The protection and providence of God extends over everyone, but the only ones who see this are those who cleanse themselves from sin.
Satan never appears before us face to face, never reveals himself directly as our enemy. Instead, he fights in secret, indirectly or through bad people, using every kind of wicked ploy so as to hide the fact that he wants us to fall and be lost.
Today, on this Sunday before the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Lord presents the central theme of the Gospel in a few words: God saves the world from the devil and sin driven by endless love alone! To help in understanding, Jesus uses as an example a miracle which occurred while the Israelites were in the desert (Numbers 21:9). The people had been freed from slavery to the Egyptians by God’s miraculous interventions. Yet, the Israelites often forgot the true God, who poured down upon them heavenly food every day, and worshiped the idols. God, to again bring them close to Him, allowed poisonous snakes to bite them, causing many to die. Moses turned to God with ...
Monastics hover between two indescribable states: the ineffable bliss felt by a spirit steeped in the Spirit of God; and great sadness over the salvation of the whole world. These states succeed each other. Monastics love God and, with God’s love, they also love the world.
I have to refuse everything tawdry if I want a friend whose spiritual stature draws me. I have to get rid of my egotism if I want a friend who’s not egotistical. And I have to set aside any unseemliness if I want a friend who’s courteous.
Practical love Just as oil maintains the light of a lamp, so charity feeds the soul with true knowledge of God. The key for the heart to acquire divine gifts is given through love for our neighbour. How wonderful and praiseworthy is love for our neighbour, provided, of course, such concern doesn’t distract us from the love of God. How sweet is the company of our spiritual brothers and sisters, as long as we can preserve our love for God, as well. If you’re busy making a living, doing manual work, and you receive help from others, you have an obligation to give alms. If you neglect this, your hardness of heart will be contrary to the Lord’s commandment. Suppose a monk’s been given ...
On Tuesday, September 4, 2018, the Metamorphosis Greek Orthodox Day School welcomed back students and their families for the new school year. Both new and old students were greeted to the newly-expanded building premises, now that the new wing has been completed. The new building is incredible, and built according to the most modern standards. The number of students has again increased this year, with three hundred students enrolled for the 2018-2019 school year. This is the surest sign that parents and guardians are supporting and investing in Greek Orthodox education. The year began with the traditional Blessing of the Water service (Aghiasmos) conducted by Fr. Ignatios Delis. The school gymnasium was filled to capacity with students, parents, and teachers. Everyone ...
Humility gives us our whole self, it’s not as though it knocks our head off. Humility completes us, it gives us the discretion to know where we should and shouldn’t make a stand, when we need to say ‘No’, when to be uncompromising, and when to surrender to others entirely, without conditions.
Let’s not give the devil any justification. I don’t allow myself any resentful thoughts nor any egotistical ones, so that Satan doesn’t find an open window. The window’s a justification. When you distance yourself from God, you’re at risk, because Satan finds you exposed and can lord it over you. » Venerable Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
In the old days, people worked with animals. If the animal was tired, they didn’t overload it, they rested it, watered it and fed it. If it hurt its leg, they felt sorry for the poor beast and tried to make it better. These things had a good effect on their hearts, made them gentler. Today? The car’s taken a knock, the tractor’s broken down? Take it the garage, turn on the welding torch, stick the metal together and that’s it done. Nobody’s fazed. That sort of thing makes people’s hearts hard, like iron. I’m not saying we should go back to oxen! I’m just saying how people’s hearts have become hard today. » Saint Païsios the Athonite
The reason why people sin is because they’ve been hoodwinked in their search for what’s good by ignoring the moral law which is written in their hearts. » Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis
‘For many are called, but few are chosen’ The Gospel parable for the 14th Sunday of Matthew presents the mystery of the Kingdom of God and our attitude towards the saving challenge of the love of God. A king invited friends and acquaintances to a wedding, but they didn’t respond to his invitation. They had many and varied excuses: lack of interest and the cares of life. But God’s always inviting us into His communion, His body, His salvation. This invitation transcends place and time, in other words it’s eternal and general. Our response to God’s call isn’t an obligation, nor is it coercion or subjugation. It’s an expression of our love for God, submission in freedom to His holy will. It’s precisely ...
The state of people’s souls is affected by their parents and this is something they carry with them throughout their lives. It leaves its traces, and a lot of the things which happen to them in life are the result of this state. » Venerable Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
We should always have complete affection in our souls, even though we may often be disappointed with the behaviour of other people towards us. » Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi
And you, All-Pure and All-Good and Most-Merciful Lady, the consolation of Christians, the fervent comfort of those in distress, the immediate refuge of sinners, do not abandon us as orphans, without your divine assistance. For if you do abandon us, where shall we turn? And what will become of us, you who are the breath and life of Christians? Just as our bodies breathe as an indication that we’re alive, so the invocation of your name by your servants, at all times and in all places, is not merely an indication of, but an invitation to life, joy and assistance. Shelter us under the wings of your goodness. Guard us with your intercessions. Give us eternal life, you who are the ...
The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate met at Fanari on Wednesday, 29 August 2018 under the chairmanship of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and, on the recommendation of the Canonical Committee, decided to include the late Archimandrite Elder Amfilohios Makris in the list of saints of the Orthodox Church. Through the prayers of the saint, Christ our God, have mercy upon us. Amen. Elder Amfilohios Makris was born on the island of the Revelation, Patmos, in 1889. He became a stout defender of Orthodoxy, since he had suffered greatly during the Italian occupation of the Dodecanese islands. In those years, he founded many secret schools and made certain that the Greek language and the Orthodox faith would continue and would ...
Our struggle to enter into the eternal life of God Himself is neither a simple nor an easy thing. Our attitude is ‘May your will be done’. Then the potential develops within us to conceive of God as He is in His eternity. » Elder Sophrony of Essex
Discourse on the Deposition and Veneration of the Holy and Honourable Belt of Our Most Pure Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary Through the Holy Spirit, David, the Prophet and King, sang, “Glorious things are spoken of you, the City of God”. In this way he revealed, as City of the Great King, her of whom many wonderful things- praises and hymns- have been spoken. But what is this City, in fact? It seems to me that David answers this clearly and beyond doubt when talking about her who was really chosen and is superior to all others. Not because of the excellence of its buildings, nor because it is higher than the highest hills and mountains of the ...
The feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos was majestically celebrated at the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopaidi headed by his Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta. During the all-night vigil, at the regularly scheduled festive treat offering in the monasteries meeting hall, his Eminence and the Abbot of the monastery Archimandrite Ephraim spoke to the attendees regarding the significance of the feast. Also in attendance was the well-known American actor Mr. Jonathan Jackson, having earned 5 Emmy Awards during his career, who has converted to the Orthodox Church. When his turn came to speak, he very movingly dedicated his 5th Emmy award which he won in 2012 to Panagia, the Mother of God, in which he had thanked all of the monks ...
