A video appears in our in-boxes every so often, showing several people bent over with the exertion of carrying their crosses. One person continually asks God to shorten his cross, cuts down the cross himself, thanks God, and walks off whistling with his short cross. Finally, they all reach a gulf, which all the others […]

The struggle with a spirit of lust is a fierce struggle. In this struggle, it is necessary to use two weapons. For the achievement of a perfect and pure chastity, bodily fasting is not enough (though it is of the utmost necessity). On top of that, compunction of soul and unremitting prayer against that most […]

All things here on this earth, all that is good and also all that is not, everything comes from our thoughts. If our thoughts are destructive, we will have no peace. If they are quiet, meek and simple, our life will be the same and we will have peace within us. It will radiate from […]

“There can be no rest on earth for those who desire to be saved.” St. Ephraim the Syrian

“It is detestable and dangerous for a wrestler to be slack at the start of a contest, thereby giving proof of his impending defeat to everyone. Let us have a firm beginning to our religious life, for this will help us if a certain slackness comes later. A bold and eager soul will be spurred […]

To me, the most important missionary witness that we have is the Divine Liturgy, the Eucharistic worship of the Orthodox Church. This is the life-giving source from which everything else proceeds. And therefore, to those who show an interest in Orthodoxy, I say, “Come and see. Come to the liturgy.” The first thing is that […]

It is important that we direct all our thoughts, all our actions, and all our desires towards a burning love for God. Our heart must become inflamed with the love of God, and all our intellectual and emotional striving must be directed towards the development of the heart, for the Kingdom of God is within. […]

“What joy is ours that the Lord not only forgives our sins , but allows the soul to know Him, so soon as she humbles herself. The poorest wretch can humble himself and know God in the Holy Spirit. There is no need of money or posessions in order to know God, only humility. The […]

“those who dislike and reject their fellow-man are impoverished in their being. They do not know the true God, who is all-embracing love.” St. Peter in his second epistle tells us what God has given us: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness … and become partakers […]

In one of the accounts of the martyrdoms of Christians during the reign of the Persian King Sapor, it is said: “The swords became dull, the sword-bearers fell and the sword-makers grew tired, but the Cross was lifted up even higher and shone from the blood of Christ’s martyrs.” St. Nicholai of Zica