Ἀφιερωμένο στόν Κύριό μας Ἱησοῦ Χριστό καί τήν Ὑπεραγία Θεοτόκο
The path of our life is like unto a voyage across a broad sea. It is sometimes calm on that sea, and sometimes a favorable wind blows; but most often there are storms on it. Seeing the approach of a storm, seeing the storm itself, we must not become disturbed, or fall into despondency or…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςA true story in Psara: In one part of the island, called Fidolakos (Snake Ditch), there is a monastery dedicated to Saint Matrona. In the past, that ditch had many snakes. Once, during the Divine Liturgy, a small snake fell inside the Holy Cup from the dome of the Holy Altar immediately after the Holy…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςOne hundred Jesus prayers, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, rest the soul of your servant (name),” takes no more than fifteen minutes. And during the first forty days after death, it would be possible to read even one thousand Jesus prayers – this is not more than an hour and a half, which is…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσης“I was once walking with a very pious and humble man, when we were stopped on the street by an old man distributing small pamphlets. The old man asked us, ‘Are you saved? Have you accepted Jesus?’ “My humble companion said, ‘I only know that I am a sinner.’ “The old man answered my friend:…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςSt. Paisios in Sinai: What We Can Learn from Camels On July 12th the Church celebrated the memory of a new saint of our times, St. Paisios of the Holy Mountain, canonized in 2015. In his monastic life there actually were two Holy Mountains – Mount Athos and Mount Sinai as well. The beloved…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςThe Elder was sitting in his garden with a few pilgrims having a discussion on spiritual matters. A little boy, standing near by, was hitting the ground with a piece of wood making a loud noise, thus attracting the attention of the pilgrims. The Elder, who had a very simple and charming way of…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςCan I be a little bit with the “world” and a little bit with Christ? I am sorry my spiritual child but this cannot be done. You have to be either with the “world” or with Christ. Our Christ – be careful – is very clear on this. You may say that he is too…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςEverything beautiful is associated with pain, but pain leads to joy. The rose produces thorns, and a rose grows out of the thorn. A rainbow usually appears after a thunderstorm.
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςO, the boundless mercy of God! In His greatest wrath upon the faithless and ungrateful people, upon the people “laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters” (Isaiah 1:4), as “princes [rulers] of Sodom” (Isaiah 1:10) and upon the people who have become as the “people of Gomorrah” (Isaiah 1:10) – in…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςShould or shouldn’t reveal my thoughts to another? Some of us, today, often neglect the significance of the sacrament; Repentance and Confession. Often we feel that we can repent, confess and heal ourselves, without having to reveal our weaknesses and passions to another. Some say ‘I confess my sins directly to Christ’. Yet the desert…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςOnce when Geronda and I were outside with our prayer-ropes and he was telling me about prayer and his experiences of looking after monks in their old age, I could smell lilies and roses, even though we only had holly-oak trees there. I was sniffing intently, and he said to me, “Why are you doing…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςNow, what kind of death is best? For a Christian, the best death is to be martyred for the sake of Christ the Savior. This is the best possible way for man to die. Some people sent condolences to Optina Hermitage after the murder of three monks ( on Pascha, 1993 ), but for a…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσης“As the Lord put on the body, leaving behind all principality and power, so Christians put on the Holy Spirit, and are at rest.” St. Macarius the Great, “Spiritual Homilies” (Homily 26) http://apantaortodoxias.blogspot.com/2018/05/as-lord-put-on-body-leaving-behind-all.html?m=1
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςThe model in spiritual life must be the saints, and not the people of this world. – St. Paisios the Athonite http://apantaortodoxias.blogspot.gr/2018/05/the-model-in-spiritual-life-must-be.html?m=1
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςIf a person or several people have an ascetic spirit, it is very helpful to others.
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςProtection when enemies are attacking. Psalms 26, 90 “… And the bomb will not burst” (What the Elder John of Optina told me) Sergei Alexandrovich Nilus and his wife Elena Alexandrovna came to the Optina to father John (Salov). The elder accepted us with joyful caress “Take the stool,” he said, embracing me, “sit next…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςHaving a young graduate and another on the way as well others of friends and relatives , how do we get the youth and young adults to truly understand this concept of humility and reliance on the Grace of The Lord in a world where we are all taught to be trust our selves…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςCan I be a little bit with the “world” and a little bit with Christ? I am sorry my spiritual child but this cannot be done. You have to be either with the “world” or with Christ. Our Christ – be careful – is very clear on this. You may say that he is too…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςThere are two pleasures for a person: one – when he takes, and the other – when he gives. The joy that they experience, giving away, is incomparable to that which they feel taking something. Man, in order to understand whether he is doing well in relation to the spiritual, must first of all test…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςTHE SINNER’S CONDITION By St. Theophan the Recluse, from “The Path to Salvation, A Concise Outline of Christian Ascesis, ” translated by Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose), published by the Holy Monastery of St. Paisius, Arizona (2016), pp. 88-92. For the most part, the Word of God depicts the sinner, who is faced with the necessity of…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςMAN AND HIS FALL By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos, from “Entering the Orthodox Church—the Catechism and Baptism of Adults. ” As we analyze the Parable of the Prodigal Son, let us go on to make a man-centered analysis of this parable. It will show us the true value of man and what true life is….
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςSPIRITUAL GEMS St. Nikolai Velimirovich. Adevout elder lay on his death bed. His friends gathered around him and mourned him. With that, the elder laughed three times. The monks asked him: “What are you laughing at?” The elder replied: “I laughed the first time, because all of you are afraid of death; the second time,…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςA brother was beset by the demon of lust. It so happened that the brother once passed by a village in Egypt and saw a beautiful woman, who was the daughter of a pagan priest. On seeing her, he was wildly aroused and, under the influence of his passions, went to the father of the…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςECUMENISM IS DOMINATED BY UNCLEAN SPIRITS From the book “Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church – A Synod Licking in Synodicity and Orthodox self-awareness, ” a publication by “Synaxis of Orthodox Romaics ‘Fotis Kontoglou,”, Trikala, March 2016. This book is the transcript of the 3-hour program of the conversation between the manager of…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςON THE ANNUNCIATION TO THE HOLY VIRGIN MARY By St. Gregory of Neocaesarea, known as Thaumaturgus O Thaumatourgos, The Miracle-Worker) (+275). Today the choir of angels sings strains of praise joyfully, and the light of the advent of Christ shines brightly upon the faithful. Today is the glad springtime to us, and Christ the Sun…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςOne year before the repose of Elder Joseph, while I was saying the prayer in sync with my breathing during vigil, something amazing happened. A state of prayer came to me that I cannot find words to describe. Suddenly, my nous entered my heart, and my nous, my heart, and the prayer became one! I…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςWhat is the truth? We should keep the eyes of our soul continuously open to see the truth. This is the truth—let’s not forget it. When we hold on to the truth, we have nothing to fear. When Pilate asked our Christ who He was, and informed Him that he had the power to…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςBy Protopresbyter Peter Heers Today, December 7th, we celebrate the memory of our Father Among the Saints Ambrose of Milan. The Life of the Saint, written by his close disciple Paulinus, relays important information on the state of the Church at the time and the way in which the Saint was elected bishop which is…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσης– Excerpt from a homily by the Ever-memorable and Blessed Fr. Athanasius Mytilinaios INTRODUCTION Many believers write to me or ask me when I visit parishes or speak somewhere, what am I able to do, as a lay person, when my priest or bishop diverts from the Faith of the Church or teaches or guides…
Συνέχιση ανάγνωσηςBy Protopresbyter Peter Heers, Professor of Old and New Testament, Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, Jordanville, NY Lecture delivered at the Clergy Retreat of the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia For a full written and photo report of the retreat, go to the Eastern American Diocese of ROCOR. Audio and video…
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