There is an electric generator, and in the room is a lamp. If, however, we don’t flip the switch, we will remain in darkness. Similarly, there is Christ and there is our soul. If, however, we don’t flip the switch of prayer, our soul will not see the light of Christ and will remain in…
We must be very careful what we ask of God in prayer, for we don’t know, when we ask for a trial and He gives it, if we’ll be able to bear it. – Elder Iakovos (Tsalikis) (1920-1991)
Pay no attention to things earthly and passing. Be concerned about the union of your soul with God. – Elder Amphilochios (Makris) of Patmos (1889-1970)
True Christians, in the souls of whom Christ lives, are unable to do anything else except love all people, even enemies. The crown of our love for our friends has elements that are out of place (calculation, reciprocity, vanity, emotional weakness, passionate sympathy), while the crown of love for our enemies is pure.
Let us not expect the spiritual spring if we don’t first pass through the spiritual winter during which the spiritual vermin die. We mustn’t expect the divine to blossom within us if the human hasn’t first died. – Elder Paisios (Eznepidis) the Athonite (1924-1994)
The martyrs suffered greatly when they were tormented. They suffered in the same way as any normal person would have suffered, with the difference that they were continually united to Christ through prayer and partook of a force which was greater than their pain, and in this way they were able to conquer. If, however,…
The monk flees far from the world, not because he detests the world, but because he loves the world and in this way he is better able to help the world through his prayer, in things that don’t happen humanly but only through divine intervention. In this way God saves the world. – Elder Paisios…
It’s possible for people to come to the point of despair and see before them the living reality of chaos and say, “We’re falling into chaos! Everyone get back, get back, go back, we’ve been deceived,” and thus return to the path which leads them to God, and for our Orthodox faith to shine. God…
God appointed the salvation of the world to His Son and not to us…. We must first look at our soul and if we can, let’s help five or six people around us. – Elder Epiphanios (Theodoropoulos) of Athens (1930-1989)
The path of life you follow, married or unmarried, is the will of God. For, many times people desire one thing, while the call of God is otherwise. The married state is good, as is the unmarried; the celibate state is better and higher, for the unmarried man is interested in how to please God,…
