The roof of any house stands upon the foundations and the rest of the structure. The foundations themselves are laid in order to carry the roof. This is both useful and necessary, for the roof cannot stand without the foundations and the foundations are absolutely useless without the roof—no help to any living creature. In [...]
Archive for February, 2009
Saint Simeon the New Theologian on the Commandments and the Grace of God
Posted in Uncategorized on February 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Elder Paisius the Athonite on Two Dangerous Extremes in the Orthodox Church
Posted in Uncategorized on February 25, 2009 | 1 Comment »
The two extremes always weary Mother Church, as well as those who hold to them, because the two extremes as a rule stab one another… . In other words, it is as if the one extreme is held by a possessed man who is spiritually insolent (and feels contempt for everything), and the other extreme [...]
Saint John Cassian on Love for God
Posted in Uncategorized on February 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I do not wish to be understood as saying that the thought of everlasting punishment or of a most blessed reward has no value. They are indeed valuable because those given over to them are introduced to the first stages of blessedness. In love, however, there is a greater faith, and the joy of it [...]
Saint Ambrose of Optina on Moderation
Posted in Uncategorized on February 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Moderation in all things is good. There is a spiritual age (of a person) just as there is an outward age. Just as nine-year olds cannot grasp what is proper for twenty-year olds, so also in the spiritual life: with zeal that is foolish and beyond your strength, you can spiritually hurt yourself. But if [...]
A Conversation between Saint Silvanus the Athonite and a Hermit on Hell
Posted in Uncategorized on February 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
A hermit “declared with evident satisfaction that ‘God will punish all atheists. They will burn in everlasting fire.’”
Obviously upset, the Staretz [Silvanus] said:
“Tell me, supposing you went to paradise, and there you looked down and saw someone burning in hell-fire—would you feel happy?”
“It can’t be helped. It would be their own fault,” said the hermit.
The [...]
Saint Nicholas Cabasilas on Frequent Communion
Posted in Uncategorized on February 5, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Bread which truly strengthens the heart of man will obtain this for us; it will enkindle in us ardor for contemplation, destroying the torpor that weighs down our soul; it is the Bread which has come down from heaven to bring Life; it is the Bread that we must seek in every way. We [...]
Saint John Climacus on Prayer
Posted in Uncategorized on February 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Let there be no studied elegance in the words of your prayer: how often the simple and monotonous lisping of little children make their father give in to them! Do not launch out into long discourses that fritter away your mind in efforts for eloquence. One word alone spoken by the Publican touched God’s mercy; [...]
