Watch Andriy Us’ speech at the 2nd International Conference on Digital Media and Orthodox Pastoral Care DMOPC18 which took place from 18th-21st June 2018 at the Orthodox Academy of Crete, organized under the High Auspices of His All Holliness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
The inclination towards sin isn’t overwhelming in itself. It becomes so from the moment the soul begins to contemplate and plot ways of satisfying the desire.
Watch Fr Jonah’s from Taiwan sermon on the healing of the possessed young man (Matthew 17, 14-23).
If you ever want word to get out about something, get hold of somebody who’s feather-brained, tell them it as if it were a secret and ask that it remain between the two of you. That’ll be enough for it to spread all over the place, given that it’s ‘strictly between the two of us’.
Gina Poulou, who is a soprano with the Greek National Opera, has had the most astonishing experience. When the Holy Belt, the relic of the Mother of God, was in Nea Ionia, Athens, in 2017, she reverenced it. A few days before, a small tumor had appeared on her neck as had others in her breast. These unsettling symptoms, together with the pain she was feeling, terrified her and she was depressed at the thought of undergoing examinations and changing her daily routine. Through the Internet, she learned that the Holy Belt was in Athens and a friend of hers sent her a message, telling her to go and reverence it, both for help and also to gain strength and courage. ‘When ...
Never judge anybody, even if you see them sinning at the hour of their death. Because God’s judgement is beyond our ken. Some people have clearly committed grave sins, but have also done far greater good in secret. So those who gloat are deceived, because what they held in their hands was merely smoke, not the rays of the sun.
Sinners who don’t submit to the law of God, the law of love and peace, are outcasts from God’s creation. There’s no room for them. The reason they feel so trapped is that they’re hounded by God, by their own conscience and by the whole of creation.
Asceticism which is undertaken in accordance with the Law makes people understanding, sensible, modest, able to restrain their anger, to rein in their desires, to perform acts of charity, to be kind to others and to practice all the virtues.
Christianity isn’t a philosophical system, nor does it depend solely on our system of knowledge. It has more to do with our will and emotions. Because people who are Christians don’t have simply the education of the spirit as their starting-point, but also the formation of the heart. This is why we’re called upon not only to recognize the theories, but to implement them.
Self-control, forbearance, mature restraint, endurance, patience and suchlike are the greatest and most virtuous powers we’ve been given by God. They oppose and resist, and help us in all those difficulties which come from our enemy, the devil. If we exercise these powers and have them to hand, then nothing will seem difficult for us, or painful or unbearable, because we’ll recall that everything’s human and can be conquered by the virtues we have within us. People who are spiritually senseless don’t think of that. Because they never even think that everything turns out well and as it should and in our interest, so that, in the end, the virtues can shine and we can be crowned by God… » Saint Anthony the Great
Prayer for others, said gently and with deep love, is unselfish and of great spiritual benefit. It brings Grace to the person praying, but also benefits those being prayed for, since it brings them the Grace of God. » Venerable Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
Fr Jonah from Taiwan speaks on the gospel of the 8th Sunday of Matthew (14, 14-22).
If wax isn’t first warmed and softened, it won’t be receptive to a seal that’s placed upon it. In the same way, if the soul isn’t tested with labors and illnesses, it won’t be able to accept the seal of virtue. » Saint Seraphim of Sarov
The soul of all peoples always felt that God exists, even though they didn’t know enough to worship the true God. The Holy Spirit, however, taught the Prophets first, then the Apostles, after them the Holy Fathers and our Bishops and so the true faith has come down to us. We knew the Lord through the Holy Spirit. And once we knew Him, our soul became fixed in Him. Know, you peoples, that we were made in order to glorify God in heaven, and don’t attach yourselves to the earth. Because God is our Father and He loves us as His greatly-desired children. People who don’t know Grace don’t seek it. People have become attached to the earth and this is why most ...
Avarice makes many people act unjustly through the hope of obtaining money and is the root cause of many evils. It’s a passion of the soul, which causes a thirst for gold and the more gold is garnered, the more the soul burns. It’s the crafter of poverty, because it stores up treasure for itself, not the person who has it. It leaves that person wanting and, to all intents and purposes, in financial ruin. » Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis
Whatever’s given for God is returned by Him a hundredfold. This is why I decided to devote myself to the service of the poor. » Saint John the Merciful
Children’s behaviour is directly linked to the state of the parents. When children are hurt by the way their parents behave towards each other, they lose the strength and will to make progress. They’re badly built and their souls are in danger of collapse at any moment. » Venerable Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
Pupil who are (spiritually) sick can only be restored through love, never with anger and attitude. »Blessed Joseph the Hesychast
Certainly you don’t have the potential to salve the body of your neighbor, but you can salve their soul. And what greater loving-kindness is there than that which is offered to the soul? Because, just as the soul is of greater value than the body, so any loving-kindness which is offered to the soul is of great value than that offered to the body. So no-one can say: ‘I can’t afford charity’. Everybody can, depending on their strength and situation. Just make sure to keep your mind on the good you’re doing, so that you do it in full awareness, as we said. Because people who act with awareness are recognized masons who build their houses safely. »Abba Dorotheos
