It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.
“He who truly knows how to pray does not speak much or without meaning, nor does he ask for anything insignificant. Rather, he knows the place, the manner, and the time, and he seeks what is essential and profitable for the soul. With his mind he converses with Christ.” + St. Joseph the Hesychast
Jesus said to her," Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
"Remember this, and you will no longer judge: Judas was an apostle, and the thief crucified at Christ's right hand was a murderer." + St. John Climacus
" Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again."
"The Christian life is nothing more than daily repentance until the end of one's life." + St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
For it is written:" As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God."
"Someone who bears a grudge while he prays is like a person who sows in the sea and expects to reap a harvest." + St. Isaac the Syrian
A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
"Every trial is a chance to trust God more." + St. Nektarios of Aegina
He who builds His layers in the sky, And has founded His strata in the earth; Who calls for the waters of the sea, And pours them out on the face of the earth— The Lord is His name.
"God has not forgotten the man to whom He sends suffering and trials but in this way is proving His closeness to him." + St. John Chrysostom
And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
"Having God, fear nothing, but cast all of your care upon Him, and He will take care of you. Believe undoubtingly, and God will help you according to His mercy." + St. Barsanuphius the Great
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
"Death is not scary for those who wait for the Lord. Scary is for the one who lives as if there is no eternity." + St. Theophan the Recluse
Now all things are of God, who has recongiven us the ministry of reconciliation,, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
"If we were humble the Lord in His love would show us all things, would reveal to us all mysteries, but our trouble is that we are not humble." + St. Silouan the Athonite
He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.
"It is not the food that defiles a man, but the evil desires that arise within him. Therefore, it is more important to guard our hearts and minds than to obsess over what we eat." + St. Macarius of Egypt
A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows.
“When conversion takes place, the process of revelation occurs in a very simple way — a person is in need, he suffers, and then somehow the other world opens up. The more you are in suffering and difficulties and are 'desperate' for God, the more He is going to come to your aid, reveal Who He is and show you the way out...” + Fr. Seraphim Rose
But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
"One must do good deeds but not place hopein them. To place hope in one's good deeds is a sign of self-reliance." + St. Makarios of Optina
Every word of Gtrust in Him.e is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
"That's what it is, you must suffer. You must love and suffer, suffer for the one you love. Love makes effort for the loved one." + St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.
"Blessed the one who continually humbles himself willingly; he will be crowned by the One who willingly humbled himself for our sake." + St. Ephrem the Syrian
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
"Do not say that faith in Christ alone can save you, for this is not possible if you do not attain love for Him, which is demonstrated by deeds. As for mere faith: "The demons also believe and tremble"" + St. Maximus the Confessor
Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
"Weak as we are, no trial is too great for us if our strength is of Christ." + Fr. Seraphim Rose
I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
"He who restrains his mouth from speech guards his heart from passions." + St. Isaac the Syrian
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
"For the Kingdom of Heaven is taken by violence, and the violent lay hold of it" + St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
"If a person buys power and glory in this world with his sins, then he always buys them from the devil, selling him, consciously and unconsciously —his soul." + St. Justin Popović
Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
"Orthodoxy is life. If we don't live Orthodoxy, we simply are not Orthodox, no matter what formal beliefs we might hold." + Fr. Seraphim Rose
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
"Never trust your own thoughts. Live simply and without excessive thinking like a child with his father. Faith, without overthinking, works miracles. Live with patience, without overanalyzing." + St. Paisios of Mt. Athos
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
“Don’t worry too much about how spiritually poor you are. God sees that, but for you it is expected to trust in God and pray to Him as best you can, never to fall into despair and to struggle according to your strength.” + Fr. Seraphim Rose
For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
"To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement." + St. Augustine of Hippo
A fool despises his father's instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent.
"Don't criticize or judge other people, regard everyone else as an angel, justify their mistakes and weaknesses, and condemn only yourself as the worst sinner. This is step one in any kind of spiritual life." + Fr. Seraphim Rose
Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.
"We make it very difficuly for God to appear to us because we are like a broken mirror. He came into the world to unite the broken pieces so that we may be able to receive his image within us. As we are now, we would not be able to withstand the intensity of the divine light." + Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
"Only struggle a little more. Carry your cross without complaining. Don't think you are anything special. Don't justify your sins and your weaknesses, but see yourself as you really are. And, especially, love one another." + Fr. Seraphim Rose
I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
"To go to the moon billions were needed. But to reach God all you need is a piece of bread." + St. Paisios of Mount Athos
Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.
"Whoever will not love his enemies cannot know the Lord and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit." + St. Silouan the Athonite
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
"Worldly logic is not suitable for the Christian. It's for a good person who does not believe. The Christian must have a spiritual mindset, rejoicing in things opposite to what the worldly rejoice in. For example, a true Christian cannot seek riches, recognition or glory." + St. Paisios of Mount Athos
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.
"A true Christian is made by faith and love toward Christ. Our sins do not in the least hinder our Christianity, according to the word of the Saviour Himself. He deigned to say: not the righteous have I come to call, but sinners to salvation; there is more joy in heaven over one who repents then over ninety righteous ones. Likewise concerning the sinful woman who touched His feet, He deigned to say to the Pharisee Simon: to one who has love, a great debt is forgiven, but from one who has no love, even a small debt will be demanded. From these judgments a Christian should bring himself to hope and joy, and not in the least accept an inflicted despair. Here one needs the shield of faith." + St. Herman of Alaska