Elder St Paisios on Bearing Trials and Illness…
When I was sixteen years old I asked God to give me a serious illness, a cancer, so that I would suffer for His love and glorify Him through...
Elder St. Porphyrios on the Need for Spiritual Guidance…
“If you are going to occupy yourself with prayer of the heart exclusively you must have the guidance of a spiritual father. Prayer of the heart is impossible...
St. Vasily of Kineshma on Consistency…
The lack of constancy is disastrous for spiritual life. When a person sees for the first time the light of the gospel truth shining before him with dazzling brightness,...
Metropolitan Sotirios on Entrusting Ourselves to God…
The most frequently heard exhortation of the Church which the faithful who attend daily Services hear is, “Let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to...
Peter Mamonov+ on What Really Matters…
For me, the Lord is the constant joy of His presence. That’s how I want to live; it’s so good—strong, close… And if I’m in sin, then I immediately...
Elder St Joseph on God’s Original Plan…
In the beginning, God did not make man to be like this, to suffer and grieve, but He made him equal to the angels; only slightly did he differ...
Orthodox Quote for August 9
“There is nothing of my own. God gave me many gifts, but I did not respond; I proved myself unworthy. But I have not abandoned my efforts, not even...
Elder Ephraim+ of Arizona on the Continuous Struggle…
Do not lose your courage, my child, no matter how much the tempestuous sea of various passions might rage at times. You should reflect that all these things—and even...
Archimandrite Ambrose Yurasov on Advice from the Pochaev Elders…
They took it [trials in life] for granted, for the sake of greater holiness. And they reacted to it all like this: “We deserve this for our sins! We...
Elder Anthimos+ on Correct Prayer…
“Prayer,” the Elder used to say, “means communication directly with God. The Psalmist says: ‘I will pour out my petition before Him, I will declare my affliction before Him'(Ps....