In English

In the narrative of the event of the baptism of Christ, the Forerunner is hesitant and in awe at the prospect of baptizing Jesus: ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ Jesus insisted, however, and replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness’ (Matth. 3, 14-16). Time has to be completed, the past has to be completed, a long period of preparation has to be completed for the way to appear between the baptism in water and the baptism of fire (Matth. 3, 11). I believe that the baptism of fire involves an encounter with the powers of darkness. The battle is fought not against ...

Watch Fr Jonah’s from Taiwan sermon on the parable of the publican and the pharisee (Luke 18, 10-14).

There are many ways of praying. They’re all good, if people don’t know how to pray with simplicity. But if somebody else is leading them, and they disobey, then their prayer turns and becomes deception. >Blessed Joseph the Hesychast

Let’s not be overwhelmed, then, by that fear which has to do with the things and conditions of this vain world. In other words, let’s not fear where there’s nothing to fear (I Jn. 4, 18). What human fear can compare with the fear of God? And what passing human glory can be compared to the majesty, the inexpressible power and the imperishable glory of God? But since earthly matters distract us, we can’t- even with the power of faith and the enlightenment of knowledge- focus our mind on the things invisible. If, merely through the sight of visible things, we’re brought to an understanding of the inexpressible power of immortal God, let’s stand before Him in awe and infinite respect. If ...

Patience in trials is a sure way of uniting ourselves to God. Complaining separates us from God, so patience forges our union with Him. So if you suffer all your trials with patience and gratitude, for His sake, He will reward you with eternal bliss. Through sorrows and patience, you enter the realm of real knowledge and are cleansed of the multitude of your sins. ‘I waited patiently for the Lord and He attended me and hearkened’ (Ps 39, 1). The Lord accepts intrepid patience as a pleasing sacrifice, though He turns His face from timidity. People who are patient follow faithfully in His steps, but the weak and the timid distance themselves from Him. ‘After this, many of His disciples turned back ...

We Orthodox don’t worship icons, or the saints, the angels or even Our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God. We worship only God in the Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We honour and glorify the saints, the angels and, even more the Ever-Virgin and All-Holy Mother of our Saviour, who is ‘more honourable than the Cherubim and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim’, but we don’t worship either these persons or their icons. Honour and respect are one thing; worship’s another. Many Orthodox people consider certain icons to be ‘wonder-working’, but is this the case? Are there really wonder-working icons? Or rather, is it possible that there should be icons that perform miracles? Many Orthodox theologians attribute the miracles of ...

The heart is the eye of human existence. The clearer it is, the quicker, farther and more clearly it sees. In the saints of God, however, even in this life, the eye is calibrated to the highest degree of clarity, which is why they see clearly, far and wide. » Saint John of Kronstadt

Today’s Gospel reading presents us with two typical kinds of people: a Pharisee and a Publican, who were praying in the Temple. They were the two opposite poles of society at that time. One was pious and righteous in the eyes of others, an expert on the Law who belonged to the group of the Pharisees, the leading religious class. The other was a representative of the class of sinners, of people whose profession was associated with extortion, violence and siphoning off the property of the people. In the view of the whole of society at that time, a publican was the worst of sinners. What did these two people say in their prayers? Let’s look first at the prayer of ...

Give something to God as a “thank you” present, for the fact that you’re one of those who can give charity rather than someone who has to live off it. For the fact that you don’t expect help from the hands of others, but that others hope for it from yours. Bestow not only possessions on people, but also respect, not only gold, but also virtue, or even better, only virtue. » Saint Gregory the Theologian

Another phenomenon which many who visit monastics have observed is the gift of far-sight which some of these people have. Often the Elders know names and situations regarding their visitors without the latter having mentioned the issue they’ve come to raise. Many such instances have been recorded, including some by people still alive who met some of the saints of our own day. The relationship between these Elders and wild animals is also well known. There are numerous references to Orthodox ascetics who consorted with snakes, lions and so on, with the animals obeying as if they were tame. Of course, we’ve all seen wild animals which have been tamed, but it should be noted that this is achieved only after ...

Strive to remain unflinchingly in a state of spiritual vigilance, patience and boldness, because only then will you sense the spiritual Amalek who covets your soul. You’ll be freed from the passions and gain the eternal good things, when the Lord returns to judge the world. Who has ever been wounded and then been cured without first undergoing the pain and then the treatment regime of the doctor? Who can follow Christ without shouldering the cross of patience? No-one. All of those who followed Him in the past and do so now were and are prepared to face with patience the trials which will certainly come their way, as the wise Sirach says: ‘Child, if you come to serve the Lord God, prepare ...

From the Kyriakodromion of Monk Agapios The Holy Fathers of the Church have commanded us to sing and read today about the case and parable of the Publican and the Pharisee, in order that we might prepare for the spiritual struggles and warfare of Holy Lent, which is approaching. This is why they called this week a ‘warning order’, because it forewarns and reminds us of the time of fasting and repentance which is almost upon us, so that we may prepare accordingly, to fight bravely and fairly, and not be defeated by any passion and lose the kingdom of heaven. Let each of us then examine which sin defeats us, so that we conquer it boldly in these holy days; ...

The indolent, the idle and the lazy are not all right with God. Laziness isn’t a good thing at all. Indolence is a sickness, it’s a sin. God doesn’t want us to be indolent. Great effort, movement, labour and action are a virtue. » Venerable Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

Excerpt (2) from Instruction 1 What harm pride does, my brethren. If only you knew what humility can achieve. Why did we need to go through all these tribulations? If, from the beginning had humbled himself, obeyed God and kept His commandment, he wouldn’t have fallen. And again, after the sin, he was afforded the chance to repent and be shown mercy, but his neck remained stiff. God came and asked him: ‘Adam, where are you?’. He didn’t say: ‘From what glory have you fallen into such shame?’. Then He asks him: ‘Why did you sin? Why did you break the commandment?’, giving him every opportunity to ask for forgiveness. But where was the ‘Forgive me’? No sign of humility, ...

Following the rapid industrial and technological explosion which has brought significant changes to the planet and has created a large number of social and environmental problems, the Ecumenical Patriarch has moved into action in an effort to provide a solution to the troubles afflicting creation. The most important event which triggered the activities of the Ecumenical Patriarchate occurred in April 1986, the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear installation which caused irreparable damage to the environment and to people. The pioneer in the ecological activities was Patriarch Dimitrios I and he was followed by his successor, Patriarch Bartholomew I, the latter being known as ‘The green Patriarch’ for his important contribution to environmental issues. He has made the protection of the environment ...

Fr Jonah from Taiwan speaks on the parable of the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15, 21-28).

A lot of hesitations… Some people don’t want to go to confession, others are driven mad by being woken up early to go to church, the fast seems like a mountain, but dieting for the beach is a child’s game. You see a priest on the street and you feel like crossing the road. Sin wants to anchor you in its own harbour. And what’s behind all this? We don’t want to abandon sin. We like it. As one song says, the cup of sin is sweet. We don’t want to leave, we’ve been together for years, we enjoy this marriage. We’ve become as one. If anyone goes to touch our other half, even in a sermon, we go wild. Everything’s a rebuke ...

All the trials which the love of God sends us are so that we can acquire patience and become like Him, Who is called ‘the God of patience and comfort’.

‘If you don’t want to knead, you’ll spend ten days sifting flour’, that is, finding excuses for your laziness. The folk saying’s got it right. And if that’s true for the genuinely tiring task of kneading bread, how much more so is it of the ‘heavy lifting’ of the acquisition of the virtues. *** In the New Testament, there’s an epistle by Saint James, addressed to all Christians. If you haven’t read it carefully, you’re doing yourself a disservice. It contains all the teaching of the Apostle in brief. Though it’s short, it demonstrates the capacity of his heart. The epistle begins with an exhortation which shows the depth of experience he has in the struggle for salvation. It’s an appeal which sounds ...

When you see somebody becoming rich through wrong-doing and then living prosperously, sigh and weep for them. Because this wealth adds to their punishment. What they’ve saved is lost and what they’ve wasted remains. Nobody can snatch it from the hand of God.