🌟 The Bible speaks about toll houses, it can be seen from the proper translation of Luke 12:20.
"But God said to him, you fool, this night your soul will be required of you: then whose will those things be, which you have provided?"
However, the KJV margin note reads: "Gr[eek], do they require thy soul."
The Young’s Literal
"But God said to him, you fool, this night your soul will be required of you: then whose will those things be, which you have provided?"
However, the KJV margin note reads: "Gr[eek], do they require thy soul."
The Young’s Literal
Translation has it as:
"And God said to him, Unthinking one! this night thy soul they shall require from thee, and what things thou didst prepare -- to whom shall they be?"
Blessed Theophylact, commenting on this, says "Notice also the words "they will require". Like some stern imperial officers demanding tribute, the fearsome angels will ask for your souls, and you will not want to give it because you love this life and claim the things of this life as your own. But they do not demand the soul of a righteous man, because he himself commits his soul into the hands of God and Father of spirits, and he does so with joy and gladness, not in the least bit grieved that he is handing over his soul to God. For him the body is only a light burden, easily shed. But the sinner has made his soul fleshy, something difficult to separate from the body. This is why the soul must be demanded of him, the same way that harsh tax collectors treat debtors who refuse to pay what is due. See that the Lord did not say, "I shall require thy soul of thee," but, "they shall require"".(The Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Luke. Fr. Christopher Stade)
"And God said to him, Unthinking one! this night thy soul they shall require from thee, and what things thou didst prepare -- to whom shall they be?"
Blessed Theophylact, commenting on this, says "Notice also the words "they will require". Like some stern imperial officers demanding tribute, the fearsome angels will ask for your souls, and you will not want to give it because you love this life and claim the things of this life as your own. But they do not demand the soul of a righteous man, because he himself commits his soul into the hands of God and Father of spirits, and he does so with joy and gladness, not in the least bit grieved that he is handing over his soul to God. For him the body is only a light burden, easily shed. But the sinner has made his soul fleshy, something difficult to separate from the body. This is why the soul must be demanded of him, the same way that harsh tax collectors treat debtors who refuse to pay what is due. See that the Lord did not say, "I shall require thy soul of thee," but, "they shall require"".(The Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Luke. Fr. Christopher Stade)
Our Saints have a lot of experience and spiritual wisdom. All we need is to listen to it carefully. St. Isaac the Syrian explains what we need to be brought back to spiritual life from worldly cares. “The soul, which was dispersed by the senses among the things of this world, is brought back to itself by the ascesis of faith, by fasting from material things and by devoting itself to a constant remembrance of God. This is the foundation of all good things.”
☦️Many Orthodox Christians cross themselves:
Upon waking: “Thank You, Lord, for this new day.”
Before eating: “Bless, O Lord, this food and drink.”
Before traveling: “Lord, protect me on my journey.”
In fear or temptation: “Lord Jesus Christ, help me.”
Each time, the Cross is both a prayer and a reminder that Christ is with them.☦️
Upon waking: “Thank You, Lord, for this new day.”
Before eating: “Bless, O Lord, this food and drink.”
Before traveling: “Lord, protect me on my journey.”
In fear or temptation: “Lord Jesus Christ, help me.”
Each time, the Cross is both a prayer and a reminder that Christ is with them.☦️
☦️🌟🙏 Seraphim Rose: The knowledge of correct dogmas is in the mind, and it is often fruitless, arrogant, and proud.. The true faith in Christ is in the heart, and it is fruitful, humble, patient, loving, merciful, compassionate, hungering and thirsting for righteousness; it withdraws from worldly lusts and clings to God alone, strives and seeks always for what is heavenly and eternal, struggles against every sin, and constantly seeks and begs help from God for this.
True Church cannot change its basic teaching for the sake of any modern tendencies. The world is changing, the Truth is not.
“Not conforming the God-man Christ to the spirit of the age but rather conforming and adjusting the spirit of the age to the spirit of the eternity of Christ, to the divine humanity of Christ—this is the unique and true mission of the Church of Christ in the world, of the Apostolic and Orthodox Church.” - St. Justin (Popovich)
“Not conforming the God-man Christ to the spirit of the age but rather conforming and adjusting the spirit of the age to the spirit of the eternity of Christ, to the divine humanity of Christ—this is the unique and true mission of the Church of Christ in the world, of the Apostolic and Orthodox Church.” - St. Justin (Popovich)
Often people who come to the Church for the first time are surprised by amount of paintings on the walls. These paintings represent scenes from the Bible and Church history, saints, Mary, Christ. We call them icons , from Greek word “images”. Long time ago they were used to be non -verbal language, teaching for those who couldn’t read (and only few people could). Even now we say “to write icons”, not to paint.
We do not worship icons, we venerate Saints and worship God. Icons are means of teaching, reminding, expression of faith. They represent all good and heavenly.
"We define that the Holy Icons should be exhibited in the Holy Churches of God and in houses. They should be kissed and are an object of veneration and honour… He who venerates the Icon, venerates in it the reality for which it stands.”
The Seventh Ecumenical Council
We do not worship icons, we venerate Saints and worship God. Icons are means of teaching, reminding, expression of faith. They represent all good and heavenly.
"We define that the Holy Icons should be exhibited in the Holy Churches of God and in houses. They should be kissed and are an object of veneration and honour… He who venerates the Icon, venerates in it the reality for which it stands.”
The Seventh Ecumenical Council
One of the frequent questions is why Orthodox often say that “icon saved”, “icon is miraculous, wonderworking”, etc? How come “a piece of wood can save”?
St. Theophan the Recluse explains: “Some icons are miraculous because it so pleases God, but the power is not in the icons, or in the people turning to them, but in the mercy of God.”
So, no icon is miraculous of itself. Only God can be a source of miracles. He sends His mercy and grace and creates miracles anywhere, anytime, and through anything. But as the Saints explain God is always here to response to our prayers, that is why there are miracles especially in Churches, as the Church is the heart of the prayer, where icons, relics usually are.
St. Theophan the Recluse explains: “Some icons are miraculous because it so pleases God, but the power is not in the icons, or in the people turning to them, but in the mercy of God.”
So, no icon is miraculous of itself. Only God can be a source of miracles. He sends His mercy and grace and creates miracles anywhere, anytime, and through anything. But as the Saints explain God is always here to response to our prayers, that is why there are miracles especially in Churches, as the Church is the heart of the prayer, where icons, relics usually are.
“Sacred Tradition is the very Church; without the Sacred Tradition the Church does not exist. Those who deny the Sacred Tradition deny the Church and the preaching of the Apostles.” - Saint Nektarios of Aegina
Some people outside of the Church often confuse the Holy Tradition and traditions and customs. It's different. The Holy Tradition is the life of the Church in the Holy Spirit. It includes the Scripture, doctrine, the dogmatic decrees of the ecumenical councils, the teaching of the Church Fathers, the Canons, the Service Books, the Divine Liturgy and the Sacraments, the iconography of the Church…., etc.
Some people outside of the Church often confuse the Holy Tradition and traditions and customs. It's different. The Holy Tradition is the life of the Church in the Holy Spirit. It includes the Scripture, doctrine, the dogmatic decrees of the ecumenical councils, the teaching of the Church Fathers, the Canons, the Service Books, the Divine Liturgy and the Sacraments, the iconography of the Church…., etc.
Let's our faith be like the faith of the Church Fathers' was. Without hesitations, doubts and fears. It's a great responsibility to keep the faith and the teaching they handed over to us and to hand it over to next generations safe and sound. The lives and wisdom of the Saints is our very valuable heritage , they are wonderful example of faith.
“It is not that I want merely to be called a Christian, but to actually be one. Yes, if I prove to be one, then I can have the name.”
Saint Ignatius of Antioch
“It is not that I want merely to be called a Christian, but to actually be one. Yes, if I prove to be one, then I can have the name.”
Saint Ignatius of Antioch
☦️🕯️There is One God, for the Godhead is One,
and all that proceeds from Him is referred to One,
though we believe in Three Persons.
For one is not more and another less God;
nor is One before and another after;
nor are They divided in will, or parted in power;
nor can you find here any qualities of divisible things;
but the Godhead is, to speak concisely,
undivided in separate Persons;
and there is one mingling of Light,
as it were of three suns joined to each other.
When then we look at the Godhead,
or the First Cause or Monarchia,
that which we conceive is One;
but when we look at the Persons
in Whom the Godhead dwells,
and at Those Who timelessly and with equal glory
have their Being in the First Cause--
there are Three Whom we worship.🕯️☦️
♰ St Gregory the Theologian ♰
and all that proceeds from Him is referred to One,
though we believe in Three Persons.
For one is not more and another less God;
nor is One before and another after;
nor are They divided in will, or parted in power;
nor can you find here any qualities of divisible things;
but the Godhead is, to speak concisely,
undivided in separate Persons;
and there is one mingling of Light,
as it were of three suns joined to each other.
When then we look at the Godhead,
or the First Cause or Monarchia,
that which we conceive is One;
but when we look at the Persons
in Whom the Godhead dwells,
and at Those Who timelessly and with equal glory
have their Being in the First Cause--
there are Three Whom we worship.🕯️☦️
♰ St Gregory the Theologian ♰
☦️🕯️The Orthodox Church views the event of Saint Peter cutting off the ear of the soldier at Gethsemane during the arrest of Jesus as a moment demonstrating Peter’s human zeal and impulsive defense of Christ. According to the Gospel of John, Peter drew a sword and struck the high priest’s servant, Malchus, cutting off his right ear (John 18:10). This act happened at night in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus was being betrayed by Judas and arrested by a mob. Peter's action was driven by fear and loyalty but was not in line with Jesus' mission.
Jesus immediately rebuked Peter, telling him to put away his sword, saying that those who live by the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26:52). In the Orthodox tradition, this moment highlights the contrast between human violence and divine love and submission to God's will. Jesus then healed the servant’s ear (Luke 22:51), showing mercy even to those coming to arrest Him.
This episode is seen as one of the last recorded miracles of Jesus before His crucifixion and serves as a teaching moment in Orthodoxy on the need for peace, humility, and forgiveness rather than violence, even in defense of righteousness. Peter’s impulsive action is understood sympathetically but corrected by Christ’s example of surrender and mercy in fulfilling God’s redemptive plan on the cross. 🕯️☦️
Jesus immediately rebuked Peter, telling him to put away his sword, saying that those who live by the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26:52). In the Orthodox tradition, this moment highlights the contrast between human violence and divine love and submission to God's will. Jesus then healed the servant’s ear (Luke 22:51), showing mercy even to those coming to arrest Him.
This episode is seen as one of the last recorded miracles of Jesus before His crucifixion and serves as a teaching moment in Orthodoxy on the need for peace, humility, and forgiveness rather than violence, even in defense of righteousness. Peter’s impulsive action is understood sympathetically but corrected by Christ’s example of surrender and mercy in fulfilling God’s redemptive plan on the cross. 🕯️☦️
There are things that help most of all in the end, no matter how much knowledge we have or how many books we've read.
“Men are often called intelligent wrongly. Intelligent men are not those who are erudite in the sayings and books of the wise men of old, but those who have an intelligent soul and can discriminate between good and evil. They avoid what is sinful and harms the soul; and with deep gratitude to God they resolutely adhere by dint of practice to what is good and benefits the soul. These men alone should truly be called intelligent.”
St. Anthony the Great
“Men are often called intelligent wrongly. Intelligent men are not those who are erudite in the sayings and books of the wise men of old, but those who have an intelligent soul and can discriminate between good and evil. They avoid what is sinful and harms the soul; and with deep gratitude to God they resolutely adhere by dint of practice to what is good and benefits the soul. These men alone should truly be called intelligent.”
St. Anthony the Great