☦️ Truly blessed and zealous for life and for surpassing joy are those who through fervent faith and virtuous conduct receive consciously and experientially the knowledge of the celestial mysteries of the Spirit and whose citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Clearly they excel all other men; for who among the powerful or the wise or the prudent could ascend to heaven while still on earth, and perform spiritual works there and have sight of the beauty of the Spirit'? Such a person may appear poor, utterly poor, may be regarded as nothing and be totally unrecognized by his neighbors; but falling on his face before the Lord he rises to heaven under the guidance of the Spirit and with assurance of soul, delighting in his mind with its wonders, occupying himself there, living there, having his citizenship there, as St Paul puts it. For he says: 'Our citizenship is in heaven' (Phil. 3:20)...
St Makarios the Great
St Makarios the Great
In times of peaceful relationships do not recall what was said by a brother when there was bad feeling between you, even if offensive things were said to your face, or to another person about you and you subsequently heard of them. Otherwise you will harbor thoughts of rancor and revert to your destructive hatred of your brother.
St. Maximos the Confessor
St. Maximos the Confessor
There are situations when scilence with prayer works better than thousands of words.
“The Lord shows us that we ought not to answer those who ask a question with malicious intent (cf. Mt. 21:23-27). For He Himself did not reply to those Jews who questioned Him with cunning, although He was not at a loss for an answer.”
— St. Theophylact, Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
Read the Scripture with the Holy Fathers
“The Lord shows us that we ought not to answer those who ask a question with malicious intent (cf. Mt. 21:23-27). For He Himself did not reply to those Jews who questioned Him with cunning, although He was not at a loss for an answer.”
— St. Theophylact, Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
Read the Scripture with the Holy Fathers
3:1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
3:2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
3:3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up;
3:4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
3:5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
3:6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
3:7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
3:8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.
3:9 What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?
3: 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.
3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
3:12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,
3:13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God.
3:14 I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.
3:15 That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-15).
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
How many times already have you been made aware of the duty which your conscience dictates to you – the duty to remain with the Lord, not preferring anything else to Him? Perhaps your awareness of this duty no longer ever leaves you. May the actual practise of it likewise prevail constantly within you; for this, after all, is our true aim.
+ St Theophan the Recluse
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
🌟☦️ If you wish to pray, you have need of God, 'Who gives prayer to him who prays' (1 Sam 2:9 LXX). Invoke Him, then, saying: 'Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come' (Mt 6:9-10) — that is, the Holy Spirit and Thy only-begotten Son. For so He taught us, saying: 'Worship the Father in spirit and in truth' (Jn 4: 24).
Philokalia
Philokalia
🌟 No one can attain state [of dispassion] as this swiftly or easily: it can only be reached by way of many hardships and struggles, after much time and diligence, testing and temptation, thus bringing one to the full measure of dispassion. It is he who has thus been sifted by every kind of suffering and tribulation, and who has courageously endured all the trials of evil, that is finally found worthy to receive the great blessings, gifts and riches of the Spirit and to inherit the kingdom of heaven.
St Makarios the Great
St Makarios the Great
There is no a ticket to Heaven. The path of faith has to be taken. And this path has its ups and downs, joys and difficulties.
“Don’t be sad, my child. Don’t worry so much. Even though you have fallen again, get up again. You have been called to a Heavenly Road. It is not surprising for someone running to stumble. It just takes patience and repentance at every moment.”
- Saint Joseph the Hesychast
“Don’t be sad, my child. Don’t worry so much. Even though you have fallen again, get up again. You have been called to a Heavenly Road. It is not surprising for someone running to stumble. It just takes patience and repentance at every moment.”
- Saint Joseph the Hesychast