evil, and causes every invisible illness to disappear, restoring to the ~~pure of heart~~soul its initial health and grace. ~~For the eye~~ It is such a wondrous treatment that ~~is unclean would not be able to see the brightness of~~ it instantly changes the ~~true light, and what would be happiness to clear minds would be~~ sinner into a ~~torment to those~~ beautiful angel from that ~~are defiled~~which it was before…” —St. ~~Therefore, let~~ Nikodemos the ~~mists of worldly vanities be dispelled~~Hagiorite, ~~and the inner eye be cleansed~~ Exomologetarion: A Manual of ~~all the filth of wickedness~~Confession, ~~so that the soul's gaze may feast serenely upon the great vision of God.” —St~~p. ~~Leo the Great~~234

~~“God rests within gentle hearts. The gentle and merciful shall sit fearless in His regions~~“And so it is incumbent upon us to strive, rather, to correct our faults and ~~will inherit Heavenly glory~~to improve our behavior.” —St. John ~~Climacus~~Cassian

~~“That~~ “If the grace of God doesn't enlighten man, though you say many words, they won't be beneficial. The person listens to you for a moment, but soon after returns to that which holds him captive. If, however, grace works immediately, together with your words, then a change is effected at that moment, corresponding to the ~~word communicates by sound~~person's predisposition. And from that moment on, ~~the painting shows silently by representation~~his life is changed. This happens with those who haven't hardened their hearing and conscience.” ~~—St. Basil~~ —Elder Joseph the ~~Great~~Hesychast, on Precious Vessels of the ~~40 Martyrs of Sebaste~~Holy Spirit

~~“Do not call God just~~“Let us strive to purify ourselves through repentance and humility, ~~for His justice is not manifest in the things concerning you. And if David calls Him just~~ and ~~upright (cf. Ps. 24:8, 144:17), His Son revealed~~ to ~~us that He~~ unite all our senses as one to the God who is good , and ~~kind~~transcends the good. ~~‘He is good~~Then,~~’ He says~~truly, ~~‘to the evil and~~ everything which I have not quite been able to ~~the impious’ (cf. Luke 6:35). How can you call God just when you come across the Scriptural passage on the wage given~~ say or to ~~the workers? ‘Friend~~demonstrate with my many words, ~~I do thee no wrong I~~ you will ~~give unto this last even as unto thee~~be taught in an instant, all at once. ~~Is thine eye evil because I am good?’ (Matt. 20:12-15). How can a man call God just when he comes across the passage on the prodigal son who wasted his wealth~~ You will hear with ~~riotous living, how for the compunction alone which he showed~~your sight, ~~the father ran~~ and ~~fell upon his neck and gave him authority over all his wealth? (Luke 15:11 ff~~see with your hearing.~~). None other but His very Son said these things concerning Him, lest we doubt it;~~ You will be taught while seeing and ~~thus He bare witness concerning Him. Where, then~~, ~~is God's justice~~again, ~~for whilst we are sinners Christ died for us! (cf. Rom. 5:8). But if here He~~ hear what is ~~merciful, we may believe that He will not change~~unveiled.” —St. ~~Isaac~~ Symeon the ~~Syrian, Homily LX~~New Theologian

~~“God chastises with love~~“Where there is God, ~~not for the sake of revenge---far be it!---but in seeking to make whole his image. And he does not harbour wrath until such time as correction~~ there is no ~~longer possible, for he does not seek vengeance for himself~~evil. ~~This is the aim of love. Love's chastisement~~ Everything coming from God is ~~for correction~~peaceful, ~~but does not aim at retribution. … The man who chooses to consider God as avenger, presuming that in this manner he bears witness~~ healthy and leads a person to ~~His justice,~~ the ~~same accuses Him~~ judgment of ~~being bereft of goodness. Far be it that vengeance could ever be found in that Fountain of love~~ his own imperfections and ~~Ocean brimming with goodness!” —St~~humility. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~

~~“Among all God's actions there is none which is not entirely~~ When a ~~matter of mercy~~person accepts anything Godly, ~~love and compassion: this constitutes the beginning and end of His dealings with us.” —St~~then he rejoices in his heart, but when he has accepted anything devilish, then he becomes tormented. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~

~~“‘The world’~~ The devil is ~~the general name for all the passions. When we wish to call the passions by~~ like a ~~common name~~lion, ~~we call them the world. But when we wish to distinguish them by their special names~~hiding in ambush (Ps 10:19, ~~we call them the passions~~1Pe 5:8). ~~The passions are the following: love~~ He secretly sets out nets of ~~riches, desire for possessions, bodily pleasure from which comes sexual passion, love of honour which gives rise to envy, lust for power, arrogance~~ unclean and ~~pride of position~~unholy thoughts. So, ~~the craving to adorn oneself with luxurious clothes and vain ornaments, the itch for human glory which~~ it is ~~a source of rancour and resentment, and physical fear. Where these passions cease~~ necessary to ~~be active~~break them off as soon as we notice them, ~~there the world is dead; for though living in the flesh, they did not live for the flesh. See for which~~ by means of ~~these passions you are alive. Then you will know how far you are alive to the world~~ pious reflection and ~~how far you are dead to it.” —St~~prayer. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~

~~“We don't understand~~ It is necessary that the Holy Spirit enter our heart. Everything good that we do, that ~~happiness~~ we do for Christ, is ~~in eternity and not in vanity.” —Elder Paisios~~ given to us by the Holy Spirit, but prayer most of Mtall, which is always available to us. ~~Athos~~

~~“Why do you beat the air and run in vain? Every occupation has a purpose, obviously. Tell me then, what~~ A sign of spiritual life is the ~~purpose~~ immersion of ~~all~~ a person within himself and the ~~activity of the world? Answer, I challenge you! It is vanity of vanity: all is vanity~~hidden workings within his heart.” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Seraphim of Sarov

~~“The sun shines on~~ “There is nothing better than peace in Christ, for it brings victory over all ~~alike, and vainglory beams~~ the evil spirits on ~~all activities. For instance, I am vainglorious when I fast;~~ earth and ~~when I relax~~ in the ~~fast~~ air. When peace dwells in ~~order~~ a man's heart it enables him to ~~be unnoticed, I am again vainglorious over my prudence~~contemplate the grace of the Holy Spirit from within. ~~When well-dressed I am quite overcome by vainglory~~He who dwells in peace collects spiritual gifts as it were with a scoop, and ~~when I put~~ he sheds the light of knowledge on ~~poor clothes I am vainglorious again~~others. ~~When I talk I am defeated~~All our thoughts, all our desires, all our efforts, and ~~when I am silent I am again defeated by it. However I throw this prickly-pear~~all our actions should make us say constantly with the Church: ‘O Lord, give us peace!’ When a ~~spike stands upright~~man lives in peace, God reveals mysteries to him.” —St. ~~John Climacus~~Seraphim of Sarov

~~“Watch your heart during all your life — examine it~~“The Spirit offers its own light to every mind, ~~listen~~ to help it~~, and see what prevents~~ in its ~~union with the most blessed Lord. Let this be~~ search for you the science of all sciences, and with God’s help, you will easily observe what estranges you from God, and what draws you towards Him and unites you to Him. It is the evil spirit more than anything that stands between our hearts and God; he estranges God from us by various passions, or by the desire of the flesh, by the desires of the eyes, and by worldly pridetruth.” —St. ~~John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ~~Basil the Great

~~"Have you ever observed the life of the heart? Try it even for~~ “Sometimes a short time and see what you find. Something unpleasant happens, and you get irritated; some misfortune occurs, and you pity yourself; you see someone whom you dislike, and animosity wells up within you; you meet one of your equals who has now outdistanced you on the social scale, and you begin to envy man's happiness is so deep inside him~~; you think of your talents~~ that he may forget it's there and ~~capabilities, and you begin to grow proud… All this is rottenness: vainglory~~start looking elsewhere hunting a fantasy, ~~carnal desire, gluttony, laziness, malice-one on top of the other, they destroy the heart~~an illusion.” ~~—St~~—Mr. ~~John~~ Roarke (~~Maximovitch~~Fantasy Island, s2e14) ~~of Shanghai and San Francisco~~

~~“As water and fire oppose one another when combined~~“If he seeks answers to questions related to his faith, ~~so are self-justification and humility opposed to one another~~his purpose in life, he will find happiness.” ~~—St. Mark the Ascetic~~—Elder Justin (Pârvu) of Romania

“Fire and water do not mix, neither can you mix judgment of others with the desire to repent. If a man commits a sin before you at the very moment of his death, pass no judgment, because the judgment “The person who loves God values knowledge of God ~~is hidden from men. It has happened that men have sinned greatly in the open but have done greater deeds in secret~~more than anything created by God, ~~so that those who would disparage them have been fooled, with smoke instead of sunlight in their eyes~~and pursues such knowledge ardently and ceaselessly.” —St. ~~John Climacus~~Maximus the Confessor

~~“Christians~~“Adorn yourself with truth, ~~above~~ try to speak truth in all ~~men~~things; and do not support a lie, ~~are forbidden to correct~~ no matter who asks you.If you speak the truth and someone gets mad at you, don’t be upset, but take comfort in the ~~stumblings~~ words of ~~sinners by force… it is necessary to make a man better not by force but by persuasion. God gives~~ the ~~crown to~~ Lord:Blessed are those who are ~~kept from evil~~persecuted for the sake of truth, ~~not by force, but by choice~~for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 5:10).” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Gennadios (II) Scholarios, Patriarch of Constantinople, The Golden Chain, 26,2

~~“I have seen pride lead~~ “You that are strong with all might in the inner man ought by rights to ~~humility. And I remembered him who said: Who hath known~~ carry on the struggle against the ~~mind~~ enemies of the ~~Lord? The pit~~ truth, and ~~offspring~~ not to shrink from the task, that we fathers may be gladdened by the noble toil of ~~conceit~~ our sons; for this is ~~a fall;~~ the prompting of the law of nature: but ~~a fall is often an occasion~~ as you turn your ranks, and send against us the assaults of ~~humility for~~ those ~~who~~ darts which are ~~willing to use it to~~ hurled by the opponents of the truth, and demand that their hot burning coals and their ~~advantage~~shafts sharpened by knowledge falsely so called should be quenched with the shield of faith by us old men.” —St. ~~John Climacus, The Ladder~~ Gregory of ~~Divine Ascent, Step 15, Section 38~~Nyssa

~~“Humility is~~ “Be the bee and not the fly… The fly only ~~thing that no devil can imitate.~~knows where the unclean things are, while the honeybee knows where the beautiful flowers are!” —St. ~~John Climacus~~Paisios of Mt. Athos

~~“An angel fell~~ “I shall set forth the best contributions of the philosophers of the Greeks, because whatever there is of good has been given to men from ~~Heaven without any other passion except pride~~above by God, since ‘every best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights’ (Js. 1.17). If, however, there is anything that is contrary to the truth, then it is a dark invention of the deceit of Satan and a fiction of the mind of an evil spirit, as that eminent theologian Gregory once said (Homily 39.3). In imitation of the method of the bee, I shall make my composition from those things which are conformable with the truth and from our enemies themselves gather the fruit of salvation. But all that is worthless and falsely labeled as knowledge I shall reject. Then, next, after this, I shall set forth in order the absurdities of the heresies hated of God, so that by recognizing the lie we may ~~ask whether it is possible~~ more closely follow the truth. Then, with God's help and by His grace I shall expose the truth–that truth which destroys deceit and puts falsehood to ~~ascend~~ flight and which, as with golden fringes, has been embellished and adorned by the sayings of the divinely inspired prophets, the divinely taught fishermen, and the God-bearing shepherds and teachers–that truth, the glory of which flashes out from within to ~~Heaven by humility alone~~brighten with its radiance, when they encounter it, them that are duly purified and rid of troublesome speculations. However, as I have said, ~~without any other~~ I shall add nothing of my own, but shall gather together into one those things which have been worked out by the ~~virtues~~most eminent of teachers and make a compendium of them, being in all things obedient to your command.” —St. John ~~Climacus~~of Damascus, The Fount of Knowledge

~~“Run from pride~~“If we have obtained the grace of God, ~~for it is a passion more treacherous~~ none shall prevail against us, but we shall be stronger than ~~any other~~all who oppose us.” —St. John Chrysostom

~~“Pride more than anything else~~“But our opinion is in accordance with the Eucharist, ~~deprives people of both their good deeds~~ and ~~help from God. Where there is no humility, pride takes its place~~the Eucharist in turn establishes our opinion.” —St. ~~Macarius~~ Irenaeus of ~~Optina~~Lyons, Against Heresies, 4:18:5

~~“‘Exile~~ “The Eucharist is ~~separation from everything in order to keep~~ the ~~mind inseparable from God. An exile loves~~ Flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and ~~produces continual weeping.’ From Paradise~~which the Father, in his loving-kindess, ~~we must become exiled~~ raised from the ~~world if we hope to return~~dead.” ~~—Fr~~—St. ~~Seraphim Rose~~ Ignatius of ~~Platina~~Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrnians, 7:1

~~“Day~~ “If the poison of pride is swelling up in you, turn to the Eucharist; and that Bread, Which is your God humbling and ~~night I pray~~ disguising Himself, will teach you humility. If the ~~Lord for love~~fever of selfish greed rages in you, feed on this Bread; and you will learn generosity. If the ~~Lord gives me tears~~ cold wind of coveting withers you, hasten to ~~weep for~~ the ~~whole world~~Bread of Angels; and charity will come to blossom in your heart. ~~But if I find fault with any man~~If you feel the itch of intemperance, ~~or look on him~~ nourish yourself with ~~an unkind eye~~the Flesh and Blood of Christ, ~~my tears~~ Who practiced heroic self-control during His earthly life; and you will ~~dry up~~become temperate. If you are lazy and sluggish about spiritual things, strengthen yourself with this heavenly Food; and ~~my soul sink into despondency~~you will grow fervent. ~~Yet do I begin again~~ Lastly, if you feel scorched by the fever of impurity, go to ~~entreat forgiveness~~ the banquet of the ~~Lord,~~ Angels; and the ~~Lord in His mercy forgives me, a sinner~~spotless Flesh of Christ will make you pure and chaste.” —St.Cyril of Alexandria

~~Brethren~~“Don't be anxious about what you have, ~~before the face of my God I write: Humble your hearts, and while yet on this earth~~ but about what you ~~will see the mercy of the Lord, and know your Heavenly Creator, and your souls will never have their fill of love~~are.” —St. ~~Silouan~~ Gregory the ~~Athonite~~Great

~~“Here are those of whom I speak and who are called heretics by me. They are the ones who say that in our present age there is no one in our midst who is able to observe the commandments and be like~~ “Teach your child this lesson: the ~~holy fathers…. Those who declare this is impossible have fallen not into one particular heresy but into all~~ rewards of ~~them, so to speak – a heresy surpassing all others in its impiety and greatest blasphemy. They~~ evil are buried underneath it…. The one who speaks in such a manner turns all of Scripture upside down…. These antichrists affirm, ‘It is impossible, impossible’. Why then is it impossible? Tell me. In what other way did temporary; the ~~saints shine on earth and did they become lamps~~ rewards of ~~the world? If it were impossible, they would never have succeeded in it. For they were men like us, and possessed no more than we do except a will directed toward the~~ Godliness (good. They had zeal, patience, humility, and love for God. Therefore, acquire all this and your soul which today is as hard as rock shall become a fountain of tears inside you. However, if you refuse to suffer such anguish and affliction, at least do not say that all this is impossiblecharacter) are eternal.” —St. ~~Symeon the New Theologian, The Discourses, Discourse XXIX: The Heresy~~ Cyprian of ~~Pusillanimity~~Carthage

~~“He who in his heart~~ “Let everything take second place to our care of our children, our bringing them up to the discipline and instruction of the Lord. If from the beginning we teach them to love true wisdom, they will have greater wealth and glory than riches can provide. If a child learns a trade, or is highly educated for a lucrative profession, all this is ~~proud~~ nothing compared to the art of ~~his tears and secretly condemns those~~ detachment from riches; if you want to make your child rich, teach him this. He is truly rich who do does not ~~weep is like a man~~ desire great possessions, or surrounds himself with wealth, but who ~~asks~~ requires nothing…Don’t think that only monks need to learn the ~~king for a weapon against his enemy and then commits suicide with it~~Bible; Children about to go out into the world stand in greater need of Scriptural knowledge.” —St. John ~~Climacus~~Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians, Homily 21

~~“Do~~ “If a man really sets his heart upon the will of God, God will enlighten a little child to tell that man what is His will. But if a man does not ~~grow conceited~~ truly desire the will of God, even if ~~you shed tears when you pray. For it is Christ who has touched your eyes~~he goes in search of a prophet, God will put into the heart of the prophet a reply like the deception in his own heart.” ~~—St. Mark the Ascetic~~—Abba Dorotheos of Gaza

“And here also we have diligently to consider, that it is far more secure and safe that every man should do that for himself whiles he is yet alive, which he desireth that others should do for him after his death. For far more blessed it is, to depart free out of this world, than being in prison to seek for release“Learn from small children: ~~and therefore reason teacheth us, that we should with our whole soul contemn this present world, at least because we see that it~~ if a child is now gone and past: and to offer unto God the daily sacrifice of tears, and the daily Sacrifice of His Body and Blood. For this Sacrifice doth especially save our souls from everlasting damnation, which attacked by someone in ~~mystery doth renew unto us~~ the ~~death~~ presence of ~~the Son of God: who although being risen from death, doth not now die any more, nor death shall not any further prevail against him: yet living in himself immortally, and without all corruption~~his parent, he ~~is again sacrificed for us in this mystery of the holy oblation: for there his body is received, there his flesh is distributed for the salvation of the people: there His Blood is~~ does not ~~now shed betwixt~~ respond to the ~~hands of infidels~~attacker himself, but ~~poured into~~ looks at the ~~mouths of~~ parent and cries. He knows that the ~~faithful~~parent will protect him. ~~Wherefore let us hereby meditate~~ And how can you not know what ~~manner of sacrifice this~~ the little child knows? Your heavenly Parent iscontinually beside you. Therefore do not revenge, ~~ordained~~ do not repay evil for ~~us, which for our absolution doth always represent the passion of the only Son of God: for what right believing Christian can doubt, that in the very hour of the sacrifice~~evil, but look at the ~~words of the Priest, the heavens be opened,~~ Parent and ~~the quires of Angels are present~~ cry. Only in this way will you secure your victory in ~~that mystery of Jesus Christ; that high things are accompanied~~ a clash with ~~low, and earthly joined to heavenly, and that one thing is made of visible and invisible?~~evil people.” —St. ~~Gregory the Great, Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great, Book 4, ch. 58~~Nikolai Velimirovich

~~“… One must clean~~ “The soul that is in all things devoted to the ~~royal house from every impurity and adorn it with every beauty~~will of God rests quiet in Him, ~~then the king may enter into it. In a similar way one must first cleanse the earth~~ for she knows of ~~the heart~~ experience and ~~uproot~~ from the ~~weeds of sin and~~ Holy Scriptures that the ~~passionate deeds~~ Lord loves us much and ~~soften it with sorrows~~ watches over our souls, quickening all things by His grace in peace and love. Nothing troubles the man who is given over to the ~~narrow way~~ will of ~~life~~God, ~~sow in~~ be it illness, poverty or persecution. He knows that the ~~seed of virtue~~Lord in His mercy is solicitous for us. The Holy Spirit, ~~water it with lamentation and tears~~whom the soul knows, ~~and only then does~~ is witness therefore. But the ~~fruit of dispassion~~ proud and ~~eternal life grow. For~~ the ~~Holy Spirit does~~ self-willed do not ~~dwell in a man until he has been cleansed from passions of~~ want to surrender to God's will because they like their own way, and that is harmful for the soul ~~and body~~.” —St. ~~Paisius Velichkovsky, ‘Field Flowers’~~Silouan the Athonite (From the Life and Teachings of Elder Siluan by Bishop Alexander and Natalia Bufius translated by Anatoly Shmelev)

~~“I do~~ “The man who cries out against evil men, but does not pray for them will never know ~~how I came into~~ the ~~world; Nor what the things here in it are. What my sight is, O my God, And what the objects that I see, I cannot tell. How all we men are vain, And have no proper judgement~~ grace of ~~reality! Yesterday at least I came and tomorrow I shall go, And I think to be immortal yonder. That Thee are my~~ God I confess to everyone, and yet deny Thee daily in my deeds. I teach that Thee have made each living thing; And yet without Thee struggle to have all. Thy rule extends above, below And yet I am not feared to strive against Thee. Let me the needy one, me most miserable; Disburden all the sickness of my soul Crushed, alas and broken into bits. By vanity, by foolish arrogance. Grant me to be humble, grant me a hand of help; And cleanse my soul’s pollution. And give me tears of repentance; Love’s tears, tears of liberty; Tears cleansing my mind’s darkness. And filling me with heavenly radiance! For Thee it is, the world’s Light; The Light of my poor eyes, I wish to see – I who fill my heart with life’s evils, Suffering much of affliction and of envy. From those who have worked my exiles: From those, rather, who are my benefactors; Who are my masters, my true friends: To whom, O Christ, instead of ill give blessing: Eternal, rich, divine; Prepared by Thee for all the ages; For those who deeply long for Thee, love Thee.” —St. ~~Symeon the New Theologian, On~~ Silouan the ~~right attitude to Life~~Athonite

~~“Ask~~ “Begin to pray with ~~tears~~those whom you love most, for example, for your children. Then pray for the rest of the family. Then for the people around you, then bless the city in which you live…bless the residents of other cities… Then ask God to calm the hearts of other countries so that there is no war. Then, when you have already prayed for the whole world, you only have to pray for enemies. And to not miss them, ~~seek~~ ask God to fill their hearts with ~~obedience~~kindness, ~~knock~~ and the mind with ~~patience~~wisdom. ~~For thus he who asks receives~~You see, ~~and he who seeks finds, and to him~~ it turns out that ~~knocketh it shall be opened~~you can pray for enemies too.” —St. ~~John Climacus~~Gabriel Urgebadze of Georgia, Confessor and Fool for Christ

~~“The passions of~~ “True faith is found in one's heart, not mind. People who have faith in their mind will follow the ~~flesh may be described as belonging to~~ antichrist. But the ~~left hand, self-conceit as belonging to the right hand~~ones who have it in their heart will recognize him.” —St. ~~Maximus the~~ Gabriel Urgebadze of Georgia, Confessorand Fool for Christ

“When ~~the soul leaves the body, the enemy advances~~ people are so steeped in evil that they do not yield to ~~attack it~~any admonishment and continue doing evil, ~~fiercely reviling it and accusing it of its sins in~~ a ~~harsh~~ Christian cannot and ~~terrifying manner. The devout soul, however, even though~~ should not take refuge in this teaching of the ~~past it has often been wounded by sin~~forgiveness of all, ~~is not frightened by the enemy’s attacks and threats. Strengthened by the Lord, winged by joy, filled~~ sit indifferently with ~~courage by the holy angels that guide it~~his arms crossed, and ~~encircled and protected by the light of faith~~apathetically watch evil abuse good, as it ~~answers the enemy with great boldness: ‘Fugitive from heaven~~increases and destroys people, ~~wicked slave, what have I to do with you? You have no authority over me; Christ~~ his close ones. To indifferently watch the ~~Son~~ ruin of ~~God~~ a close one by one who has ~~authority over me~~ lost his senses and ~~over all things. Against Him have I sinned, before Him shall I stand on trial, having His Precious Cross as~~ become a ~~sure pledge~~ bearer of ~~His saving love towards me. Flee from me, destroyer! You have~~ evil is nothing ~~to do with~~ other than the ~~servants~~ breaking of ~~Christ.’ When~~ the ~~soul says all this fearlessly, the devil turns his back, howling aloud and unable to withstand the name~~ commandment of ~~Christ. Then the soul swoops down on the devil from above, attacking him like a hawk attacking a crow. After this it is brought rejoicing by the holy angels to the place appointed~~ love for ~~it in accordance with its inward state~~one's neighbor.” ~~—St. Theognostos, On the Practice~~ —Archbishop Averky (Taushev) of ~~the Virtues, Philokalia, Vol. 2~~Syracuse

~~“If you wish to be saved, O my soul, to go first on the most sorrowful path which has been indicated here, to enter into the Heavenly Kingdom~~ “Those who dislike and ~~receive eternal life – then refine your flesh, taste voluntary bitterness, and endure difficult sorrows, as all the Saints tasted and endured~~reject their fellow-man are impoverished in their being. ~~And when a man is preparing himself and gives himself the command to endure for~~ They do not know the ~~sake of~~ true God ~~all sorrows and pain which come upon him~~, ~~then light and painless seem for him~~ who is all ~~sorrows, unpleasantnesses and attacks of devils and men. He does not fear death, and nothing can separate such a one from the~~ -embracing love ~~of Christ. Have you heard, my beloved soul, how the Holy Fathers spent their lives? O my soul! Imitate them at least a little~~.” —St. ~~Paisius Velichkovsky~~Silouan the Athonite

“If ~~you rebuke yourself, accuse yourself, and judge yourself before God~~ we detect hatred in our hearts against any man whatsoever for ~~your sins, with a sensitive conscience~~committing any fault, ~~even for this you will be justified.If you~~ we are ~~sorrowful for your sins, or you weep, or sigh, your sigh will not be hidden~~ utterly estranged from ~~Him and, as St. John Chrysostom says, ‘If you only lament~~ love for ~~your sins~~God, ~~then He will receive this~~ since love for ~~your salvation~~God absolutely precludes us from hating any man.’” ” —St. ~~Moses of Optina~~Maximus the Confessor

~~“Where there~~ “One must not harbour anger nor hatred towards a person that is ~~pride there cannot be grace, and if we lose grace we also lose both~~ hostile towards us. On the contrary. You must love ~~of God~~ him and ~~assurance in prayer~~do as much good as possible towards him. ~~The soul is then tormented by evil thoughts and does not understand that she must humble herself and love her enemies, for there is no other way to please God~~Following the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.” —St. ~~Silouan the Athonite~~Seraphim of Sarov

~~“A good heart produces good thoughts: its thoughts correspond to what it stores up in itself~~“As fire is not extinguished by fire, so anger is not conquered by anger, but is made even more inflamed. But meekness often subdues even the most beastly enemies, softens them and pacifies them.” —St. ~~Thalassios the Libyan~~Tikhon of Zadonsk

~~“Fasting~~ “For wherever love disappears, hatred immediately appears in its place. And if God is love, then hatred is ~~for~~ the ~~purification of~~ devil. Therefore, at one who has love has God within himself, so he who has hatred within himself nurtures the ~~soul and body~~devil within him.” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Basil the Great

~~“Fasting is wonderful~~“Do not ask for love from your neighbor, ~~because it tramples our sins like a dirty weed~~for if you ask and he does not respond, you will be troubled. Instead show your love for your neighbour and you will be at rest, ~~while it cultivates~~ and ~~raises truth like a flower~~so will bring your neighbour to love.” —St. ~~Basil the Great~~Dorotheos of Gaza

~~“Fasting is~~ “Love should never be sacrificed for the ~~mother~~ sake of ~~health; the friend of chastity; the partner of humility~~some dogmatic difference.” —St. ~~Symeon the New theologian~~Nektarios of Aegina

~~“As salt~~ “No term is ~~needed for all kinds of food, so humility is needed for all kinds of virtues~~used–and misused–among the Orthodox people in America more often than the term canonical.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~Alexander Schmemann, The Problems of Orthodoxy in America, The Canonical Problem

~~“Virtue is not the manifestation of many and various works performed by~~ “Even the ~~body, but a heart~~ slightest thought that is most wise in its hope and unites a right aim to godly works. Often, the mind can accomplish that which is good without bodily works, but the body without wisdom of the heart can gain no profit for all it may donot founded on love destroys peace.” ~~—St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 40~~—Archimandrite Thaddeus Strabulovich

~~“Let it be known~~ “What does love look like? It has the hands to ~~you that if in your life you have mastered every virtue and every good deed such as mercy, prayer, fast, and other virtues but have no humility in you, your toil will be in vain~~help others. ~~For humility in all these virtues is~~ It has the ~~solid foundation. Without it, we cannot master any of~~ feet to hasten to the ~~virtues~~ poor and ~~all these virtues will become impure, filthy,~~ needy. It has eyes to see misery and ~~discarded before God because they were not sown with humility~~ want. It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what lovelooks like.” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Augustine of Hippo

~~“Fasting~~ “Your Lord is ~~the mother~~ love: love Him and in Him all men, as His Children in Christ. Your Lord is fire: do not let your heart be cold, but burn with faith and love. Your Lord is light: do not walk in darkness of ~~health; the friend~~ mind, without reasoning or understanding, or without faith. Your Lord is a God of ~~chastity; the partner~~ mercy and bountifulness: be also a source of ~~humility~~mercy and bountifulness to your neighbors. If you will be such, you will find salvation yourself with everlasting glory.” —St. ~~Symeon the New theologian~~John of Kronstadt

~~“What can sin do where there~~ “To love our brothers is ~~penitence? And of what use~~ a need that is ~~love where there~~ endemic to our nature. Contemporary man does not recognize this need, because it is ~~pride?~~suppressed and suffocated by egoism.” ~~—Abba Elias~~—Archbishop Averky (Taushev), The Struggle for Virtue: Asceticism in a Modern Secular Society, p.54

~~“Pride~~ “Many think that love is ~~poverty~~ a feeling, but this is not the case. It is a state of the ~~soul~~will. If love were a feeling it would not be a commandment. Naturally, ~~which imagines itself to be rich~~love is accompanied by certain feelings, ~~and being~~ but in ~~darkness, thinks~~ essence it ~~has light~~is a state of the will.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~John Climacus~~Daniel Sysoev, How Can I Learn God's Will?

~~“Modern society calls~~ “Love is – the ~~beggar bum~~ bond of life, the mother of the poor and ~~panhandler and gives him~~ the ~~bum's rush~~teacher of the rich. ~~But~~ It is the ~~Greeks used to say that people in need are~~ nurse of orphans, the ~~ambassadors~~ attendant of the ~~gods~~elderly, the treasure of the indigent and the common port of all the afflicted.” ~~—Peter Maurin~~—St. Gregory of Nyssa

~~“Every family should have a room where Christ is welcome~~ “I guard you in advance against beasts in the ~~person~~ form of men, whom you must not only not receive, but if it is possible not even meet, but only pray for them, if perchance they may repent…” —St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the ~~hungry and thirsty stranger~~Smyrnaeans, A.~~” —St~~D. ~~John Chrysostom~~117

~~“Who is~~ “If the ~~greedy man? One for whom plenty does not suffice. Who defrauds~~ Christian recognizes and understands under what condition, under what law he has believed, he will know that he must labor more in the world than others~~? One who keeps for himself what belongs to everyone~~, as he must carry on a greater struggle against the assault of the devil. ~~Aren’t you greedy~~Divine Scripture teaches and forewarns, ~~don’t you defraud~~saying: ‘Son, when ~~you~~ thou comest to the service of God, stand in justice, and in fear, and prepare thyself for temptation’ (Sirach 2:1), and again: ‘in thy sorrow endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience, for ~~yourself what was given to give away? When someone steals a man’s clothes~~gold and silver are tried in the fire’ (Sirach 2:4, ~~we call him a thief~~5). ~~Shouldn’t we give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not?~~” —St. ~~Basil the Great~~Cyprian of Carthage, Mortality

“The ~~bread you do not use is the bread~~ person who has surrendered himself entirely to sin indulges with enjoyment and pleasure in unnatural and shameful passions – licentiousness, unchastity, greed, hatred, guile and other forms of ~~the hungry~~vice – as though they were natural. The ~~garment hanging~~ genuine and perfected Christian, on the other hand, with great enjoyment and spiritual pleasure participates effortlessly and without impediment in ~~your wardrobe is~~ all the ~~garment of the person who is naked. The shoes you do not wear are~~ virtues and all the ~~shoes~~ supranatural fruits of ~~one who is barefoot. The money you keep locked away is~~ the ~~money of~~ Spirit – love, peace, patient endurance, faith, humility and the ~~poor. The acts~~ entire truly golden galaxy of ~~charity you do not perform are the injustices you commit~~virtue – as though they were natural.” —St. ~~Basil the Great~~Symeon Metaphrastis

~~“You are~~ “When a man is given over to the passions, he does not see them in himself and does not ~~making a gift~~ fight against them, because he lives in them and by them. But when the grace of ~~what is yours~~ God becomes active in him, he begins to discern the passionate and sinful in himself, acknowledge them, and to repent and decide to guard against them. A struggle begins. At first, the ~~poor man~~struggle begins with deeds, but ~~you~~ when released from shameful deeds, then the struggle begins with shameful thoughts and feelings. And here the struggle encounters many steps … The struggle continues. The passions increasingly are ~~giving him back what is his~~torn out of the heart. ~~You have been appropriating things~~ It even happens that they are ~~meant to be for~~ entirely torn out … The sign that the ~~common use~~ passions are torn out of ~~everyone. The earth belongs to everyone, not~~ the heart is that the soul begins to feel repulsion and hatred for the ~~rich~~passions.” —St. ~~Ambrose of Milan~~Theophan the Recluse, Unseen Warfare, How the Spiritual Life Proceeds

~~“Do~~ “Until you have eradicated evil, do not ~~consider~~ obey your ~~riches as belonging to yourselves alone~~heart; ~~open wide your hand to those who are in need~~for it will seek more of what it already contains within itself.” —St. ~~Cyril of Alexandria~~Mark the Ascetic

~~“The man who loves his neighbor as himself possesses no more than his neighbor…thus~~“Whatever of that which is best has flowed into the heart, ~~as much as your wealth increases, so much does your love decrease~~we should not pour out without need; for that which has been gathered can be free of danger from visible and invisible enemies only when it is guarded in the interior of the heart.” —St. ~~Basil the Great~~Seraphim of Sarov

~~“If you cannot find~~ “No one professing faith sins, nor does anyone possessing love hate. The tree is known by its fruit; thus those who profess to be Christ in 's will be recognized by their actions. For the ~~beggar at~~ work is a matter not of what one promises now, but of persevering to the ~~church door, you will not find Him~~ end in the ~~chalice~~power of faith.” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians

~~“A rich~~ “Indeed, man ~~is not one who has much, but one who gives much. For what~~ wishes to be happy even when he ~~gives away remains his forever~~so lives as to make happiness impossible.” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Augustine of Hippo

~~“No one in creation~~ “The confession of evil works is ~~rich but he that fears God; no one is truly poor but he that lacks~~ the ~~truth~~first beginning of good works.” —St. ~~Ephrem the Syrian~~Augustine of Hippo

~~“Do you fast? Then feed~~ “The evil powers love the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick, do not forget the imprisoned, have pity on the tortured, comfort those who grieve and who weep, be merciful, humble, kind, calm, patient, sympathetic, forgiving, reverent, truthful darkness and ~~pious~~tremble at every light, so especially at that which belongs to God ~~might accept your fasting~~ and ~~might plentifully grant you the fruits of repentance~~to those who please Him.” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Nikolai Velimirovich

~~“The Lord Himself said in the Gospel: ‘The last shall~~ “There is no benefit to be ~~first and the first, last’ (Matt 20:16)~~gained from a pure life when one possesses heretical dogma. ~~Thus, may Divine mercy shine forth with His love upon~~ And likewise the ~~poor, so that it may make great ones from the little, and that from the weak it may make co-inheritors with His Only Begotten Son~~opposite is true. ~~For it exhalts the poverty~~ Correct dogma is of ~~this world to Heaven, to which the earthly kingdom cannot rise, so~~ no benefit when one leads a corrupt life. Let us not think that ~~the rustic comes to the place where he who wears the purple does~~ holding faith alone is alone sufficient for salvation if we do not ~~merit to come~~also show forth a pure life.” —St ~~Gregory of Tours, Via Patrum~~. John Chrysostom

~~“In all your undertakings and in every way~~ “The one who has not yet obtained divine knowledge activated by love makes a lot of ~~life, whether you are living in obedience, or are not submitting your work~~ the religious works he performs. But the one who has been deemed worthy to ~~anyone, whether in outward or in spiritual matters~~obtain this says with conviction the words which the patriarch Abraham spoke when he was graced with the divine appearance, ~~let it be your rule~~ ‘I am but earth and ~~practice to ask yourself: Am I really doing this in accordance with God's will?”~~ ashes.’” —St. ~~John Climacus~~Maximus the Confessor

~~“Those who submit to the~~ “Do not say that ‘mere faith in our Lord ~~with simple heart will run~~ Jesus Christ can save me’, for this is impossible unless you acquire love for Him through works. For in what concerns mere believing, ‘even the demons believe and tremble’ (James 2:19). The action of love consists in heartfelt good ~~race. If they keep their minds on a leash~~deeds towards one's neighbor, magnanimity, patience, ~~they will not draw the wickedness~~ and sober use of ~~the demons onto themselves~~things.” —St. ~~John Climacus~~Maximus the Confessor

~~“A hypocrite~~ “Our faith then must be different from the faith of devils. For our faith purifies the heart; but their faith makes them guilty. For they do wickedly, and therefore say they to the Lord, ‘What have we to do with You?’ When you hear the devils say this, do you think that they do not acknowledge Him? ‘We know,’ they say, ‘who You are: You are the Son of God.’ This Peter says, and is commended; the devil says it, and is ~~someone who teaches his neighbor something~~ condemned. Whence comes this, but that though the words be the same, the heart is different? Let us then make a distinction in our faith, and not be content to believe. This is no such faith as purifies the heart. ‘Purifying their hearts,’ it is said, ‘by faith.’ But by what, and what kind of faith, save that which the Apostle Paul defines when he says, ‘Faith which works by love.’ That faith distinguishes us from the faith of devils, and from the infamous and abandoned conduct of men. ‘Faith,’ he ~~makes no effort~~ says. What faith? ‘That which works by love,’ and which hopes for what God does promise. Nothing is more exact or perfect than this definition. There are then in faith these three things. He in whom that faith is which works by love, must necessarily hope for that which God does promise. Hope therefore is the associate of faith. For hope is necessary as long as we see not what we believe, lest perhaps through not seeing, and by despairing to see, we fail. That we see not, does make us sad; but that we hope we shall see, comforts us. Hope then is here, and she is the associate of faith. And then charity also, by which we long, and strive to attain, and glow with desire, and hunger and thirst. This then is taken in also; and so there will be faith, hope, and charity. For how shall there not be charity there, since charity is nothing else but love? And this faith is itself defined as that ‘which works by love.’ Take away faith, and all you believe perishes; take away charity, and all that you do perishes. For it is the province of faith to believe, of charity to do. For if you believe without love, you do not apply yourself to good works; or if you do ~~himself~~, it is as a servant, not as a son, through fear of punishment, not through love of righteousness. Therefore I say, that faith purifies the heart, which works by love.” —St. ~~Poemen~~Augustine of Hippo, Sermon III on the New Testament, Section XI

~~“I prefer a man who sins~~ “Refuse to listen to the Devil when he whispers to you: ‘Give me now, and ~~repents~~ you will give tomorrow to ~~one who does not sin and does not repent~~God. ~~The first has good thoughts~~’ No, ~~for he admits~~ no! Spend all the hours of your life in a way pleasing to God. Keep in your mind the thought that ~~he is sinful. But~~ after the ~~second has false~~present hour, ~~soul-destroying thoughts~~you will not be given another, and that you will have to render a strict account for ~~he imagines himself to be righteous~~every minute of this present hour.” ~~—Abba Poemen~~ —St. Theophan the ~~Great~~Recluse

~~“At meals don't speak about food: that's vulgar~~ “Human life is but of brief duration. ‘All flesh is grass, and ~~unworthy~~ all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of ~~you~~the field. ~~Speak about something noble -- of~~ The grass withers, the flower fades; but the ~~soul or~~ word of our God shall stand forever’ (Isa. 40:6). Let us hold fast to the ~~mind --~~ commandment that abides, and ~~you will have dignified this duty~~despise the unreality that passes away.” —St. ~~Josemaria Escriva~~Basil the Great

~~“When someone learns~~ “We see the water of a river flowing uninterruptedly and passing away, and all that floats on its surface, rubbish or beams of trees, all pass by. So does our life. I was an infant, and that time has gone. I was an adolescent, and that too has passed. I was a young man, and that too is far behind me. The strong and mature man that I was is no more. My hair turns white, I succumb to ~~acknowledge every man as being better than himself~~age, ~~then he has attained humility~~but that too passes; I approach the end and will go the way of all flesh. I was born in order to die. I die that I may live.Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom!” —St. ~~Sisoes the Great~~Tikhon of Voronezh

~~“It is a spiritual gift from God for a man~~ “You should look downward. Remember: you are earth and you will return to ~~perceive his sins~~the earth.” —St. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~Ambrose of Optina

~~“The man who~~ “Just as a pauper, seeing the royal treasures, all the more acknowledges his own poverty; so also the spirit, reading the accounts of the great deeds of the Holy Fathers, involuntarily is ~~deemed worthy to see himself is greater than he who is deemed worthy to see angels~~all the more humbled in its way of thought.” —St. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~John Climacus

~~“The truly blessed are~~ “Do not shun poverty and affliction, the ~~ones who can work miracles or see angels; the truly blessed are the ones who can see their own sins~~fuel that gives wings to prayer.” ~~—St. Anthony~~ —Evagrios the ~~Great~~Solitary

~~“The nearer~~ “Prayer is a ~~man draws to God~~refuge for those who are shaken, an anchor for those tossed by waves, a walking stick for the infirm, a treasure house for the poor, a stronghold for the ~~more~~ rich, a destroyer of sicknesses, a preserver of health. He who can sincerely pray is richer than everyone else, even though he ~~sees himself a sinner~~is the poorest of all. ~~It was when Isaiah~~ On the ~~prophet saw God~~contrary, ~~that~~ he ~~declared himself ‘a man~~ who does not have recourse to prayer, even though he sit on a king's throne, is the poorest of ~~unclean lips.’”~~ all…” —St. ~~Mateos~~John Chrysostom

~~“The condition~~ “What is the meaning of ~~peace among men~~ the exclamation so often sung in church: ‘Lord, have mercy upon us’? It is the lament of the guilty, condemned sinner, imploring forgiveness of an irritated justice. We are all under the eternal curse and doomed to eternal fire for our innumerable sins, and it is only the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, interceding for us before the Heavenly Father, that ~~each should keep~~ saves us from eternal punishment. It is the lament of the repentant sinner, expressing his firm intention to amend and begin a new life, becoming for a ~~consciousness~~ Christian. It is the lament of the repentant sinner, ready to forgive others, as he himself was and is immeasurably forgiven by God, the Judge of his ~~own wrongdoing~~deeds.” —St. ~~Silouan the Athonite~~John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ, pg. 406

~~“The way to perfection~~ “It seems that we do not understand one thing: it is ~~through~~ not good when we return the love of those who love us, yet hate those who hate us. We are not on the ~~realization that~~ right path if we do this. We are ~~blind~~the sons of light and love – the sons of God, his children. As such, we must have His qualities and His attributes of love, peace, ~~naked~~ and ~~poor~~kindness towards all.” ~~—St. Theophan the Recluse~~—Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

~~“The perfect person does not only try to avoid evil. Nor does he do good for fear of punishment, still less in order~~ “Pride is trying to ~~qualify for the hope of~~ imagine a promised reward. The perfect person does good through love. His actions are not motivated by desire for personal benefit, so he does not have personal advantage as his aim. But as soon as he has realized the beauty of doing good, he does it with all his energies world and live in ~~all that he does. He is not interested in fame, or a good reputation, or a human or divine reward~~it. ~~The rule of life for a perfect person is to be in~~ Humility receives the ~~image and likeness of~~ world as Godcreated it.” —St. ~~Clement~~ Sophrony of ~~Alexandria~~Essex

~~“Every day at nightfall, before sleep~~ “We suffer because we have no humility and we do not love our brother. From love of our brother comes ~~upon you, excite~~ the ~~judgment~~ love of ~~your conscience, demand an account from it~~God. People do not learn humility, and ~~whatever evil counsels you may have taken during~~ because of their pride cannot receive the grace of the ~~day … pierce them, tear them to pieces~~Holy Spirit, and ~~do penance for them~~therefor the whole world suffers.” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Silouan the Athonite

~~“As I became more wretched you drew nearer to me~~“Some suffer much from poverty and sickness, but are not humbled, and so they suffer without profit. But one who is humbled will be happy in all circumstances, because the Lord is his riches and joy, and all people will wonder at the beauty of his soul.” —St. ~~Augustine~~Silouan the Athonite

~~“Sin is~~ “My joy, I beg you, acquire the ~~fruit~~ Spirit of ~~free will~~Peace. ~~There was~~ That means to bring oneself to such a ~~time when sin did~~ state that our spirit will not ~~exist, and there will~~ be ~~a time when it will not exist~~disturbed by anything. For one must go through many sorrows to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” This is the way all righteous men were saved and inherited the Heavenly Kingdom…” —St. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~Seraphim of Sarov

~~“Prove your love~~ “My will, therefore, He took to Himself, my grief. In confidence I call it grief, because I preach His Cross. Mine is the will which He called His Own, for as Man He bore my grief, as Man He spake, and therefore said, ‘Not as I will, but as Thou wilt.’ Mine was the grief, and mine the heaviness with which He bore it, for no man exults when at the point to die. With me and ~~zeal~~ for ~~wisdom~~ me He Suffers, for me He is sad, for me He is heavy. In my stead therefore, and in ~~actual deeds.” —St~~me He grieved Who had no cause to grieve for Himself. ~~Callistus Xanthopoulos~~

~~“Without love~~Not Thy Wound, ~~deeds~~but mine, hurt Thee, Lord Jesus; not Thy Death, but our weakness, even as the ~~most brilliant~~Prophet saith: ‘For He is afflicted for our sakes’--and we, ~~count as nothing.” —St~~Lord, esteemed Thee afflicted, when Thou grievedst not for Thyself, but for me. ~~Thérèse de Lisieux~~

~~“Do not leave unobliterated any fault~~And what wonder if He grieved for all, Who wept for one? What wonder if, in the hour of death, He is heavy for all, Who wept when at the point to raise Lazarus from the dead? Then, ~~however small~~indeed, He was moved by a loving sister's tears, for they touched His human heart,--here by secret grief He brought it ~~may lead you on~~ to ~~greater sins~~pass that, even as His Death made an end of death, and His Stripes healed our scars, so also His Sorrow took away our sorrow.” —St. ~~Mark~~ Ambrose of Milan, (+397), Ch. 7, Book II, Exposition on the ~~Ascetic~~Christian Faith

~~“Everyday I lay a foundation for building my repentance~~“Peace is not absence of struggle, but absence of uncertainty and ~~again with my own hands I demolish it~~confusion.” ~~—St. Ephrem the Syrian~~—Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh

~~“Having fulfilled a commandment~~“Humility is perfect quietness of heart, it is to expect ~~temptations; because love toward Christ~~ nothing, to wonder at nothing that is ~~tested by difficulties~~done to me, to feel nothing done against me.~~” —St~~It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. ~~Mark~~ It is to have a blessed home in the ~~Ascetic~~Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.” —Andrew Murray

~~“Do not be surprised that when you draw near to virtue~~“However great the afflictions we suffer, ~~grievous and intense tribulations come to you on all sides: for virtue is not considered virtue, if it does not involve hard work~~what are they compared with the promised future reward.” —St. ~~Isaac~~ Macarius the ~~Syrian, Directions on Spiritual Training, The Philokalia~~Great

~~“Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but stand your ground courageously. And assuredly,~~ “Shun the praise of men and love the ~~angel~~ one who ~~guards you will honor your patience. While a wound is still fresh and warm it is easy to heal~~, ~~but old~~in the fear of the Lord, neglected and festering ones are hard to cure, and require for their care much treatment, cutting, plastering and cauterization. Many from long neglect become incurable. But with God all things are possiblereprimands you.” —St. ~~John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 5, Section 30~~Pachomius

~~“The life~~ “When people begin to praise us, let us hurry to remember the multitude of ~~the righteous was radiant. How did it become radiant if it wasn’t by patience? Love patience~~ours transgressions, ~~O monk, as the mother~~ and we will see that we are truly unworthy of ~~courage~~that which they say and do in our honor.” —St. ~~Ephrem the Syrian~~John Climacus

~~“Seek in everything the deep meaning~~“…Don't be frightened at your burden; our Lord will help you to carry it. ~~All the events that take place around us and with us have their meaning. Nothing happens without a cause…”~~ ” —St. ~~Nektary of Optina~~John Vianney

~~“…should we fall, we should not despair and so estrange ourselves from~~ “Every tribulation reveals the Lord's love. For if He so chooses, He can deal mercifully with our weakness. Only we should not cut ourselves off from Him or feel oppressed when constrained by His commandments, nor should we lose heart when we fall short state of our goal…let us always be ready to make a new start. If you fall, rise up. If you fall again, rise up again. Only do not abandon your Physician, lest you be condemned as worse than a suicide because of your despair. Wait on Him, and He will ~~be merciful, either reforming you, or sending you trials, or through some other provision of which you are ignorant~~.” —St. ~~Peter of Damascus~~Mark the Ascetic

~~“Faintness of heart is a sign of despondency~~“Every affliction tests our will, ~~and negligence~~ showing whether it is ~~the mother of both~~inclined to good or evil. ~~A cowardly man shows that he suffers from two diseases: love of his flesh and lack of faith; for love of one’s flesh~~ That is why an unforeseen affliction is called a sign of unbelief. But he who despises the love of the flesh proves that he believes in God with his whole heart and awaits the age to come … A courageous heart and scorn of perils comes from one of two causes: either from hardness of heart or from great faith in God. Pride accompanies hardness of hearttest, ~~but humility accompanies faith. A~~ because it enables a man cannot acquire hope in God unless he first does His will with exactness. For hope in God and manliness of heart are born of the testimony of the conscience, and by the truthful testimony of the mind we possess confidence towards Godto test his hidden desires.” —St. ~~Isaac~~ Mark the ~~Syrian, Homily 40~~Ascetic

~~“Just as~~ “Many are the ~~Lord is solicitous about our salvation, so too~~ wiles of the ~~murder~~ enemy to despoil us of ~~men~~inner peace, so watch!” —St. Theophan the ~~devil, strives to lead a man into despair.~~Recluse

~~A lofty and sound soul does not despair over misfortunes~~“In every situation confusion is from the devil, ~~of whatever sort they~~ from whom may ~~be. Our life is as it were a house of temptations and trials; but we will not renounce~~ the Lord ~~for as long as He allows the tempter to remain with~~ shield and protect us ~~and for as long as we must wait to be revived through patience and secure passionless!~~.” —St. Leo of Optina

~~Judas~~ “It should be noted that when the ~~betrayer was fainthearted and unskilled in battle, and so the enemy, seeing his despair, attacked him and forced him~~ fallen spirit wants to ~~hang himself, but Peter, a firm rock~~get dominion over Christ's ascetics, ~~when~~ he ~~fell into great sin, like one skilled in battle did~~ does not ~~despair nor lose heart~~act imperiously or domineeringly, but ~~shed bitter tears from~~ tries to draw a ~~burning heart~~man to consent to the proposed delusion, and after getting his consent he takes possession of the ~~enemy~~person who has given his consent. Holy David, ~~seeing these tears~~in describing his the fallen angel attacks man, has very rightly said: "He lurketh in secret as a lion in his ~~eyes scorched as by fire~~den, that he may ravish the poor; to ravish the poor, ~~fled far form~~ when he getteth him ~~wailing in pain~~into his net."” —St.Ignaty Bryanchaninov, The Arena, chapter 11, On the Solitary Life

~~And so brothers~~“The devil presents minor sins as insignificant in our eyes, ~~St. Antioch teaches, when despair attacks us let us~~ because otherwise he would not yield to it, but being strengthened and protected by the light of faith, with great courage let us say to the evil spirit: ‘What are you to us, estranged from God, a fugitive from heaven and evil servant? You dare do nothing to us. Christ, the Son of God, has authority both over us and over everything. It is against Him that we have sinned, and before Him that we will be ~~justified. And you, destroyer, leave~~ able lead us~~. Strengthen by His venerable Cross, we trample under foot your serpent's head’ (St. Antioch Discourse 27)~~into major ones.” —St. ~~Seraphim of Sarov, Little Russian Philokalia~~Mark the Ascetic

~~“I think~~ “Do not leave unobliterated any fault, however small, for it ~~needs~~ may lead you on to be pointed out with utmost charity that the religion of compromise is self-deception and that there exist today only two absolutely irreconcilable alternatives for man: faith in the world and the religion of self, whose fruit is death; and the faith in Christ the Son of God, in Whom alone is eternal lifegreater sins.” ~~—Fr~~—St. ~~Seraphim Rose of Platina~~Mark the Ascetic

~~“Keep your mind in hell~~ “Obedience is necessary not only for monks, but for all people. Even the Lord was obedient. The proud and self-regarding do not ~~despair~~allow grace to live in them, and therefore they never have spiritual peace, while in the obedient soul the grace of the Holy Spirit enters easily and gives joy and peace. Whoever bears even a little grace in himself joyfully submits himself to all direction. He knows that God directs even the heavens and the netherworld, and himself, and his business, and everything in the world, and therefore he is always at peace.” —St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, XV.2

~~“Stand at~~ “The fact that I am a monk and you are a layman is of no importance. The Lord listens equally to the ~~brink~~ monk and to the man of the ~~abyss~~ world provided both are true believer. He looks for a heart full of true faith into which to send his Spirit. For the heart of ~~despair, and when you see that you cannot bear it anymore, draw back~~ a ~~little,~~ man is capable of containing the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit and ~~have a cup~~ the Kingdom of ~~tea~~God are one.” ~~—Elder Sophrony~~ —St. Seraphim of ~~Essex~~Sarov

~~“So in every test, let us say: "Thank you, my God~~“He who honours the Lord does what the Lord bids. When he sins or is disobedient, ~~because this was needed for my salvation~~he patiently accepts what comes as something he deserves."” ~~—Elder Paisios of Mt~~—St. ~~Athos~~Mark the Ascetic

~~“Only~~ “It is a great error to think that you must undertake important and great labors, whether for heaven, or, as the ~~benumbed soul doesn~~'~~t pray~~progressives' think, in order to make one's contribution to humanity. That is not necessary at all. ~~Preserve~~ It is necessary only to do everything in ~~yourselves~~ accordance with the ~~feeling of need, and you will always have stimulation for prayer~~Lord's commandments.” —St. Theophan the Recluse

~~“Make sure that you~~ “When we are immersed in sins, and our mind is occupied solely with worldly cares, we do not ~~limit your prayer merely~~ notice the state of our soul. We are indifferent to who we are inwardly, and we persist along a ~~particular part~~ false path without being aware of ~~the day. Turn to prayer at anytime~~it.” —St . John ~~Chrysostom~~(Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco

~~“The Lord knows~~ “We have to be aware that ~~I love you~~ what is being pounded in upon us is allof one piece; it has a certain rhythm, ~~but I cannot speak with God and people at~~ a certain message to give us, this message of self-worship, of relaxing, of letting go, of enjoying yourself, of giving up any thought of the ~~same time~~other world … It is actually an education in atheism.~~” —St~~We have to fight back by knowing just what the world is trying to do to us…” —Fr. ~~Arsanius the Great~~Seraphim Rose of Platina

~~“A Christian…is not his own master; he puts his time at God's disposal~~“I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, ‘What can get through from such snares?’ Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Humility.” ’” —St. ~~Ignatius of Antioch~~Anthony the Great

~~“Do not seek the perfection of the Law in human virtues~~“Learn to love humility, for it ~~is not found perfect in them~~will cover all your sins. ~~Its perfection~~ All sins are repugnant before God but the most repugnant of all is ~~hidden in~~ pride of the ~~Cross of Christ~~heart.~~” —St. Mark the Ascetic~~

~~“The knowledge of~~ Do not consider yourself learned and wise; otherwise, all your effort will be destroyed and your boat will reach the ~~Cross is concealed in the sufferings of the Cross.” —St~~harbor empty. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~

~~“God had one son on earth without sin~~If you have great authority, ~~but never one without suffering~~do not threaten anyone with death.~~” —St~~Know, that according to nature, you too are susceptible to death and that every soul sheds its body from itself as the final garment. ~~Augustine~~

~~“Nevertheless one who regards only~~ In Byzantium there existed an unusual and instructive custom during the ~~dissolution~~ crowning of the body is greatly disturbed, and makes it a hardship that this life of ours should be dissolved by death; it is, he says, the extremity of evil that our being should be quenched by this condition of mortality. Let him, then, observe through this gloomy prospect emperors in the ~~excess~~ Church of the Divine ~~benevolence~~Wisdom [St.~~”” —St~~Sophia]. ~~Gregory of Nyssa~~The custom was that when the patriarch placed the crown on the emperor's head, ~~The Great Catechism~~at the same time, ~~§VIII~~he handed him a silk purse filled with dirt from the grave.

~~“Man is~~Then, ~~by nature, afraid of both~~ even the emperor would recall death and ~~the dissolution of the body; but there is this most startling fact: that he who has put on the faith of the Cross despises even what is naturally fearful,~~ to avoid all pride and ~~for Christ's sake is not afraid even of death~~become humble.” —St. ~~Athanasius~~ Anthony the Great, The Prologue of Ochrid

~~“Only struggle~~ “What made our Lord Jesus Christ lay aside His garments, gird Himself with a ~~little more. Carry your cross without complaining. Don't think you are anything special. Don't justify your sins~~ towel, and ~~weaknesses~~, ~~but see yourself as you really are~~pouring water into a basin, begin to wash the feet of those who were below Him, if not to teach us humility? For it was humility He showed us by the example of what He then did. Andindeed those who want to be accepted into the foremost rank cannot achieve this otherwise than through humility; for in the beginning, the thing that caused downfall from heaven was a movement of pride. So, if a man lacks extreme humility, if he is not humble with all his heart, all his mind, ~~especially~~all his spirit, ~~love one another~~all his soul and body – he will not inherit the kingdom of God.” ~~—Fr~~—St. ~~Seraphim Rose of Platina~~Anthony the Great, Early Fathers from the Philokalia, E. Kadloubovsky and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, 1954, pp. 45-46

~~“Remember~~ “People who are filled with egoism and pride because of their education, resemble satellites that orbit in the sky, giving one the impression that ~~each of us has his own cross~~they are stars. ~~The Golgotha of this cross is our heart:~~ If, however, you observe them carefully you will see their crooked steps and see that it is ~~being lifted or implanted through~~ all a ~~zealous determination to live according to~~ human sham… Internally-oriented people, on account of their humility, are the ~~Spirit of God~~true stars that move at dizzying speeds, but noiselessly and humbly, without anyone understanding how they move even though they are immense planets. ~~Just as salvation~~ They hide in the depths of heaven and give men the ~~world is by the Cross of God, so our salvation is by our crucifixion on our own cross~~impression that they are little oil lamps aflame with a humble light.” —St. ~~Theophan the Recluse~~Paisios of Mt. Athos

~~“Everyone carries their own cross, both Christians and non-Christians, believers and pagans. The difference is that for some, their crosses serve as a means~~ “Wouldst thou comprehend the height of ~~attaining~~ God? First comprehend the ~~Kingdom~~ lowliness of ~~Heaven~~God. Condescend to be humble for thine own sake, ~~while~~ seeing that God condescended to be humble for ~~the others they bring no such value. For the Christian~~thy sake too, ~~the cross gradually becomes lighter and more joyful, while~~ for ~~the nonbeliever~~ it ~~becomes heavier and more burdensome~~was not for his own. ~~Why is this so? Because where the one carries their cross with faith and devotion to God, the other carries it with grumbling and anger~~” —St.Augustine of Hippo

~~Therefore~~“The greatness of a man consisteth of humility, ~~Christian, do not shun your lifelong cross, but, on the contrary~~for in proportion as a man descendeth to humility, ~~thank Jesus Christ that He honored you~~ he becometh exalted to ~~follow and imitate Him~~greatness.” ~~—St. Innocent~~ —Paradise of ~~Alaska~~the Holy Fathers, ~~Indication Of The Way Into The Kingdom Of Heaven~~Vol. 2

~~“Everyone has a cross~~ “It is easier to ~~carry. Why? Since the leader of our faith endured the cross, we will also endure it. On one hand, the cross is sweet and light, but, on~~ measure the ~~other, it can also be bitter and heavy. It depends on our will. If you bear Christ’s cross~~ entire sea with ~~love then it will be very light; like a sponge or a cork. But if you have~~ a ~~negative attitude, it becomes heavy; too heavy~~ tiny cup than to ~~lift~~grasp God's ineffable greatness with the human mind.” ~~—Elder Ephraim of Katounakia, 20th Century staretz on Mt~~—St. ~~Athos, Suffering; Trials~~Basil the Great

~~“When you meet with suffering, contempt, the Cross, your thought should be: what is this compared with what I deserve?~~“You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.” ~~—St~~—C. S. ~~Josemaria Escriva~~Lewis

~~“Behold, for years~~ “This is the wisdom and ~~generations, the way~~ power of God ~~has been leveled by the cross and by death. How is this with thee, that thou seest the afflictions of the way as if they were out of the way? Doest not thou wish~~ : to ~~follow the steps of the saints? Or doest thou wish to go a way which is especially for thee~~be victorious through weakness, ~~without suffering? The way unto God is a daily cross. No one can ascend unto heaven with comfort~~exalted through humility, ~~we know where the way of comfort leads~~rich through poverty.” —St. ~~Isaac the Syrian, Mystic Treatises, Homily LIX~~Gregory Palamas

~~“Understand two thoughts, and fear them. One says, 'You are a saint,' the other, 'You won't be saved.' Both~~ “You will lose nothing of these thoughts are from the enemy, and there is no truth in them. But think this way: I am a great sinner, but the Lord is merciful. He loves people very much, and He will forgive my sins. Believe in this way, and what you ~~will see,~~ have renounced for the ~~Lord will forgive you~~Lord’s sake. ~~But put no faith~~ For in ~~feats of your~~ its own~~, however much~~ time it will return to you ~~may have striven… Thus God has mercy on us, not for our achievements but gracious, because of His goodness~~greatly multiplied.” —St. ~~Silouan~~ Mark the ~~Athonite~~Ascetic

~~“He made~~ “God often isolates those whom He chooses, so that we have nowhere to turn except to Him ~~who was righteous to be a sinner~~, ~~that~~ then He ~~might make sinners righteous~~reveals Himself to us.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~John Chrysostom~~Seraphim Rose of Platina

~~“Love sinners, but hate their deeds, and do not disdain sinners for their failings, so that~~ “Where can I flee? A place cannot save you because there is no place you can flee from yourself do not fall into the temptation in which they abide… Do not be angry at anyone and do not hate anyone, neither for their faith, nor for their shameful deeds… Do not foster hatred for the sinner, for we are all guilty… Hate his sins, and pray for him, so that you may be made like unto Christ, who had no dislike for sinners, but prayed for them.” —St. ~~Isaac the Syrian, Ascetical Homilies 57,90~~Nikon of Optina

~~“Love every~~ “No one and nothing can harm a man ~~in spite~~ if he does not harm himself; on the contrary, if one does not avoid sin, a thousand means of ~~his falling into sin~~salvation will not help him. ~~Never mind~~ Consequently, the ~~sins, but remember that~~ only evil is sin: Judas fell while in the ~~foundation~~ presence of the ~~man is~~ Savior, but the ~~same - the image of God~~righteous Lot was saved while living in Sodom.” —St. ~~John~~ Nikon of ~~Kronstadt~~Optina, November 15-16/28-29, 1922, Optina Monastery, The Orthodox Word, 1980, vol. 16, no. 2 (91), March-April

~~“Never confuse~~ “If our purpose is to fight the ~~person~~spiritual fight and to defeat, with God's help, ~~formed in~~ the ~~image~~ demons of ~~God~~malice, ~~with~~ we should take every care to guard our heart from the ~~evil that is in~~ demon of dejection, just as a moth devours clothing and a worm devours wood, so dejection devours a man’s soul. It persuades him to shun every helpful encounter and stops him~~: because evil is but~~ accepting advice from his true friends or giving them a ~~chance misfortune~~courteous and peaceful reply. Seizing the entire soul, ~~an illness~~it fills it with bitterness and listlessness. Then it suggests to the soul that we should go away from other people, ~~a devilish reverie. But~~ since they are the ~~very essence~~ cause of its agitation. It does not allow the ~~person is~~ soul to understand that its sickness does not come from without, but lies hidden within, only manifesting itself when temptations attack the ~~image~~ soul because of ~~God, and this remains in him despite every disfigurement~~our ascetic efforts.~~” —St. John of Kronstadt~~

~~“For this reason, the~~ A man ~~who lives~~ can be harmed by ~~God's standards and not by man's, must needs be a lover~~ another only through the causes of the ~~good, and it follows that he must hate what is evil~~passions which lie within himself. ~~Further, since no one~~ It is ~~evil by nature~~for this reason that God, ~~but anyone who is evil is evil because~~ the Creator of ~~a perversion~~ all and the Doctor of ~~nature~~men’s souls, ~~the man~~ who ~~lives by God's standards~~ alone has ~~a duty~~ accurate knowledge of the soul’s wounds, does not tell us to forsake the company of ~~‘perfect hatred’ (Psalm 139:22) towards those who are evil~~men; ~~that is~~ He tells us to ~~say, he should not hate~~ root out the ~~person because~~ causes of evil within us and to recognize that the ~~fault~~soul’s health is achieved not by a man’s separating himself from his fellows, ~~nor should he love~~ but by his living the ascetic life in the ~~fault because~~ company of ~~the person~~holy men. ~~He should hate~~ When we abandon our brothers for some apparently good reason, we do not eradicate the ~~fault~~motives for dejection but merely exchange them, ~~but love the man. And when~~ since the ~~fault has been cured there~~ sickness which lies hidden within us will ~~remain only what he ought to love, nothing that he should hate~~show itself again in other circumstances.” —St. ~~Augustine of Hippo, The City of God, 14:6, Penguin ed., transl. Bettenson~~John Cassian

~~“As Jesus Christ is my Witness, I profess that I hate heresy, not~~ “A life lived in the ~~heretic; but~~ world can be as ~~is proper~~good, ~~for the present I shun~~ in the ~~heretics because~~ eyes of ~~the heresy~~God, ~~since I have both convicted and rebuked him~~as one spent in a monastery. ~~Let him renounce his heresy and condemn it by word as well as by deed, and he will cling to all men by~~ It is indeed only the ~~bond~~ keeping of ~~brotherhood~~God's commandments, ~~because it is written~~love of all, ~~‘Bear ye one another's burden~~ and ~~so fulfill the law~~ a true sense of ~~Christ’ (Gal. 6:2)~~humility that matter, wherever we are.” ~~—Orosius~~ —Elder Macarius of ~~Braga, Book in Defense Against the Pelagians~~Optina

~~“Our life~~ “Those who, because of the rigor of their own ascetic practice, despise the less zealous, think that they are made righteous by physical works. But we are even more foolish if we rely on theoretical knowledge and ~~our death is with our neighbor~~disparage the ignorant.” —St.Mark the Ascetic

~~If we gain our brother~~“When you get bitter and annoyed, ~~we have gained God~~even if only in thought, you ruin the spiritual atmosphere. You stop the Holy Spirit from working and you allow the devil to increase evil. You should always pray, ~~but if we scandalize our brother~~love and forgive, ~~we have sinned against Christ~~rejecting each and every bad thought within you.” —St.Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

~~This~~ “A remedy against straying thoughts is mental attention, attention to the ~~great work of a man: always to take~~ fact that the ~~blame for his own sins~~ Lord is before ~~God~~ us and ~~to expect temptation to his last breath~~we are before Him.” —St. ~~Anthony~~ Theophan the ~~Great~~Recluse

~~“Unless we look at a person and see~~ “The roots of evil thoughts are the ~~beauty there is in this person~~obvious vices, which we ~~can contribute nothing~~ keep trying to ~~him~~justify in our words and actions. ~~One does not help a person by discerning what is wrong, what is ugly, what is distorted~~” —St. ~~Christ looked at everyone he met, at the prostitute, at~~ Mark the ~~thief, and saw the beauty hidden there. Perhaps it was distorted, perhaps damaged, but it was beauty none the less, and what he did was to call out this beauty.” —Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh~~Ascetic

~~“He who busies himself with~~ “Guard your speech from boasting and your thoughts from presumption; otherwise you may be abandoned by God and fall into sin. For man cannot do anything good without the ~~sins~~ help of ~~others~~God, ~~or judges his brother on suspicion, has not yet even begun to repent or to examine himself so as to discover his own sins~~who sees everything.” —St. ~~Maximus~~ Mark the ~~Confessor~~Ascetic

~~“As long as we pay attention to the negative sides of various people we meet, we will not find peace and repentance. As long as we keep~~ "The higher a person’s position in ~~ourselves~~ society the ~~thought~~ more he should help others without ever reminding them of ~~offense, caused to us by enemies, friends, family and neighbours, we will not find peace and quiet and we will live in a hellish state~~his position.” ~~—Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica~~—Tsar St. Nicholas II

“If you ~~are offended~~ want your sins to be absolved by ~~anything~~Christ, ~~whether intended or unintended~~then don't speak to others about any virtue that you may have, ~~you do not know~~ because God will treat our sins the same way ~~of peace, which through love brings the lovers of divine knowledge to the knowledge of God~~we treat our virtues.” —St. ~~Maximus~~ Mark the ~~Confessor~~Ascetic

~~“Especially, do not be disturbed by blasphemous thoughts~~“If any man is able in power to continue in purity, ~~which clearly come from~~ to the ~~envy~~ honour of the ~~Enemy. They occur in a person either because~~ flesh of ~~proud self-opinion or~~ our Lord, let him continue so without boasting; if he boasts, he is undone; if he become known apart from the ~~condemnation of others~~bishop, he has destroyed himself.” —St. ~~Ambrose~~ Ignatius of ~~Optina~~Antioch

~~“In hell there is democracy and in Heaven there~~ “Guarding the mouth wakes up the conscience to God, if it is with knowledge that a ~~Kingdom~~man keeps silence.” —St. ~~John of Kronstadt~~Isaac the Syrian

~~“We shall not care what people think of us~~“Silence is more profitable than speech, or how they treat us. We shall cease to be afraid of falling out of favour. We shall love our fellow men without thought of whether they love us. Christ gave us the commandment to love others but did not make it a condition of salvation that they should love us. Indeed, we may positively be disliked for independence of spirit. It is essential in these days to be able to protect ourselves from the influence of those with whom we come in contact. Otherwise we risk losing both faith and prayer. Let the whole world dismiss us as ~~unworthy of attention, trust or respect –~~ it ~~will not matter provided that the Lord accept us. And vice versa: it will profit us nothing if the whole world thinks well of us and sings our praises~~has been said, ~~if the Lord declines to abide with us. This is only a fragment~~ ‘The words of the freedom Christ meant when Hial practices such as Transcendental Meditation I am but repeating the age-old message of the Church … The way of the Fathers requires firm faith and long patience, whereas our contemporaries want to seize every spiritual gift, including wise men are heard even ~~direct contemplation of the Absolute God, by force and speedily, and will often draw a parallel between prayer~~ in ~~the Name of Jesus and yoga or Transcendental Meditation ande said, ‘Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’ (John 8~~quiet.~~32)~~’” —St. ~~Our sole care will be to continue in~~ Basil the ~~word of Christ, to become His disciples and cease to be servants of sin.” —Archimandrite Sophrony of Essex, His Life is Mine, Chapter 6; pg. 55~~Great

“The Church is a hospital, and not a courtroom, for souls. She does not condemn on behalf of sins, but grants remission of sins. Nothing is so joyous in our life as the thanksgiving that we experience in the Church. In the Church, the joyful sustain their joy. In the Church, those worried acquire merriment, and those saddened, joy. In the Church, the troubled find relief, and the heavy-laden, rest. ‘Come,’ says the Lord, ‘near me, all of “Never give your opinion if you ~~who labor and~~ are heavy-laden (with trials and sins), and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28). What could be more desirable than to meet this voice? What is sweeter than this invitation? The Lord is calling you to the Church not asked for ~~a rich banquet. He transfers you from struggles to rest~~it, ~~and from tortures to relief. He relieves~~ even if you ~~from the burden of~~ think that your ~~sins. He heals worries with thanksgiving, and sadness with joy. No one~~ view is ~~truly free or joyful besides he who lives for Christ~~the best. ~~Such a person overcomes all evil and does not fear anything!~~” ~~—St. John Chrysostom, Homily XV, II Cor. VII VIII, paragraph 6, Themes of Life II, Life Issues II, Holy Monastery of the Paraclete~~—Josemaria Escriva

~~“The goal of human freedom is not in freedom itself, nor is it in man, but in God. By giving man freedom God has yielded to~~ “Not only for every idle word must man ~~a piece of His divine authority~~give an account, but ~~with the intention that man himself would voluntarily bring it as a sacrifice to God, as a most perfect offering~~for every idle silence.” —St. ~~Theophan the Recluse, The Path to Salvation~~Ambrose of Milan

~~“When you are depressed~~“Somewhere we know that without silence words lose their meaning, that without listening speaking no longer heals, ~~bear in mind the Lord’s command to Peter to forgive a sinner seventy times seven. And you may be sure~~ that ~~He Who gave this command to another will Himself do very much more~~without distance closeness cannot cure.” ~~—St. John Climacus~~—Henri Nouwen

“The time of this present life is a time for harvesting, and each person gathers spiritual food - as pure as possible - and stores it up for the other life. It is not the clever, the noble, the polished speakers, or the rich who win, but whoever is insulted and forbears, whoever is wronged and forgives, whoever is slandered and endures, whoever becomes a sponge and mops up whatever they might say to him. Such a person is cleansed and polished even more. He reaches great heights. He delights in “Let your mouth continually administer blessing; then the ~~theoria~~ scorn of ~~mysteries~~anyone will never hurt you. ~~And finally, it is he who is already inside paradise, while still in this life~~” —St.~~” —Elder Joseph~~ Isaac the ~~Hesychast and Cave-dweller~~Syrian

~~“When you~~ “Just as swine run to a place where there is mire, and bees dwell where there are ~~ready to stand in~~ fragrances and incense, likewise demons gather where there are carnal songs and the ~~presence~~ grace of the ~~Lord~~Holy Spirit settles where there are spiritual melodies, ~~let your~~ sanctifying both mouth and soul ~~wear a garment woven from the cloth of your forgiveness of others. Otherwise, your prayer will be of no value whatsoever~~.” —St. John ~~Climacus~~Chrysostom

~~“Forgiveness~~ “A psalm implies serenity of soul; it is the author of peace, which calms bewildering and seething thoughts. For, it softens the wrath of the soul, and what is ~~better than revenge~~unbridled it chastens.~~” —St~~A psalm forms friendships, unites those separated, conciliates those at enmity. ~~Tikhon of Zadonsk~~Who, indeed, can still consider as an enemy him with whom he has uttered the same prayer to God?

~~“When God forgave you~~So that psalmody, bringing about choral singing, a bond, as it were, toward unity, and joining the people into a harmonious union of one choir, produces also the greatest of blessings, charity. A psalm is a city of refuge from the demons, a means ~~He forgave you~~ of inducing help from the angels, a weapon in fears by night, a rest from toils by day, a safeguard for infants, an adornment for those at the height of their vigor, a consolation for the elders, a most fitting ornament for ~~eternity~~women.~~” —Elder Arsenios Papacioc~~

~~“Love alone harmoniously joins all created things~~ It peoples the solitudes; it rids the market place of excesses; it is the elementary exposition of beginners, the improvement of those advancing, the solid support of the perfect, the voice of the Church. It brightens the feast days; it creates a sorrow which is in accordance with God ~~and with each other~~.~~” —St. Thalassios the Libyan~~

~~“A monk~~ For, a psalm is ~~he who withdrawing from all men~~the work of angels, a heavenly institution, ~~is united with all mankind. … A monk is he who regards himself as existing with all men and sees himself in each man~~the spiritual incense.” —St. ~~Nilus of Sinai~~Basil the Great

~~“Love towards Christ is without limits~~“Through the Holy Spirit comes our restoration to paradise, ~~and~~ our ascension into the ~~same is true~~ kingdom of ~~love towards~~ heaven, our ~~neighbour. It should radiate everywhere,~~ return to the ~~ends~~ adoption of ~~the earth~~sons, our liberty to ~~every person. I wanted to go and live with the hippies at …… in order to show them~~ call God our Father, our being made partakers of the ~~love~~ grace of Christ , our being called children of light, our sharing in eternal glory, and ~~how great it is~~ , in a word, our being brought into a state of all ‘fullness of blessing,’ both in this world and ~~how it could transfigure them. Love is above everything.” —Wounded~~ in the world to come, of all the good gifts that are in store for us, by ~~Love~~promise hereof, ~~Elder Porphyrios~~through faith, ~~pg 188~~beholding the reflection of their grace as though they were already present, we await the full enjoyment.” —St. Basil the Great

~~“So God created man~~ “Humility consists, not in ~~His own image;~~ condemning our conscience, but in ~~the image of~~ recognizing God ~~He created him; male~~ 's grace and ~~female He created them~~compassion.” ~~—Genesis 1:27~~—St. Mark the Ascetic

~~“For God knows that in the day you eat~~ “The source of ~~it your eyes will be opened,~~ self-delusion and ~~you will be like God, knowing good and evil~~demonic deception is the false thought…” —St.~~” —Genesis 3:5~~Ignatius Brianchaninov (Bryanchaninov) of Caucasus

~~“And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel~~ “Spiritual deception is the state of ~~light~~all men without exception, and it has been made possible by the fall of our original parents. All of us are subject to spiritual deception. Awareness of this fact is the greatest protection against it. Likewise, the greatest spiritual deception of all is to consider oneself free from it.” ~~—2 Corinthians 11:14~~—St. Ignatius Brianchaninov (Bryanchaninov) of Caucasus

~~“You shall not murder~~“Knowing the perpetual impurity of our spiritual state must bring us humility of heart.” ~~—Exodus 20:13~~—Tonia Howell

~~“Cursed~~ “Where there is pride and at the same time one ~~who takes~~ has a ~~bribe to slay an innocent person~~vision – it can not be from God, but by all means – from the evil one.” ~~—Deuteronomy 27:25~~—Archimandrite Seraphim Alexiev

~~“He shall judge between~~ “If you are silent in a good way, desiring to be with God, never accept any physical or spiritual appearances, either outside or inside yourself, even if it might be an image of Christ, or an angel, or some Saint, or if light should appear, or imprint itself in the ~~nations~~mind...Be attentive, that you may not come to believe something, even if it is something good, and be not captivated by it before consulting those who are experienced and are able to analyze the matter, so that you do not suffer harm...God is not displeased with the person who is attentive to himself, even if he,~~And rebuke many people;They shall beat their swords into plowshares~~out of fear of deception,~~And their spears into pruning hooks;Nation shall~~ does not ~~lift up sword against nation~~accept even that which is from Him,~~Neither shall they learn war anymore~~without consulting and testing…” —St.~~” —Isaiah 2:4~~Gregory of Sinai

~~“But Jesus said~~ “Children, I beseech you to ~~him~~correct your hearts and thoughts, ~~‘Put your sword~~ so that you may be pleasing to God. Consider that although we may reckon ourselves to be righteous and frequently succeed in ~~its place~~deceiving men, ~~for~~ we can conceal nothing from God. Let us therefore strive to preserve the holiness of our souls and to guard the purity of our bodies with all ~~who take~~ fervor. Ye are the ~~sword will perish by~~ temple of God, says the ~~sword~~divine Apostle Paul; If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy.” —St.~~’” —Matthew 26:52~~Nicholas of Myra

~~“You know~~ “Those who suffer for the ~~commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father~~ sake of true devotion receive help. This must be learnt through obeying God's law and ~~your mother~~our own conscience.~~’” —Luke 18:20~~” —St. Mark the Ascetic

~~“So when they continued asking Him~~“When you are wronged and your heart and feelings are hardened, do not be distressed, ~~He raised Himself up~~ for this has happened providentially; but be glad and ~~said to them, ‘He who is without sin among~~ reject the thoughts that arise within you, ~~let him throw a stone~~ knowing that if they are destroyed at ~~her first~~the stage when they are only provocations, their evil consequences will be cut off, whereas if the thoughts persist the evil may be expected to develop.” —St.~~’” —John 8:7~~Mark the Ascetic

~~“Whoever hates his brother is a murderer~~“Struggle to become immortal from now, by dying here on the earth to your bad self. In this way, ~~and~~ you ~~know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him~~won't be sad, but you'll be very glad, living together with Christ.” ~~—1 John 3:15~~—Elder Porphyrios

~~“And~~ “On the ~~second commandment~~ one hand He is Being, eternally Being of the ~~Teaching; Thou shalt not commit murder~~Eternal Being, ~~thou shalt not commit adultery~~above every cause and word…And on the other hand for our sake he is also Becoming, thou shalt not commit paederasty, thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not practise magic, thou shalt not practise witchcraft, thou shalt not murder a child by abortion nor kill so that ~~which is begotten~~He who gives us our being might also give us our well-being.” ~~—Didache 2:2~~—St. Gregory the Theologian, Oration 38

~~“You shall not take~~ “For this He assumed my body, that I may become capable of His Word; taking my flesh, He gives me His Spirit; and so He bestowing and I receiving, He prepares for me the ~~life~~ treasure of ~~the child by obtaining an abortion~~Life. ~~Nor~~He takes my flesh, ~~again, shall you destroy him after he is born~~to sanctify me; He gives me His Spirit that He may save me.” —St. ~~Barnabas, Epistle of St. Barnabas~~John Chrysostom

~~“The mold~~ “Come, then, let us observe the Feast. Truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the Nativity. For this day the ancient slavery is ended, the devil confounded, the demons take to flight, the power of death is broken, paradise is unlocked, the curse is taken away, sin is removed from us, error driven out, truth has been brought back, the speech of kindliness diffused, and spreads on every side, a heavenly way of life has been inplanted on the earth, angels communicate with men without fear, and men now hold speech with angels. Why is this? Because God is now on earth, and man in ~~the womb may~~ heaven; on every side all things commingle. He became Flesh. He did not become God. He was God. Wherefore He became flesh, so that He Whom heaven did not ~~be destroyed~~contain, a manger would this day receive.” ~~—Tertullian~~—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on the Nativity

~~“We acknowledge~~“This Christmas night bestowed peace on the whole world;So let no one threaten.This is the night of the Most Gentle One;Let no one be cruel.This is the night of the Humble One;Let no one be proud.Now is the day of joy;Let us not revenge.Now is the day of good will;Let us not be mean.In this day of peace --Let us not be conquered by anger.Today the Bountiful impoverished Himself for our sake;So, ~~therefore~~rich one, ~~that life begins with conception, because~~ invite the poor to your table.Today we receive a Gift for which we ~~contend that~~ did not ask;So let us give alms to those who implore and beg us.This present day throws open the ~~soul begins at conception~~doors of heaven to our prayers; Let us open our doors to those who ask our forgiveness. ~~Life begins when~~ Today the ~~soul begins~~Divinity took upon himself the seal of our humanity,In order for humanity to be decorated by the seal of Divinity.” —St.Isaac the Syrian, Homily on the Nativity

~~For us~~“This being He placed in Paradise, we whatever the Paradise may ~~not destroy even~~ have been, having honoured him with the ~~fetus~~ gift of Free Will (in order that God might belong to him as the ~~womb~~result of his choice, ~~while as yet~~ no less than to Him who had implanted the ~~human being derives blood from other parts~~ seeds of it), to till the immortal plants, by which is meant perhaps the Divine Conceptions, both the simpler and the ~~body~~ more perfect; naked in his simplicity and inartificial life, and without any covering or screen; for ~~its sustenance~~it was fitting that he who was from the beginning should be such. ~~To hinder~~ Also He gave him a ~~birth is merely~~ Law, as a material for his Free Will to act upon. This Law was a ~~speedier man-killing~~Commandment as to what plants he might partake of, and which one he might not touch. This latter was the Tree of Knowledge; not, however, because it was evil from the beginning when planted; nor ~~does~~ was it ~~matter when you take away a life~~ forbidden because God grudged it to us…Let not the enemies of God wag their tongues in that ~~is born~~direction, or ~~destroy one that~~ imitate the Serpent…But it would have been good if partaken of at the proper time, for the tree was, according to my theory, Contemplation, upon which it is ~~coming~~ only safe for those who have reached maturity of habit to ~~birth~~enter; but which is not good for those who are still somewhat simple and greedy in their habit; just as solid food is not good for those who are yet tender, and have need of milk. ~~That is a~~ (Hebrews 5:12) But when through the Devil's malice and the woman's caprice, to which she succumbed as the more tender, and which she brought to bear upon the man , as she was the more apt to persuade, alas for my weakness! (for that of my first father was mine), he forgot the Commandment which ~~is going~~ had been given to ~~be one~~him; (Genesis 3: ~~you have~~ 5) he yielded to the baleful fruit ~~already~~ ; and for his sin he was banished, at once from the Tree of Life, and from Paradise, and from God; and put on the coats of skins…that is, perhaps, the coarser flesh, both mortal and contradictory. This was the first thing that he learned – his own shame; (Romans 1:22-31) and he hid himself from God. Yet here too he makes a gain, namely death, and the cutting off of sin, in ~~the seed~~order that evil may not be immortal. Thus his punishment is changed into a mercy; for it is in mercy, I am persuaded, that God inflicts punishment.” ~~—Tertullian~~—St. Gregory the Theologian, Oration 38, XII, On Theophany, ~~Apology 9:6~~On the Birth of our Saviour (On the Nativity of Christ)

~~“Now the entire process of sowing, forming, and completing the human embryo in the womb~~ “It is no ~~doubt regulated by some power, which ministers herein~~ wonder that the shepherds were able to know of the ~~will of God~~world's redemption before rulers, ~~whatever may be~~ for the ~~method which it~~ Angels made their announcement not to kings or judges but to countryfolk. It is ~~appointed~~ not to ~~employ. Even the superstition of Rome~~be wondered at, then, ~~by carefully attending~~ if innocence merited to ~~these points, imagined~~ know the ~~goddess Alemona~~ Grace of Christ before power did and simple country manners merited to ~~nourish~~ recognize the ~~foetus in the womb; as well as [~~Truth before proud dominion. For what the ~~goddesses] Nona and Decima, called after~~ Shepherds recognized the ~~most critical months of gestation; and Partula,~~ rulers were unable to ~~manage and direct parturition~~recognize; ~~and Lucina, to bring~~ hence the ~~child to~~ Blessed Apostle says: 'What none of the ~~birth and light~~ rulers of ~~day. We~~this age recognized, ~~on our part, believe the angels to officiate herein for God~~' and so forth. ~~The embryo therefore becomes a human being in the womb from~~ At the ~~moment that its form is completed (conception). The law~~ Birth of ~~Moses~~Christ, ~~indeed~~therefore, ~~punishes~~ the Angels rejoiced together with ~~due penalties~~ the ~~man who shall cause abortion~~Shepherds, ~~inasmuch as there exists already the rudiment of a human being~~giving God high glory, ~~which has imputed to it~~ for in close and even ~~now the condition of life and death~~joined choruses, ~~since it is already liable~~ so to speak, they preached the ~~issues~~ glory of ~~both, although, by living still in the mother, it for the most part shares its own state with the mother~~God.” ~~—Tertullian~~—St. Maximus of Turin, ~~Treatise~~ Homily on the ~~Soul~~Nativity, Chsec. ~~XXXVII, On the Formation and State of the Embryo, Its Relation with the Subject of this Treatise~~2

“The ~~blood~~ Angel-Messenger of ~~martyrs~~ the pre-eternal Counsel of the Holy Trinity comes to the earth. This is not an ordinary messenger; it is the ~~seed~~ Only-begotten Son of God Himself. He brings peace to men. ‘Peace be unto you’, he said more than once to His disciples. ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you’, He says to the apostles at the Mystical Supper, ‘not as the world giveth, give I unto you’. And appearing after His Resurrection, again He says: ‘Peace be unto you’. ‘For he is our peace’, the holy Apostle Paul says concerning Him: ‘He came to the earth to reconcile man unto God by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. And having come, He preached peace to those afar off and to those near, because through Him we both have access unto the ~~Church~~Father’.~~” —Tertullian~~

~~“…if we would not kill off~~ The wall that separated heaven and earth is destroyed; the sword that barred the ~~human race born and developing according~~ way to ~~God's plan~~the tree of life disappears. Unto man that had sinned comes his Creator, calling him into His embrace! By the mouths of the apostles, the Holy Spirit cries out: ‘In Christ, ~~then our whole lives would~~ be ~~lived according~~ ye reconciled to ~~nature~~God’. ~~Women~~ You that had sinned came not to God, but the Son of God, before Whom you sinned, came to you! He calls everyone to Himself; He gives forgiveness to everyone who ~~make use~~ merely thirsts for this. For without the desire of ~~some sort of deadly abortion drug kill not only the embryo~~ man himself, without at least his little effort, God's peace cannot settle in him. The Lord forces no one to come to Him, butcalls everyone: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, ~~together~~ and I will give you rest’. Come all ye who are heavy laden with itsins, ~~all human kindness~~who are exhausted from your labours and who do not find rest! You shall find that inner peace, which you will find nothing on earth more desirable than. The soul will feel unearthly peace and joy.” —St. ~~Clement~~ John (Maximovitch) of ~~Alexandria~~Shanghai and San Francisco, ~~Christ~~ Epistle on the ~~Educator, Volume II~~Nativity, ~~page 10~~1962

~~“Those who use abortifacients commit homicide~~“I saw that there was no tragedy in God. Tragedy is to be found solely in the fortunes of the man whose gaze has not gone beyond the confines of this earth.” ~~—St. Clement of Alexandria~~—Archimandrite Sophrony

~~“Women who were reputed believers began~~ “The Christian world nowadays presents a terrifying and cheerless picture of profound religious and moral decay. The servants of Antichrist do their utmost to ~~resort~~ completely displace God from people’s lives, in order that mankind, content with its material well-being, would not feel any need to ~~drugs for producing sterility. They also girded themselves around~~turn to God in prayer, would not think of God at all, so but would live as ~~to expel what was being gestated. For they~~ though God did not ~~wish~~ exist. Thus the entire structure of contemporary life in the so-called ‘free’ world, where there is no open and bloody persecution of faith, where everyone has the right to ~~have~~ believe as he wishes, represents a ~~child~~ far greater danger to a Christian’s soul by ~~either slave or by any common fellow - out of concern for their family and their excessive wealth. See what a great impiety~~ drawing the ~~lawless one has advanced! He teaches adultery~~ Christian wholly down to earth and ~~murder at the same time!” —St~~making him forget heaven. ~~Hipploytus, Refutation Of All Heresies~~

~~“He [Novatian] struck~~ The entire modern culture, which is aimed at purely worldly achievements, and the ~~womb~~ resultant whirlwind of ~~his wife with his heel~~ everyday life, keep a person in such a state of constant bustle and ~~produced a hurried an abortion~~absent-mindedness that he has no opportunity for any soul-searching, ~~thereby causing parricide~~and spiritual life within him gradually becomes extinguished.” ~~—St. Cyprian~~ —Archbishop Averky (Taushev) of ~~Carthage, Epistle 52 To Cornelius~~Syracuse

~~“The wealthy~~“In advising against being carried away by artificial practices such as Transcendental Meditation I am but repeating the age-old message of the Church … The way of the Fathers requires firm faith and long patience, whereas our contemporaries want to seize every spiritual gift, including even direct contemplation of the Absolute God, by force and speedily, and will often draw a parallel between prayer in the Name of Jesus and yoga or Transcendental Meditation and the like. I must stress the danger of such errors … He is deluded who endeavors to divest himself mentally of all that is transitory and relative in order to cross some invisible threshold, to realize his eternal origin, his identity with the Source of all that ~~their inheritance may not be divided among several~~exists, ~~deny~~ in order to return and merge with him, the ~~very womb their own progeny~~nameless transpersonal Absolute. ~~By use~~ Such exercises have enabled many to rise to suprarational contemplation of~~' parricidal mixtures they snuff out~~ being, to experience a certain mystical trepidation, to know the ~~fruit~~ state of silence of ~~their wombs in~~ mind, when mind goes beyond the ~~genital organs themselves~~boundaries of time and space. In ~~this way life is taken away before it is born… Who except~~ such like states man ~~himself has taught us ways~~ may feel the peacefulness of being withdrawn from the continually changing phenomena of the visible world, may even have a certain experience of ~~repudiating children?” —St~~eternity. ~~Ambrose~~ But the God of ~~Milan~~Truth, the Living God, is not in all this.

~~“Sometimes their sadistic licentiousness goes so far~~ It is man's own beauty, created in the image of God, that ~~they procure poison to produce infertility~~is contemplated and seen as divinity, ~~and when this~~ whereas he himself still continues within the confines of his creatureliness. This is a vastly important concern. The tragedy of ~~no avail~~the matter lies in the fact that man sees a mirage which, ~~they find one means or another~~ in his longing for eternal life, he mistakes for a genuine oasis. This impersonal form of ascetics leads finally to ~~destroy~~ an assertion of the ~~unborn and flush it from~~ divine principle in the ~~mother's womb~~very nature of man. ~~For they desire~~ Man is then drawn to ~~see their offspring perish before it~~ the idea of self-deification—the cause of the original Fall. The man who is ~~alive or, if it~~ blinded by the imaginary majesty of what he contemplates has ~~already been granted life, they seek~~ in fact set his foot on the path to ~~kill it within~~ self-destruction. He has discarded the revelation of a personal God … The movement into the ~~mother's body before it~~ depths of his own being is ~~born~~nothing else but attraction towards the non-being from which we were called by the will of the Creator.” ~~—St~~—Archimandrite Sophrony of Mt. ~~Augustine of Hippo~~Athos, ~~The City of God, Book One~~His Life is Mine, ~~Ch. 16~~115-116

~~“A woman who has deliberately destroyed a fetus must pay~~ “Blessed is the ~~penalty~~ mind that prays, worships God without imagination, for ~~murder… those~~ Christ had no imagination, being God. Adam lost his paradise after falling into imagination, because he imagined, at the instigation of Lucifer, that if he tasted from the forbidden tree, he would never die. The Holy Fathers say that the greatest disease and temptation during prayer is the imagination of the mind, which they called the ‘soul cuttlefish with eight tentacles’ or ‘octopus’. Imagination is also ~~who give drugs causing abortions are murderers themselves~~called the ‘bridge for demons’. During the prayer offered from the heart, ~~as well as those who receive~~ it is most difficult to preserve the ~~poison which kills~~ imagination; it is even harder than keeping the ~~fetus~~mind away from thoughts.~~” —St~~Let's not forget that everything limited, represented is not God. ~~Basil~~ In the ~~Great~~meantime, ~~First Canonical Letter~~if we stop at the images, ~~188:2~~ we are being deceived and ~~188:8~~we can neither pass through the narrow gate to the heart nor reach God.” —Archimandrite Cleopas (Ilie) of Romania

~~“Women also who administer drugs~~ “Yes, one must disregard doubts, just like lustful and blasphemous thoughts; pay no attention to ~~cause abortion~~them. Disregard them, and your enemy, the devil, ~~as well as those who take poisons~~ will not be able to ~~destroy unborn children~~withstand it; he'll leave you, ~~are murderesses.” —St~~since he's proud and cannot bear the disdain. ~~Basil~~ But if you enter into conversation with them – since the ~~Great~~lustful thoughts, ~~Letter CLXXXVIII: Canonica Prima, to Amphilochius~~blasphemies and doubts are not yours – he'll bombard you, ~~concerning the Canons~~swamp you, ~~VII~~kill you.” —Elder Barsanuphius of Optina

~~“The woman who purposely destroys her unborn child~~ “Christ said, 'I came not to send peace, but a sword' and 'division'. Christ summoned us to war on the plane of the spirit, and our weapon is 'the sword of the Spirit, which is ~~guilty~~ the word of ~~murder~~God.' Our battle is waged in extraordinarily unequal conditions. We are tied hand and foot. We dare not strike with fire or sword: our sole armament is love, even for enemies. This unique war in which we are engaged is indeed a holy war. ~~The hair-splitting difference between formed~~ We wrestle with the last and ~~unformed makes no difference to us~~only enemy of mankind death. Our fight is the fight for universal resurrection.” ~~—St~~—Archimandrite Sophrony of Mt. ~~Basil the Great~~Athos, His Life is Mine

~~“Why do you sow where the field is eager~~ “But since our discourse has now turned to ~~destroy~~ the ~~fruit? Where there are medicines~~ subject of ~~sterility? Where there is murder before birth? You do not even let a harlot remain only a harlot~~blasphemy, ~~but~~ I desire to ask one favour of you ~~make her a murderess as well. Indeed~~all, in return for this my address, ~~it is something worse than murder~~ and ~~I do not know what to call it~~speaking with you; ~~for she does not kill what~~ which is ~~formed but prevents its formation~~, that you will correct on my behalf the blasphemers of this city. ~~What then? Do~~ And should you ~~condemn~~ hear anyone in the public thoroughfare, or in the ~~gifts~~ midst of the forum, blaspheming God, ; go up to him and rebuke him; and ~~fight with His laws? What is a curse you seek as though~~ should it ~~were a blessing~~be necessary to inflict blows, spare not to do so. ~~Do you make~~ Smite him on the ~~anteroom of slaughter? Do you teach~~ face; strike his mouth; sanctify your hand with the ~~women who~~ blow; and if they are ~~given~~ accused, and be brought to ~~you for~~ court, go. And if a ~~procreation~~ judge before the court demands an answer, boldly say that he blasphemed the King of ~~offspring~~ angels, for if those who blaspheme the earthly king are to be punished, how much more insulting is it to ~~perpetuate killing?”~~ Him (the King)…” —St. John Chrysostom, Conversations on Statues, address to the people of Antioch, Conversation 1, pt. 1 12

~~“You see how drunkenness leads~~ “I ask you to ~~whoredom~~try something. If someone grieves you, ~~whoredom to adultery~~or dishonors you, ~~adultery to murder;~~ or ~~rather to a~~ takes something ~~even worse than murder. For I have no name to give it~~of yours, ~~since it does not take off the thing born~~then pray like this: ‘Lord, ~~but prevent its being born~~we are all your creatures. ~~Why then dost thou abuse the gift of God~~Pity your servants, and ~~fight with His laws~~turn them to repentance, ’ and ~~follow after what is a curse as if a blessing~~then you will perceptibly bear grace in your soul. Induce your heart to love your enemies, and ~~make~~ the ~~chamber~~ Lord, seeing your good will, shall help you in all things, and will Himself show you experience. But whoever thinks evil of ~~procreation a chamber~~ his enemies does not have love for ~~murder,~~ God and ~~arm the woman that was given for childbearing unto slaughter?~~has not known God.” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Silouan the Athonite, ~~Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans~~Writing, ~~XXIV~~IX.21

~~“Some virgins [unmarried women] go so far as to take potions, that they may insure barrenness~~“Where there is pride there cannot be grace, and ~~thus murder human beings almost before their conception~~if we lose grace we also lose both love of God and assurance in prayer. ~~Some, when they find themselves with child through their sin, use drugs to procure abortion,~~ The soul is then tormented by evil thoughts and ~~when (as often happens) they die with their offspring, they enter the lower world laden with the guilt~~ does not ~~only of adultery against Christ but also of suicide~~ understand that she must humble herself and ~~child murder~~love her enemies, for there is no other way to please God.” —St. ~~Jerome, Letter to Eustochium, 22:13~~Silouan the Athonite

“The ~~rich women, to avoid dividing~~ whole therapeutic method of the ~~inheritance among many~~Orthodox Church is not aimed simply at making human beings morally and socially balanced, ~~kill~~ but at re-establishing their ~~own unborn in~~ relationship with God and one another. This comes about through the healing of the soul's wounds and the cure of the passions through the ~~womb~~ Sacraments and ~~with lethal extracts terminate their own offspring while yet in~~ the ~~womb~~Church's ascetic practice.” ~~—St. Ambrose~~—Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, ~~On the Hexaemeron~~The Science of Spiritual Medicine: Orthodox Psychotherapy in Action

~~“For every argument there~~ “The acquisition of of holiness is ~~a counter-argument~~not the exclusive business of monks, ~~but who can argue against life?” —St~~as certain people think. ~~Gregory Palamas~~People with families are also called to holiness, ~~Triads~~ as are those in ~~Defence~~ all kinds of professions, who live in the world, since the ~~Holy Hesychasts~~commandment about perfection and holiness is given not only to monks, but to all people.” —Hieromartyr Onuphry Gagaluk

~~“If you can't feed a hundred people, feed just one.”“I prefer you to make mistakes in kindness than work miracles in unkindness.”“People~~ “Many passions are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, hidden in ~~the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”“If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you~~our souls; ~~Be honest and frank anyway.”“It is a poverty that a child must die, so that you may live as you wish.”“How can you say there are too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers.”“The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.”“Any Country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what it wants.”“We~~ they can ~~do no great things, only small things with great love.”“Do not look for big things, just do small things with great love… The smaller the thing the greater must~~ be ~~our love.~~ ~~“God did not call us to be successful, but~~ brought to ~~be faithful.”“Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence~~ light ~~new light in~~ only when the ~~hearts of people.”“There~~ objects that rouse them are ~~no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those~~present.”~~“Yesterday is gone~~—St. ~~Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”“Every time you smile at someone~~Maximus the Confessor, ~~it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”—Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta~~Four Hundred Texts on Love

~~“No one heals himself~~ “What is holiness? Freedom from every sin and the fullness of every virtue. This freedom from sin and this virtuous life are only attained by a few zealous persons, and that not suddenly, but gradually, by prolonged and manifold sorrows, sicknesses, and labors, by fasting, vigilance, prayer, and that not by their own strength, but by ~~wounding another.”~~ the grace of Christ…” —St. ~~Ambrose~~ John of ~~Milan~~Kronstadt

~~“Abortion is the anti-Christ's demonic parody of the Eucharist. That's why~~ “A wise heart can transfer an affliction into a blessing, even sin!! He benefits from it ~~uses the same holy words ‘This is my body’ with the blasphemous opposite meaning~~: contrition, humility, keenness and sympathy for sinners.” ~~—Dr~~—H.H. ~~Peter Kreeft~~Pope Shenouda III

~~“An Irish pro-abortion leader described their vote as~~ “Humility and suffering free a ~~decision to enter the "modern" world. That was extremely well-said. Modernity suggests to us that we are~~ man from all sin; for the ~~masters of history~~first cuts out spiritual passions, and the ~~arbiters of life and death~~latter bodily.” —St. ~~Our compassion for~~ Maximus the ~~suffering is always expressed, ultimately, in our willingness to kill them, without remorse.~~Confessor

~~For many, abortion has become the sacrament of modernity, in which we learn to say in blasphemous irony: ‘This is my body~~“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.~~’” —Fr~~” —C. ~~Stephen Freeman~~S. Lewis

~~“O God, grant us a deeper sense of fellowship with all living things, our little brothers and sisters~~ “Christ did not come into the world to ~~whom in common with us you have given this earth as home. We recall with regret that in the past we have acted high-handedly and cruelly in exercising our domain over them. Thus~~eliminate suffering, Christ has not even come into the ~~voice of the earth which should have risen~~ world to ~~you in song has turned into a groan of travail. May we realize that all these creatures also live for themselves and for you - not for us alone~~explain it. ~~They too love the goodness of life~~Rather, ~~as we do, and serve you better in their way than we do in ours. Amen~~He came to fill human suffering with His presence.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~Basil the Great~~George Calciu

~~“We follow the ways~~ “The soul of ~~wolves~~man is not impure at birth, the habits of tigers: or, rather we are worse than they. To them nature has assigned that they should be thus fed, while God has honoured us with rational speech and a sense of equity. And yet we are become worse than the wild beastbut pure.” ~~—St. John Chrysostom~~—Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos

~~“…surely we ought to show kindness and gentleness~~ “By nature the soul is passionless… so you must believe that the passions do not belong to ~~animals for many reasons, and chiefly because they are of~~ the ~~same origin as ourselves~~soul by nature.” —St. ~~John Chrysostom~~Isaac the Syrian

~~“Concepts create idols~~“Just as in legal marriage, the pleasure derived from procreation cannot exactly be called a gift of God, because it is carnal and constitutes a gift of nature and not of grace (even though that nature has been created by God); ~~only wonder comprehends anything~~even so the knowledge that comes from profane education, even if well used, is a gift of nature, and not of grace-a gift which God accords to all without exception through nature, and which one can develop by exercise. ~~People kill~~ This last point-that no one ~~another over idols. Wonder makes us fall to our knees~~acquires it without effort and exercise-is an evident proof that it is a question of a natural, not a spiritual, gift.~~” —St. Gregory of Nyssa~~

~~“The unspeakable~~ It is our sacred wisdom that should legitimately be called a gift of God and ~~prodigious fire hidden in~~ not a natural gift, since even simple fishermen who receive it from on high become, as Gregory the ~~essence~~ Theologian says, sons of ~~things~~Thunder, ~~as in~~ whose word has encompassed the very bounds of the ~~bush~~universe. By this grace, even publicans are made merchants of souls; and even the burning zeal of persecutors is transformed, making them Pauls instead of Sauls, turning away the ~~fire of divine love~~ earth to attain ‘the third heaven’ and ‘hear ineffable things’. By this true wisdom we too can become conformed to the ~~dazzling brilliance~~ image of ~~His beauty inside every thing~~God and continue to be such after death.” —St. ~~Maximus~~ Gregory Palamas, Triads in Defence of the ~~Confessor~~Holy Hesychasts, Philosophy does not save, pages 29-30

~~“Blessed~~ “We know that even the ~~one who observes with spiritual understanding the choirs of stars shining with glory~~ facts that a marriage means relations between a man and a woman and ~~the beauty~~ that a choice of ~~the heavens~~ gender is not an intellectual and ~~longs to contemplate~~ volitional one, but a Divine choice, are now being disputed. Children are already being taught this. They are told: ‘You should choose yourself whether you are a boy or a girl’; that is, what was founded by God is being destroyed by people, ostensibly for the ~~Maker~~ sake of ~~all things~~freedom.~~” —St. Ephrem the Syrian~~

~~“Look at the world around you. It supplies all your bodily needs. It feasts your eyes with its beauty. And its glory reflects the glory of God~~But then, ~~so it feasts your soul also. Look at the plants and the trees. Can you count all the different species~~what is freedom like? ~~Can you describe all~~ If freedom ruins the ~~different shapes~~ Divine plan of the ~~leaves, the color~~ world and ~~fragrances~~ of ~~the flowers? Look~~mankind, ~~too~~then it is not freedom, ~~at the animals and the insects~~but slavery. ~~Are you not enthralled by their different sizes and shapes, by~~ And we know that the ~~different colors and textures of their skin and fur~~devil enslaves a man, by because the ~~different ways in which they move about and gather food? And the wonder why God has created all this. Has he created the marvelous universe just~~ most dangerous captivity is to supply our needs and to feast our eyes and souls? or is there some other purpose in it all? The answer is that he has created all things--for their own sake. Each creature has its own purpose and destinybe not free from sin, ~~which God~~ when a person cannot live in accordance with his infinite wisdom and love has planned. Do not try to understand God's plans; the human mind is hardly better than that of an ant in discerning the ways of God. Simply accept all his plans and rejoice in themor her calling.” ~~—St. John Chrysostom, On Living Simply, pg 54~~—His Holiness Patriarch Kirill

~~“For as long as you are on earth~~“Fiery lust, ~~consider yourself a guest in~~ the ~~Household of Christ. If you are at~~ desire for marriage, sexual union … and all the ~~table, it is He who treats you. If you breathe air, it is His air you breathe. If you bathe, it is in His water you are bathing. If you are traveling, it is over His land~~ other things that ~~you are traveling. If you are amassing goods~~, ~~it is His goods you are amassing. If you are squandering~~as most people think, the body seeks for - it is ~~His goods that you are squandering. If you are powerful~~not the body as such … but the soul, it which through the body seeks pleasure by their means… Let no one think he is being driven towards these things and compelled by ~~His permission that you are strong. If you are in~~ his own body… the ~~company of men, you and~~ body cannot be moved to anything apart from the ~~others are His guests. If you are out in nature, you are in His garden. If you are alone, He is present~~soul.” —St. ~~Nikolai Velimirovich~~Symeon the New Theologian

~~“Some people see the houses in which they live as their kingdom;~~ “Often this demon [of lust] goes away altogether for a while, and ~~although in their minds they know~~ one can have a false sense of security that ~~death will~~ one ~~day force them to leave, in their hearts they feel they will stay forever. They take pride in~~ is ‘above’ this passion; but all the ~~size of their houses and~~ Holy Fathers warn that one cannot consider this passion conquered before the ~~fine material with which they are built~~grave. ~~They~~ Continue your struggle and take ~~pleasure~~ refuge in ~~decorating their houses with bright colors~~humility, seeing what base sins you are capable of and ~~in obtaining~~ how you are lost without the ~~best and most solid furniture~~ constant help of God Who calls you to ~~fill the rooms. They imagine that they can find peace and security by owning~~ a house whose walls and roof will last for many generations. We, by contrast, know that we are only temporary guests on earth. We recognize that the houses in which we live serve only as hostels on the road to eternal lifeabove these sins. ~~We do not seek peace or security from the material walls around us or the roof above our heads~~” —Fr. ~~Rather we want to surround ourselves with a wall~~ Seraphim Rose of ~~divine grace;~~ Platina, Father Seraphim Rose: His Life and ~~we look upward to heaven as our roof. And the furniture of our lives should be good works~~Works by Hieromonk Damascene, ~~performed in a spirit of love~~p.~~” —St. John Chrysostom, On Living Simply, pg 11~~803

~~“What hinders you from fulfilling Christ’s commandments?~~“Pornography is the devil's iconography.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina

~~The flesh and~~ “Just as the ~~world: that is, pleasant food and drink which men like,~~ virtues are begotten in ~~which they delight both in thought and in fact~~the soul, ~~which make~~ so are the ~~heart gross and hard—a partiality for elegant dress and adornment, or for distinctions and rewards; if~~ passions. But the ~~dress or adornments~~ virtues are ~~made of very beautiful coloured and delicate materials~~begotten in accordance with nature, ~~then care and anxiety arise how~~ the passions in a mode contrary to ~~avoid staining~~ nature. For what produces good or ~~soiling them, or getting them dusty or wet, whilst care and anxiety how to please God~~ evil in ~~thought, word, and deed vanish and~~ the ~~heart lives for dress and adornment, and becomes entirely engrossed in these things, ceasing to care about God and being united to Him; if such~~ soul is the ~~case with a priest, then he neglects praying for his people~~will's bias… For our inner disposition is capable of operating in one way or another, since it bears within itself both virtue and ~~becomes not soul-loving~~vice, ~~but money-loving and ambitious~~the first as its natural birthright, ~~seeking not~~ the ~~men themselves, but that which appertains to them, that is, money, food, drink, their favour, their good opinion and good word, and flattering them~~second as the result of the self-incurred proclivity of our moral will.” —St.Gregory of Sinai

~~Therefore fight against every worldly enticement~~“Afflictions, ~~against every material enticement that hinders you from fulfilling Christ’s commandments, love God with all your heart~~illness, ill health and ~~care with all your strength~~ the pains that our bodies experience are counted for the ~~salvation~~ remission of ~~your own soul, and~~ our trespasses. They are the ~~souls of others, be soul-loving.”~~ furnace in which we are purified…” —St. John ~~of Kronstadt~~Chrysostom

~~“[R]eal Orthodox can never be chauvinists. I recall once, in~~ “The heart of a ~~conversation with me in 1926~~perfectly healthy man becomes weakened for faith and love to God and his neighbor, ~~the blessedly reposed metropolitan [A. Khrapovitsky] related~~ and easily gives itself up to ~~me the following~~carnal desires: ~~"On Athos there is a custom that a monk who does not forgive offences is punished by being made~~ to ~~omit the words ‘and forgive us our debts~~slothfulness, negligence, coldness, gluttony, avarice, ~~as we forgive our debtors~~fornication,~~’ at~~ pride. Whilst the ~~reading~~ heart of ~~the Lord’s Prayer~~a sick man, ~~until such~~ or a ~~time when he has forgiven~~ wounded, oppressed, weary heart, is strengthened in faith, hope, and love, and is far removed from carnal passions. This is why the ~~offence committed against him. And I myself have suggested~~Heavenly Father,~~" added the great saint~~Who careth for our salvation, ~~"that the chauvinist-nationalists not read the ninth article~~ chastises us by various sicknesses. The oppression and afflictions of ~~the Symbol~~ sickness make us turn again to God.” —St. John of ~~Faith."~~Kronstadt

If we were to crystallize this principle of Vladyka, it would read as follows: the Russian, Serbian, and Bulgarian nations can be great only if the goal of their existence be the collective realization of the commandments of the Gospel. Otherwise, "Serbianism", "Russianism", and "Bulgarianism", are reduced to senseless and pernicious chauvinism. If "Serbianism" flourishes not by the power of evangelical podvigs and not to Orthodox catholicity, then it will choke in its own egoistic chauvinism. What is profitable for Serbdom is profitable for other nationalities as well. Nations pass, the Gospel is eternal. Only in so far as a nation is filled with the eternal evangelical truth and righteousness, does it exist, and itself becomes and remains eternal. Only such patriotism can be justified from an evangelical point of view. This is the patriotism of the holy apostles, the holy martyrs, the holy fathers. When the emperor-tormentor asked the holy martyrs Acindynus, Pegasius, and Anempodistus where they were from, they answered: "Are you asking us, O Emperor, about our homeland? Our homeland and our life “Gluttony says that her child is ~~the most holy, consubstantial and undivided Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the one God~~war against chastity.~~" (On Met~~” —St. ~~Anthony Khrapovitsky)~~John Climacus

~~The blessed Metropolitan Anthony~~ “You can't stop smoking tobacco? What is impossible for man is possible with God's help. Just firmly decide to quit, realizing how harmful it is for the ~~most gifted contemporary representative of Russian Orthodox nationalism, a nationalism consecrated~~ soul and ~~enlightened by Christ; a nationalism by which all men are brothers in Christ; a nationalism by which the mighty must serve~~ the ~~weak~~body, since tobacco weakens the ~~wise the unwise~~soul, and increases and strengthens the ~~humble the proud~~passions, darkens the ~~first the last. Growing out of patristic Orthodox universal patriotism~~mind, ~~the blessed Vladyka can only be appreciated from the same apostolic patristic perspective~~and destroys physical health with a slow death. ~~We can apply to him what St~~” —St. ~~Gregory~~ Ambrose of ~~Nyssa said about his own brother~~Optina, ~~St. Basil, after his death~~Living Without Hypocrisy: ~~"Wherein lies Basil's noble origin? Where is his homeland? His origin is his affinity to divinity~~Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina, ~~and his homeland is virtue."” —St~~pg. ~~Justin Popovich~~70

~~“Worldly glory does~~ “If you wish to live long on the earth, do not ~~lead God's children~~ hurry to live in a carnal manner, to satiate yourself, to get drunk, to smoke, to ~~heaven~~commit fornication, to live in luxury, to indulge yourself.~~” —St~~The carnal way of life constitutes death, and therefore, in the Holy Scripture, our flesh is called mortal, or, ‘the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. ~~Raphael~~’ If you wish to live long, live through the ~~Newly-revealed Martyr~~ spirit; for life consists in the spirit: ‘If ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of ~~Lesvos~~the body, ye shall live,’ both here on earth and there in heaven.

~~“Satan~~ One cannot eat and drink and smoke continually. One cannot turn human life into constant eating, drinking, and smoking, although there are men who do eat, drink, and smoke almost uninterruptedly; and thus the spirit of evil has ~~no need~~ turned life into smoking, and made the mouth, which ought to ~~tempt those who tempt themselves~~be employed in thanking and praising the Lord, into a smoking furnace. The less and lighter the food and drink you take, the lighter and ~~are continually dragged down by worldly affairs~~more refined your spirit will become.~~” —St. John of Karpathos~~

~~“The~~ Smoking is a whim. From this comes foot pain and depression. That the devil ~~does not hunt after those who are lost; he hunts after those who are aware, those who are close~~ is the father of the cigarette I especially figured out today: something impacted negatively upon me from head to ~~God~~toe. ~~He takes from them trust~~ I felt that the enemy nested in my sides and in ~~God~~ my heart and ~~begins to afflict them with self-assurance~~he opposed me strongly, ~~logic~~preventing me from saying the prayer, ~~thinking~~scaring me, ~~criticism. Therefore we should not trust our logical minds.” —Elder Paisios~~ paralyzing me and saddening me to the point of Mtsin. ~~Athos~~

~~“Only He is worth struggling towards~~By smoking an unclean spirit enters a person. ~~We have a choice: to follow~~ Last night after smoking the devil made his presence felt through continuous hiccups which pestered me from the ~~way~~ time of ~~this world~~the Cherubic Hymn until a little before Holy Communion. My nerves were stretched, ~~of the society that surrounds us~~my voice was ‘escaping’ me, I was shivering and ~~thereby find ourselves outside~~ I was exhausted. That's why smoking is futile. It is a silly whim, a desecration of ~~God; or to choose~~ the ~~way of life~~lips, ~~to choose God Who calls us~~ a large and ~~for Whom our heart is searching~~unnecessary irritation, a fog that covers voluntarily.~~” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina~~

~~“Let the hearing~~ The taste of ~~worldly tales be~~ a cigarette I cannot compare to ~~you as a bitter taste in your mouth,~~ anything but ~~the discourse of holy men as a honeycomb~~something diabolical.~~” —St. Basil the Great~~And how do I know this smoking? How do I allow myself to do something like this?

~~“All~~ I came to church, falling on my knees with a contrite heart before the ~~things of this world are no more than earth~~Holy Altar. ~~Place them in a heap under your feet~~ How could I serve my enemy every day and ~~you will~~ not the Lord with zeal? Lord, help me to be ~~so much nearer to heaven.” —St~~free from all evil, because I am an evil man, dirty, full of sins. ~~Josemaria Escriva~~

~~“A man who has dedicated himself once~~ The Lord knows our weaknesses. He is ready to forgive us everything, as long as we repent and seek forgiveness. The essential thing is that our hearts not become petrified, that is to stop hesitating to think of our committed sin, to immediately repent, and ~~for all~~ to leave ourselves to the mercy of God ~~goes through life with a restful mind~~.” —St. ~~Isaac the Syrian~~John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ

~~“Do you seek any further reward beyond that~~ “Suffering is an indication of ~~having pleased God? In truth~~another Kingdom which we look to. If being a Christian meant being ‘happy’ in this life, ~~you know not how great a good it is to please Him~~we wouldn't need the Kingdom of Heaven.” ~~—St~~—Fr. ~~John Chrysostom~~Seraphim Rose of Platina

~~“Faith is to believe what you do not see;~~ “Suffering reminds the ~~reward~~ wise man of ~~this faith is to see what you believe~~God, but crushes those who forget Him.” —St. ~~Augustine~~Mark the Ascetic

~~“‘You shall love~~ “God permits tribulations and adversities to befall people – even the ~~Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind~~saintly – so that they may persist in humility.~~’ This is the first~~ But if we harden our hearts against adversities and ~~great commandment~~tribulations, He also hardens these tribulations against us. ~~And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’~~ On ~~these two commandments hang all~~ the ~~Law~~ other hand if we accept them in humility and ~~the Prophets~~with a contrite heart, God will mingle tribulation with mercy.” ~~—Matthew 22:37-40~~—St. Isaac the Syrian

~~“And Thomas answered~~ “But do not be troubled or sad. The Lord sometimes allows people who are devoted to Him to fall into such dreadful vices; and ~~said~~ this is in order to ~~Him, "My Lord~~ prevent them from falling into a still greater sin – pride. Your temptation will pass and ~~my God!"~~you will spend the remaining days of your life in humility. Only do not forget your sin.” ~~—John 20:28~~—St. Seraphim of Sarov

“We must be prepared to accept the will of God. The Lord permits all sorts of things to happen to us contrary to our will, for if we always have it our way, we will not be prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven.” —Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, "Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives" “Similarly, when the sun goes down and when it rises, when you are asleep or awake, give thanks to God, Who created and arranged all things for your benefit--to have you know, love, and praise their Creator.” —St. Basil the Great “The Lord gives Himself freely, for His mercy's sake alone. I did not know this before but now every day and every hour every minute, I see clearly the mercy of God. The Lord gives peace even in sleep, but without God there is no peace in the soul.” —St. Silouan the Athonite “What should not be heard by little ears, should not be said by big mouths.” —unknown “I am incurably convinced that the object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.” —G. K. Chesterton “What is slander? It is every sort of wicked word we would dare not speak in front of the person whom we are complaining about.” —St. Anthony the Great “If you want to overcome the spirit of slander, blame not the person who falls, but the demon that prompted them to sin.” —St. John Climacus “You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of him who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives. All condemnation is from the devil. Never condemn each other. We condemn others only because we shun knowing ourselves. When we gaze at our own failings, we see such a swamp that nothing in another can equal it. That is why we turn away, and make much of the faults of others. Instead of condemning others, strive to reach inner peace. Keep silent, refrain from judgment. This will raise you above the deadly arrows of slander, insult and outrage and will shield your glowing hearts against all evil.” —St. Seraphim of Sarov “A man may seem to be silent, but if his heart is condemning others, he is babbling ceaselessly. But there may be another who talks from morning till night and yet he is truly silent, that is, he says nothing that is not profitable.” —Abba Poemen “If your tongue is used to chattering, your heart will remain dim and foreign to the luminous intuitions of the Holy Spirit.” —St. John of Dalyatha “He who does not control his tongue when he is angry, will not control his passions either.” —Abba Hyperchius “Are you angry? Be angry at your sins, beat your soul, afflict your conscience, be strict in judgement and a terrible punisher of your own sins. This is the benefit of anger, wherefore God placed it in us.” —St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians 2 “These eight passions should be destroyed as follows: gluttony by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the poor; anger by goodwill and love for all men; worldly dejection by spiritual joy; listlessness by patience, perseverance and offering thanks to God; self-esteem by doing good in secret and by praying constantly with a contrite heart; and pride by not judging or despising anyone in the manner of the boastful Pharisee (cf. Luke 18 : 11–12), and by considering oneself the least of all men. When the intellect has been freed in this way from the passions we have described and been raised up to God, it will henceforth live the life of blessedness, receiving the pledge of the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Cor. 1 : 22). And when it departs this life, dispassionate and full of true knowledge, it will stand before the light of the Holy Trinity and with the divine angels will shine in glory through all eternity.” —St. John of Damascus, On the Virtues and the Vices, from The Philokalia: The Complete Text, Vol. 2 “We must consider all evil things, even the passions which war against us, to be not our own, but of our enemy the devil. This is very important. You can only conquer a passion when you do not consider it as part of you.” —St. Nikon of Optina “To reach satisfaction in alldesire its possession in nothing.To come to possession in alldesire the possession of nothing.To arrive at being alldesire to be nothing.To come to the knowledge of alldesire the knowledge of nothing.To come to the pleasure you have notyou must go by the way in which you enjoy not.To come to the knowledge you have notyou must go by the way in which you know not.To come to the possession you have notyou must go by the way in which you possess not.To come by the what you are notyou must go by a way in which you are not.When you turn toward somethingyou cease to cast yourself upon the all.For to go from all to the allyou must deny yourself of all in all.And when you come to the possession of the allyou must possess it without wanting anything.Because if you desire to have something in allyour treasure in God is not purely your all.” —St. John of the Cross, Ascent of Mount Carmel “How we debase our God-like immortal soul by attaching ourselves to the perishable, tarnishable, fleeting glitter of gold and silver, and by averting our gaze from the higher eternal, all-rejoicing light, or by attaching ourselves to corruptible sweetness that soon passes away, and is harmful and weakening both to soul and body, and turning away our gaze from the eternal, spiritual sweetness; from the sweetness of the intuition of God, or to vain earthly glory, turning away our eyes from the glory of the higher heavenly calling: from the glory of God's children, the heirs of the eternal Kingdom of God. O, earthly vanity! O, attachment to worldly things! Look upwards, Christian!” —St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ “As in the theater, when the audience departs, and the kings remove their costumes, they are revealed to be what they are; so also when death arrives and the theater of this life is dissolved, everyone puts off their masks of wealth or poverty and departs. Some are revealed as truly wealthy, others poor.” —St. John Chrysostom “A sinful soul, full of passions, cannot have peace and rejoice in the Lord, even if it had charge over all earthly riches, even if it ruled over the whole world. If it was suddenly said to such a king, happily feasting and sitting on his throne, 'King, now you will die,' his soul would be troubled and he would tremble with fear, and he would see his powerlessness. But how many beggars there are, whose only wealth is love for God, and who, if you said to them, 'You will die now,' would answer peacefully, 'Let God's will be done. Glory to the Lord, that He has remembered me and wants to take me to Himself.'” —St. Silouan the Athonite “Sometimes in the affliction of your soul you wish to die. It is easy to die, and does not take long; but are you prepared for death? Remember that after death the Judgment of your whole life will follow. You are not prepared for death, and if it were to come to you, you would shudder all over. Therefore do not waste words in vain. Do not say: ‘It is better for me to die,’ but say rather, ‘How can I prepare for death in a Christian manner?’ By means of faith, by means of good works, and by bravely bearing the miseries and sorrows that happen to you, so as to be able to meet death fearlessly, peacefully, and without shame, not as a rigorous law of nature, but as a fatherly call of the eternal, heavenly, holy, and blessed Father unto the everlasting kingdom.” —St. John of Kronstadt “Nevertheless one who regards only the dissolution of the body is greatly disturbed, and makes it a hardship that this life of ours should be dissolved by death; it is, he says, the extremity of evil that our being should be quenched by this condition of mortality. Let him, then, observe through this gloomy prospect the excess of the Divine benevolence.”” —St. Gregory of Nyssa, The Great Catechism, §VIII “Man is, by nature, afraid of both death and the dissolution of the body; but there is this most startling fact: that he who has put on the faith of the Cross despises even what is naturally fearful, and for Christ's sake is not afraid even of death.” —St. Athanasius the Great “Limitless and without consolation would have been our sorrow for close ones who are dying, if the Lord had not given us eternal life. Our life would be pointless if it ended with death. What benefit would there then be from virtue and good deed? Then they would be correct who say: ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’ But man was created for immortality, and by His resurrection Christ opened the gates of the Heavenly Kingdom, of eternal blessedness for those who have believed in Him and have lived righteously. Our earthly life is a preparation for the future life, and this preparation ends with our death. ‘It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment’ (Heb 9:27). Then a man leaves all his earthly cares; the body disintegrates, in order to rise anew at the General Resurrection. Often this spiritual vision begins in the dying even before death, and while still seeing those around them and even speaking with them, they see what others do not see.” —St. John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco, Homily on Life After Death “Let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ.” —St. Ignatius of Antioch “Man’s will, out of cowardice, tends away from suffering, and man, against his own will, remains utterly dominated by the fear of death, and, in his desire to live, clings to his slavery to pleasure.” —St. Maximus the Confessor “Sin makes man a coward; but a life in the Truth of Christ makes Him bold.” —St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Statues, VIII. 2 “Of all the good things in the world, life is dearest to men, and men love life better than truth, although there is no life in truth. The highest good, then, is life, but truth is the foundation of life. He who loves life must also love truth. But what is the way to truth? 'I am the way', says the Lord. 'I am the way', that none should think that there is some other way to the truth besides the Lord Jesus. It was for that He was born as a man: to show men the way. And for this that He was crucified, to make the way plain by His blood.” —St. Nikolai Velimirovich “See how many and great the evils it has brought on us – this self-justification, this holding fast to our own will, this obstinacy in being our own guide. All this was the product of that hateful arrogance towards God. Whereas the products of humility are self-accusation, distrust in our own sentiments, hatred of our own will. By these one is made worthy of being redeemed, of having his human nature restored to its proper state, through the cleansing operation of Christ's holy precepts. Without humility it is impossible to obey the Commandments or at any time to go towards anything good. As Abba Mark says: without a contrite heart it is impossible to be free from wickedness or to acquire virtue.” —St. Dorotheos of Gaza, Discourses and Sayings “Begin gradually, do not trust yourself. Do not depend on your own understanding, reject your will, and the Lord will give you true understanding.” —St. Macarius of Optina, Living Without Hypocrisy “If you deny yourself and constantly renounce your own opinions, your own will, your own righteousness-or what amounts to the same thing: the knowledge, understanding, will, and righteousness of fallen nature-in order to plant within you the knowledge of God, the will of God, and the righteousness of God taught us in the holy Gospel by God Himself, then fallen nature will open fire within you and declare a savage war against the Gospel and against God. Fallen spirits will come to the help of fallen nature. Do not fall into despondency on this account. By your firmness in the struggle, show the tenacity of your purpose and the stability of your free will. When thrown down, get up. When duped and disarmed, rearm yourself afresh. When defeated, again rush to the fight. It is extremely good for you to see within yourself both your own fall and the fall of the whole of mankind. It is essential for you to recognize and study this fall in your own experience, in your heart and mind. It is essential for you to see the infirmity of your knowledge and intellect, and the weakness of your will.” —St. Ignatius Brianchaninov (Bryanchaninov) of Caucasus, The Arena, chapter 8 “Do not fall into despair because of stumbling. I do not mean that you should not feel contrition for them, but that you should not think them incurable. For it is more expedient to be bruised than dead. There is, indeed, a Healer for the man who has stumbled, even He Who on the Cross asked that mercy be shown to His crucifiers, He Who pardoned His murders while He hung on the Cross. ‘All manner of sin’, He said, ‘and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men’, that is, through repentance.” —St. Isaac the Syrian “Do not say: ‘I have sinned much, and therefore I am not bold enough to fall down before God.’ Do not despair. Simply do not increase your sins in despair and, with the help of the All-merciful One, you will not be put to shame. For He said, ‘he who comes to Me I will not cast out.’ (John. 6:37) And so, be bold and believe that He is pure and cleanses those who draw near to Him. If you want to accomplish true repentance, show it with your deeds. If you have fallen into pride, show humility; if into drunkenness, show sobriety; if into defilement, show purity of life. For it is said, ‘Turn away from evil and do good.’ (I Pet. 3:11)” —St. Gennadios (II) Scholarios, Patriarch of Constantinople, The Golden Chain, The Golden Chain, 87-89 “The natural passions become good in those who struggle when, wisely unfastening them from the things of the flesh, use them to gain heavenly things. For example they can change appetite into the movement of a spiritual longing for divine things; pleasure into pure joy for the cooperation of the mind with divine gifts; fear into care to evade future misfortune due to sin and sadness into corrective repentance for present evil.” —St. Maximus the Confessor “How good it is to conquer the passions! After the victory one feels such lightness of heart, such peace and greatness of spirit!” —St. John of Kronstadt “He who believes, fears; he who fears is humble; he who is humble becomes gentle.” —St. Maximus the Confessor “For every humble person is gentle, and every gentle person is invariably humble. A person is humble when he knows that his very being is on loan to him.” —St. Maximus the Confessor “A humble person lives on earth as if in the Kingdom of Heaven - always happy, peaceful and satisfied with everything.” —St. Anthony of Optina “Not every quiet man is humble, but every humble man is quiet.” —St. Isaac the Syrian “If you wish to be truly humble, then consider yourself lower than all, worthy of being trampled on by all; for you yourself daily, hourly trample upon the law of the Lord, and therefore upon the Lord Himself.” —St. John of Kronstadt “You wish to be great, begin from the least. You are thinking to construct some mighty fabric in height; first think of the foundation of humility. And how great soever a mass of building one may wish and design to place above it, the greater the building is to be, the deeper does he dig his foundation.” —St. Augustine of Hippo “In them [the Lives of the Saints] it is clearly and obviously demonstrated: There is no spiritual death from which one cannot be resurrected by the Divine power of the risen and ascended Lord Christ; there is no torment, there is no misfortune, there is no misery, there is no suffering which the Lord will not change either gradually or all at once into quite, compunctionate joy because of faith in Him.” —St. Justin Popovich “A servant of the Lord is he who in body stands before men, but in mind knocks at Heaven with prayer.” —St. John Climacus “In the Christian East – in fact, in the East in general – we love old age because we think that it is made for praying. When one is old, and feels the nearness of God across the increasingly transparent surface of biological life, one becomes in consciousness a child, returned to the Father, made light in spirit by the proximity of death, transparent to another kind of light. A civilization in which one no longer prays is a civilization in which old age has no meaning. One walks backward towards death, pretending to be young; it’s an agonizing spectacle, because a wonderful possibility is offered, a journey towards ultimate relinquishment, and it is not taken advantage of. We need old people who pray, who smile, who live with a disinterested love, who marvel; they alone can show young people that that living is worth the effort, and that oblivion is not the last word. Every monk whose spiritual practice has born fruit is called in the East, whatever his age, 'a beautiful old man.' He is beautiful with the beauty that rises from the heart. In him all the periods of his life have come into harmony, as with a symphony, one might say. And especially the original child is found again: shining with a transfigured shining, the beautiful old man has the eyes of a child.” —Olivier Clément “It is of great significance if there is a person who truly prays in a family. Prayer attracts God's grace and all the members of the family feel it, even those whose hearts have grown cold. Pray always.” —Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica “A Christian should never and for no reason worry, for God's Providence carries him in its arms. Our only care should be that we would ever remain faithful to the Lord.” —St. Ignatius Brianchaninov (Bryanchaninov) of Caucasus “Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness.” —St. John Chrysostom “He who angers you, controls you!” —Bishop Melchisedek Pleska “[The desire for] equality is from the Devil, because it comes entirely from envy.” —Fr. Alexander Schmemann “In your prayer seek only righteousness and the kingdom of God, that is, virtue and spiritual knowledge; and everything else 'will be given to you' (Matt. 6:33).” —St. Evagrius of Ponticus “Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.” —St. Ephrem the Syrian “Even if we stand at the very summit of virtue, it is by mercy that we shall be saved.” —St. John Chrysostom “The goodness of God is so rich in graces, that it seeks a cause to have mercy on a person.” —St. Anthimus of Chios “The Holy Spirit has accomplishing in each believer the work of Christ. Each Christian is a communicant of the spirit. This is something so necessary, that in fact whoever does not have the Spirit is not of Christ.” —St. Theophan the Recluse “The Church is nothing but the world on the way to deification; for the Church, the world is no longer a tomb but a womb.” —Olivier Clément “The church is an earthly heaven in which the super-celestial God dwells and walks about. ” —St. Germanus of Constantinople “Nothing is more abiding than the Church: she is your salvation; she is your refuge.” —St. John Chrysostom “There is no need to weep much over the destruction of a church; after all, each of us, according to God's mercy, has or should have his own church - the heart - go in there and pray, as much as you have strength and time. If this church is not well made and is abandoned (without inward prayer), then the visible church will be of little benefit.” —Archbishop Barlaam “Our prayer reflects our attitude towards God. He who is careless of salvation has a different attitude toward God from him who has abandoned sin and is zealous for virtue but has not yet entered within himself and works for the Lord only outwardly. Finally, he who has entered within and carries the Lord within himself, standing before Him, has yet another attitude. The first man is negligent in prayer, just as he is negligent in life, and he prays in church and at home merely according to the established custom, without attention or feeling. The second man reads many prayers and goes often to church, trying at the same time to keep his attention from wandering and to experience feelings in accordance with the prayers which are read, although he is seldom successful. The third man, wholly concentrated within, stands with his mind before God, and prays to Him in his heart without distraction, without long verbal prayers, even when standing for a long time at prayer in his home or in church. … Every prayer must come from the heart and any other prayer is no prayer at all. Prayer-book prayers, your own prayers and very short prayers, all must issue forth from the heart to God, seen before you.” —St. Theophan the Recluse “It is very important to know how to pray. Many times even we, the monks in the monasteries, pray, but we only think we pray. It is not enough to attend the church services and just be there like that would be enough. We have to work the prayer from the inside out. No matter how many prayers we say with our mouth, it is nothing if the prayer is not coming from the heart and if we don't apply the teachings of Orthodoxy in our everyday life. Now more than ever, lay people have to pray from the heart, because this will be our only salvation. In the heart is the root of all passions and that is where we need to direct our struggles. If in the later years Christianity became lukewarm and superficial, we have to end all that now, this is not going to be enough anymore. If we will not pray from the heart, we will not be able to sustain the psychological attacks, because the evil one has hidden brainwashing methods that are unknown to us. The greatest sin today is carelessness. We pray carelessly, we repent carelessly, even if we do it. Times will come when only the ones that have the Spirit of God will be able to know good from evil. The human mind itself on its own will not be able to tell the difference. There will be great deceptions and only the Holy Spirit will give us the discernment we need so we can save ourselves. Pray that you will not be deceived! Only through prayer can we receive the Holy Spirit. If we don't pray and just persevere in our laziness and unrepentant ways, we will completely lose the Holy Spirit and His guidance. May it not be that we lose the guidance of the Holy Spirit!” —Elder Justin (Pârvu) of Romania, The truth about the times–Spirituality of the end of times, 2010 “It is sometimes well during prayer to say a few words of your own, breathing fervent faith and love to the Lord. Yes, let us not always converse with God in the words of others, not always remain children in faith and hope; we must also show our own mind, indite a good matter from our own heart also. Moreover, we grow too accustomed to the words of others and grow cold in prayer. And how pleasing this lipsing of our own is, coming from a believing, loving, and thankful heart. It is impossible to explain this; it is only needful to say that when you are praying to God with your own words the soul trembles with joy, it becomes wholly inflamed, vivified, and beatified. You will utter few words, but you will experience such blessedness as you would not have obtained saying the longest most touching prayers of others, pronounced out of habit and insincerely.” —St. John of Kronstadt “This is how you pray continually – not by offering prayer in words, but by joining yourself to God through your whole way of life, so that your life becomes one continuous and uninterrupted prayer.” —St. Basil the Great “Chastisement through the trials imposed on us is a spiritual rod, teaching us humility when in our foolishness we think too much of ourselves.” —St. Thalassios the Libyan “Goodness is not confirmed without trial. Every Christian is tested by something: one by poverty, another by illness, a third by various thoughts, a fourth by some calamity or humiliation, while another by various doubts. And, through this, firmness of faith, hope and love of God are tested.” —St. Ambrose of Optina “Sometimes men are tested by pleasure, sometimes by distress or by physical suffering. By means of His prescriptions the Physician of souls administers the remedy according to the cause of the passions lying hidden in the soul.” —St. Maximus the Confessor, Philokalia “If you want, or rather intend, to take a splinter out of another person, then do not hack at it with a stick instead of a lancet, for you will only drive it in deeper.” —St. John Climacus “To exalt oneself is one thing, not to do so another, and to humble oneself is something less entirely. A man may always be passing judgement on others, while another man passes judgement neither on others nor on himself. A third, however, though actually guiltless, may always be passing judgement on himself.” —St. John Climacus “If a man accuses himself, he is protected on all sides.” —St. Poemen “It is not then wealth that is the foundation of pleasure, nor poverty of sadness, but our own judgment and the fact that the eyes of our mind neither see clearly nor remain fixed in one place, but flutter abroad.” —St. John Chrysostom “One who knows oneself, knows God: and one who knows God is worthy to worship Him as is right. Therefore, my beloveds in the Lord, know yourselves.” —St. Anthony the Great “God is truth and light, God's judgement is nothing else than our coming into contact with truth and light. In the day of the Great Judgement all men will appear naked before this penetrating light of truth. The ‘books’ will be opened. What are these ‘books’? They are our hearts. Our hearts will be opened by the penetrating light of God, and what is in these hearts will be revealed. If in those hearts there is love for God, those hearts will rejoice in seeing God's light. If, on the contrary, there is hatred for God in those hearts, these men will suffer by receiving on their opened hearts this penetrating light of truth which they detested all their life. So that which will differentiate between one man and another will not be a decision of God, a reward or a punishment from Him, but that which was in each one's heart; what was there during all our life will be revealed in the Day of Judgement. If there is a reward and a punishment during this revelation – and there really is – it does not come from God but from the love or hate which reigns in our heart. Love has bliss in it, hatred has despair, bitterness, grief, affliction, wickedness, agitation, confusion, darkness, and all the other interior conditions which compose hell.” —St. Symeon the New Theologian “In whatever state a person is, he sometimes finds himself making pure and intense prayers. For even from that first and lowest sort, which has to do with recalling the future judgment, the one who is still subject to the punishment of terror and the fear of judgment is occasionally so struck with compunction that he is filled with no less joy of spirit from the richness of his supplication than the one who, examining the kindnesses of God and going over them in the purity of his heart, dissolves into unspeakable gladness and delight. For, according to the words of the Lord, the one who realizes that more has been forgiven him begins to love more.” —St. John Cassian “If a man's self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred.” —C. S. Lewis “The pure heart sees God as in a mirror.” —Abba Philemon “The blessedness of seeing God is justly promised to the pure of heart. For the eye that is unclean would not be able to see the brightness of the true light, and what would be happiness to clear minds would be a torment to those that are defiled. Therefore, let the mists of worldly vanities be dispelled, and the inner eye be cleansed of all the filth of wickedness, so that the soul's gaze may feast serenely upon the great vision of God.” —St. Leo the Great “God rests within gentle hearts. The gentle and merciful shall sit fearless in His regions, and will inherit Heavenly glory.” —St. John Climacus “That which the word communicates by sound, the painting shows silently by representation.” —St. Basil the Great, on the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste “Do not call God just, for His justice is not manifest in the things concerning you. And if David calls Him just and upright (cf. Ps. 24:8, 144:17), His Son revealed to us that He is good and kind. ‘He is good,’ He says, ‘to the evil and to the impious’ (cf. Luke 6:35). How can you call God just when you come across the Scriptural passage on the wage given to the workers? ‘Friend, I do thee no wrong I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is thine eye evil because I am good?’ (Matt. 20:12-15). How can a man call God just when he comes across the passage on the prodigal son who wasted his wealth with riotous living, how for the compunction alone which he showed, the father ran and fell upon his neck and gave him authority over all his wealth? (Luke 15:11 ff.). None other but His very Son said these things concerning Him, lest we doubt it; and thus He bare witness concerning Him. Where, then, is God's justice, for whilst we are sinners Christ died for us! (cf. Rom. 5:8). But if here He is merciful, we may believe that He will not change.” —St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily LX “God chastises with love, not for the sake of revenge---far be it!---but in seeking to make whole his image. And he does not harbour wrath until such time as correction is no longer possible, for he does not seek vengeance for himself. This is the aim of love. Love's chastisement is for correction, but does not aim at retribution. … The man who chooses to consider God as avenger, presuming that in this manner he bears witness to His justice, the same accuses Him of being bereft of goodness. Far be it that vengeance could ever be found in that Fountain of love and Ocean brimming with goodness!” —St. Isaac the Syrian “Among all God's actions there is none which is not entirely a matter of mercy, love and compassion: this constitutes the beginning and end of His dealings with us.” —St. Isaac the Syrian “We must hate avarice, self-esteem and sensual pleasure, as mothers of the vices and stepmothers of the virtues. Because of them we are commanded not to love ‘the world’ and ‘the things that are in the world’ (1 John 2:15); not so that we should hate God's creation through lack of discernment, but so that we should eliminate the occasions for these three passions.” —St. Mark the Ascetic “‘The world’ is the general name for all the passions. When we wish to call the passions by a common name, we call them the world. But when we wish to distinguish them by their special names, we call them the passions. The passions are the following: love of riches, desire for possessions, bodily pleasure from which comes sexual passion, love of honour which gives rise to envy, lust for power, arrogance and pride of position, the craving to adorn oneself with luxurious clothes and vain ornaments, the itch for human glory which is a source of rancour and resentment, and physical fear. Where these passions cease to be active, there the world is dead… Someone has said of the Saints that while alive they were dead; for though living in the flesh, they did not live for the flesh. See for which of these passions you are alive. Then you will know how far you are alive to the world and how far you are dead to it.” —St. Isaac the Syrian “Always have the fear of God before your eyes. Remember Him who gives death and lives. Hate the world and all that is in it. Hate the peace that comes from the flesh. Renounce this life, so that you may be alive to God.” —St. Anthony the Great “Thus let us live to Him Who while He dies for us is Life; and let us die to ourselves that we may live to Christ; for we cannot live to Him unless first we die to ourselves, that is, to our wills. Let us be Christ's and not our own; ‘for we are not our own, for we are bought at a Great Price’ (1 Cor. 6. 19-20), and truly a Great One, when the Lord is given for a slave, the King for a servant, and God for man. What ought we to render ourselves, if the Creator of the universe for us ungodly men, yet His creation, is unjustly put to death? Do you think you ought not to die to sin? Certainly you ought. Therefore let us die, let us die for the sake of life, since Life dies for the dead, so that we may be able to say with Paul, ‘I live, yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me’ (Gal. 2. 20), He Who for me has died; for that is the cry of the elect. But none can die to himself, unless Christ lives in him; but if Christ be in him, he cannot live to himself. Live in Christ, that Christ may live in you.” —St. Columbanus of Bobbio, Sermons of Columbanus of Bobbio, Sermon X:2 “Just as a man whose head is under water cannot inhale pure air, so a man whose thoughts are plunged into the cares of this world cannot absorb the sensation of the world to come.” —St. Isaac the Syrian “We don't understand that happiness is in eternity and not in vanity.” —St. Paisios of Mt. Athos “Why do you beat the air and run in vain? Every occupation has a purpose, obviously. Tell me then, what is the purpose of all the activity of the world? Answer, I challenge you! It is vanity of vanity: all is vanity.” —St. John Chrysostom “Many times we call ourselves sinners, not in truth, but for showing off and vainglory, so that others will praise us for being humble, for if someone calls us a sinner, we become upset.” —St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite “An evident sinner will turn towards good more easily than a secret sinner hiding under the cloak of visible virtues.” —St. Theophan the Recluse “The sun shines on all alike, and vanity springs out in front of each virtue. When, for example, I keep a fast – I am given over to vanity, and when I in concealing the fasting from others permit myself food, I am again given over to vanity – by my prudence. Dressing up in bright clothing, I am vanquished by love of honour and, having changed over into drab clothing – I am overcome by vanity. If I stand up to speak – I fall under the power of vanity. If I wish to keep silence, I am again given over to it. Wherever this thorn comes up, it everywhere stands with its points upwards. It is vainglorious…, on the surface to honour God, and in deed to strive to please people rather than God… People of lofty spirit bear insult placidly and willingly, but to hear praise and feel nothing of pleasure is possible only for the saints and for the unblameworthy… When thou hearest, that thy neighbour or friend either afront the eyes or behind the eyes slandereth thee, praise and love him… Does this not shew humility, and who can reproach himself, and be intolerant with himself? But who, having been discredited by another, would not diminish in his love for him… Whoever is exalted by natural gifts – a felicitous mind, a fine education, reading, pleasant elocution and other similar qualities, which are readily enough acquired, that person might yet never obtain to supernatural gifts. Wherefore whoever is not faithful in the small things, that one also is not faithful in the large, and is vainglorous. It often happens, that God Himself humbles the vainglorious, sending a sudden misfortune… If prayer does not destroy a proud thought, we bring to mind the leaving of the soul from this life. And if this does not help, we threaten it with the shame of the Last Judgement. ‘Rising up to humble oneself’ even here, before the future age. When praisers, or better – flatterers, start to praise us, immediately we betake ourselves to recollection of all our iniquities and we find, that we are not at all worth that which they impute to us.” —St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 22 “The whole year will be fortunate for you, not if you are drunk on the new-moon [New Year' Day], but if both on [that day] and each day, you do those things approved by God. For days come wicked and good, not from their own nature; for a day differs nothing from another day, but from our zeal and sluggishness. If you perform righteousness, then the day becomes good to you; if you perform sin, then it will be evil and full of retribution. If you contemplate these things, and are so disposed, you will consider the whole year favourable, performing prayers and charity every day; but if you are careless of virtue for yourself, and you entrust the contentment of your soul to beginnings of months and numbers of days, you will be desolate of everything good unto yourself.” —St. John Chrysostom “Let your demeanour, your dress, your walking, your sitting down, the nature of your food, the quality of your being, your house and what it contains, aim at simplicity. And let your speech, your singing, your manner with your neighbour, let these things also be in accord with humility rather than with vanity. In your words let there be no empty pretense, in your singing no excess sweetness, in conversation be not ponderous or overbearing. In everything refrain from seeking to appear important. Be a help to your friends, kind to the ones with whom you live, gentle to your servant, patient with those who are troublesome, loving towards the lowly, comforting those in trouble, visiting those in affliction, never despising anyone, gracious in friendship, cheerful in answering others, courteous, approachable to everyone, never speaking your own praises, nor getting others to speak of them, never taking part in unbecoming conversations, and concealing where you may whatever gifts you possess.” —St. Basil the Great “For what purpose does the Lord add day after day, year after year, to our existence? In order that we may gradually put away, cast aside, evil from our souls, each one his own, and acquire blessed simplicity; in order that we may become, for instance, gentle as lambs, simple as infants; in order that we may learn not to have the least attachment to earthly things, but like loving, simple children, may cling with all our hearts to God alone, and love Him with all our hearts, all our souls, all our strength, and all our thoughts, and our neighbor as ourselves. Let us hasten, therefore, to pray to the Lord, fervently and tearfully, to grant us simplicity of heart, and let us strive by every means to cast out the evil from our souls - for instance, evil suspiciousness, malevolence, malignity, malice, pride, arrogance, boastfulness, scornfulness, impatience, despondency, despair, irascibility and irritability, fearfulness and faint-heartedness, envy, avarice, gluttony, and satiety; fornication, mental and of the heart, and actual fornication; the love of money, and in general the passion for acquisition; slothfulness, disobedience, and all the dark horde of sins. Lord, without Thee we can do nothing! Bless us Thyself in this work, and give us the victory over our enemies and our passions. So be it!” —St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ “If you are a scholar, a student in any educational establishment, or an official in some ministry, an officer in any of the branches of the military service, or a technologist, a painter, a sculptor, a manufacturer, a mechanic – remember that the first science for each one of you is to be a true Christian, to believe sincerely in the Holy Trinity, to converse daily with God in prayer, to take part in the Divine service, to observe the rules and regulations of the Church, and to bear in your heart, before your work, during your work, and after your work, the name of Jesus, for He is our light, our strength, our holiness, and our help.” —St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ: Part II, Holy Trinity Monastery, pg. 286 “Watch your heart during all your life – examine it, listen to it, and see what prevents its union with the most blessed Lord. Let this be for you the science of all sciences, and with God’s help, you will easily observe what estranges you from God, and what draws you towards Him and unites you to Him. It is the evil spirit more than anything that stands between our hearts and God; he estranges God from us by various passions, or by the desire of the flesh, by the desires of the eyes, and by worldly pride.” —St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ “Have you ever observed the life of the heart? Try it even for a short time and see what you find. Something unpleasant happens, and you get irritated; some misfortune occurs, and you pity yourself; you see someone whom you dislike, and animosity wells up within you; you meet one of your equals who has now outdistanced you on the social scale, and you begin to envy him; you think of your talents and capabilities, and you begin to grow proud… All this is rottenness: vainglory, carnal desire, gluttony, laziness, malice – one on top of the other, they destroy the heart.” —St. John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco “Always to want your own way, becoming accustomed to having it, always to seek the easy path – all this leads straight to depression. But love, quietness, and contemplation of the inner life cleanse our hearts.” —Sayings of the Egyptian Fathers “As water and fire oppose one another when combined, so are self-justification and humility opposed to one another.” —St. Mark the Ascetic “Fire and water do not mix, neither can you mix judgment of others with the desire to repent. If a man commits a sin before you at the very moment of his death, pass no judgment, because the judgment of God is hidden from men. It has happened that men have sinned greatly in the open but have done greater deeds in secret, so that those who would disparage them have been fooled, with smoke instead of sunlight in their eyes.” —St. John Climacus “Christians, above all men, are forbidden to correct the stumblings of sinners by force… it is necessary to make a man better not by force but by persuasion. God gives the crown to those who are kept from evil, not by force, but by choice.” —St. John Chrysostom “I have seen pride lead to humility. And I remembered him who said: Who hath known the mind of the Lord? The pit and offspring of conceit is a fall; but a fall is often an occasion of humility for those who are willing to use it to their advantage.” —St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 15, Section 38 “Humility is the only thing that no devil can imitate.” —St. John Climacus “It was pride that changed angels into devils.” —St. Augustine of Hippo “An angel fell from Heaven without any other passion except pride, and so we may ask whether it is possible to ascend to Heaven by humility alone, without any other of the virtues.” —St. John Climacus “Run from pride, for it is a passion more treacherous than any other.” —St. John Chrysostom “Pride more than anything else, deprives people of both their good deeds and help from God. Where there is no humility, pride takes its place.” —St. Macarius of Optina “‘Exile is separation from everything in order to keep the mind inseparable from God. An exile loves and produces continual weeping.’ From Paradise, we must become exiled from the world if we hope to return.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina “Prayer is superior to all good works. It begets tears of repentance, greatly contributes to peace in one’s thoughts, leads one to think only of God Who is the ultimate Peace, and brings forth the love of God. Prayer alone purifies the rational part of the soul through the vision of God, Who causes the purification of the angels; it also preserves the desiring part of the soul in purity before God.” —St. Kallistos Telikoudes, On the Practice of Hesychasm, The Philokalia, Vol. 5 “Time is continually passing; it is decreasing more and more. Every day that passes is another step toward death. We should know that even one tear of repentance is equivalent to a spiritual bath. Just as the body feels refreshed when it bathes, and just as clothes become clean when they are washed, similarly, the tears of a repentant soul purify the heart, purify the mind, purify the body, purify life, purify speech, and purify a person’s every action. Let us kneel and pray with extreme humility! Every repentant soul is given words: it is granted enlightened prayer.” —Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona “Day and night I pray the Lord for love, and the Lord gives me tears to weep for the whole world. But if I find fault with any man, or look on him with an unkind eye, my tears will dry up, and my soul sink into despondency. Yet do I begin again to entreat forgiveness of the Lord, and the Lord in His mercy forgives me, a sinner. Brethren, before the face of my God I write: Humble your hearts, and while yet on this earth you will see the mercy of the Lord, and know your Heavenly Creator, and your souls will never have their fill of love.” —St. Silouan the Athonite “Here are those of whom I speak and who are called heretics by me. They are the ones who say that in our present age there is no one in our midst who is able to observe the commandments and be like the holy fathers…. Those who declare this is impossible have fallen not into one particular heresy but into all of them, so to speak – a heresy surpassing all others in its impiety and greatest blasphemy. They are buried underneath it…. The one who speaks in such a manner turns all of Scripture upside down…. These antichrists affirm, ‘It is impossible, impossible’. Why then is it impossible? Tell me. In what other way did the saints shine on earth and did they become lamps of the world? If it were impossible, they would never have succeeded in it. For they were men like us, and possessed no more than we do except a will directed toward the good. They had zeal, patience, humility, and love for God. Therefore, acquire all this and your soul which today is as hard as rock shall become a fountain of tears inside you. However, if you refuse to suffer such anguish and affliction, at least do not say that all this is impossible.” —St. Symeon the New Theologian, The Discourses, Discourse XXIX: The Heresy of Pusillanimity “There is yet another special, most terrible and destructive type of sin. This is blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. Even the prayers of the Church cannot help one who is found in this condition. The Apostle John the Theologian speaks of this directly when he entreats us to pray for a brother who has sinned, but points out the uselessness of prayer for the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself says that this sin – the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit – is not forgiven and will not be forgiven either in this age or in the future. He pronounced these terrible words against the Pharisees who, though they clearly saw that he worked everything according to the will of God and by God's power, nevertheless distorted the truth. They perished in their own blasphemy and their example is instructive and urgent for all those who would sin mortal sin: by an obdurate and conscious adversity to the undoubted Truth and thereby blaspheming the Spirit of truth – God's Holy Spirit. We must note that even blasphemy against the Lord Jesus Christ can be forgiven man (according to His own words) since it can be committed in ignorance or temporary blindness. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit could be forgiven, says St Athanasios the Great, only if a man ceased from it and became repentant. But the very nature of the sin is such that it makes it virtually impossible for a man to return to the truth. One who is blind can regain his sight and love the one who revealed the truth to him and one who is soiled with vices and passions can be cleansed by repentance and become a confessor of the Truth, but who and what can change a blasphemer who has seen and known the Truth and who has stubbornly refused and hated it? This horrible condition is similar to the condition of the devil himself who believes in God and trembles but who nevertheless hates Him, blasphemes Him and is in adversity to Him.” —Metropolitan Philaret of New York “…The ambition of men, who have no fear of God, rushes into high posts, and exalted office is now publicly known as the prize of impiety. The result is, that the worse a man blasphemes, the fitter the people think him to be a bishop. Clerical dignity is a thing of the past. There is a complete lack of men shepherding the Lord’s flock with knowledge. Ambitious men are constantly throwing away the provision for the poor on their own enjoyment and the distribution of gifts. There is no precise knowledge of canons. There is complete immunity in sinning; for when men have been placed in office by the favour of men, they are obliged to return the favour by continually showing indulgence to offenders. Just judgment is a thing of the past; and everyone walks according to his heart’s desire. Vice knows no bounds; the people know no restraint. Men in authority are afraid to speak, for those who have reached power by human interest are the slaves of those to whom they owe their advancement. And now the very vindication of Orthodoxy is looked upon in some quarters as an opportunity for mutual attack; and men conceal their private ill-will and pretend that their hostility is all for the sake of the truth. Others, afraid of being convicted of disgraceful crimes, madden the people into fratricidal quarrels, that their own doings may be unnoticed in the general distress. Hence the war admits of no truce, for the doers of ill deeds are afraid of a peace, as being likely to lift the veil from their secret infamy. All the while unbelievers laugh; men of weak faith are shaken; faith is uncertain; souls are drenched in ignorance, because adulterators of the word imitate the truth. The mouths of true believers are dumb, while every blasphemous tongue wags free; holy things are trodden under foot; the better laity shun the churches as schools of impiety; and lift their hands in the deserts with sighs and tears to their Lord in heaven. Even you must have heard what is going on in most of our cities, how our people with wives and children and even our old men stream out before the walls, and offer their prayers in the open air, putting up with all the inconvenience of the weather with great patience, and waiting for help from the Lord.” —St. Basil the Great, Letter 92, To the Italians and Gaul “He who in his heart is proud of his tears and secretly condemns those who do not weep is like a man who asks the king for a weapon against his enemy and then commits suicide with it.” —St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 7 “Do not grow conceited if you shed tears when you pray. For it is Christ who has touched your eyes.” —St. Mark the Ascetic “And here also we have diligently to consider, that it is far more secure and safe that every man should do that for himself whiles he is yet alive, which he desireth that others should do for him after his death. For far more blessed it is, to depart free out of this world, than being in prison to seek for release: and therefore reason teacheth us, that we should with our whole soul contemn this present world, at least because we see that it is now gone and past: and to offer unto God the daily sacrifice of tears, and the daily Sacrifice of His Body and Blood. For this Sacrifice doth especially save our souls from everlasting damnation, which in mystery doth renew unto us the death of the Son of God: who although being risen from death, doth not now die any more, nor death shall not any further prevail against him: yet living in himself immortally, and without all corruption, he is again sacrificed for us in this mystery of the holy oblation: for there his body is received, there his flesh is distributed for the salvation of the people: there His Blood is not now shed betwixt the hands of infidels, but poured into the mouths of the faithful. Wherefore let us hereby meditate what manner of sacrifice this is, ordained for us, which for our absolution doth always represent the passion of the only Son of God: for what right believing Christian can doubt, that in the very hour of the sacrifice, at the words of the Priest, the heavens be opened, and the quires of Angels are present in that mystery of Jesus Christ; that high things are accompanied with low, and earthly joined to heavenly, and that one thing is made of visible and invisible?” —St. Gregory the Great, Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great, Book 4, ch. 58 “Reflect, O brother: For this sacred food and drink, which are the Body and Blood of Christ, all our forefathers from the first-created Adam, and all the prophets hungered and thirsted, but did not receive them; but you, so distant from them by your unworthiness, partake of this Divine meal. Thank God for His unspeakable mercy, that He makes you worthy of this. And at the same time understand this also: that even if you had or shall have the purity of angels or the holiness and sanctity of St. John the Baptist– even then, without the special mercy of God, you could not be worthy of this Divine Mystery.” —Abbot Nazarius, Little Russian Philokalia Vol. II, p. 65 “… One must clean the royal house from every impurity and adorn it with every beauty, then the king may enter into it. In a similar way one must first cleanse the earth of the heart and uproot the weeds of sin and the passionate deeds and soften it with sorrows and the narrow way of life, sow in it the seed of virtue, water it with lamentation and tears, and only then does the fruit of dispassion and eternal life grow. For the Holy Spirit does not dwell in a man until he has been cleansed from passions of the soul and body.” —St. Paisius Velichkovsky, ‘Field Flowers’ “God, Who is by nature good and dispassionate, loves all men equally as His handiwork. But He glorifies the virtuous man because in his will he is united to God. At the same time, in His goodness he is merciful to the sinner and by chastising him in this life brings him back to the path of virtue. Similarly, a man of good and dispassionate judgment also loves all men equally. He loves the virtuous man because of his nature and the probity of his intention; and he loves the sinner, too, because of his nature and because in his compassion he pities him for foolishly stumbling in darkness.” —St. Maximus the Confessor “I do not know how I came into the world; Nor what the things here in it are. What my sight is, O my God, And what the objects that I see, I cannot tell. How all we men are vain, And have no proper judgement of reality! Yesterday at least I came and tomorrow I shall go, And I think to be immortal yonder. That Thee are my God I confess to everyone, and yet deny Thee daily in my deeds. I teach that Thee have made each living thing; And yet without Thee struggle to have all. Thy rule extends above, below And yet I am not feared to strive against Thee. Let me the needy one, me most miserable; Disburden all the sickness of my soul Crushed, alas and broken into bits. By vanity, by foolish arrogance. Grant me to be humble, grant me a hand of help; And cleanse my soul’s pollution. And give me tears of repentance; Love’s tears, tears of liberty; Tears cleansing my mind’s darkness. And filling me with heavenly radiance! For Thee it is, the world’s Light; The Light of my poor eyes, I wish to see – I who fill my heart with life’s evils, Suffering much of affliction and of envy. From those who have worked my exiles: From those, rather, who are my benefactors; Who are my masters, my true friends: To whom, O Christ, instead of ill give blessing: Eternal, rich, divine; Prepared by Thee for all the ages; For those who deeply long for Thee, love Thee.” —St. Symeon the New Theologian, On the right attitude to Life “Ask with tears, seek with obedience, knock with patience. For thus he who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” —St. John Climacus “The passions of the flesh may be described as belonging to the left hand, self-conceit as belonging to the right hand.” —St. Maximus the Confessor “When the soul leaves the body, the enemy advances to attack it, fiercely reviling it and accusing it of its sins in a harsh and terrifying manner. The devout soul, however, even though in the past it has often been wounded by sin, is not frightened by the enemy’s attacks and threats. Strengthened by the Lord, winged by joy, filled with courage by the holy angels that guide it, and encircled and protected by the light of faith, it answers the enemy with great boldness: ‘Fugitive from heaven, wicked slave, what have I to do with you? You have no authority over me; Christ the Son of God has authority over me and over all things. Against Him have I sinned, before Him shall I stand on trial, having His Precious Cross as a sure pledge of His saving love towards me. Flee from me, destroyer! You have nothing to do with the servants of Christ.’ When the soul says all this fearlessly, the devil turns his back, howling aloud and unable to withstand the name of Christ. Then the soul swoops down on the devil from above, attacking him like a hawk attacking a crow. After this it is brought rejoicing by the holy angels to the place appointed for it in accordance with its inward state.” —St. Theognostos, On the Practice of the Virtues, Philokalia, Vol. 2 “If you wish to be saved, O my soul, to go first on the most sorrowful path which has been indicated here, to enter into the Heavenly Kingdom and receive eternal life – then refine your flesh, taste voluntary bitterness, and endure difficult sorrows, as all the Saints tasted and endured. And when a man is preparing himself and gives himself the command to endure for the sake of God all sorrows and pain which come upon him, then light and painless seem for him all sorrows, unpleasantnesses and attacks of devils and men. He does not fear death, and nothing can separate such a one from the love of Christ. Have you heard, my beloved soul, how the Holy Fathers spent their lives? O my soul! Imitate them at least a little.” —St. Paisius Velichkovsky “If you rebuke yourself, accuse yourself, and judge yourself before God for your sins, with a sensitive conscience, even for this you will be justified.If you are sorrowful for your sins, or you weep, or sigh, your sigh will not be hidden from Him and, as St. John Chrysostom says, ‘If you only lament for your sins, then He will receive this for your salvation.’” —St. Moses of Optina “A good heart produces good thoughts: its thoughts correspond to what it stores up in itself.” —St. Thalassios the Libyan “Fasting is for the purification of the soul and body.” —St. John Chrysostom “It is a wonderful thing that, no matter how much we trouble about our health, however much care we take of ourselves, whatever wholesome and pleasant food we eat, whatever wholesome drinks we drink, however much we walk in the fresh air, still, notwithstanding all this, in the end we are subjected to maladies and corruption; whilst the saints, who despised their flesh, and mortified it by continual abstinence and fasting, by lying bare on the earth, by watchfulness, labours, unceasing prayer, have made both their souls and bodies immortal.” —St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ, p. 286 “Fasting is wonderful, because it tramples our sins like a dirty weed, while it cultivates and raises truth like a flower.” —St. Basil the Great “Fasting is the mother of health; the friend of chastity; the partner of humility.” —St. Symeon the New theologian “True fasting lies in rejecting evil, holding one's tongue, suppressing one's hatred, and banishing one's lust, evil words, lying, and betrayal of vows.” —St. Basil the Great “Many fast with body, but do not fast with soul: many fast from food and drink, but do not fast from evil thoughts, actions and words, and what is the benefit of it?! Many fast a day and two more, but from anger, resentment and vengeance will not fast; many refrain from wine, meat and fish, but with their tongue they eat people similar to themselves, and what is the benefit of it?! There are those who do not reach for food with their hands, but provide them for bribery, embezzlement and robbery, and what is the benefit of it?! True and true fasting is abstaining from every evil. If you want, Christian, to benefit from your fasting, fast carnally, fast mentally, and fast always! When you instruct fasting to your stomach, impose it on your evil thoughts and lusts. Let your mind fast from vain thoughts and memory from resentment, and your will from evil wanting, and your eyes from evil looking. Turn away your eyes from beholding vanity, let your ears fast from shameful songs and whispers of slander, let your tongue fast from defamation, condemnation, blasphemy, lies, flattery, filth and every empty and rotten word. Let your hands fast from the robbery of another's goods, and your feet from the clothing of evil work. Repent and, abstaining from every evil word, deed and thought, learn every virtue and you will always fast before God.” —St. Tikhon of Zadonsk “As salt is needed for all kinds of food, so humility is needed for all kinds of virtues.” —St. Isaac the Syrian “Virtue is not the manifestation of many and various works performed by the body, but a heart that is most wise in its hope and unites a right aim to godly works. Often, the mind can accomplish that which is good without bodily works, but the body without wisdom of the heart can gain no profit for all it may do.” —St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 40 “Let it be known to you that if in your life you have mastered every virtue and every good deed such as mercy, prayer, fast, and other virtues but have no humility in you, your toil will be in vain. For humility in all these virtues is the solid foundation. Without it, we cannot master any of the virtues and all these virtues will become impure, filthy, and discarded before God because they were not sown with humility and love.” —St. John Chrysostom “What can sin do where there is penitence? And of what use is love where there is pride?” —Abba Elias “Pride is poverty of the soul, which imagines itself to be rich, and being in darkness, thinks it has light.” —St. John Climacus “Modern society calls the beggar bum and panhandler and gives him the bum's rush. But the Greeks used to say that people in need are the ambassadors of the gods.” —Peter Maurin “Be like gods to the poor, imitating God's mercy. Humanity has nothing so much in common with God as the ability to do good.” —St. Gregory the Theologian “Every family should have a room where Christ is welcome in the person of the hungry and thirsty stranger.” —St. John Chrysostom “Who is the greedy man? One for whom plenty does not suffice. Who defrauds others? One who keeps for himself what belongs to everyone. Aren't you greedy, don't you defraud, when you keep for yourself what was given to give away? When someone steals a man's clothes, we call him a thief. Shouldn't we give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not?” —St. Basil the Great “The bread you do not use is the bread of the hungry. The garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of the person who is naked. The shoes you do not wear are the shoes of one who is barefoot. The money you keep locked away is the money of the poor. The acts of charity you do not perform are the injustices you commit.” —St. Basil the Great “You are not making a gift of what is yours to the poor man, but you are giving him back what is his. You have been appropriating things that are meant to be for the common use of everyone. The earth belongs to everyone, not to the rich.” —St. Ambrose of Milan “Do not consider your riches as belonging to yourselves alone; open wide your hand to those who are in need.” —St. Cyril of Alexandria “The man who loves his neighbor as himself possesses no more than his neighbor…thus, as much as your wealth increases, so much does your love decrease.” —St. Basil the Great “When you are weary of praying and do not receive, consider how often you have heard a poor man calling, and have not listened to him.” —St. John Chrysostom “Do not ever say: ‘These beggars annoy me!’ So many millions of men live on earth and all are beggars before the Lord; emperors as well as laborers, the wealthy as well as servants, all are beggars before the Lord and the Lord never said: ‘These beggars annoy me!’” —St. Nikolai Velimirovich “If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.” —St. John Chrysostom “A rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much. For what he gives away remains his forever.” —St. John Chrysostom “A poor man when he reaches out to you does not beg, but offers you the kingdom of God.” —Elder Arsenie (Papacioc) of Romania “No one in creation is rich but he that fears God; no one is truly poor but he that lacks the truth.” —St. Ephrem the Syrian “Be careful not to despise one of the least of these who are scorned and sick in this world. For this contempt and affront of yours doesn’t stop at those unfortunate fellows, but ascends through them to the presence of the Creator and Fashioner, whose image they bear. You will be greatly astonished in that day, if you see the Holy Spirit of God resting in them more than in your heart.” —Elder Joseph the Hesychast, Monastic Wisdom, Seventh Letter, p. 67 “Do you fast? Then feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick, do not forget the imprisoned, have pity on the tortured, comfort those who grieve and who weep, be merciful, humble, kind, calm, patient, sympathetic, forgiving, reverent, truthful and pious, so that God might accept your fasting and might plentifully grant you the fruits of repentance.” —St. John Chrysostom “The Lord Himself said in the Gospel: ‘The last shall be first and the first, last’ (Matt 20:16). Thus, may Divine mercy shine forth with His love upon the poor, so that it may make great ones from the little, and that from the weak it may make co-inheritors with His Only Begotten Son. For it exhalts the poverty of this world to Heaven, to which the earthly kingdom cannot rise, so that the rustic comes to the place where he who wears the purple does not merit to come.” —St Gregory of Tours, Via Patrum “In all your undertakings and in every way of life, whether you are living in obedience, or are not submitting your work to anyone, whether in outward or in spiritual matters, let it be your rule and practice to ask yourself: Am I really doing this in accordance with God's will?” —St. John Climacus “Those who submit to the Lord with simple heart will run the good race. If they keep their minds on a leash, they will not draw the wickedness of the demons onto themselves.” —St. John Climacus “A hypocrite is someone who teaches his neighbor something he makes no effort to do himself.” —St. Poemen “I prefer a man who sins and repents to one who does not sin and does not repent. The first has good thoughts, for he admits that he is sinful. But the second has false, soul-destroying thoughts, for he imagines himself to be righteous.” —Abba Poemen the Great “At meals don't speak about food: that's vulgar and unworthy of you. Speak about something noble -- of the soul or of the mind -- and you will have dignified this duty.” —Josemaria Escriva “When someone learns to acknowledge every man as being better than himself, then he has attained humility.” —St. Sisoes the Great “It is a spiritual gift from God for a man to perceive his sins.” —St. Isaac the Syrian “The man who is deemed worthy to see himself is greater than he who is deemed worthy to see angels.” —St. Isaac the Syrian “The truly blessed are not the ones who can work miracles or see angels; the truly blessed are the ones who can see their own sins.” —St. Anthony the Great “The nearer a man draws to God, the more he sees himself a sinner. It was when Isaiah the prophet saw God, that he declared himself ‘a man of unclean lips.’” —St. Mateos “The condition of peace among men is that each should keep a consciousness of his own wrongdoing.” —St. Silouan the Athonite “The way to perfection is through the realization that we are blind, naked and poor.” —St. Theophan the Recluse “Blessed is the man who knows his own weakness, because this knowledge becomes to him the foundation, root, and beginning of all goodness.” —St. Isaac the Syrian “The perfect person does not only try to avoid evil. Nor does he do good for fear of punishment, still less in order to qualify for the hope of a promised reward. The perfect person does good through love. His actions are not motivated by desire for personal benefit, so he does not have personal advantage as his aim. But as soon as he has realized the beauty of doing good, he does it with all his energies and in all that he does. He is not interested in fame, or a good reputation, or a human or divine reward. The rule of life for a perfect person is to be in the image and likeness of God.” —St. Clement of Alexandria “Every day at nightfall, before sleep comes upon you, excite the judgment of your conscience, demand an account from it, and whatever evil counsels you may have taken during the day … pierce them, tear them to pieces, and do penance for them.” —St. John Chrysostom “As I became more wretched you drew nearer to me.” —St. Augustine of Hippo “Sin is the fruit of free will. There was a time when sin did not exist, and there will be a time when it will not exist.” —St. Isaac the Syrian “Prove your love and zeal for wisdom in actual deeds.” —St. Callistus Xanthopoulos “Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.” —Thérèse de Lisieux “Do not leave unobliterated any fault, however small, for it may lead you on to greater sins.” —St. Mark the Ascetic “Every day I lay a foundation for building my repentance, and again with my own hands I demolish it.” —St. Ephrem the Syrian “The Lord is hidden in His commandments, and He is to be found there in the measure that He is sought.” —St. Mark the Ascetic “Having fulfilled a commandment, expect temptations; because love toward Christ is tested by difficulties.” —St. Mark the Ascetic “Do not be surprised that when you draw near to virtue, grievous and intense tribulations come to you on all sides: for virtue is not considered virtue, if it does not involve hard work.” —St. Isaac the Syrian, Directions on Spiritual Training, The Philokalia “The purpose of temptations is to reveal hidden passions … so that you can battle against them in order to heal the soul. They are examples of divine mercy.” —St. Anatoly of Optina “In one day, brethren, you can gain all eternity. And in one day, brethren, you can lose all eternity. You are given thousands of days on earth to determine your own personal, eternal salvation or your own personal, eternal damnation. But blessed a hundredfold be the day in which you repent of all your unclean deeds, words and thoughts, and return to God crying out for mercy! That day will be worth more to you than a thousand other days.” —St. Nikolai Velimirovich “A certain brother had succumbed to the sin of lust, repeating this sin every day, but every day he would also beseech the Lord's mercy, with tears and prayers. By acting this way, his bad habit always fooled him and he would repeat the sin again; but again, after sinning, he would go to the Church and, upon seeing the holy and venerable icon of our Lord Jesus Christ, would fall to his knees and with bitter tears would say: ‘Spare me, Lord, and rid of me this tortuous temptation, because it plagues me terribly and harms me with its bitter pleasures. My face is not worthy to look upon Your holy icon, so that my heart might be consoled.’ That was the sort of thing he would say, but whenever he left the Church, he would again fall in the mire. Yet he never lost his hopes for salvation, and immediately after sinning, he would again return to the Church and say the same things, praying to the benevolent Lord God: ‘Lord, be my warrantor that from now on I won't sin again; but please, Lord, forgive all of my sins, from the beginning, up to now.’ And after making these grandiose promises, he would again return to the same, terrible sin. And one could discern the sweet benevolence and infinite goodness of the Lord, in tolerating and enduring this incorrigible and grave violation and the ingratitude of this man, and how, in His great compassion, the Lord desired the repentance of this man and his definitive return; because this sin was being repeated, not for one, two or three years, but for ten and more. Brothers, can you see the immeasurable tolerance and infinite benevolence of the Lord? How He shows forbearance and kindness every time, by enduring our gross iniquities and sins? What is more staggering and provokes our wonder with regard to God's wealth of compassion, is that although our brother kept promising and would agree to desist from that sin, he proved himself a liar. One day, after our brother had fallen into that sin again, he went running to the Church, mourning and moaning and in tears, beseeching the compassion of the merciful God to spare him and save him from the mire of incontinence. While this brother was begging the benevolent God, the wicked devil, the destruction of our souls, realized that he had achieved nothing, because while he was sewing with sin, the man was fraying it with his repentance. So the devil impudently appeared before him visibly, and, turning his face towards the venerable icon of our Lord Jesus Christ, started to cry out, saying: ‘What ‘s it going to be with us two, Jesus Christ? Your infinite sympathy defeats me and degrades me, whenever you accept this lecher, this wanton, who lies to you every day and disregards your authority. Why then don't you burn him? Why are You so forbearing and tolerant towards him? You are supposed to be the one who will judge the adulterous and the licentious and will eliminate all sinners. In fact, You are not a fair judge, because, wherever Your authority considers it befitting, You judge unfairly and You overlook things. With me, because of the small infraction of pride, you cast me down from heaven, whereas with him, who is a liar, a lecher and a prodigal, because he merely knelt before You, You imperturbably grant him Your favor. So, why do they call You a fair judge? From what I can see, You simply give Yourself to people out of Your great goodness, and You overlook justice.’ As the devil was saying these, all choked up by his bitterness, flames and smoke came out of his nostrils. After the devil had finished speaking, he became silent, and immediately, a voice was heard coming out of the altar saying: ‘You wicked and pestilent dragon, your wickedness wasn't satiated by swallowing the whole world, and now you are trying to grab and swallow this man who found refuge in the infinite mercy of My compassion? Can you present any sins that are heavier than the precious blood which I shed for this man, on the Cross? Mark well, that My crucifixion and My death forgave his sins. Besides, you didn't send him away when he headed towards sin, but you accepted him with joy and you neither abhorred him nor hindered him, because you hoped to win him. Well then, I, Who am so merciful and benevolent, who had instructed my high Apostle Peter to forgive any man who sins daily up to seventy times seven, will I not forgive and spare this man? Yes, I say to you, and because he sought refuge in Me, I will not turn away from him, until I have made him mine. Because I was crucified for the sinners and it was for them that I extended my immaculate arms, so that everyone who wants to be saved, will seek refuge in me and be saved. I do not avoid anyone, nor do I send anyone away, not even if someone sins a thousand times in one day and then comes to Me a thousand times; he won't leave dismayed. Because I did not come to call the righteous to repent, but the sinners.’ As soon as these words were heard, the devil stood fixed in place, trembling, unable to escape. And the voice spoke again: ‘Listen, impostor, with regard to what you said about me being unfair : because I am fair to everyone, and in whichever condition I might find them, I will judge them accordingly. Look at this man, I found him in repentance and returning back, fallen on his knees in front of Me, and your conqueror. I will therefore accept him and save his soul, because he did not despair about his salvation. And you, when seeing the honor that I grant him, will impale yourself out of envy and be put to shame.’ And just as the brother lay there, prone and weeping, he gave up his soul; instantly, a fury as great as a fire fell upon the devil, and it consumed him. Therefore my brothers let us learn from this incident of God's immeasurable compassion and philanthropy, what a kind God we have, and that we must never despair or not tend to our salvation.” —St. Amphilochios, On Masturbation and the Futility of Despair “Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but stand your ground courageously. And assuredly, the angel who guards you will honor your patience. While a wound is still fresh and warm it is easy to heal, but old, neglected and festering ones are hard to cure, and require for their care much treatment, cutting, plastering and cauterization. Many from long neglect become incurable. But with God all things are possible.” —St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 5, Section 30 “The life of the righteous was radiant. How did it become radiant if it wasn’t by patience? Love patience, O monk, as the mother of courage.” —St. Ephrem the Syrian “Seek in everything the deep meaning. All the events that take place around us and with us have their meaning. Nothing happens without a cause…” —St. Nektary of Optina “…should we fall, we should not despair and so estrange ourselves from the Lord's love. For if He so chooses, He can deal mercifully with our weakness. Only we should not cut ourselves off from Him or feel oppressed when constrained by His commandments, nor should we lose heart when we fall short of our goal…let us always be ready to make a new start. If you fall, rise up. If you fall again, rise up again. Only do not abandon your Physician, lest you be condemned as worse than a suicide because of your despair. Wait on Him, and He will be merciful, either reforming you, or sending you trials, or through some other provision of which you are ignorant.” —St. Peter of Damascus “Faintness of heart is a sign of despondency, and negligence is the mother of both. A cowardly man shows that he suffers from two diseases: love of his flesh and lack of faith; for love of one's flesh is a sign of unbelief. But he who despises the love of the flesh proves that he believes in God with his whole heart and awaits the age to come … A courageous heart and scorn of perils comes from one of two causes: either from hardness of heart or from great faith in God. Pride accompanies hardness of heart, but humility accompanies faith. A man cannot acquire hope in God unless he first does His will with exactness. For hope in God and manliness of heart are born of the testimony of the conscience, and by the truthful testimony of the mind we possess confidence towards God.” —St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 40 “Within the heart are unfathomable depths. The heart is a small vessel, and yet dragons and lions are there. And there also are poisonous creatures and all the treasures of wickedness; rough and uneven paths are there and gaping chasms. Likewise, God is there; there are angels, there is life and the Kingdom, there is light and the apostles and the heavenly cities and the treasures of grace. All things lie within that little space.” —St. Macarius the Great “Just as the Lord is solicitous about our salvation, so too the murder of men, the devil, strives to lead a man into despair. A lofty and sound soul does not despair over misfortunes, of whatever sort they may be. Our life is as it were a house of temptations and trials; but we will not renounce the Lord for as long as He allows the tempter to remain with us and for as long as we must wait to be revived through patience and secure passionless! Judas the betrayer was fainthearted and unskilled in battle, and so the enemy, seeing his despair, attacked him and forced him to hang himself, but Peter, a firm rock, when he fell into great sin, like one skilled in battle did not despair nor lose heart, but shed bitter tears from a burning heart, and the enemy, seeing these tears, his eyes scorched as by fire, fled far form him wailing in pain. And so brothers, St. Antioch teaches, when despair attacks us let us not yield to it, but being strengthened and protected by the light of faith, with great courage let us say to the evil spirit: ‘What are you to us, estranged from God, a fugitive from heaven and evil servant? You dare do nothing to us. Christ, the Son of God, has authority both over us and over everything. It is against Him that we have sinned, and before Him that we will be justified. And you, destroyer, leave us. Strengthen by His venerable Cross, we trample under foot your serpent's head’ (St. Antioch Discourse 27).” —St. Seraphim of Sarov, Little Russian Philokalia “Modern men have faith in machines, in material well-being, in the substantiality of all that seems obvious to common sense; this is a petty faith, the faith of petty men. The Christian has faith in God and the world to come, in the insubstantiality of all that is obvious, in the passing of this world and the coming of the new, transfigured world; if there is a faith worthy of men, it is surely this.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina, The Orthodox Word, No. 128, 1986 “I think it needs to be pointed out with utmost charity that the religion of compromise is self-deception and that there exist today only two absolutely irreconcilable alternatives for man: faith in the world and the religion of self, whose fruit is death; and the faith in Christ the Son of God, in Whom alone is eternal life.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina “Keep your mind in hell and do not despair.” —St. Silouan the Athonite “Stand at the brink of the abyss of despair, and when you see that you cannot bear it anymore, draw back a little, and have a cup of tea.” —Elder Sophrony of Essex “So in every test, let us say: "Thank you, my God, because this was needed for my salvation."” —St. Paisios of Mt. Athos “Only the benumbed soul doesn't pray. Preserve in yourselves the feeling of need, and you will always have stimulation for prayer.” —St. Theophan the Recluse “Make sure that you do not limit your prayer merely to a particular part of the day. Turn to prayer at anytime.” —St John Chrysostom “The Lord knows that I love you all, but I cannot speak with God and people at the same time.” —St. Arsanius the Great “A Christian…is not his own master; he puts his time at God's disposal.” —St. Ignatius of Antioch “Do not seek the perfection of the Law in human virtues, for it is not found perfect in them. Its perfection is hidden in the Cross of Christ.” —St. Mark the Ascetic “The knowledge of the Cross is concealed in the sufferings of the Cross.” —St. Isaac the Syrian “It is impossible to believe that Christ is Risen, while we are afraid of death…” —St. Gregory Palamas “God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.” —St. Augustine of Hippo “Let us understand that God is a physician, and that suffering is a medicine for salvation, not a punishment for damnation.” —St. Augustine of Hippo “Everything will happen suddenly. It may even happen tonight. Maybe it has begun already? Today you are deprived of one thing, tomorrow of another. God is giving it to us a little at a time, and we stupid people don’t understand. I say this to you and I counsel you, even if the sky were to fall down, even if the earth would rise up, even if the whole world were destroyed, as it is due to do so, today, tomorrow, don’t be concerned with what God is going to do. Let them burn your body, let them fry it, let them take your possessions – don’t concern yourself. Give them away – they are not yours. You need your soul and Christ. Even if the whole world were to fall apart, no one can take these two things away from you against your will. Guard these two, and don’t loose them.” —St. Kosmas Aitolos “Certainly in times of tranquility the cross should give you joy. But maintain the same faith in times of persecution. Otherwise you will be a friend of Jesus in times of peace and his enemy during war.” —St. Cyril of Jerusalem “Only struggle a little more. Carry your cross without complaining. Don't think you are anything special. Don't justify your sins and weaknesses, but see yourself as you really are. And, especially, love one another.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina “Remember that each of us has his own cross. The Golgotha of this cross is our heart: it is being lifted or implanted through a zealous determination to live according to the Spirit of God. Just as salvation of the world is by the Cross of God, so our salvation is by our crucifixion on our own cross.” —St. Theophan the Recluse “Everyone carries their own cross, both Christians and non-Christians, believers and pagans. The difference is that for some, their crosses serve as a means of attaining the Kingdom of Heaven, while for the others they bring no such value. For the Christian, the cross gradually becomes lighter and more joyful, while for the nonbeliever it becomes heavier and more burdensome. Why is this so? Because where the one carries their cross with faith and devotion to God, the other carries it with grumbling and anger. Therefore, Christian, do not shun your lifelong cross, but, on the contrary, thank Jesus Christ that He honored you to follow and imitate Him.” —St. Innocent of Alaska, Indication Of The Way Into The Kingdom Of Heaven “Everyone has a cross to carry. Why? Since the leader of our faith endured the cross, we will also endure it. On one hand, the cross is sweet and light, but, on the other, it can also be bitter and heavy. It depends on our will. If you bear Christ’s cross with love then it will be very light; like a sponge or a cork. But if you have a negative attitude, it becomes heavy; too heavy to lift.” —Elder Ephraim of Katounakia, 20th Century staretz on Mt. Athos, Suffering; Trials “When you meet with suffering, contempt, the Cross, your thought should be: what is this compared with what I deserve?” —Josemaria Escriva “A Christian without a cross is no Christian at all.” —St. John of Kronstadt “Many people, finding daily life unsatisfying, try to live in a fantasy world of their own. Underlying the whole of modern culture is the common denominator of the worship of oneself and one's own comfort, which is deadly to any idea of spiritual life.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina “Behold, for years and generations, the way of God has been leveled by the cross and by death. How is this with thee, that thou seest the afflictions of the way as if they were out of the way? Doest not thou wish to follow the steps of the saints? Or doest thou wish to go a way which is especially for thee, without suffering? The way unto God is a daily cross. No one can ascend unto heaven with comfort, we know where the way of comfort leads.” —St. Isaac the Syrian, Mystic Treatises, Homily LIX “I know of my spiritual poverty, my own nothingness without faith. I am so weak, that it is only by Christ's name that I live and obtain peace, that I rejoice and my heart expands, whilst without Him I am spiritually dead, I am troubled, and my heart is oppressed; without the Lord's Cross I should have been long since the victim of the most cruel distress and despair. Only Christ keeps me alive: and the Cross is my peace and my consolation.” —St. John of Kronstadt “Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him; today I am quickened with Him; yesterday I was buried with Him; today I rise with Him.” —St. Gregory the Theologian “A Christian should avoid unhealthy religiosity: both the feeling of superiority due to virtue, and the feeling of inferiority due to sinfulness.” —St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia “Understand two thoughts, and fear them. One says, 'You are a saint,' the other, 'You won't be saved.' Both of these thoughts are from the enemy, and there is no truth in them. But think this way: I am a great sinner, but the Lord is merciful. He loves people very much, and He will forgive my sins. Believe in this way, and you will see, the Lord will forgive you. But put no faith in feats of your own, however much you may have striven… Thus God has mercy on us, not for our achievements but gracious, because of His goodness.” —St. Silouan the Athonite “He made Him who was righteous to be a sinner, that He might make sinners righteous.” —St. John Chrysostom “Love sinners, but hate their deeds, and do not disdain sinners for their failings, so that you yourself do not fall into the temptation in which they abide… Do not be angry at anyone and do not hate anyone, neither for their faith, nor for their shameful deeds… Do not foster hatred for the sinner, for we are all guilty… Hate his sins, and pray for him, so that you may be made like unto Christ, who had no dislike for sinners, but prayed for them.” —St. Isaac the Syrian, Ascetical Homilies 57,90 “Love every man in spite of his falling into sin. Never mind the sins, but remember that the foundation of the man is the same - the image of God.” —St. John of Kronstadt “Never confuse the person, formed in the image of God, with the evil that is in him: because evil is but a chance misfortune, an illness, a devilish reverie. But the very essence of the person is the image of God, and this remains in him despite every disfigurement.” —St. John of Kronstadt “Firmly purpose in your soul to hate every sin of thought, word, and deed, and when you are tempted to sin resist it valiantly and with a feeling of hatred for it; only beware lest your hatred should turn against the person of your brother who gave occasion for the sin. Hate the sin with all your heart, but pity your brother; instruct him, and pray for him to the Almighty, Who sees all of us and tries our hearts and innermost parts.” —St. John of Kronstadt “For this reason, the man who lives by God's standards and not by man's, must needs be a lover of the good, and it follows that he must hate what is evil. Further, since no one is evil by nature, but anyone who is evil is evil because of a perversion of nature, the man who lives by God's standards has a duty of ‘perfect hatred’ (Psalm 139:22) towards those who are evil; that is to say, he should not hate the person because of the fault, nor should he love the fault because of the person. He should hate the fault, but love the man. And when the fault has been cured there will remain only what he ought to love, nothing that he should hate.” —St. Augustine of Hippo, The City of God, 14:6, Penguin ed., transl. Bettenson “As Jesus Christ is my Witness, I profess that I hate heresy, not the heretic; but as is proper, for the present I shun the heretics because of the heresy, since I have both convicted and rebuked him. Let him renounce his heresy and condemn it by word as well as by deed, and he will cling to all men by the bond of brotherhood, because it is written, ‘Bear ye one another's burden and so fulfill the law of Christ’ (Gal. 6:2).” —Orosius of Braga, Book in Defense Against the Pelagians “Our life and our death is with our neighbor. If we gain our brother, we have gained God, but if we scandalize our brother, we have sinned against Christ. This is the great work of a man: always to take the blame for his own sins before God and to expect temptation to his last breath.” —St. Anthony the Great “Unless we look at a person and see the beauty there is in this person, we can contribute nothing to him. One does not help a person by discerning what is wrong, what is ugly, what is distorted. Christ looked at everyone he met, at the prostitute, at the thief, and saw the beauty hidden there. Perhaps it was distorted, perhaps damaged, but it was beauty none the less, and what he did was to call out this beauty.” —Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh “He who busies himself with the sins of others, or judges his brother on suspicion, has not yet even begun to repent or to examine himself so as to discover his own sins.” —St. Maximus the Confessor “As long as we pay attention to the negative sides of various people we meet, we will not find peace and repentance. As long as we keep in ourselves the thought of offense, caused to us by enemies, friends, family and neighbours, we will not find peace and quiet and we will live in a hellish state.” —Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica “The genuineness of a friend is shown at a time of trial, if he shares the distress you suffer.” —St. Thalassios the Libyan “If you are offended by anything, whether intended or unintended, you do not know the way of peace, which through love brings the lovers of divine knowledge to the knowledge of God.” —St. Maximus the Confessor “Especially, do not be disturbed by blasphemous thoughts, which clearly come from the envy of the Enemy. They occur in a person either because of proud self-opinion or the condemnation of others.” —St. Ambrose of Optina “In hell there is democracy and in Heaven there is a Kingdom.” —St. John of Kronstadt “We shall not care what people think of us, or how they treat us. We shall cease to be afraid of falling out of favour. We shall love our fellow men without thought of whether they love us. Christ gave us the commandment to love others but did not make it a condition of salvation that they should love us. Indeed, we may positively be disliked for independence of spirit. It is essential in these days to be able to protect ourselves from the influence of those with whom we come in contact. Otherwise we risk losing both faith and prayer. Let the whole world dismiss us as unworthy of attention, trust or respect – it will not matter provided that the Lord accept us. And vice versa: it will profit us nothing if the whole world thinks well of us and sings our praises, if the Lord declines to abide with us. This is only a fragment of the freedom Christ meant when He said, ‘Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’ (John 8.32). Our sole care will be to continue in the word of Christ, to become His disciples and cease to be servants of sin.” —Archimandrite Sophrony of Essex, His Life is Mine, Chapter 6; pg. 55 “Do not do anything without signing yourself with the sign of the Cross! When you depart on a journey, when you begin your work, when you go to study, when you are alone, and when you are with other people, seal yourself with the Holy Cross on your forehead, your body, your chest, your heart, your lips, your eyes, your ears. All of you should be sealed with the sign of Christ's victory over hell. Then you will no longer be afraid of charms, evil spirits, or sorcery, because these are dissolved by the power of the Cross like wax before fire and like dust before the wind.” —Archimandrite Cleopas (Ilie) of Romania “The Church is a hospital, and not a courtroom, for souls. She does not condemn on behalf of sins, but grants remission of sins. Nothing is so joyous in our life as the thanksgiving that we experience in the Church. In the Church, the joyful sustain their joy. In the Church, those worried acquire merriment, and those saddened, joy. In the Church, the troubled find relief, and the heavy-laden, rest. ‘Come,’ says the Lord, ‘near me, all of you who labor and are heavy-laden (with trials and sins), and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28). What could be more desirable than to meet this voice? What is sweeter than this invitation? The Lord is calling you to the Church for a rich banquet. He transfers you from struggles to rest, and from tortures to relief. He relieves you from the burden of your sins. He heals worries with thanksgiving, and sadness with joy. No one is truly free or joyful besides he who lives for Christ. Such a person overcomes all evil and does not fear anything!” —St. John Chrysostom, Homily XV, II Cor. VII VIII, paragraph 6, Themes of Life II, Life Issues II, Holy Monastery of the Paraclete “The goal of human freedom is not in freedom itself, nor is it in man, but in God. By giving man freedom God has yielded to man a piece of His divine authority, but with the intention that man himself would voluntarily bring it as a sacrifice to God, as a most perfect offering.” —St. Theophan the Recluse, The Path to Salvation “When you are depressed, bear in mind the Lord’s command to Peter to forgive a sinner seventy times seven. And you may be sure that He Who gave this command to another will Himself do very much more.” —St. John Climacus “A person who suffers bitterly when slighted or insulted should recognize from this that he still harbours the ancient serpent in his breast. If he quietly endures the insult or responds with great humility, he weakens the serpent and lessens its hold. But if he replies acrimoniously or brazenly, he gives it strength to pour its venom into his heart and to feed mercilessly on his guts. In this way the serpent becomes increasingly powerful; it destroys his soul's strength and his attempts to set himself right, compelling him to live for sin and to be completely dead to righteousness.” —St. Symeon the New Theologian “The time of this present life is a time for harvesting, and each person gathers spiritual food - as pure as possible - and stores it up for the other life. It is not the clever, the noble, the polished speakers, or the rich who win, but whoever is insulted and forbears, whoever is wronged and forgives, whoever is slandered and endures, whoever becomes a sponge and mops up whatever they might say to him. Such a person is cleansed and polished even more. He reaches great heights. He delights in the theoria of mysteries. And finally, it is he who is already inside paradise, while still in this life.” —Elder Joseph the Hesychast and Cave-dweller “Do we refuse to forgive? God, too, will refuse to forgive us. As we treat our neighbours, so also does God treat us. The forgiveness or unforgiveness of your sins, then, and hence also your salvation or destruction, depend on you yourself. For without forgiveness of sins there is no salvation. You can see for yourself how serious it is.” —St. Tikhon of Zadonsk “When you are ready to stand in the presence of the Lord, let your soul wear a garment woven from the cloth of your forgiveness of others. Otherwise, your prayer will be of no value whatsoever.” —St. John Climacus “Forgiveness is better than revenge.” —St. Tikhon of Zadonsk “When God forgave you, it means He forgave you for eternity.” —Elder Arsenie (Papacioc) of Romania “Love alone harmoniously joins all created things with God and with each other.” —St. Thalassios the Libyan “A monk is he who withdrawing from all men, is united with all mankind. … A monk is he who regards himself as existing with all men and sees himself in each man.” —St. Nilus of Sinai “Love towards Christ is without limits, and the same is true of love towards our neighbour. It should radiate everywhere, to the ends of the earth, to every person. I wanted to go and live with the hippies at …… in order to show them the love of Christ and how great it is and how it could transfigure them. Love is above everything.” —Wounded by Love, Elder Porphyrios, pg 188 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” —Genesis 1:27 “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” —Genesis 3:5 “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” —2 Corinthians 11:14 “You shall not murder.” —Exodus 20:13 “Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person.” —Deuteronomy 27:25 “He shall judge between the nations,And rebuke many people;They shall beat their swords into plowshares,And their spears into pruning hooks;Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,Neither shall they learn war anymore.” —Isaiah 2:4 “But Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.’” —Matthew 26:52 “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” —Luke 18:20 “So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’” —John 8:7 “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” —1 John 3:15 “And the second commandment of the Teaching; Thou shalt not commit murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not commit paederasty, thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not practise magic, thou shalt not practise witchcraft, thou shalt not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is begotten.” —Didache 2:2 “You shall not take the life of the child by obtaining an abortion. Nor, again, shall you destroy him after he is born.” —St. Barnabas, Epistle of St. Barnabas “The mold in the womb may not be destroyed.” —Tertullian “There is no question about that which is bred in the uterus, both growing, and moving from place to place. It remains, therefore, that we must think that the point of commencement of existence is one and the same for body and soul.” —St. Gregory of Nyssa “We acknowledge, therefore, that life begins with conception, because we contend that the soul begins at conception. Life begins when the soul begins. For us, we may not destroy even the fetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man-killing; nor does it matter when you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to birth. That is a man which is going to be one: you have the fruit already in the seed.” —Tertullian, Apology 9:6 “Now the entire process of sowing, forming, and completing the human embryo in the womb is no doubt regulated by some power, which ministers herein to the will of God, whatever may be the method which it is appointed to employ. Even the superstition of Rome, by carefully attending to these points, imagined the goddess Alemona to nourish the foetus in the womb; as well as [the goddesses] Nona and Decima, called after the most critical months of gestation; and Partula, to manage and direct parturition; and Lucina, to bring the child to the birth and light of day. We, on our part, believe the angels to officiate herein for God. The embryo therefore becomes a human being in the womb from the moment that its form is completed (conception). The law of Moses, indeed, punishes with due penalties the man who shall cause abortion, inasmuch as there exists already the rudiment of a human being, which has imputed to it even now the condition of life and death, since it is already liable to the issues of both, although, by living still in the mother, it for the most part shares its own state with the mother.” —Tertullian, Treatise on the Soul, Ch. XXXVII, On the Formation and State of the Embryo, Its Relation with the Subject of this Treatise “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.” —Tertullian “…if we would not kill off the human race born and developing according to God's plan, then our whole lives would be lived according to nature. Women who make use of some sort of deadly abortion drug kill not only the embryo but, together with it, all human kindness.” —St. Clement of Alexandria, Christ the Educator, Volume II, page 10 “Those who use abortifacients commit homicide.” —St. Clement of Alexandria “The woman who aborts her child to hide her immorality, aborts at the same time her own humanity.” —St. Clement of Alexandria “Women who were reputed believers began to resort to drugs for producing sterility. They also girded themselves around, so as to expel what was being gestated. For they did not wish to have a child by either slave or by any common fellow - out of concern for their family and their excessive wealth. See what a great impiety the lawless one has advanced! He teaches adultery and murder at the same time!” —St. Hipploytus, Refutation Of All Heresies “He [Novatian] struck the womb of his wife with his heel and produced a hurried an abortion, thereby causing parricide.” —St. Cyprian of Carthage, Epistle 52 To Cornelius “The wealthy, in order that their inheritance may not be divided among several, deny in the very womb their own progeny. By use of' parricidal mixtures they snuff out the fruit of their wombs in the genital organs themselves. In this way life is taken away before it is born… Who except man himself has taught us ways of repudiating children?” —St. Ambrose of Milan “Sometimes their sadistic licentiousness goes so far that they procure poison to produce infertility, and when this is of no avail, they find one means or another to destroy the unborn and flush it from the mother's womb. For they desire to see their offspring perish before it is alive or, if it has already been granted life, they seek to kill it within the mother's body before it is born.” —St. Augustine of Hippo, The City of God, Book One, Ch. 16 “A woman who has deliberately destroyed a fetus must pay the penalty for murder… those also who give drugs causing abortions are murderers themselves, as well as those who receive the poison which kills the fetus.” —St. Basil the Great, First Canonical Letter, 188:2 and 188:8 “Women also who administer drugs to cause abortion, as well as those who take poisons to destroy unborn children, are murderesses.” —St. Basil the Great, Letter CLXXXVIII: Canonica Prima, to Amphilochius, concerning the Canons, VII “The woman who purposely destroys her unborn child is guilty of murder. The hair-splitting difference between formed and unformed makes no difference to us.” —St. Basil the Great “Why do you sow where the field is eager to destroy the fruit? Where there are medicines of sterility? Where there is murder before birth? You do not even let a harlot remain only a harlot, but you make her a murderess as well. Indeed, it is something worse than murder and I do not know what to call it; for she does not kill what is formed but prevents its formation. What then? Do you condemn the gifts of God, and fight with His laws? What is a curse you seek as though it were a blessing. Do you make the anteroom of slaughter? Do you teach the women who are given to you for a procreation of offspring to perpetuate killing? Yet such turpitude … the matter still seems indifferent to many men–even to many men having wives. In this indifference of the married men there is greater evil filth; for then poisons are prepared, not against the womb of a prostitute, but against your injured wife. Against her are these innumerable tricks…” —St. John Chrysostom, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, XXIV “Some virgins [unmarried women] go so far as to take potions, that they may insure barrenness, and thus murder human beings almost before their conception. Some, when they find themselves with child through their sin, use drugs to procure abortion, and when (as often happens) they die with their offspring, they enter the lower world laden with the guilt not only of adultery against Christ but also of suicide and child murder.” —St. Jerome, Letter to Eustochium, 22:13 “The rich women, to avoid dividing the inheritance among many, kill their own unborn in the womb and with lethal extracts terminate their own offspring while yet in the womb.” —St. Ambrose, On the Hexaemeron “For every argument there is a counter-argument, but who can argue against life?” —St. Gregory Palamas, Triads in Defence of the Holy Hesychasts “If you can't feed a hundred people, feed just one.”“I prefer you to make mistakes in kindness than work miracles in unkindness.”“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”“If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.”“It is a poverty that a child must die, so that you may live as you wish.”“How can you say there are too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers.”“The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.”“Any Country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what it wants.”“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”“Do not look for big things, just do small things with great love… The smaller the thing the greater must be our love. “God did not call us to be successful, but to be faithful.”“Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence light new light in the hearts of people.”“There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those.”“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”—Teresa of Calcutta “No one heals himself by wounding another.” —St. Ambrose of Milan “Abortion is the anti-Christ's demonic parody of the Eucharist. That's why it uses the same holy words ‘This is my body’ with the blasphemous opposite meaning.” —Dr. Peter Kreeft “An Irish pro-abortion leader described their vote as a decision to enter the ‘modern’ world. That was extremely well-said. Modernity suggests to us that we are the masters of history, the arbiters of life and death. Our compassion for the suffering is always expressed, ultimately, in our willingness to kill them, without remorse. For many, abortion has become the sacrament of modernity, in which we learn to say in blasphemous irony: ‘This is my body.’” —Fr. Stephen Freeman “Each child with special needs such as this does not come into the world in order to make our lives difficult and make us suffer. They each come into this world for a reason and have their secret inner voice. It remains to us to offer love; to ‘bear one another's burdens’; to experience a collective humbling – to realize, that is, that we are not as powerful and important as we think; and to try to lighten that person's burden and understand their language… These children are better at speaking the language of God.” —Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Labreotiki, When God is Not There, pg. 48 “O God, grant us a deeper sense of fellowship with all living things, our little brothers and sisters to whom in common with us you have given this earth as home. We recall with regret that in the past we have acted high-handedly and cruelly in exercising our domain over them. Thus, the voice of the earth which should have risen to you in song has turned into a groan of travail. May we realize that all these creatures also live for themselves and for you - not for us alone. They too love the goodness of life, as we do, and serve you better in their way than we do in ours. Amen.” —St. Basil the Great “We follow the ways of wolves, the habits of tigers: or, rather we are worse than they. To them nature has assigned that they should be thus fed, while God has honoured us with rational speech and a sense of equity. And yet we are become worse than the wild beast.” —St. John Chrysostom “Drink water from the spring where horses drink. The horse will never drink bad water. Lay your bed where the cat sleeps. Eat the fruit that has been touched by a worm. Boldly pick the mushroom on which the insects sit. Plant the tree where the mole digs. Build your house where the snake sits to warm itself. Dig your fountain where the birds hide from the heat. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time with the birds – you will reap all of the days' golden grains. Eat more green – you will have strong legs and a resistant heart, like the beings of the forest. Swim often and you will feel on earth like the fish in the water. Look at the sky as often as possible and your thoughts will become light and clear. Be quiet a lot, speak little – and silence will come in your heart, and your spirit will be calm and full of peace.” —St. Seraphim of Sarov (Nature is talking to you, are you listening?) “Nothing is without order and purpose in the animal kingdom; each animal bears the wisdom of the Creator and testifies of Him. God granted man and animals many natural attributes, such as compassion, love, feelings… for even animals bewail the loss of one of their own.” —St. John Climacus “…surely we ought to show kindness and gentleness to animals for many reasons, and chiefly because they are of the same origin as ourselves.” —St. John Chrysostom “For animals, man is like God. Just as we ask God for help, they ask man for help.” —St. Paisios of Mt. Athos “Concepts create idols; only wonder comprehends anything. People kill one another over idols. Wonder makes us fall to our knees.” —St. Gregory of Nyssa “…it is not the task of Christianity to provide easy answers to every question, but to make us progressively aware of a mystery. God is not so much the object of our knowledge as the cause of our wonder.” —Kallistos Ware “Why not learn to enjoy the little things! There are so many of them.” —St. John Chrysostom “The unspeakable and prodigious fire hidden in the essence of things, as in the bush, is the fire of divine love and the dazzling brilliance of His beauty inside every thing.” —St. Maximus the Confessor “Blessed the one who observes with spiritual understanding the choirs of stars shining with glory and the beauty of the heavens and longs to contemplate the Maker of all things.” —St. Ephrem the Syrian “Leave behind the senses and the operations of the intellect, and all things sensible and intellectual, and all things in the world of being and non-being, that thou mayest arise by unknowing towards the union, as far as is attainable, with Him who transcends all knowledge.” —St. Dionysius the Areopagite, Mystical Theology “Supernal Triad, Deity above all essence, knowledge and goodness, Guide of Christians to Divine Wisdom: direct our path to the ultimate summit of Thy mystical Lore, most incomprehensible, most luminous and most exalted, where the pure, absolute and immutable mysteries of theology are veiled in the dazzling obscurity of the secret Silence, outshining all brilliance with the intensity of their Darkness, and surcharging our blinded intellects with the utterly impalpable and invisible fairness of glories surpassing all beauty.” —St. Dionysius the Areopagite, Mystical Theology “We, therefore, so long as we are beset by the corruptions of the flesh, in no wise behold the brightness of the Divine Power, as it abides unchangeable in itself, in that the eye of our weakness cannot endure that which shines above us with intolerable lustre from the ray of His Eternal Being. And so when the Almighty shews Himself to us by the chinks of contemplation, He does not speak to us, but whispers, in that though He does not fully develope Himself, yet something of Himself He does reveal to the mind of man. But then He no longer whispers at all, but speaks, when His appearance is manifested to us in certainty. It is hence that Truth saith in the Gospel, ‘I shall shew you plainly of the Father’ (John 16, 25). Hence John saith, ‘For we shall see Him as He is’ (1 John 3, 2). Hence Paul saith, ‘Then shall I know even as also I am known’ (1 Cor. 13, 12). Now in this present time, the Divine whispering has as many veins for our ears as the works of creation, which the Divine Being Himself is Lord of; for while we view all things that are created, we are lifted up in admiration of the Creator. For as water that flows in a slender stream is sought by being bored for through veins, with a view to increase it, and as it pours forth the more copiously, in proportion as it finds the veins more open, so we, whilst we heedfully gather the knowledge of the Divine Being from the contemplation of His creation, as it were open to ourselves the ‘veins of His whispering’, in that by the things that we see have been made, we are led to marvel at the excellency of the Maker, and by the objects that are in public view, that issues forth to us, which is hidden in concealment. For He bursts out to us in a kind of sound as it were, whilst He displays His works to be considered by us, wherein He betokens Himself in a measure, in that He shews how Incomprehensible He is. Therefore, because we cannot take thought of Him as He deserves, we hear not His voice, yea, scarcely His whispering. For because we are not equal to form a full and perfect estimate of the very things that are created, it is rightly said, Mine ear as it were by stealth received the veins of whispering; in that being cast forth from the delights of paradise, and visited with the punishment of blindness, we scarcely take in ‘the veins of whispering’; since His very marvellous works themselves we consider but hastily and slightly. But we must bear in mind, that in proportion as the soul being lifted up contemplates His Excellency, so being held back it shrinks from His Righteous Perfectness.” —St. Gregory the Great (Gregory the Dialogist), Book V, Sec. 52, Morals on the Book of Job “Look at the world around you. It supplies all your bodily needs. It feasts your eyes with its beauty. And its glory reflects the glory of God, so it feasts your soul also. Look at the plants and the trees. Can you count all the different species? Can you describe all the different shapes of the leaves, the color and fragrances of the flowers? Look, too, at the animals and the insects. Are you not enthralled by their different sizes and shapes, by the different colors and textures of their skin and fur, by the different ways in which they move about and gather food? And the wonder why God has created all this. Has he created the marvelous universe just to supply our needs and to feast our eyes and souls? or is there some other purpose in it all? The answer is that he has created all things--for their own sake. Each creature has its own purpose and destiny, which God in his infinite wisdom and love has planned. Do not try to understand God's plans; the human mind is hardly better than that of an ant in discerning the ways of God. Simply accept all his plans and rejoice in them.” —St. John Chrysostom, On Living Simply, pg 54 “When you sit down to eat, pray. When you eat bread, do so thanking Him for being so generous to you. If you drink wine, be mindful of Him who has given it to you for your pleasure and as a relief in sickness. When you dress, thank Him for His kindness in providing you with clothes. When you look at the sky and the beauty of the stars, throw yourself at God's feet and adore Him who in His wisdom has arranged things in this way. Similarly, when the sun goes down and when it rises, when you are asleep or awake, give thanks to God, who created and arranged all things for your benefit, to have you know, love and praise their Creator.” —St. Basil the Great “For as long as you are on earth, consider yourself a guest in the Household of Christ. If you are at the table, it is He who treats you. If you breathe air, it is His air you breathe. If you bathe, it is in His water you are bathing. If you are traveling, it is over His land that you are traveling. If you are amassing goods, it is His goods you are amassing. If you are squandering, it is His goods that you are squandering. If you are powerful, it is by His permission that you are strong. If you are in the company of men, you and the others are His guests. If you are out in nature, you are in His garden. If you are alone, He is present.” —St. Nikolai Velimirovich “Some people see the houses in which they live as their kingdom; and although in their minds they know that death will one day force them to leave, in their hearts they feel they will stay forever. They take pride in the size of their houses and the fine material with which they are built. They take pleasure in decorating their houses with bright colors, and in obtaining the best and most solid furniture to fill the rooms. They imagine that they can find peace and security by owning a house whose walls and roof will last for many generations. We, by contrast, know that we are only temporary guests on earth. We recognize that the houses in which we live serve only as hostels on the road to eternal life. We do not seek peace or security from the material walls around us or the roof above our heads. Rather we want to surround ourselves with a wall of divine grace; and we look upward to heaven as our roof. And the furniture of our lives should be good works, performed in a spirit of love.” —St. John Chrysostom, On Living Simply, pg 11 “What hinders you from fulfilling Christ’s commandments? The flesh and the world: that is, pleasant food and drink which men like, in which they delight both in thought and in fact, which make the heart gross and hard—a partiality for elegant dress and adornment, or for distinctions and rewards; if the dress or adornments are made of very beautiful coloured and delicate materials, then care and anxiety arise how to avoid staining or soiling them, or getting them dusty or wet, whilst care and anxiety how to please God in thought, word, and deed vanish and the heart lives for dress and adornment, and becomes entirely engrossed in these things, ceasing to care about God and being united to Him; if such is the case with a priest, then he neglects praying for his people, and becomes not soul-loving, but money-loving and ambitious, seeking not the men themselves, but that which appertains to them, that is, money, food, drink, their favour, their good opinion and good word, and flattering them. Therefore fight against every worldly enticement, against every material enticement that hinders you from fulfilling Christ’s commandments, love God with all your heart, and care with all your strength for the salvation of your own soul, and the souls of others, be soul-loving.” —St. John of Kronstadt “Let us be satisfied simply with what sustains our present life, not with what pampers it. Let us pray to God for this, as we have been taught, so that we may keep our souls unenslaved and absolutely free from domination by any of the visible things loved for the sake of the body. Let us show that we eat for the sake of living, and not be guilty of living for the sake of eating. The first is a sign of intelligence, the second proof of its absence.” —St. Maximus the Confessor “[R]eal Orthodox can never be chauvinists. I recall once, in a conversation with me in 1926, the blessedly reposed metropolitan [A. Khrapovitsky] related to me the following: "On Athos there is a custom that a monk who does not forgive offences is punished by being made to omit the words ‘and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,’ at the reading of the Lord’s Prayer, until such a time when he has forgiven the offence committed against him. And I myself have suggested," added the great saint, "that the chauvinist-nationalists not read the ninth article of the Symbol of Faith." If we were to crystallize this principle of Vladyka, it would read as follows: the Russian, Serbian, and Bulgarian nations can be great only if the goal of their existence be the collective realization of the commandments of the Gospel. Otherwise, "Serbianism", "Russianism", and "Bulgarianism", are reduced to senseless and pernicious chauvinism. If "Serbianism" flourishes not by the power of evangelical podvigs and not to Orthodox catholicity, then it will choke in its own egoistic chauvinism. What is profitable for Serbdom is profitable for other nationalities as well. Nations pass, the Gospel is eternal. Only in so far as a nation is filled with the eternal evangelical truth and righteousness, does it exist, and itself becomes and remains eternal. Only such patriotism can be justified from an evangelical point of view. This is the patriotism of the holy apostles, the holy martyrs, the holy fathers. When the emperor-tormentor asked the holy martyrs Acindynus, Pegasius, and Anempodistus where they were from, they answered: "Are you asking us, O Emperor, about our homeland? Our homeland and our life is the most holy, consubstantial and undivided Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the one God." (On Met. Anthony Khrapovitsky) The blessed Metropolitan Anthony is the most gifted contemporary representative of Russian Orthodox nationalism, a nationalism consecrated and enlightened by Christ; a nationalism by which all men are brothers in Christ; a nationalism by which the mighty must serve the weak, the wise the unwise, the humble the proud, the first the last. Growing out of patristic Orthodox universal patriotism, the blessed Vladyka can only be appreciated from the same apostolic patristic perspective. We can apply to him what St. Gregory of Nyssa said about his own brother, St. Basil, after his death: "Wherein lies Basil's noble origin? Where is his homeland? His origin is his affinity to divinity, and his homeland is virtue."” —St. Justin Popovich “Worldly glory does not lead God's children to heaven.” —St. Raphael, the Newly-revealed Martyr of Lesvos “Satan has no need to tempt those who tempt themselves, and are continually dragged down by worldly affairs.” —St. John of Karpathos “The devil does not hunt after those who are lost; he hunts after those who are aware, those who are close to God. He takes from them trust in God and begins to afflict them with self-assurance, logic, thinking, criticism. Therefore we should not trust our logical minds.” —St. Paisios of Mt. Athos “The fundamental Christian eschatology has been destroyed by either the optimism leading to the Utopia, or by the pessimism leading to the Escape. If there are two heretical words in the Christian vocabulary, they would be "optimism" and "pessimism." These two things are utterly anti-biblical and anti-Christian.” —Fr. Alexander Schmemann “Christ is the only exit from this world; all other exits – sexual rapture, political utopia, economic independence – are but blind alleys in which rot the corpses of the many that have tried them.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina “Everything in this life passes away – only God remains, only He is worth struggling towards. We have a choice: to follow the way of this world, of the society that surrounds us, and thereby find ourselves outside of God; or to choose the way of life, to choose God Who calls us and for Whom our heart is searching.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina “Let the hearing of worldly tales be to you as a bitter taste in your mouth, but the discourse of holy men as a honeycomb.” —St. Basil the Great “All the things of this world are no more than earth. Place them in a heap under your feet and you will be so much nearer to heaven.” —Josemaria Escriva “A man who has dedicated himself once and for all to God goes through life with a restful mind.” —St. Isaac the Syrian “Do you seek any further reward beyond that of having pleased God? In truth, you know not how great a good it is to please Him.” —St. John Chrysostom “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” —St. Augustine of Hippo “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” —Matthew 22:37-40 “And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"” —John 20:28 “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” —John 5:22-23 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…” —Matthew 5:44 “The fool has said in his heart,‘There is no God.’They are corrupt,They have done abominable works,There is none who does good.” —Psalm 14:1 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,And lean not on your own understanding;” —Proverbs 3:5 “Hatred stirs up strife,But love covers all sins.” —Proverbs 10:12 “When pride comes, then comes shame;But with the humble is wisdom.” —Proverbs 11:2 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,But he who heeds counsel is wise.” —Proverbs 12:15 “There is a way that seems right to a man,But its end is the way of death.” —Proverbs 14:12 “Pride goes before destruction,And a haughty spirit before a fall.” —Proverbs 16:18 “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth;A stranger, and not your own lips.” —Proverbs 27:2 “Open rebuke is betterThan love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend,But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” —Proverbs 27:5-6 “If a wise man contends with a foolish man,Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.” —Proverbs 29:9 “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. … I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.” —Ecclesiastes 1:2,14 “For in much wisdom is much grief,And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” —Ecclesiastes 1:18 “The work of righteousness will be peace,And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” —Isaiah 32:17 “Children’s children are the crown of old men,And the glory of children is their father.” —Proverbs 17:6 “The righteous man walks in his integrity;His children are blessed after him.” —Proverbs 20:7

~~“But I say to you~~“The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, ~~love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those~~ And he who ~~spitefully use you and persecute you…” —Matthew 5~~begets a wise child will delight in him.” —Proverbs 23:4424

~~“The fool has said in his heart~~“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,~~‘There~~ The fruit of the womb is ~~no God~~a reward.’~~They~~ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,So are ~~corrupt,~~the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;They ~~have done abominable works~~shall not be ashamed,~~There is none who does good~~But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” —Psalm 14127:13-5

~~“Trust in~~ “The sons of wisdom are the ~~Lord with all your heart~~church of the just: and their generation,~~And lean not on your own understanding;” —Proverbs 3:5~~obedience and love.

~~“Hatred stirs up strife~~Children,~~But love covers all sins~~hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved.~~” —Proverbs 10:12~~

~~“When pride comes~~For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, ~~then comes shame;But with~~ hath confirmed it upon the ~~humble is wisdom~~children.~~” —Proverbs 11:2~~

~~“The way of a fool is right in~~ He that loves God, shall obtain pardon for his ~~own eyes~~sins by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them,~~But he who heeds counsel is wise~~and shall be heard in the prayer of days.~~” —Proverbs 12:15~~

~~“There~~ And he that honours his mother is ~~a way~~ as one that ~~seems right to~~ lays up a ~~man,But its end is the way of death~~treasure.~~” —Proverbs 14:12~~

~~“Pride goes before destruction~~He that honours his father shall have joy in his own children,~~And a haughty spirit before a fall~~and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.~~” —Proverbs 16:18~~

~~“Let another man praise you,~~ He that honours his father shall enjoy a long life: and ~~not your own mouth;A stranger~~he that obeys the father, ~~and not your own lips~~shall be a comfort to his mother.~~” —Proverbs 27:2~~

~~“Open rebuke is betterThan love carefully concealed~~He that fears the Lord, honours his parents, and will serve them as his masters that brought him into the world.” —Sirach 3:1-8

~~Faithful are~~ “But Jesus said, ‘Let the ~~wounds~~ little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of ~~a friend,But~~ such is the ~~kisses~~ kingdom of ~~an enemy are deceitful~~heaven.~~” —Proverbs 27~~’” —Matthew 19:~~5-6~~14

~~“If a wise man contends with a foolish man~~“Reflect on the statutes of the Lord,~~Whether the fool rages or laughs~~and meditate at all times on his commandments.It is he who will give insight to your mind, ~~there is no peace~~and your desire for wisdom will be granted.” ~~—Proverbs 29~~—Sirach 6:937

~~“Vanity of vanities~~“Childless with virtue is better than this, ~~all~~ For immortality is ~~vanity. … I have seen all the works that are done under the sun~~in its memory; ~~and indeed, all~~ Because it is ~~vanity~~ known both by God and ~~grasping for the wind~~by man.” ~~—Ecclesiastes~~ —Wisdom of Solomon 4:1~~:2,14~~

~~“For in much wisdom is much grief,And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow~~“Jesus wept.” ~~—Ecclesiastes 1~~—John 11:1835

~~“The work~~ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are those who mourn,For they shall be comforted.Blessed are the meek,For they shall inherit the earth.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness ~~will~~ ,For they shall be filled.Blessed are the merciful,For they shall obtain mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart,For they shall see God.Blessed are the peacemakers,For they shall be ~~peace~~called sons of God.Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,~~And~~ For theirs is the ~~effect~~ kingdom of ~~righteousness~~heaven.” —Matthew 5:3-10 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, ~~quietness~~ and ~~assurance forever~~He will lift you up.” ~~—Isaiah 32~~—James 4:177-10

~~“Children’s children are the crown~~ “But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of ~~old men~~stripes,~~And~~ shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the ~~glory of children is their father~~more.” ~~—Proverbs 17~~—Luke 12:648

~~“The righteous man walks in his integrity;His children are blessed after him~~“Then Abraham answered and said, ‘Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord.~~” —Proverbs 20~~’” —Genesis 18:727

“The ~~father of the righteous will greatly rejoice~~centurion answered and said, ‘Lord,~~And he who begets~~ I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a ~~wise child~~ word, and my servant will ~~delight in him~~be healed.~~” —Proverbs 23~~’” —Matthew 8:248

~~“Behold~~“And the tax collector, ~~children are a heritage from the Lord~~standing afar off,~~The fruit of the womb is a reward.~~ ~~Like arrows in the hand of a warrior~~would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven,~~So are the children of one’s youth.~~ ~~Happy is the man who has~~ but beat his ~~quiver full of them;~~breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” —Luke 18:13~~They shall not be ashamed,But shall speak with their enemies in the gate~~“Pray without ceasing.” ~~—Psalm 127~~—1 Thessalonians 5:~~3-5~~17

~~“The sons~~ “This is a faithful saying and worthy of ~~wisdom are~~ all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the ~~church~~ world to save sinners, of ~~the just~~whom I am chief.” —1 Timothy 1: ~~and their generation, obedience and love.~~15

~~Children, hear~~ “for all have sinned and fall short of the ~~judgment~~ glory of ~~your father, and so do that you may be saved.~~God…” —Romans 3:23

~~For God hath made the father honourable~~ “And I also say to ~~the children:~~ you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and ~~seeking~~ the ~~judgment~~ gates of ~~the mothers, hath confirmed~~ Hades shall not prevail against it ~~upon the children~~.” —Matthew 16:18

~~He that loves God~~“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, ~~shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, and shall refrain himself from~~ baptizing them, in the name of the Father and ~~shall be heard in~~ of the ~~prayer~~ Son and of ~~days.~~the Holy Spirit…” —Matthew 28:19

~~And he that honours his mother is as~~ “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one ~~that lays up a treasure~~of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."” —Acts 2:38

~~He that honours his father shall have joy in his own children~~“Jesus said to them, ~~and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard~~‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’” —John 8:58

~~He that honours his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeys~~ “But when the ~~father~~Helper comes, whom I shall ~~be a comfort~~ send to ~~his mother~~you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” —John 15:26

~~He that fears the Lord~~“that they all may be one, as You, Father, ~~honours his parents~~are in Me, and ~~will serve them as his masters~~ I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that ~~brought him into~~ the worldmay believe that You sent Me.” ~~—Sirach 3~~—John 17:~~1-8~~21

~~“But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me,~~ “I and ~~do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven~~My Father are one.~~’” —Matthew 19~~” —John 10:1430

~~“Reflect on~~ “Then, the same day at evening, being the ~~statutes~~ first day of the ~~Lord~~week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst,and ~~meditate at all times on his commandments~~said to them, "Peace be with you.~~It is he who will give insight to your mind~~" When He had said this,He showed them His hands and ~~your desire for wisdom will be granted~~His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.~~” —Sirach 6:37~~

~~“Childless with virtue is better than~~ “So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this,~~For immortality is in its memory~~He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them;~~Because it is known both by God and by man~~if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."” ~~—Wisdom of Solomon 4~~—John 20:119-23

~~“Jesus wept~~“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.” ~~—John 11~~—Luke 10:351

~~“Blessed are~~ “Then the ~~poor in spirit,For theirs is~~ twelve summoned the ~~kingdom~~ multitude of ~~heaven.Blessed are those who mourn,For they shall be comforted.Blessed are~~ the ~~meek~~disciples and said,~~For they shall inherit~~ "It is not desirable that we should leave the ~~earth.Blessed are those who hunger~~ word of God and ~~thirst for righteousness,For they shall be filled~~serve tables.~~Blessed are the merciful~~Therefore,~~For they shall obtain mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart~~brethren,~~For they shall see God.Blessed are the peacemakers~~seek out from among you seven men of good reputation,~~For they shall be called sons~~ full of ~~God.Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake~~the Holy Spirit and wisdom,~~For theirs is~~ whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ~~kingdom~~ ministry of ~~heaven~~the word."” ~~—Matthew 5~~—Acts 6:32-104

~~“Therefore submit to God. Resist~~ “Now on the first day of the week, when the ~~devil and he will flee from you. Draw near~~ disciples came together to ~~God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands~~break bread, ~~you sinners; and purify your hearts~~Paul, ~~you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy~~ ready to ~~gloom. Humble yourselves in~~ depart the ~~sight of the Lord~~next day, spoke to them and ~~He will lift you up~~continued his message until midnight.” ~~—James 4~~—Acts 20:7~~-10~~

~~“But he who did not know~~“Most assuredly, I say to you, ~~yet committed things deserving~~ unless you eat the flesh of ~~stripes~~the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, ~~shall be beaten with few~~and I will raise him up at the last day. For ~~everyone to whom much~~ My flesh is ~~given~~food indeed, ~~from him much will be required;~~ and ~~to whom much has been committed~~My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, of and I in him ~~they will ask the more~~.~~” —Luke 12~~“ —John 6:4853-56

~~“Then Abraham answered and said~~“The cup of blessing which we bless, ~~‘Indeed now~~is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, ~~I who am but dust and ashes have taken~~ is it ~~upon myself to speak to~~ not the ~~Lord~~communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.~~’” —Genesis 18~~“ —1 Corinthians 10:2716-17

~~“The centurion answered and said~~“Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, ~~‘Lord~~that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s. For even if I ~~am not worthy that You~~ should ~~come under my roof. But only speak a word~~boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and ~~my servant will~~ not for your destruction, I shall not be ~~healed.’” —Matthew 8~~ashamed…” —2 Corinthians 10:7-8

“And have no fellowship with the ~~tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven~~unfruitful works of darkness, but ~~beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” —Luke 18~~rather expose them.” —Ephesians 5:1311

~~“Pray without ceasing~~“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” ~~—1 Thessalonians 5~~—James 2:14-17

~~“This~~ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is ~~a faithful saying and worthy~~ known by its fruit. Brood of ~~all acceptance~~vipers! How can you, being evil, ~~that Christ Jesus came into~~ speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the ~~world to save sinners~~good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of ~~whom I am chief~~the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” ~~—1 Timothy 1~~—Matthew 12:1533-35

~~“for all have sinned~~ “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and ~~fall short~~ an evil man out of the ~~glory~~ evil treasure of ~~God…” —Romans 3~~his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” —Luke 6:2343-45

~~“And I also say to you that you are Peter,~~ “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and ~~on this rock I will build~~ cursing. My ~~church~~brethren, ~~and the gates of Hades shall~~ these things ought not ~~prevail against it~~to be so.” ~~—Matthew 16~~—James 3:1810

~~“Go therefore and make disciples of~~ “But above all ~~the nations~~, ~~baptizing them in the name of the Father~~ my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and ~~of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” —Matthew 28~~your ‘No,’ ‘No,’ lest you fall into judgment.” —James 5:1912

~~“Then Peter said to them~~“Let such a person consider this, ~~"Repent~~that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, ~~and let every one of you~~ such we will also be ~~baptized~~ in ~~the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit~~deed when we are present."” ~~—Acts 2~~—2 Corinthians 10:3811

~~“Jesus said~~ “So Philip ran to ~~them~~him, ~~‘Most assuredly~~and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, ~~I say to~~ and said, "Do you understand what youare reading?" And he said, ~~before Abraham was~~"How can I, ~~I AM~~unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.~~’” —John~~ ” —Acts 8:5830-31

~~“But when the Helper comes~~“…but if I am delayed, ~~whom~~ I ~~shall send~~ write so that you may know how you ought to ~~you from~~ conduct yourself in the ~~Father~~house of God, which is the ~~Spirit~~ church of ~~truth who proceeds from~~ the ~~Father~~living God, ~~He will testify~~ the pillar and ground of Methe truth.” ~~—John~~ —1 Timothy 3:15~~:26~~

~~“that they all may be one, as You, Father,~~ “And there are ~~in Me~~also many other things that Jesus did, ~~and I in You; that~~ which if they ~~also may be~~ were written one by one in Us, I suppose that even the world ~~may believe~~ itself could not contain the books that ~~You sent Me~~would be written. Amen.” —John 1721:2125

~~“I and My Father are one~~“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” ~~—John 10~~—Jeremiah 1:305

~~“Then~~“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the ~~same day at evening~~believers in word, ~~being the first day of the week~~in conduct, ~~when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled~~in love, ~~for fear of the Jews~~in spirit, ~~Jesus came and stood~~ in ~~the midst~~faith, ~~and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord~~in purity.” —1 Timothy 4:12

~~“So Jesus said~~ “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to ~~them again~~the hand, "~~Peace~~ I have no need of you"; nor again the head to ~~you! As~~ the ~~Father has sent Me~~feet, "I ~~also send~~ have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And ~~when He had said this~~those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, ~~He breathed~~ on ~~them~~these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, ~~and said~~ but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to ~~them~~that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, ~~"Receive~~ but that the members should have the ~~Holy Spirit~~same care for one another. ~~If you forgive~~ And if one member suffers, all the ~~sins of any, they are forgiven them~~members suffer with it; or if ~~you retain~~ one member is honored, all the ~~sins of any, they are retained~~members rejoice with it.~~"” —John 20:19-23~~

~~“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.” —Luke 10:1~~ “Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."” —Acts 6:2-4 “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” —Hebrews 13:17 ~~“Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” —Acts 20:7~~ “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.“ —John 6:53-56 “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.“ —1 Corinthians 10:16-17 “Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s. For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed…” —2 Corinthians 10:7-8 ~~“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” —Ephesians 5:11~~ “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” —James 2:14-17 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” —Matthew 12:33-35 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” —Luke 6:43-45 ~~“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” —James 3:10~~ “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No,’ lest you fall into judgment.” —James 5:12 ~~“Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.” —2 Corinthians 10:11~~ “…but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” —1 Timothy 3:15 ~~“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” —Jeremiah 1:5~~ ~~“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” —1 Timothy 4:12~~ “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church…” —1 Corinthians 12:20-28

“Do not remove the ancient landmark

“And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” —Matthew 15:9

“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” —Hebrews 13:17

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” —2 Thessalonians 2:15

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” —Psalm 34:18

“O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath,

Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!

For Your arrows pierce me deeply,

And Your hand presses me down.

For my iniquities have gone over my head;

My wounds are foul and festering

Because of my foolishness.

Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

Do not forsake me, O Lord;

O my God, be not far from me!

Make haste to help me,

O Lord, my salvation!” —Psalm 38:1,2,4,5,21,22

“Be still, and know that I am God;

“For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For 'He has put all things under His feet.' But when He says 'all things are put under Him,' it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.” —1 Corinthians 15:25-28

“To have faith in Christ means more than simply despising the delights of this life. It means we should bear all our daily trials that may bring us sorrow, distress, or unhappiness, and bear them patiently for as long as God wishes and until He comes to visit us. For it is said, ‘I waited on the Lord and He came to me.’” —St. Symeon the New Theologian

“Anyone who truly wants to follow God must be free from the bonds of attachment to this life. To do this we must make a complete break with our old way of life. Indeed, unless we avoid all obsession with the body and with the concerns of this world, we shall never succeed in pleasing God. We must depart as it were to another world in our way of thinking, as the Apostle said: ‘Our citizenship is in heaven’.” —St. Basil the Great, Gateway to Paradise

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” —Philippians 3:20-21

“Therefore it was not one man, but rather the One Universal Church, that received these 'keys' and the right 'to bind and loosen.'” —St. Augustineof Hippo

“The Lord calls the Holy Spirit the 'voice of a gentle breeze'. For God is breath, and the breath of the wind is shared by all.” —St. Maximus the Confessor

“He who is initiated into the mystery of the Resurrection, learns the end for which God created all things.” —St. Maximus the Confessor

~~“Since Christ Himself has said~~“This bread is at first common bread; but when the Mystery sancifies it, ~~"This is My Body" who shall dare to doubt that~~ It is ~~His~~ called, and actually becomes the Body?of Christ.” —St. ~~Cyril~~ Gregory of ~~Jerusalem~~Nyssa

“Since Christ Himself has said, ‘This is My Body’ who shall dare to doubt that It is His Body?” —St. Cyril of Jerusalem “You freed me from slavery, gave me Your Name and marked me with Your Blood, so that I would always keep You in my heart.” —St. Augustineof Hippo

“When someone opens your heart, I'd like him to find nothing there but Christ.” —Elder Amphilochios of Patmos

“Think nothing and do nothing without a purpose directed to God. For to journey without direction is wasted effort.” —St. Mark the Ascetic “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him, the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest achievement.” —St. Augustineof Hippo

“Love bestows prophecy; love yields miracles; love is an abyss of illumination; love is a fountain of fire, in the measure that it wells up, it inflames the thirsty soul. Love is the state of angels. Love is the progress of eternity.” —St. John Climacus

“The end of each discovery becomes the starting point for the discovery of something higher, and the ascent continues. Thus our ascent is unending. We go from beginning to beginning by way of beginnings without end.” —St. Gregory of Nyssa

“He who forsakes all worldly desires sets himself above all worldly distress.” —St. Maximus the Confessor

“He is with me, He who left the world behind. He is present in me, He who left His nature. He dwells in me, He who denied Himself. He is wholly for me, He who lost His life for me.” —St. Ambrose of Milan

“Brethren, He is near each one of us, even if unseen. That is why He said to the apostles when He ascended, ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world’ (Matt 28:20). Every day we should stand in awe of Him, as He is with us, and do what is pleasing before Him. If we are unable now to perceive Him with our physical eyes, we can, if we are watchful, see Him continuously with the eyes of our understanding, and not just see Him, but reap great benefits from Him. This vision destroys all sin, demolishes all evil, and drives away everything bad. It yields every virtue, gives birth to purity and dispassion, and bestows eternal life and the kingdom without end. As we attend to this joyful sight, gazing with our mind's eye on Christ as though He were present, each of us will say with David, ‘Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident’ (Ps. 27:3).” —St. Gregory of Palamas, Homily 23, The Appearance of Jesus

“Why do men learn through pain and suffering, not pleasure and happiness? Very simply, pleasure and happiness accustom one to satisfaction with things in this world, whereas pain and suffering drive one to seek more profound happiness beyond limitations of this world.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina

“Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Enemies have driven me into your embrace more than friends have.

Friends have bound me to earth, enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.

Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms and an extraneous inhabitant of the world. Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath your tabernacle, where neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world.

They have punished me, whenever I have hesitated to punish myself.

They have tormented me, whenever I have tried to flee torments.

They have scolded me, whenever I have flattered myself.

They have spat upon me, whenever I have filled myself with arrogance.

Bless my enemies, O Lord, Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Whenever I have made myself wise, they have called me foolish.

Whenever I have made myself mighty, they have mocked me as though I were a dwarf.

Whenever I have wanted to lead people, they have shoved me into the background.

Whenever I have rushed to enrich myself, they have prevented me with an iron hand.

Whenever I thought that I would sleep peacefully, they have wakened me from sleep.

Whenever I have tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life, they have demolished it and driven me out.

Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my hands to the hem of your garment.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Bless them and multiply them; multiply them and make them even more bitterly against me:

so that my fleeing to You may have no return;

so that all hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs;

so that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul;

so that my heart may become the grave of my two evil twins, arrogance and anger;

so that I might amass all my treasure in heaven;

ah, so that I may for once be freed from self-deception, which has entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life.

Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows, that a person has no enemies in the world except himself.

One hates his enemies only when he fails to realize that they are not enemies, but cruel friends.

It is truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good and who has done me more evil in the world: friends or enemies.

Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and enemies.

A slave curses enemies, for he does not understand. But a son blesses them, for he understands.

For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life.

Therefore he freely steps among them and prays to God for them.” —St. Nikolai Velimirovich, Prayers by the Lake, For Enemies, Prayer LXXV

“For all the sins of men I repent before You, Most Merciful Lord. Indeed, the seed of all sins flows in my blood! With my effort and Your mercy I choke this wicked crop of weeds day and night, so that no tare may sprout in the field of the Lord, but only pure wheat. (Matt. 13:24-30.)

I repent for all those who are worried, who stagger under a burden of worries and do not know that they should put all their worries on You. For feeble man even the most minor worry is unbearable, but for You a mountain of worries is like a snowball thrown into a fiery furnace.

I repent for all the sick, for sickness is the fruit of sin. When the soul is cleansed with repentance, sickness disappears with sin, and You, my Eternal Health, take up Your abode in the soul.

I repent for unbelievers, who through their unbelief amass worries and sicknesses both on themselves and on their friends.

I repent for all those who blaspheme God, who blaspheme against You without knowing that they are blaspheming against the Master, who clothes them and feeds them.

I repent for all the slayers of men, who take the life of another to preserve their own. Forgive them, Most Merciful Lord, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34) For they do not know that there are not two lives in the universe, but one, and that there are not two men in the universe, but one. Ah, how dead are those who cut the heart in half!

I repent for all those who bear false witness, for in reality they are homicides and suicides.

For all my brothers who are thieves and who are hoarders of unneeded wealth I weep and sigh, for they have buried their soul and have nothing with which to go forth before You.

For all the arrogant and the boastful I weep and sigh, for before You they are like beggars with empty pockets.

For all drunkards and gluttons I weep and sigh, for they have become servants of their servants.

For all adulterers I repent, for they have betrayed the trust. of the Holy Spirit, who chose them to form new life through them. Instead, they turned serving life into destroying life.

For all gossipers I repent, for they have turned Your most precious gift, the gift of speech, into cheap sand.

For all those who destroy their neighbor’s hearth and home and their neighbor’s peace I repent and sigh, for they bring a curse on themselves and their people.

For all lying tongues, for all suspicious eyes, for all raging hearts, for all insatiable stomachs, for all darkened minds, for all ill will, for all unseemly thoughts, for all murderous emotions–I repent, weep and sigh.

For all the history of mankind from Adam to me, a sinner, I repent; for all history is in my blood. For I am in Adam and Adam is in me.

For all the worlds, large and small, that do not tremble before Your awesome presence, I weep and cry out: O Master Most Merciful, have mercy on me and save me!” —St. Nikolai Velimirovich, Prayers by the Lake, Repentance for the World, Prayer XXIX

“O Lord,

Grant me to greet the coming day in peace.

Help me in all things

to rely upon Thy Holy Will.

In every hour of the day,

reveal Thy will to me.

Bless my dealings with all who surround me.

Teach me to treat all that comes to me

throughout the day with peace of soul,

and with firm conviction

that Thy will governs all.

In all my deeds and words,

guide my thoughts and feelings.

In unforeseen events, let me not forget

that all are sent by Thee.

Teach me to act firmly and wisely,

without embittering and embarrassing others.

Give me strength to bear the fatigue

of the coming day with all that it shall bring.

Direct my will.

Teach me to pray.

Pray Thou Thyself in me.

Amen.” —St. Philaret (Drozdov), Metropolitan of Moscow, The Morning Prayer of Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow

“In that anxious and dreadful hour when the heavenly powers are roused, when all the angels, archangels, seraphim and cherubim will stand with fear and trembling before Thy glory, when the foundations of the earth will be shaken, and when all that breathes will be terrified by the incomparable greatness of Thy glory – in that hour mayest Thou take me under Thy wing and may my soul be delivered from the terrible fire and from the gnashing of teeth, from outer darkness and eternal lamentation, that I may bless Thee and say: Glory to Him Who has desired to save a sinner according to the great compassion of His mercy!” —St. Ephrem the Syrian

“If there is any rest for us in this world, then it consists only in purity of the conscience and patience. This is a harbor for us who sail upon the sea of life…” —St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

“I would like to address all believers of our church of Christ.

Don't be afraid of anything. Be steadfast in your love for God. Keep the purity of the Holy Orthodox Faith, it is the way that leads man to God! Love one another, tolerate one another, help one another. Evil will pass – and good will live forever. If we endure everything, live in love for all and among ourselves, then no evil will defeat us. God is a God of strength, and evil has no power. We will live with God – and we will be joyful, happy and blessed.

I know that Our church of Christ will be till the end of the world because the Lord said the gates of hell will not prevail against Her. Don't be afraid because We are in a church founded by Christ, not by men.” —Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and all Ukraine

“As to the fatalism of those who believe that man must be a slave to the spirit of the age, it is disproved by the experience of every Christian worthy of the name, for the Christian life is nothing if it is not a struggle against the spirit of every age for the sake of eternity.” —Fr. Seraphim Rose of Platina

“There are far, far better things ahead than anything we leave behind.” —C. S. Lewis

“God and our conscience know our secrets. Let them correct us.” —St. Mark the Ascetic

“The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart.” —St. Jerome

“What, then, is greater than that the Father of the only-begotten Son Himself recognizes in us His members and finds the very form of the Son in our faces?” —St. Nicholas Cabasilas

~~“The Son~~ “This, then, is the way in which we interpret the Eighth Day…namely that when the time that is measured in weeks comes to an end, an Eighth Day will come into being…It will remain one day continually, never to be divided by the darkness of ~~God became man~~night. Another Sun will bring it into being, radiating the true light; embracing all things in it's luminous power, it will produce light continually and will make those who share in that we Light into other suns.” —St. Gregory of Nyssa, Commentary on the Psalms “He made Him who was righteous to be a sinner, that He might ~~become god~~make sinners righteous.” —St. ~~Athanasius of Alexandria~~John Chrysostom

~~“becoming~~ “The Word of God became man, that man might become god… becoming by grace what God is by nature.” —St. Athanasius ~~of Alexandria~~the Great, On the Incarnation

“Thine own of Thine own we Offer unto Thee, in behalf of all and for all!” —Anaphora offering (OCA), Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

“…nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.” —Luke 20:36-38

“It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.” —2 Maccabees 12:46

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” —Philippians 4:13

~~"And~~ “And we know that to them that love God, all things work together ~~for~~ unto good , to ~~those who love God~~such as, according to ~~those who~~ his purpose, are ~~the~~ called ~~according~~ to ~~His purpose~~be saints." ” —Romans 8:28

“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” —Matthew 19:26

“When I am dead, come to me at my grave, and the more often the better. Whatever is in your soul, whatever may have happened to you, come to me as when I was alive and kneeling on the ground, cast all your bitterness upon my grave. Tell me everything and I shall listen to you, and all the bitterness will fly away from you. And as you spoke to me when I was alive, do so now. For I am living and I shall be forever.” —St. Seraphim of Sarov

“Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man takest thy crown (Revelation 3:11).” —Metropolitan Philaret of New York, the last words of

“«δόξα τῷ θεῷ πάντων ἕνεκεν» (Glory be to God for all things!)” —St. John Chrysostom, the last words of

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