For us who firmly and resolutely believe in God’s providence, even the worst misfortune is nothing but a movement of the hand of Him, our Lord, Who never tires of drawing us to His path to eternity. And never tires of showing us the path. Saint Makarij of Optina
When, in an obvious manner, we follow the commandments, we receive a commensurate reward from the Lord and benefit spiritually in accordance with the aim of the intention. Saint Mark the Ascetic
Temptations are allowed in order to make apparent the hidden passions so that these may be attacked and the soul can be healed. They, too, are an indication of God’s mercy. So, confidently place yourself in God’s hands and ask His help, and He’ll strengthen you in your struggle. Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis
Those who don’t want to attend to their prayers don’t want to be with God. People who pray for the whole world perform the greatest act of charity for themselves and for humanity. Dimitrios Panagopoulos
I’ve seen hundreds of people weep bitter tears over the fruits of sin. I’ve never seen anyone cry because they’ve followed the path of experience of the saints. On the contrary, whereas in the eyes of the world they seemed unfortunate, their heart was in fact full of heavenly joy and inexpressible bliss. We often wish people had even a fraction of this, so that they could finally understand where the happiness they seek is to be found. Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol
Anger is a natural property of the mind. Without anger, we can’t achieve purification, that is, unless we’re angry at all the wicked thoughts which the devil sows within us. If you want to reach natural anger (that is anger which is directed at the devil and the passions), cut off your will until the state of your mind becomes as it was when God created it. Saint Isaiah the Anchorite
The evil spirit doesn’t expose our virtues but our weaknesses. Only if we give him the right to do so can the devil do us harm. If you don’t take part in the sacraments of the Church, you’re giving permission to be tempted and to be subjected to demonic influences. The further you distance yourself from God, the more difficult things become for you. Saint Païsios the Athonite
The grace of God descends on humble people. Those who are proud are surrounded by woeful circumstances, in order for them to become humble and be saved. The humble always welcome God’s mercy. Humble yourself in all things before other people. Abase yourself and you’ll see God’s glory. Strive to make everyone else look down on you, so that God may glorify you. Saint Isaac the Syrian
We cannot recognize God without God. Those who know Him better become more humble. They fear Him and love Him. Those who have fear of God have a treasury full of blessings. The fear of God protects people from sin. Saint Andronik from the Monastery of Glinsk
If the extreme of the most perfect meekness is to treat with inner serenity and love someone who’s provoking you when they’re standing in front of you, then certainly the extreme of anger is to use various words and wild actions in order to clash with someone who has wounded you, even though they’re not there. Saint John of the Ladder
A lot of care needs to be taken in the preservation of the institution of marriage. People shouldn’t pay attention to calumny, which gives rise to misunderstandings. We especially recommend that the husband, as the head, shouldn’t betray the love and connection he has with his wife, because the devil and his minions will never cease their hostile efforts to wound the root of life. Elder Iosif Vatopaidinos
We often become annoyed with direct and sincere people because they openly reveal our weaknesses. But we should honor and thank them. They’re like surgeons who, with their sharp words, cut away the infected parts of the heart. They awaken the conscience of the soul, which has been made moribund by sin. Saint John Kronstadtskij
Dear brothers and sisters, You are invited to participate in the 1st e-Meeting with Elder Ephraim and the friends of the “BIZANTICONS ARTS” store in Bucharest, which will take place Thursday 1st April 2021, 07:30-09:30 PM. Elder Ephraim will talk in Greek and we will offer real-time Romanian Interpretation for the entire session, including the homily as well as the questions & answers. The e-Meeting is organized by the web magazine PEMPTOUSIA and the Bizanticons Arts Store in Bucharest. You may register in advance for this meeting: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMsfumqrDguG9OrTMN5Yr2HskJca88jVkXk After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you need any help please contact: nikos@gouraros.net or alexandru@librariabizantina.ro
In today’s Gospel, the paralytic arose immediately, took his bed upon his shoulders and walked past everyone. And everyone was amazed and glorified God saying: “We’ve never seen the like”. Let’s look at the marvellous powers the Lord reveals for us in this miracle: He reads people’s hearts, discovering faith in some and malice in others. Source: www.porphyrios.gr/ He forgives the soul its sins and makes it healthy, purified of the source of sickness and disability. He restores health to the sick and paralyzed body by the power of His word. How wonderful, how dreadful and how breathtaking and life-giving is the presence of the living Lord! Let’s dwell for a moment on this presence of the living Lord. The most important thing on the path of ...
Previous post: Iconoclasm was a form of religious ideology, which cast doubt on and, in the end, rejected the fact of God’s incarnation, which is the prerequisite for the renewal of the world and of our own glorification. If Christ cannot be depicted, this means that he was not a real human person. The icon of Christ declares and emphasizes the truth of divine incarnation. It highlights the presence of God Who came into the world in order to save us. All the ancient heresies which made their appearance in the first millennium after Christ were dealt with by the seven Ecumenical Synods. The victory of Orthodoxy, which is celebrated by the Church on the first Sunday of Great Lent is ...
‘From heaven Gabriel cries Hail to the Virgin’ . Glad tidings indeed today for Orthodoxy. A feast of the Lord and the Mother of God. Of the Lord because is has to do with Our Lord Jesus Christ who was conceived in the womb of the Mother of God. Of the Mother of God because Our Lady served, played an important role in, the plan for God’s incarnation, the incarnation of the second Person of the Consubstantial Trinity. Today’s feast is the beginning of all the feasts which are concerned with the person of Jesus. In Greek, the name of the feast is Evangelismos meaning, literally ‘good tidings’. What is this good news? The message announced by the Archangel Gabriel to ...
On the first Sunday of the Fast of Great Lent, the Church celebrates the triumph of Orthodoxy over the heresies. The specific historical event which was the basis and starting-point for this celebration was the victory of the Church against the iconoclasts. The latter proclaimed that the use of icons is anti-Christian. They would not accept the veneration of the icon of Christ, nor the honor paid to the other icons or to the relics of saints. This attitude of theirs was not superficial, but came from a more profound denial of the depiction of Christ, which, in the end, led to a denial of his incarnation and his presence in the world as a real human being. The way ...
Every Friday during Great Lent, crowds of the faithful flock to churches to honor the Mother of God, to sing ‘Hail’ to the ‘sweetly-smelling incense’, the ‘precious myrrh’, Our Lady. Orthodox churches are redolent with the ineffable fragrance exuded by the pure figure of the most blessed Mother of God. This is why the faithful, together with the hymnographer sing aloud: ‘Hail, scent of Christ’s fragrance’. The fragrance of Christ! This is the exquisite, sublime aroma exuded by the Virgin Mary. In a world that was choking on the stench of sin, in an atmosphere that was suffocating with the fumes of moral decay and religious delusion, the Mother of God became the ‘august tabernacle of the fragrance,’ the vessel of ...
Today is the Sunday of Orthodoxy, and, during the procession with the holy icons, we commemorate those who affirmed the Orthodox faith not only through their teachings but also through their struggles unto death. The Church is therefore justified in choosing for the Epistle reading a passage from chapter eleven of Hebrews, a chapter which has been rightly called ‘the iconostas of the faith’. True riches or mere decoration? The dominant place on this iconostas is occupied by the Prophet Moses. The cost of his faith for the saint was enormous, since he refused- Saint John Chrysostom says ‘hated’- to be considered the son of a heathen princess with all the attendant comforts and pleasures and chose to share in the sufferings ...
