Just as a mirror shows objects among which the person is standing, so, in the soul, impressions are created corresponding to its works. The images disappear from the mindless mirror when the objects are taken away from in front of it, but impressions remain in a rational soul. >Saint Ignatius Brianchaninoff
The demon has no power or authority over us except when he finds us being proud and fiercely stubborn. >Blessed Joseph the Hesychast
We should prepare not to die. There’s a saying which goes “if you die before you die, you won’t die when you die”. Our preparation, which should be ongoing throughout our lives, consists of the following four points: We should be dead to sin all the time. We shouldn’t take heart from any good we’ve done for ourselves and should avoid self-praise. However much we err, we shouldn’t despair. We should be aware that God allows us to sin in order to humble us. Otherwise, we can’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. » Elder Anthimos of Saint Anne
The twentieth century brought seismic changes to social, economic, scientific and technological developments across the globe. It was marked by the two most bloody wars in history, which changed the map of the world. Striking personalities played definitive roles in the fate of humankind, leaving them with towering reputations, for good or ill. In the middle of this turbulent and hugely unsettling period, a man was born, lived and died, a man whose personality would hardly have been noticed by people interested in analyzing the events which have shaped our own time. In the realm of the Spirit, however, his presence was to make an indelible mark on his generation, which, in opposition to the drift towards hedonism and consumerism which ...
Mothers know how to worry, to advise, to talk a lot, but they haven’t learned how to pray. Lots of instructions and advice do a great deal of harm. Don’t talk at children too much. Words echo in the ears, but prayer goes to the heart. » Venerable Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
Nothing is equal to peace, nothing is more harmonious. It’s no benefit to us if we’re pacific towards everyone else, but hostile to God. Just as no harm can befall us, no matter if everyone’s against us, so long as we’re at peace with God. » Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis
Knowledge is awareness of yourself. Not knowing yourself is more unbearable than the utmost madness and insanity. Because the madness would be beyond your control, but the other is through your own will. >Saint John Chrysostom
The humility, goodness and love which Elder Iosif bore in his soul moved God and were the solace of our brotherhood, who looked to him as our guide. Elder Iosif Vatopaidinos, (1921-2009) Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol tells of an event which shows the extent to which God was well-pleased with the spiritual labours of the Elder and also reveals the careful attention required in a place where many people are living together, if misunderstandings are to be avoided. His Eminence relates: ‘As Elder of the Monastery, Elder Iosif undertook some initiatives of a practical nature, one of which however, seems to have infringed the responsibilities of the duties of another member of the brotherhood. Elder Iosif usually acted as the founder and ...
It was people’s duty to elevate themselves towards God, train their minds on Him alone and not to seek pleasure in the worldly delights of created beings. Their adherence to the things of this world led to neglect of their duty to God and to themselves. Because of this neglect, they were separated from God and lost a large portion of the divine power which had been their strength. » Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis
Fr Jonah from Taiwan speaks on the virtues that characterize a christian, referring to Apostle Paul’s epistles.
Grace is attracted by warmth and zeal, but is lost through indifference and laxity. The first thing that causes Grace not only to be attracted, but to multiply and be retained, is a perfect sense of unworthiness and sinfulness. This is what begets true humility. Have patience unto death in all things. >Blessed Joseph the Hesychast
By their nature, men have a bigger dose of pride but, if to the smaller dose that women have you add envy, then the devil becomes more intolerable than this poisonous dose of male pride. » Venerable Païsios the Athonite
Honour you neighbour as an image of God, but do so in your soul, invisibly to others and apparent only in your conscience. Let this payment of respect be secret, but sincere. In other words, let it correspond to your real spiritual inclination.
The path of humility is the quickest and surest. So how does it have obstacles? Well, it does have some. First, because we’re people, not angels and second because we have some old, bad habits which are obstacles for us on the path we’re treading.
As regards what’s good and what’s evil, our conscience does tell us, but only partly, not clearly, because it’s darkened by sin. The teaching of Christ, on the other hand tells us fully and clearly what’s good and what’s evil.
If you love yourself, you can’t love God. People who don’t love themselves, because of the excessive riches of their love for God, really do love Him. They never seek their own advancement, only the glory of God. If you love yourself, you seek your own glory, but if you love God, you seek the glory of your Creator. It’s a characteristic of the spiritually sensitive soul that it always seeks the glory of God in all the actions it performs and is content with its own humility. Because glory is due to God for His majesty, whereas for people humility is more fitting, as the means of growing closer to Him. In everything we do, let us always joyfully ...
Pemptousia is in the happy position of announcing to its reading public that henceforth you will be able to find and obtain many of the titles published by the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopaidi and the ‘Maxim the Greek’ Institute in the form of e-books, through iTUNES and AMAZON. At a time when digital media have become part and parcel of our lives, facilitating many of the everyday, and other, functions that occupy us, the e-book has provided readers with access to an enormous number of publications and books. These are books in digital form which are published with the possibility of being read on line, or, if they’ve been downloaded, on an e-book reader, a computer, a cell phone, a ...
Bold people don’t fear death, which is why they strive nobly and with self-denial. Because they keep death in their mind and think about it every day, they’re better prepared spiritually and they strive more courageously. In this way they disdain vain pursuits and, even in this life, live in eternity, with the joy of Paradise.
Watch the second part of Fr Jonah’s from Taiwan sermon on Jesus’ temptations.
We need to pray wholeheartedly for God to give us even the slightest portion of the inexhaustible source of His blessings and spiritual aid. The first thing we should ask is faith and the hope that we’ll receive everything from Him Who is all-merciful and true.
