August 2012
Anonymous asked: You're an amazing, patient and lovely person. God bless you.
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Anonymous asked: I'm doing research for a class assignment. What can you tell me about the angel Jegudiel and could you post up any depictions of him, please?
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The prayer of Mount Athos
The prayer of Mount Athos, who does not recognize it? It is comprised of one small phrase, of measured words.
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
With the loud cry “Lord”, we glorify God, His glorious majesty, the King of Israel, the Creator of visible and invisible creation, Whom Seraphim and Cherubim tremble before.
With the sweet invocation and summons “Jesus”, we witness that...
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The Church is an endless source of miracles…
Despite appearances and the unworthiness of the monks and clergy, the Church is an endless source of miracles. It takes water and makes it Holy Water; it takes bread and wine and makes the Holy Eucharist; it takes man made of dirt and makes him a god! But many people do not see the miracles. Because if they saw them they would not despise or hate the Church of Christ, but they would love and...
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A word from the desert...
Abba John said, ‘I am like a man sitting under a great tree, who sees wild beasts and snakes coming against him in great numbers. When he cannot withstand them any longer, he runs to climb the tree and is saved. It is just the same with me; I sit in my cell and I am aware of evil thoughts coming against me, and when I have no more strength against them, I take refuge in God by prayer and I...
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On fasting
The more days of fasting there are, the better the healing is; the longer the period of abstinence, the more abundant the gain of salvation is.
- Saint Seraphim of Sarov
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The greatest honor
Do you know what a great gift it is that God gave us the right to speak to Him every hour and moment, wherever we are? He always listens to us. This is the greatest honor we have. For this reason we must love God.
- Elder Porphyrios (1906-1991)
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Works of love
If you find that you have no love but desire to have it, do the works of love and the Lord will see your desire and effort and put love in your heart.
- St. Ambrose of Optina
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On Humility
A hermit was once asked: “What should we do when we are praised and complemented?”
And he replied:
“You should be humble and know yourselves well. I will give you an example. When I carve on a piece of wood the face of a saint, and finish it, I think it is good. After a while I look at it again and discover that it has shortcomings. If I use a magnifying glass, I will see...
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Learning to be silent
Learning to be silent is far more difficult and far more important than learning to recite prayers…
- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
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The most touching moment...
Ethiopian athlete Meseret Defar provided one of the most emotional moments of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games when she crossed the finish line in the 5000 meter race to win the gold.
She then pulled a picture of the Virgin Mary out from under her jersey, showed it to the cameras and held it up to her face in deep prayer.
An Orthodox Christian, Defar entrusted her race to God with the sign...
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Please pray for Mount Athos
Mount Athos, the most important center of Eastern Orthodox spirituality in the world is in danger because of fire. The fire has already burned approximately 15,000 acres of virgin forestland, olive groves and vineyards and it may soon threaten the monasteries. Please pray to our Lord for Mount Athos, the Garden of Virgin Mary, for the security of the lives of the monks, the beautiful ancient...
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She is our Mother in the spirit
Once when I was a young novice I was praying before an icon of the Mother of God, and the Jesus Prayer entered into my heart and there begun to repeat itself of its own accord. Here is a wondrous thing which passes understanding: she dwells in heaven and ever beholds the glory of God, yet she does not forget us, poor wretches that we are, and spreads her compassion over the whole earth, over...
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When we miss the point of the fast
It is important to remember that fasting is not just about foods that we are to abstain from, but also about the quantity of food we eat. It is hardly a true fast if we eat the same amount of food that we would normally eat during a non-fast period. Furthermore, if we hunt for foods that are legally eaten, avoiding simple foods such as vegetables, breads and vegan soups, and eat rich foods that...
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The time of prayer
Do not let the time of prayer be an hour for considering necessary things or even spiritual tasts, otherwise you will lose the better part
- St. John Climacus
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He is present now
Forget for at least this space of time the bustle and concerns of everyday life. Be like an angel, filled only with thoughts of God and of serving Him. After all, He is present now, and is blessing you.
- Hieromartyr Seraphim (Zvezdinsky), Bishop of Dmitrov
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Our lack of compassion
Our lack of compassion, hardness of heart, and mercilessness towards orthers form an impenetrable curtain between ourselves and God. It is as if we had covered a plant with a black hood, and then complained because it died from lack of sunlight.
- Fr. Alexander Elchaninov
