Despite the fact that virginity, fasting and sleeping on the ground demand greater efforts, there’s nothing so powerful and so capable of extinguishing the fire of our sins as charity. It’s superior to all else and places those who live it close to the King of the Heavens Himself. And rightly so. >Saint John Chrysostom
When the desire for Christ is dominant within you, you remain calm in every sorrow and you know that Christ lives within you more than the world does. And again, when sickness and the various misfortunes of life throw your mind into turmoil, you should know that your body is living within you, not Christ. In general, whatever thing is overriding and dominant, that’s what’s living within you. God and His angels rejoice in times of need; the devil and his minions in times of leisure. You should know that, without temptations, you’re a long way from the path of God and you aren’t treading in the footsteps of the saints. » Saint Isaac the Syrian
If we do good because we fear hell, we’re in the position of a servant; if we do it to get a reward, we’re like an employee; if we do it for its own sake then we’re in the position of a son. Because a son does his father’s will not out of fear, nor because he wants some reward, but he wants to serve his father, to honor him and give him pleasure. And this is how we should handle charity, for the virtue itself, participating in the difficulties of others, as if they were the members of our own body. We should serve others as if we ourselves were enjoying the fruits of our ministrations. We should give as if ...
If someone is swearing at you, rather than admonish them – which is almost always of no benefit – it’s better to pray for them. » Elder Arsenie Boca (of Romania)
Those who, with powerful and correct thinking, have been able to study and understand each of the created things and having done so, are able to pass on to others everything to do with God’s goodness and His just judgment, are people who render glory and honor to God, as do those who live a life which conforms to such study and contemplation of God’s creation. The light (the radiant example) of such people shines before others and in this way they glorify their heavenly Father in words and works and with various acts of generosity. People who are seduced by human glory do not render any glory and honor to God, nor do those who worship money or those who seek ...
Don’t look at what’s happening to you, but look rather to the light, Christ, just as children look to their mothers when something happens. Look at everything without anxiety, without worry, without pressure, without feeling squeezed. In this way, instead of giving in to worry, which isn’t of the Spirit of God, you’ll surrender to praising Him. » Venerable Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
Watch the first part of fr Jonah’s from Taiwan sermon on the feast of All Saints.
Through prayers and acts of charity for the departed, Christians demonstrate the relationship between this world and the world to come. The Church in this world and the Church in the next is one and the same – one body, one being- just as the roots of a tree, below ground, constitute a single organism with the trunk and the branches above ground. From this it’s obvious that we who make up the earthly Church can be given help by the saints and the righteous in the heavenly Church, in the same way as departed sinners in the next world can receive help from us here on earth. » Saint Nicholas Velimirovich
Sin is a terrible evil for those who keep it to themselves, but it’s easily cured in those prepared to get rid of it from their lives, through repentance. » Elder Arsenie Boca (of Romania)
Go, Christ directed His disciples, to proclaim the Kingdom of God. This charge is well known, but what is often less cited are Christ’s complimentary instructions: “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece” (Luke 9:3). The importance of not being beholden to earthly things – and to learn dependence on God – is a recurring theme throughout the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament. St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1Co 2:2). These messages are especially needed in today’s society, which is overwhelmed by consumerism and earthly things. The tragedy of overconsumption manifests itself ...
A bad habit is a heavy burden. It grinds people down, separates them from the truth and from life. It’s a trap, a cess-pool, a precipice, it leads to destruction and perdition. » Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis
We have to keep an eye on ourselves – as grocers do. If they don’t watch their profits and losses they’ll soon go bankrupt. And they have to look after their accounts carefully, as well. Lots of people have lost their houses and been thrown out onto the streets because of lack of attention to detail. » Venerable Païsios the Athonite
Temptations, then, test souls, to see if they love God or not, and it’s these temptations that make souls worthy or unworthy of God. If a soul loves God, He will not allow it to fall into a temptation which is greater than it can handle and then fall into despair. Those who have fallen away from virtue strive to take others with them, so that they won’t be alone in their unseemliness. » Saint Ephraim the Syrian
I think it is only right to stress that the holy New Martyrs were the outstanding resistance fighters during the Turkish Occupation. They carried out their resistance not with acts of sabotage against the occupier which would have provoked reprisals on the part of the barbarous Turks and cost the lives of thousands of innocent people, but through the bold public confession of their faith and the way in which they admonished the occupier. The rage of the Turks therefore was vented upon them, on the martyrs themselves, and not on the rest of the people. » Blessed Georgios Kapsanis, Proegumen of Gregoriou Monastery
If Christ is within you through frequent Holy Communion, then you must become like Him. You must be meek and humble, long-suffering, full of love, not be attached to worldly goods. Your mind should contemplate the heavens and you should be obedient and rational. Take care to allow the Holy Spirit to reside within you. Don’t be proud, impatient, devoted to material things, avaricious or gluttonous. » Saint John of Kronstadt
I don’t want Paradise without you, my children. » Elder Amphilochios Makris of Patmos
Nothing happens without God’s providence, and wherever there’s God’s providence it’s certain that whatever happens, however bitter it may be, will bring benefit to the soul. » Venerable Païsios the Athonite
However well informed you are in terms of human wisdom, this doesn’t cure your deformity. You have to rediscover the true image of God, Christ, so that assuming the form of Christ, you’ll be healed of the deformities of the passions and of sin and thus attain your supreme goal of likeness, of glorification. » Blessed Georgios Kapsanis, Hegumen of Gregoriou Monastery
From my understanding, apart from the greater manliness of spiritual love, it’s also surrounded all the other virtues. It seems that love is the affectionate mother of all the virtues.
