Ξένες γλώσσες

The Lord’s Precious Cross is the supreme symbol of sacrifice and sanctification for the Church of Christ, Who was crucified and then rose, because the Cross, together with the Resurrection, are the two pillars which support the life for the Church and its members. The honour paid by the Orthodox Church to the Precious Cross on 14 September (though not only on that day) began in the very first, Apostolic years, through the Apostles themselves and the Fathers who followed them. Today, the Orthodox Church preserves intact the Biblical (Old Testament and New) and Patristic teaching and accords the Cross of Christ due honour as the outstanding instrument and symbol of the redemption of the human race. In 326, after the 1st ...

When we speak about sin, this concept isn’t moral, but ontological, which surpasses the rules of social life. Not because it’s opposed to social norms, but because it proceeds infinitely further than those. Moral laws speak about punishments, whereas God says ‘Love your enemies. Do not fear those who kill you’. But this is impossible to explain in words and cannot be understood other than through the heart. Because, as long as people feel the presence of death, it’s natural to protect themselves against any beings which threaten their lives or even the comforts of this life. And precisely because of this, until now we have conflict in the world.

If you don’t cultivate the ground, it may be rich and fertile but will produce lots of weeds In the same way, human nature’s created good by God, but unless it’s improved by the plough of proper reverence for God and the seed of the knowledge of Him, then impiety and all sorts of other weeds will spring up within us.

The grace which we receive through the holy sacraments is so great that it has the power to cleanse and regenerate every single person.

Before the time of Christ, the cross was an instrument of punishment; it evoked fear and aversion. But after Christ’s death on the Cross it became the instrument of our salvation. Through the Cross, Christ destroyed the devil; from the Cross He descended into hades and, having liberated those languishing there, led them into the Kingdom of Heaven. The sign of the Cross is terrifying to demons and, as the sign of Christ, it is honored by Christians. “O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victory unto Orthodox Christians over their adversaries, and by the virtue of Thy Cross, preserve Thy community.” The beginning of this prayer is taken from the twenty-seventh Psalm. In the Old Testament the word ...

How can a faithful person be delivered from the old fallen person? We all feel that we carry the traces of the old person. Its main characteristic is love of self, that is the sick, egocentric ‘love’ of our self. Self-love doesn’t allow us to love God and other people truly and unselfishly. From this self-love are born the passions. Impassioned as we are, we can’t relate unselfishly to other human beings and things. Our relationships become impassioned and egotistical and they prevent us from truly loving or enjoying other people and the other things of the world. This eventually leads to loneliness, to emptiness, to an impasse. Therefore when we say ‘the old person’, we mean the diseased self-centeredness, from which ...

You’re in a dark room waving your hands about and trying, in this way, to dispel the darkness. But darkness doesn’t go away like that. Open the window for the light to come in and get rid of the darkness. It’s light that dispels darkness. So let’s study the Scriptures, the Lives of the Saints and the Fathers. They’re the light that will get rid of the dark.

If you want to be saved, your heart has to be in a state of repentance and remorse. When we make an effort to have a humble heart and peaceful thoughts, then all the machinations of the enemy are deactivated. Because God finds rest in a peaceful mind.

The saints were always concerned with the next life. Remembrance of death is a gift. God protects us from temptation. He doesn’t allow us to be tempted beyond our powers. Everything He permits is for our good. Trust in the Lord in all things and He will nourish you in time of famine.

The protection and providence of God extends over everyone, but the only ones who see this are those who cleanse themselves from sin.

Satan never appears before us face to face, never reveals himself directly as our enemy. Instead, he fights in secret, indirectly or through bad people, using every kind of wicked ploy so as to hide the fact that he wants us to fall and be lost.

Today, on this Sunday before the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Lord presents the central theme of the Gospel in a few words: God saves the world from the devil and sin driven by endless love alone! To help in understanding, Jesus uses as an example a miracle which occurred while the Israelites were in the desert (Numbers 21:9). The people had been freed from slavery to the Egyptians by God’s miraculous interventions. Yet, the Israelites often forgot the true God, who poured down upon them heavenly food every day, and worshiped the idols. God, to again bring them close to Him, allowed poisonous snakes to bite them, causing many to die. Moses turned to God with ...

Monastics hover between two indescribable states: the ineffable bliss felt by a spirit steeped in the Spirit of God; and great sadness over the salvation of the whole world. These states succeed each other. Monastics love God and, with God’s love, they also love the world.

I have to refuse everything tawdry if I want a friend whose spiritual stature draws me. I have to get rid of my egotism if I want a friend who’s not egotistical. And I have to set aside any unseemliness if I want a friend who’s courteous.

Practical love Just as oil maintains the light of a lamp, so charity feeds the soul with true knowledge of God. The key for the heart to acquire divine gifts is given through love for our neighbour. How wonderful and praiseworthy is love for our neighbour, provided, of course, such concern doesn’t distract us from the love of God. How sweet is the company of our spiritual brothers and sisters, as long as we can preserve our love for God, as well. If you’re busy making a living, doing manual work, and you receive help from others, you have an obligation to give alms. If you neglect this, your hardness of heart will be contrary to the Lord’s commandment. Suppose a monk’s been given ...

On Tuesday, September 4, 2018, the Metamorphosis Greek Orthodox Day School welcomed back students and their families for the new school year. Both new and old students were greeted to the newly-expanded building premises, now that the new wing has been completed. The new building is incredible, and built according to the most modern standards. The number of students has again increased this year, with three hundred students enrolled for the 2018-2019 school year. This is the surest sign that parents and guardians are supporting and investing in Greek Orthodox education. The year began with the traditional Blessing of the Water service (Aghiasmos) conducted by Fr. Ignatios Delis. The school gymnasium was filled to capacity with students, parents, and teachers. Everyone ...

Humility gives us our whole self, it’s not as though it knocks our head off. Humility completes us, it gives us the discretion to know where we should and shouldn’t make a stand, when we need to say ‘No’, when to be uncompromising, and when to surrender to others entirely, without conditions.

Let’s not give the devil any justification. I don’t allow myself any resentful thoughts nor any egotistical ones, so that Satan doesn’t find an open window. The window’s a justification. When you distance yourself from God, you’re at risk, because Satan finds you exposed and can lord it over you. » Venerable Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia