Κατηγορία

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Vigilance – the Wealth of Orthodox Asceticism Conversations with Archim. Zacharias (Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou)

Κατηγορίες: In English

Question: Can you tell us a few words about negative and positive vigilance? Answer: Negative vigilance is when we resist the attacks of bad thoughts. As soon as they appear, we lift our mind to God saying, ‘Lord, my enemies have come, defend me against them,’ and we try not to allow our mind to give in. Saint Sophrony had a saying: ‘Do not surrender your mind (не дай ума)’, that is, do not give in to the thought of the enemy which assaults you. Negative vigilance is to say ‘no’ to every bad thought that approaches us. Father Sophrony would tell us that all the bad thoughts will go through us so that we may say ‘no’ to all of ...

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The Kingdom of God (Fr. Andreas Agathokleous)

Κατηγορίες: In English

There are ecclesiastical terms which, I think, are difficult today for people to understand. One such is ‘The Kingdom of God’. It seems to refer to dominion, authority, and dominance. This is why, when we say ‘May the Kingdom of God come to pass on earth’ or ‘Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’, it may well be taken as a prayer for the abolition of the governments and authorities in the world and the institution of government by God and His own people. This expectation began with heretical doctrines, but it seems to have persisted in some Church circles to this day, not as teaching but as the conviction among some of the clergy and laity, ...

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The most wretched (Saint John of Kronstadt)

Κατηγορίες: In English

The more cantankerous, wicked and treacherous people are, the more unhappy they feel. The weaker their faith and the more inadequate their love, the less strong and competent they feel. Those who don’t believe and who hate their neighbor are the most miserable of people.

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The Bread of Life (Matth. 14, 14-22) (Ioannis Karavidopoulos, Professor Emeritus of New Testament Hermeneutics, A. U. Th.)

Κατηγορίες: In English

Feeding the hungry people in Palestine was a Messianic sign: someone who gave food to the multitudes, especially in a supernatural way could not be other than the awaited Messiah. This is why, at the moment of temptation after His baptism, Satan says to Christ: ‘If you’re the Son of God, make these rocks into loaves of bread’ (Matth. 4, 3; Luke 3-4), only to be given the answer that people don’t live by bread alone, but by every word which comes from the mouth of God. And yet, when He Himself judged the best moment to have arrived, He performed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fed five thousand people. This event is related by all the ...

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Sound footing (Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis)

Κατηγορίες: In English

Restraint is a great force and imperishable riches. It’s the foundation of all the virtues and is the first to prepare souls in the exercise of them. It is the guide of prudence, undermines the passions of the body and calms impulses, cleansing the mind and pacifying the heart.

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