Why wait until Pascha?

For us Orthodox Christians to be so madly in love with our resurrected Lord that we sometimes even forget what time of the year it is and continue to proclaim that Christ is Risen in every season! I am not proposing anything official (no liturgical innovations); but when we run into the cashier at Wal-Mart and have nothing meaningful to say in Mid August, Why not proclaim Christ is Risen? Our beloved ones come to us in November or in January with big problems, (sickness in the family, lost all of their money, lost their job, their husband or my wife has left them, etc.). How important it is for us to remember at those times that Christ is Risen after all is said and done and by that same power we can be healed. Why wait until Pascha each year to live and share that reality? St. Seraphim of Russia greeted everyone with Christ is Risen all year round and he is a Saint of our Church! He experienced the divine insanity of being a Christian every day… not only during Pascha.

- Fr. Gregory Horton

Orthodoxy is life

Orthodoxy is life. If we don’t live Orthodoxy, we simply are not Orthodox, no matter what formal beliefs we might hold.

- Blessed Hieromonk Seraphim Rose

On persecution

“Throughout its history, the Church does not know long periods of prosperity: in times of peace and tranquility will certainly coming times of adversity and trials. But in all circumstances, in word and deed the Church proclaimed the truth of God, she proclaims it today, suggesting that a society based on the principles of profit, permissiveness, unlimited freedom, neglect of eternal truths, denial of authority, moral sickness, is threatened by many dangers.”

- Patriarch Kirill, 21st Century Russian Patriarch, from 2012 Nativity Message

You do not just suddenly leap into heaven…

You do not just suddenly leap into heaven, but you enter it with humility. The worst of all sins is when we are overwhelmed by our pride and our own opinion about everything.

- St. Macarius of Optina

Wherever and however You wish

When I was seriously ill and on the point of leaving this life, I didn’t want to think about my sins. I wanted to think about the love of my Lord, my Christ, and about eternal life. I didn’t want to feel fear. I wanted to go to the Lord and to think about His goodness, His love. And now that my life is nearing its end, I don’t feel anxiety or apprehension, but I think that when I appear at the Second Coming and Christ says to me: Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment? I will bow my head and I will say to Him: ‘Whatever you want, my Lord, whatever your love desires. I know I am not worthy. Send me wherever your love wishes. I am fit for hell. And place me in hell, as long as I am with You. There is one thing I want, one thing I desire, one thing I ask for, and that is to be with You, wherever and however You wish.

- Elder Porphyrios

The truths of Orthodoxy

All truths of Orthodoxy emerge from the one Truth and converge on one Truth, infinite and eternal. That Truth is the God-man Christ. If you experience any truth of Orthodoxy to its limit, you will inevitably discover that its kernel is the God-man Christ. In fact, all truths of Orthodoxy are nothing other than different aspects of the one Truth - the God-man Jesus Christ.

- St. Justin Popovic

God listens…

God listens, not to our voice, but to our heart. He does not need to be prodded with shouts, since He sees our thoughts.

- St. Cyprian of Carthage

Stand patiently and pray steadfastly

Stand patiently and pray steadfastly, brushing off the impacts of worldly cares and all thoughts; for they distract and worry you in order to disturb the impetus of your prayer.

- St. Nilus of Mount Sinai

The Church will lift the weight of our burdens

Brothers and Sisters! The all-merciful God desires happiness for us both in this life and in the life to come. To this end He established His Holy Church, so that she might cleanse us from sin, sanctify us, reconcile us with Him and give us a heavenly blessing. The embrace of the Church is always open to us. Let us all hasten there more quickly, we whose consciences are burdened. Let us hasten, and the Church will lift the weight of our burdens, give us boldness before God, and fill our hearts with happiness and blessedness.

- St. Nectarios of Aegina

Always seek God

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up. If God put you into something, He will walk you through it. In the joyous moments, praise God. In the difficult moments, seek God. In quiet moments, worship God. In painful moments, trust in God. And in every moment, thank God.

- Submitted by my good friend zauveksrbija

Those who suffer…

Those who suffer for the sake of true devotion receive help. This must be learnt through obeying God’s law and our own conscience.

- St. Mark the Ascetic

Our life is a battle

This is how it is, brother of Christ by adoption: We step on earth and we look towards heaven. This will be repeated till the grace of God covers you and you come out as victor. Nevertheless, know the voice of God which says: “Did you fall? Arise.” To fall is human. To remain fallen is satanic.

Our life is a battle, a struggle, and do not despair, no one comes out a victor if the struggle does not finish. The believer’s despair is the demon’s joy, and repentance is the angel’s joy. Struggle as much as you can to gain the crown of life. Do not give up the weapons when you fall; attack again. Struggle to make the angels joyous.

- St. Parthenios of Chios