October 2011
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About love
To love is easy and sweet. Oh! if we could only see the heart of a man who bears the evangelic yoke of Christ, you would see in it a paradise of joy and gladness, you would see there the Kingdom of God, even though on the surface he was worried and surrounded by grief and tribulations, as a rose is surrounded by thorns. There can be nought but comfort and true joy in a heart in which reigns the...
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As far as the demons are concerned...
Satan doesn’t know our thoughts. He knows only whatever he himself puts in our minds, as well as whatever he figures out from our movements, and whatever he hears from our words… Satan opposes every Christian who strives sincerely. However, no one must be afraid of the demons. They are smoke, dust and stench. They don’t have power over men. God allows the temptations to...
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Appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos to St....
Late at night, St. Sergius was reading an Akathist to the Mother of God. Having finished his habitual rule, he sat down to rest a bit, but suddenly he said to his disciple, St. Micah, “Be alert, my child, for we shall have a wondrous visitation.” Scarcely had he uttered these words than a voice was heard: “The All-Pure One approaches!”
St. Sergius rushed from the cell to...
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12 Sayings of Elder Porphyrios
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The visitation of the Virgin, and Apostles Peter and John to St Sergius of Radonezh and his cell-attendant Micah.
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St. Demetrios the Myrrh-streamer (October 26)
Saint Demetrios was born in Thesaloniki, Greece in 270 AD. He came from a wealthy family and because he was athletic in appearance and heroic in spirit, he became a high-ranking officer in the Roman Army at a very young age. (This is why he is depicted in Byzantine icons in military dress, either standing or riding a horse.) He considered himself a soldier of Christ first, and a military soldier...
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St. Anthony said...
“As each day dawns, plan your life as though it were your last on earth, and keep yourself from sin.” ~St. Anthony
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Advice concerning parents
…Elder Porphyrios advises parents to knock on the door of the soul of their children gently, subtly and politely. They should not become tedious and annoying their children with their ‘lectures’ and their overprotection. So, says elder Porphyrios, most parents need to do a secret prayer for their children and say what they have to tell them secretly, to the soul of their children. The...
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Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene lead to Orthodoxy
Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene lead to Orthodoxy (amateur translation)
About ten years ago, Michael had become a Roman Catholic priest somewhere in Germany, and his life of agony and doubt was dedicated to the search for the Truth. This however was the good doubt that is blessed by the God of Truth.
His name had changed, and as a Catholic priest he was named Maximilian.
However, his...
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Litany of Saint Demetrius
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On prayer
“One Can’t Learn to Pray Sitting in a Warm Armchair.”
-Hieromonk Gabriel Bunge (a Catholic hermit who converted to Orthodoxy)
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Christian Orthodox graphic.
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Words from St. Isaac of Syria
Let yourself be persecuted, but do not persecute others.
Be crucified, but do not crucify others.
Se slandered, but do not slander others.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep: such is the sign of purity.
Suffer with the sick.
Be afflicted with sinners.
Exult with those who repent.
Be the friend of all, but in your spirit remain alone.
Be a partaker of the...
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Orthodox Monasticism
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Anonymous asked: What's your opinion about badwolfcomplex'es post "Why I Didn’t Convert to Eastern Orthodoxy"
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This is true perfection...
“This is true perfection: not to avoid a wicked life because we fear punishment, like slaves; not to do good because we expect repayment, as if cashing in on the virtuous life by enforcing some business deal. On the contrary, disregarding all those good things which we do hope for and which God has promised us, we regard falling from God’s friendship as the only thing dreadful, and we...
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Prayer and Porridge
Some brothers visited Abba Anthony and asked him to tell them how they could find salvation. The old man said, “You are familiar with the Scriptures. That should teach you enough.”
“Yes, but we want a word from you also, Abba.”
Then the old man responded, “The Gospel instructs you to turn the other cheek.”
They said, “We can’t do that.”
“Then if you can’t offer the other cheek, at least...
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Lord Jesus Christ...
Lord Jesus Christ, You were and are True God, God always “in the bosom of the Father” before all ages. You accepted and received the form of a servant. You became man for our salvation and You humbled Yourself all the way to the Cross and death without ever ceasing to be the Perfect God. With all of the ways in which You endured and suffered for us, show Your compassion still and...
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St. Nilus of Sinai cautions:
“Do not desire visions of Angels or Powers or Christ, lest ye lose your minds, take the wolf for the pastor, and worship your demon enemies”
-St. Nilus of Sinai, 153rd chapter on prayer. Philokalia.
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What is the Divine Liturgy?
The Divine Liturgy is worship; there is prayer and a whole life there, the life of Christ. In the Holy Eucharist, we accomplish the exchange of our limited and temporal life for the unlimited and infinite life of God. We offer to God a piece of bread and a little wine, but in that bread and wine, we place all our faith, love, humility, expectation of Him, all our life. And we say to God, ‘Thine...
