Prayer is our help in life, a conversation with God, an obliviousness towards earthly things, an ascent into heaven. It’s a general medication against the passions and protects us from them. It brings life, it’s a promise of health, it’s a flower of hope. Prayer’s a powerful weapon, a mighty fastness, a rich treasure, a safe haven, a secure place.
Satan’s a master of his craft. He steals the present from us and promises us the future.
For this particular reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we see the Apostle Paul imparting his spiritual legacy upon the presbyters of Ephesus in an emotional farewell address at the seaside town of Miletus. Our Church, in its wisdom has chosen this passage as the one to be read today, in honor of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Synod. This is because the Holy Fathers have taken to heart these words of St. Paul in how they lived, and we commemorate this faithfulness today. The Apostle had remained in Ephesus for three years straight, working to found one of the largest Churches in Asia. At the conclusion of his third Apostolic Tour, he set sail for Jerusalem, to ...
Change doesn’t depend on Him Who has sown, but on those who don’t want to mend their ways.
Those who reveal to their spiritual guide the serpents of the temptations are people who show their true faith. Those who hide them are following the road to perdition.
Scholarship Programme ANNOUNCEMENT The Saint Maxim the Greek Institute, with the support of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopaidi, is introducing the ‘Evyenios Voulgaris’ Scholarship Programme. Evyenios Voulgaris (1716-1806) served as principal of the Athoniada School, which had been established by the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi. In his day, he was the greatest and most important Greek scholar, a theologian, philosopher, polymath, a man of encyclopaedic learning, poet, Father and Shepherd of the Church and an influential teacher for the whole of Orthodoxy. The ‘Evgenios Voulgaris’ is directed towards: Orthodox theologians (up to 37 years of age), holders of or candidates for a doctoral degree. Duration: 1 year (October 1st – September 30th) Programme Language: Modern Greek Requirements: Good knowledge of Ancient Greek, ...
Sinners won’t achieve remission of their sins unless they first realize with all their heart that these are senseless, destructive and illusory. Just as they committed the sin and found it pleasant and enjoyable, so now they must repent and confess that it was deceptive and leads to perdition.
Fr Jonah from Taiwan speaks on the miracle of the cure of the blind man (John 9, 1-38).
Prayer will bring Christ into your heart, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit and it will strengthen and protect your soul against all evil. But after prayer, you have to guard your heart carefully. » Saint John of Kronstadt
When the heart is humbled, it’s overshadowed by Divine Grace, which brings contrition, tears, peace and love. When you yourself are humbled, everybody else will seem to you to be saints. But when you’re proud and puffed up, everybody seems bad to you. All of these times that you fall are lessons in humility. >Blessed Joseph the Hesychast
The slightest muttering against your neighbor affects your soul and you can’t pray. When the Holy Spirit finds the soul like this, He dare not approach it. » Venerable Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
Whether the sword is sent, or sickness, famine, death, or something else that’s considered appalling, they’re all sent to earth for our regeneration and correction, and so that we can concentrate our minds on devotion to God. Because every generation needs to be educated by a visit from the Lord. » Saint Ephraim the Syrian
Putting yourself in the place of other people is a great aid in acquiring internal kindness, because then love comes naturally, as do pain, humility, and gratitude to God through continuous hymns of praise and prayer of the heart for our neighbor. Then our prayer is both well-pleasing to God and helps our fellow human beings. » Venerable Païsios the Athonite
In today’s passage from the Acts of the Apostles, we see two main themes: Satan’s cunning in how he deceives people, and the wondrous protection that God provides to the faithful who are devoted to Him. St. Paul the Apostle and his partner Silas are in Philippi of Macedonia, proclaiming the Gospel and gathering the first believers in Christ. While there, something strange happened: Whenever they went to prayer, a certain slave girl would follow them. She was possessed by a spirit of divination, and would make money for her masters through fortune-telling. She would run after the Apostle crying out: “These men are servants of God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation” (verse 17). This was not a ...
Compassion is the voluntary sorrow we feel at the disasters that have befallen others. It’s begotten in a heart which sympathizes and suffers with the sufferings of others and it’s expressed as a loving disposition towards those who have been made miserable by unfortunate circumstances. It’s a powerful medicine for those who are down on their luck and is administered by a soul which suffers with them. It’s the father of clemency, a collateral bond of love and the link between all feelings of friendship. » Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis
Metropolitan Barnabas of Neapolis In our lives, my beloved brothers and sisters, God has endowed us with many gifts. Health, people we love and who love us, the beauty of the world surrounding us, the good things we need in our lives. We acknowledge many of these gifts and sometimes thank God for His loving-kindness. But when we’re overwhelmed by difficulties and when badness darkens our minds, we can hardly think straight, much less feel any gratitude. We’re reminded of this basic truth in tomorrow’s Gospel narrative for the Sunday of the Blind Man (Jn. 9, 1-38). Jesus is walking along with His disciples when they come across a man who’s been blind from birth. The disciples are at a loss to ...
Watch yourself, especially your passions in your family life, because that’s where they show themselves most freely. Outside the house, some of these are usually covered up by other, more ‘respectable’, behavior. But at home, you can’t conceal those passions that undermine your spiritual integrity. » Saint John of Kronstadt
Fr Jonah from Taiwan speaks on Jesus meeting with the Samaritan woman (John 4, 5-42).
Since love that’s cultivated in the desolate wilderness has nothing of the world in it, it can’t fit into the world. Nor can it fit into the brain of many people (who think in a worldly way), which is why it can often be misunderstood. » Venerable Païsios the Athonite
In truth, the great virtue is to feel sorry for those who are evil and to benefit sinners more than the righteous. Give alms with a cheerful countenance and you’ll always bring comfort to those who are sad. On the day you feel sorry for someone who’s ill, see yourself as a martyr for Christ. » Saint Isaac the Syrian
