Our life is such that any content is bound up with the form. The immortal soul is present in a mortal body, the Holy Gifts are kept in a tabernacle, fragrant myrrh is kept in a vessel, and the external form for prayerful sighs is the rule. Just as the river has a riverbed along which the water easily flows forward, so is the prayer rule this riverbed along which our prayer flows to God.
Priest Valery Dukhanin
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Sin greatly affects one's soul, which becomes as a dirty vessel. And as well as water cleans the vessel , so repentance restores one’s soul.
"When someone starts making concessions to sin, he darkens inside, the eyes of the soul are clouded and he can no longer see clearly. Moreover, he is polluted by sin, and sin confuses and entangles him, causing him to see even the pure as sinful.
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When a person observes the commandments of God, working to be cleansed of one's passions, then the mind is enlightened; it attains spiritual vision, and the soul becomes as resplendent as it was before the Fall of man."
St. Paisios of Mount Athos
"When someone starts making concessions to sin, he darkens inside, the eyes of the soul are clouded and he can no longer see clearly. Moreover, he is polluted by sin, and sin confuses and entangles him, causing him to see even the pure as sinful.
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When a person observes the commandments of God, working to be cleansed of one's passions, then the mind is enlightened; it attains spiritual vision, and the soul becomes as resplendent as it was before the Fall of man."
St. Paisios of Mount Athos
🌟☦️ The five breads symbolize the multiplication of breads fulfilled by the Lord, but no it's not just belongs to the ancient time. Such a miracle, for example, happened recently with Russian Orthodox confessors in one of the camps in the past century, and earlier had been worked by St. Seraphim of Sarov.
“A ship does not go far without water; and there is no progress whatsoever in the guarding of the intellect without watchfulness, humility and the Jesus Prayer.” - St Hesychios The Priest
"Watchfulness is a continual fixing and halting of thought at the entrance to the heart... If we are conscientious in this, we can gain much experience and knowledge of spiritual warfare."
Humility means understanding that I am no better than others to judge, and recognizing that I cannot do anything without God.
Jesus prayer repetition leads to inner stillness. Even earlier John Cassian recommended this type of prayer. - "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
"Watchfulness is a continual fixing and halting of thought at the entrance to the heart... If we are conscientious in this, we can gain much experience and knowledge of spiritual warfare."
Humility means understanding that I am no better than others to judge, and recognizing that I cannot do anything without God.
Jesus prayer repetition leads to inner stillness. Even earlier John Cassian recommended this type of prayer. - "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
“Destroy within you the devil's rule over you; destroy all his influence over you; acquire spiritual freedom. The foundation for your struggle is the grace of holy baptism; your weapon is the prayer of Jesus.”
St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
And how to do that? It can be achieved through constant prayer, watchfulness over ourselves, repentance and the Church life. Our Church has all we need to get saved.
St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
And how to do that? It can be achieved through constant prayer, watchfulness over ourselves, repentance and the Church life. Our Church has all we need to get saved.
The fact that God sends Angels to help faithful in different ways we know from the Scripture. But it doesn’t change the fact that we should strive for righteousness ourselves. St. Anastasius of Sinai citing St Basil the Greate explains:
“Every Christian is given an angel from God to guard him all his life (unless, through evil deeds, he drives him away). But as smoke drives away bees and an evil smell drives away doves, so is the guardian angel of our life driven away by our sins: drunkenness, adultery, anger and so forth. The angel of every faithful man leads him to every good deed, while the demons labor to scandalize the faithful ones and deprive them of the Kingdom of Heaven.”
“Every Christian is given an angel from God to guard him all his life (unless, through evil deeds, he drives him away). But as smoke drives away bees and an evil smell drives away doves, so is the guardian angel of our life driven away by our sins: drunkenness, adultery, anger and so forth. The angel of every faithful man leads him to every good deed, while the demons labor to scandalize the faithful ones and deprive them of the Kingdom of Heaven.”
"I ask you to try something. If someone grieves you, or dishonors you, or takes something of yours, then pray like this: "Lord, we are all your creatures. Pity your servants, and turn them to repentance," and then you will perceptibly bear grace in your soul. Induce your heart to love your enemies, and the Lord, seeing your good will, shall help you in all things, and will Himself show you experience. But whoever thinks evil of his enemies does not have love for God and has not known God."
(St. Silouan the Athonite)
(St. Silouan the Athonite)
☦ Those Christians who begin to eat, drink, and partake of other blessings without prayer and God's blessing are behaving poorly. They probably do not know where all good comes from, and not knowing the Giver, they do not thank Him. Thus they become like pagans who do not know the true God and Creator of all good things...
St Tikhon, Bishop of Zadonsk
St Tikhon, Bishop of Zadonsk
☦️🕯️EXCERPTS FROM MARY'S ROLE IN SALVATION HISTORY 🕯️☦️
Orthodox Christians view Mary, the Theotokos, as having a central and unique role in salvation history. She is honored as the Mother of God because She bore Jesus Christ, God incarnate, thus becoming the "God-bearer" whose obedience allowed the divine Son to enter human history. This obedience is crucial—Mary is seen as the "Second Eve," whose willing acceptance of God's will reversed the disobedience of the first Eve and opened the way to salvation for humanity.
Mary’s role in salvation history is unique and indispensable: She is the God-bearer whose obedience brought forth the Savior, the model of faith and holiness for the Church, and the powerful intercessor who prays for the salvation and sanctification of all believers. Her life and glorification anticipate the ultimate salvation offered to all humanity through Christ
Orthodox Christians view Mary, the Theotokos, as having a central and unique role in salvation history. She is honored as the Mother of God because She bore Jesus Christ, God incarnate, thus becoming the "God-bearer" whose obedience allowed the divine Son to enter human history. This obedience is crucial—Mary is seen as the "Second Eve," whose willing acceptance of God's will reversed the disobedience of the first Eve and opened the way to salvation for humanity.
Mary’s role in salvation history is unique and indispensable: She is the God-bearer whose obedience brought forth the Savior, the model of faith and holiness for the Church, and the powerful intercessor who prays for the salvation and sanctification of all believers. Her life and glorification anticipate the ultimate salvation offered to all humanity through Christ
“When you pass beside a hospital make the Sign the Cross three times. Once for the patients, once for their relatives, and once for yourself because you aren’t there.”
Saint Paisios the Athonite
And not only in that case. But also beside the Church , ambulance, etc. This is what one spiritual man also taught me. This is our small prayer contribution, confession of faith and remembrance of God's providence
Saint Paisios the Athonite
And not only in that case. But also beside the Church , ambulance, etc. This is what one spiritual man also taught me. This is our small prayer contribution, confession of faith and remembrance of God's providence
Many Christians suffered for Christ and faith. Many were killed, many were imprisoned. But they stayed firm and not broken down.
“With You, Lord, I will flee, that I may gain in You life in every place. The prison with You is no prison, for in You, man goes up into Heaven: the grave with You is no grave, for You are the Resurrection!” - Saint Ephrem the Syrian
“With You, Lord, I will flee, that I may gain in You life in every place. The prison with You is no prison, for in You, man goes up into Heaven: the grave with You is no grave, for You are the Resurrection!” - Saint Ephrem the Syrian