Depart from every man who loves to quarrel.
– Abba Poeman, Ancient Paterikon, 011.59
Featured image: “Cantley: Wherries Waiting for the Turn of the Tide.” Photographer Peter Henry Emerson, 1886. Art Institute of Chicago Digital Collections
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The enemy lurks like a lion in his den; he lays in our path hidden traps and snares, in the form of impure and blasphemous thoughts. But if we remain watchful, we can lay for him traps and snares and that are far more effective and terrible.
Prayer, the recitation of psalms and the keeping of vigils, humility, service to others and acts of compassion, thankfulness, attentive listening to the words of Scripture – all these are a trap for the enemy, a pitfall, a noose, a lash and a snare.
– St. John of Karpathos, Philokalia, Vol. 1
Featured image: source
Be not separated from Christ, nor from the Church. Do you hear the priest ringing the bells? Get up immediately, get ready, and go to church, and listen to the service with attention. Similarly participate in the Divine Liturgy. And guide your children, as much as you are able, to avoid sin, to go to church so they will be blessed, that they may live and prosper.
Featured image: Iconstasis in the Assumption Cathedral at the Staritsa Monastery. Photographer Sergeĭ Mikhaĭlovich, 1911. Prokudin-Gorskiĭ Collection. Library of Congress
If there is any rest for us in this world, then it consists only in purity of the conscience and patience. This is a harbor for us who sail upon the sea of life…
Featured image: Metropolitan Theophilus and Archbishop Arseny at St. Tikhon’s Monastery on Memorial Day. source
Of course, it would be easier to get to paradise with a full stomach, all snuggled up in a soft feather-bed, but what is required is to carry one’s cross along the way, for the kingdom of God is not attained by enduring one or two troubles, but many!
We should never say that nothing is important. On the contrary, everything is important. Even the smallest of our actions impacts our eternal salvation.
Featured image: Elder Sergei of Vanves. source
It is good to be generous to all, especially those who cannot repay you.
– St. Theodoros the Great Ascetic of Edessa
Featured image: Αγία Σοφία. source
Lord, have mercy on families that are going through trying times. Pour Your abundant Love on them.
Featured image: Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, New Orleans. Founded 1864. source
Fortunate, worldly people tell us, are those who live in crystal palaces and have all kinds of convenience.
Blessed, however, are those who’ve managed to simplify their life and become liberated from the web of this world’s development of numerous conveniences (i.e. many inconveniences), and were released from the frightening stress of our present age.
…Fortunate, worldly people say, are those who can enjoy the goods of the world.
Blessed, however, are those who give away everything for Christ and are deprived even of every human consolation for Christ. Thus it is that they manage to be found night and day near Christ and His divine consolation, which many times is so much that they say to God: My God, Thy love cannot be endured, for it is great and cannot be fit within my small heart.
– St. Paisios, from his 6th Epistle, on the Beatitudes