Real love is shot through with the spirit of humility, sacrifice and giving. Those who love in accordance with God’s will sacrifice their desires and their leisure for the sake of those they love. Love which isn’t consistent with the will of God is linked to the spirit of egotism. Instead of sacrificing themselves for others, those who have such ‘love’ just demand that others sacrifice themselves for them. Elder Germanos Stavrovouniotis
Dear readers, once more, in one more article, I’d like to share with you a real-life incident which happened in the parish where I serve and which has to do with something that’s troubling us in general. Naturally, this particular case isn’t unique but is one of many in which, on the pretence of protecting their health, people are staying away from the Chalice of Life, the Divine Eucharist, the ‘remedy against death’. Of course, this has incalculable spiritual consequences for those who err in this manner and also, more generally, for all those who are adding their penny’s worth to the prevalent apostasy and lack of faith of our days. The strange thing is that people then ask where ...
Today’s spiritual crisis is manifested in the way that we’ve really become indifferent, inhospitable, impatient and materialistic. We’re accompanied by deep turmoil and the loss of identity; the lack of an internal sense of who we really are; and, of course, the absence of the inner sense that God’s somewhere in our lives. Elder Christodoulos, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousi
There’s no way we can achieve our salvation unless we transfigure our mind, unless we transfigure it into something different from what it was. Our mind is deified by a unique action of God’s grace. It becomes passionless and holy. A glorified mind lives constantly with the recollection of God. Elder Tadej Vitovnički
(edited by Stelios Koukos) Abba Timotheos the elder said to Abba Pimin, ‘There’s a woman in Egypt who’s a harlot and she gives away the money she earns as alms’. The elder observed, ‘She won’t stay a harlot for long. It seems she has the seed of faith within her’. Shortly afterwards, the mother of Abba Timotheos visited him and he asked her, ‘Is that woman still plying her trade as a harlot?’. ‘Yes’, she answered. ‘In fact, she’s increased her number of lovers. But then, she’s also increased her alms-giving’. Abba Timotheos told Abba Pimin, who said, ‘She won’t stay a harlot’. Not long after this, Abba Timotheos’ mother came back to him and said, ‘You know, that harlot wanted to come and ...
‘Elder, there’s a woman whose husband’s left her. He’s taken the child and he’s involved with two other women. She asked me what she should do’. ‘Tell her, as far as she can, to be patient, to pray and to act with kindness. She should wait and not dissolve the marriage herself. There was another man who scorned his wife, maltreated her and she dealt with everything with patience and kindness, until she died quite young. When they exhumed her, a fragrance wafted from the grave. Everybody there was amazed. You see, she’d dealt with everything patiently in this life and so she found her proper place in the next. I recall another instance, as well. There was a secular young man ...
Apart from the saints who are remembered on the day, on September 1 our Holy Church also celebrates the beginning of the Indiction, that is the start of the new ecclesiastical year. Among the hymns for the feast is the following, the kontakio for the Indiction, which reads as follows: ‘Maker and Master of the ages, God of all, who are indeed transcendent, bless the course of this year and, in your boundless mercy, save all those who worship you, our one and only Lord, and who cry out to you in fear: Lord and Savior, grant a fruitful year to all’. The start of the new ecclesiastical year marks the beginning of a new period of time. And the beginning of ...
This year, God again permitted us to celebrate the Dormition of the Mother of God at her dependency of Our Lady of the Vintage. This is on the island of Limnos and belongs to the Holy Monastery of Simonos Petras, on the Holy Mountain. Once again we enjoyed the warm climate with its distinctive, quiet atmosphere when we went out to meet and to accompany back into the courtyard of the dependency the Lady of Limnos, the bride in her white raiment. When you see her, you immediately want to sing ‘Pure Virgin Maiden’ or ‘Rejoice Bride Unwedded’. At the moment of the arrival of the icon of Our Lady, one’s heart is transferred spiritually, but firmly and in confidence, to ...
Let’s not fear any delay in a miracle we’ve asked for. It may be better thus. It’s certain that God knows our state much better than we do. God is on our side and the miracles are for us, but his presence and his intervention aren’t predetermined by us. God’s presence is often felt in our life in many and different ways, not in a deafening and phantasmagorical display. What else are an inexpressible inner peace, an exceptional and moving sense of contrition, a profound feeling of sinfulness if not a sign of the serene presence of God in our life? God isn’t merely the provider of health, longevity and prosperity, much less earthly immortality, but also the dispenser of the ...
† B A R T H O L O M E W By God’s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch To the Plenitude of the Church Grace, Peace and Mercy from the Maker of All Creation Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ Esteemed brethren and beloved children in the Lord, The Feast of the Indiction, the solemn day of prayers for the natural environment, finds once again humanity confronted with intense weather conditions due to mounting climate change, with devastating floods and fires across the globe, as well as with the Coronavirus pandemic and its socioeconomic consequences. The fact that the restrictive measures in transportation and the limits imposed on industrial production have resulted in a reduction of pollutants and emissions, offered an additional valuable ...
The Lord said we’ll enter into life through many sorrows. There’s no other way than tribulations and sorrows. This was the path trodden by the holy Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Saints and the Righteous. There’s also a broad path which is followed by those who are going to perdition… We should ask God to give us understanding and the strength to tread gladly the strait and narrow path which leads to the spacious realm of the Kingdom of Heaven and ineffable gladness. Saint Iakovos (Tsalikis)
There are times when, inexplicably, we feel euphoric, as if our hearts are full. Everything seems wonderful, what’s difficult is easy, problems are overcome. There may be specific reasons that encourage these experiences, such as being outside in nature, an encounter with people who have beautiful souls, people who transfuse peace and love, a visit or pilgrimage to a monastery or chapel. And sometimes, not necessarily always, after we’ve had confession or holy communion. There are other times when, equally inexplicably, we feel sad and out of sorts. We see everything as being black, there’s no good to be found, our minor problems become an unbearable burden. Here, too, there may be certain specific reasons which encourage these feelings, such as ...
Saint John the Damascan lived between the 7th and 8th centuries and was one of the most well-read and ascetic Fathers of our Church. Verifiable information on the life of this Syrian monk from Damascus is limited and, essentially, is to be found in the older synaxaria. He was a prolific writer, and his contribution at the time of the dispute over icons made him one of the most outstanding historical figures of the period. His anti-heretical teaching, his immersion in philosophy as well as his exact exposition of the theological teaching of seven centuries in clear, succinct sentences, contribute to his standing as one of the leading personalities in Byzantine intellectual life in general. Saint John is well known also ...
It may be that people have acquired a small leaven of virtue and, despite wishing to, haven’t managed to make it into bread, either because of sloth, indifference or procrastination. The day then comes when death mows them down, but they won’t be forgotten by the righteous Judge. The Lord will move the souls of the others who were closest to them to come to their aid, in this way making up for the failings of the departed. Saint John the Damascan
The enemy’s sly and attempts either to abandon us to sin and unrepentance or craftily to bring us into despair through the thoughts we have when we do repent. Elder Efraim Vatopaidinos
Through the prophets and the apostles, the Holy Spirit wrote the word of God and interpreted it through the holy fathers*. Both the ability to record the word of God, as well as the capacity to interpret it, are gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit. This and this alone is what the holy Orthodox Church accepts. This and this alone is what its true children accept. If you interpret Scripture arbitrarily, you reject the interpretation of it by the holy fathers, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And if you reject this interpretation of Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, then, without question, you’re also rejecting Scripture itself. In this way, the word of God, which is ...
‘Should it happen that a host of coarse thoughts rises up against you and you give way and are defeated, you should be aware that you’ve separated yourself temporarily from divine grace. This is why you were allowed to fall, by righteous judgment. So strive to remain always close to God’s grace and never distance yourself from it through negligence’ (Saint John the Carpathian). The above passage, from what are known as the consoling texts of our saintly and God-bearing father John the Carpathian, transports us into the climate of the joyous paradise of the Philokalia of the holy niptic fathers. What does the saint reveal to us of his many years of living the spiritual Christian life as an ascetic? ...
On the beach I experienced one of the most moving confessions… perhaps the best. Three days before we celebrated the summer Easter, the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God, I met with a clergyman friend of mine. We’re in the habit of meeting occasionally to talk about what’s happening and to discuss theological questions. We top up our spiritual batteries. On that day, we’d both finished late with our paraclitic canons and started out straight away to the place we’d agreed to eat at. We weren’t serving the liturgy the next day, so, afterwards, we went for a walk until we came to the beach, which was completely deserted because of the lateness of the hour. We found ...
In the Synaxarion for the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, there is a particularly moving account written there. At the age of about 50, The Holy Virgin received a divine message that in three days, she would depart for Heaven. She then invited her relatives and neighbors to her home in order to reveal this message and to say goodbye. It was a surprise to them, and naturally, there were many tears. The Virgin Mary comforted them, saying that she would intercede for not only them, but for the whole world. This is evident in the countless blessings that the intervention of Our Lady has brought for all those suffering and asking her help. After God, it ...
When you read the Gospel, don’t expect pleasure, stimulation or wonderful thoughts. Seek to see the infallible, holy truth. Don’t be content with fruitless study of the Gospel. Read it in a practical way. Strive to fulfil its commandments. Since it’s the book of life, study it with your life. Don’t think that there’s no reason why the most sacred book, the Four Gospels, begins with that of Saint Matthew and ends with that of John. Matthew teaches us mostly how to comply with the divine will and what he has to say is most appropriate for those just setting out on God’s path. John has more to do with the manner of union of God and people who have been renewed ...
