[dropcap]What[/dropcap] then, they say — do you not want me to know clearly and believe that God provides for all things? Certainly, I want it and pray for it and desire it exceedingly, but not that you pry and inquire curiously into His providence. If you know and are persuaded, then do not make inquiry. […]
Those who love pleasure, keeping their appetites hot and humid, are indeed sitting by the flesh-pots; for gluttony engenders love of pleasure and many other passions as well. It is the root from which the rest of the passions spring up in vigorous growth, little by little developing as suckers alongside the mother tree, and […]
Some people by the word ‘freedom’ understand the ability to do whatever one wants… People who have allowed themselves to come into slavery to sins, passions, and defilements more often than others appear as zealots of external freedom, wanting to broaden the laws as much as possible. But such a man uses external freedom only […]
[dropcap]Today[/dropcap] we are celebrating the Nativity of St. John, dearest brethren, something which we read has never been granted to any of the other saints. Only the Nativity of our Lord and that of Blessed John [the Baptist] are celebrated and honored throughout the world. [1.The cycle of John the Baptist is an early Palestinian […]
[dropcap]Christ’s[/dropcap] linking the Son of man with the forgiveness of sins (Mk 2:5-10) and with the coming judgment (“He has given him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of man” Jn 5:27) greatly enhances the importance of the Son of man, since judgment is attributed to Him as if He is greater […]
[dropcap]There[/dropcap] is a useful sorrow, and a destructive sorrow. Sorrow is useful when we weep for sin, and for our neighbour’s ignorance, and so that we may not relax our purpose to attain to true goodness: these are the true kinds of sorrow. Our enemy adds [another type of sorrow]. For he sends sorrow without […]
Don’t glue yourselves before the television (or computer, smartphone, etc.). Don’t forget that the button is not only used to turn it on, but for us to turn it off, also. Guard yourselves from this means of mass blinding. – Elder Epiphanios
“Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor” (Rom. 12:10), commands the apostle to those who cling to Christ. How can we say that we adhere to the meek and All-pure Christ, if we daily poison the air with tales about the sins and shortcomings of others? To conceal your own […]
‘Christ is risen!’ and ‘Truly He is risen!’ have been planted in our bones! Scholars may reject it, and expunge it from their theology, and demean it in their science, but to no avail–the Resurrection is planted in our flesh, in our blood and bones. Resurrection is not mere vision, contemplation, theory or logic: it […]