Blessed are the humble ones because they have the true light and ceaselessly give it to the others within a burning joy. They feel united with... 7905
People who chase the ‘prayer’ as if it were gold, and who put ever ‘cent’ to good use, can overcome everything, accept and bear anything. Then God and His Mother protect them. “Abbess Makrina, Holy Monastery of Our Lady the Guide, Portaria” Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
People who are stubborn, quarrelsome and cantankerous are vain and empty. They strive against other people until they’re exhausted, but, no matter how tired they are, they won’t give in. They take no thought for themselves and behave as if they’re possessed by insanity. What’s important to them isn’t truth, but the imposition of their will on others. This blocks out their reason and they try to win by shouting. “Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis” Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
Not knowledge you learn, but knowledge you suffer. That’s Orthodox spirituality. “Abbess Gavriïlia” Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
The world’s in a state of inertia, it’s in a deep sleep of sin. Fast asleep. God wakes us up with wars, deadly epidemics, fires, catastrophic storms, earthquakes, floods and poor harvests. “Saint John of Kronstadt” Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
Lots of people approach the Lord, but few decide to follow Him. There are many people who read the Gospel, who rejoice over its sublime concepts and enthuse over its holy teaching, but only a few decide to live according to the Gospel law. “Saint Ignatius Brianchaninoff” Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
When your mind isn’t distracted by worldly things and is united to God, then the ‘Good morning’ you say will be like giving a blessing. “Abbess Gavriïlia” Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
We sin every day. Let’s hasten every day to the tears of repentance, which are the only medicine that makes us worthy to remove from our soul all those things with which sin has loaded it. “Saint Gregory the Theologian” This is an excerpt from an article published at www.pemptousia.com
Get rid of two things about yourself: don’t think you’re somebody important and worthy; and don’t think that anybody else is of greater value than you. “Saint Basil the Great” Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
I’m the LIGHT and you don’t see me. I’m the WAY and you don’t follow me. I am the TRUTH and you don’t believe me. I’m LIFE and you don’t seek me. I’m the TEACHER and you don’t listen to me. I’m the LORD and you don’t obey me. I’m your GOD and you don’t pray to me. I’m your best FRIEND and you don’t love me. If you’re unhappy, don’t blame me. Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
If you call God your Father then you’ll trust Him as your only real Father, Who is merciful and all-wise, unalterable in His love and perfection. “Saint John of Kronstadt” Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
Uprightness is simplicity, innocence and untarnished purity of the soul. It’s virtue of the highest order, because it’s the fruit of Christian perfection. Upright people are interested day and night in learning about the will of God, what is good, pleasing and perfect, in order to conform to it. They examine their lives and investigate the depths of their hearts. They will not allow anything in there, they eject any evil desire and cast out every passion. “Saint Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis” Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
Spiritual vigilance and your struggle against demonic evil will last until the end of your life. This is because Satan is constantly vigilant and never rests. He’s like a wild lion prowling around, seeking to devour anyone who’s escaped him. Anyone he finds asleep is in trouble. “Saint Dimitry of Rostov” Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
Just as the shadow follows the body, so God’s mercy follows humble reflections. “Saint Isaac the Syrian” Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
Elder Porphyrios loved everyone with Christ’s love, which is unique for each individual. But the rich heart of Christ and the rich hearts of all those who resemble Him are capable of loving all men in a unique way, each individual being an image of the beloved Christ. And this love attracts Divine Grace, which falls upon the person who is loved in the form of a great and boundless joy. The person who loves feels joy because loving means giving and giving is a blessing, as the Lord Himself said (‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ – Acts 20: 35). “Former Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals George Arvanitis” This is an excerpt from an article published ...
When you turn to Christ, pay no attention to what’s going on inside you. Keep your attention focused on the Lord and beg Him for help. There’s no room for malicious thoughts in a mind focused on the Lord. "Saint Theophan the Recluse" Read more “Words of Life” at www.pemptousia.com
Kafsokalyvia is a very simple community of ascetics, situated in a place where the torrents of Athos are channelled into a broad rocky and resonant ravine. The forty or so kalyves encircle the Kyriakon like a chain. The kalyves are separated from each other by rings of green, which consist of a small garden, a minute vineyard, and a few citrus trees, which, together with the few olives and other fruit-bearing trees, provide the only consolation for the ascetics, who break their backs to dig amongst the rocks and fill the cavities with earth brought from the surrounding area, despite the low fertility of the dry soil thereabout. "Saint Porfyrios of Kavsokalyvia" This is an excerpt from an article published at www.pemptousia.com
He who has given his heart to Christ will not suffer, however many difficulties he experiences. He is glad, he is full of inner joy. He is dynamic. He is careful. He does not make mistakes or cause harm. His mind, his hands and his feet are all propelled by God’s Grace. "Saint Porfyrios of Kavsokalyvia" This is an excerpt from an article published at www.pemptousia.com
The man who belongs to Christ should love Christ, and when he loves Christ he will be freed from the devil, from Hell and from death. "Saint Porfyrios of Kavsokalyvia" This is an excerpt from an article published at www.pemptousia.com
Burning love for Christ is something else. It’s not the end, it’s not satiety. It gives life, it gives resilience, it gives health, it gives, it gives, it gives… And the more it gives, the more we want to be in love. Human love can diminish us, can send us crazy. When we love Christ, all other loves recede. "Saint Porfyrios of Kavsokalyvia" This is an excerpt from an article published at www.pemptousia.com
