Words of Life

Elder Tadej Vitovničk   Our life depends on the kind of thoughts we cultivate. If our thoughts are peaceful and calm, if they’re meek and kind, then our life will be, too. If our attention is on our living conditions, then we’re consumed by a whirlwind of thoughts and we...

Metropolitan Athanasios of Lemessos   Even though the saints sinned, they had the strength to arise, simply and robustly. If they sinned, they repented, from the depth of their heart until the day they died, but weren’t depressed and despondent. We, on the other hand, if we have a sin,...

Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi   Lots of people today go chasing after joy, happiness, and go down roads that aren’t clean, but are befouled by the actions of demons. But if ‘the Lord God speaks’ in our heart, then we should be quiet. We should turn to our heart, learn...

Saint John of Kronstadt   We think of as polite and cultured those people who aren’t conceited and don’t look down on others of their acquaintance who benefit from their generosity. They don’t ignore them, don’t think disparagingly of them, but appreciate them as they did at their first meeting....

Saint John of Kronstadt   What is sanctity? Freedom from all sin and an ample measure of virtue. It’s nature resembles the light of the sun and the whiteness of snow, whereas the nature of sin is like darkness, with a lack of light, with stench and corrosion. Source: pemptousia.com...

Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of the Vatopaidi Monastery   If we really observe Christ’s commandments, then we demonstrate that we love Him, because, as He Himself said, ‘those who love me keep my commandments’. And when the holy Fathers ask, ‘Which commandments?’, they answer ‘All the commandments’. Then we’ll show that...

Saint Saint Seraphim of Sarov   If you want to be saved, your heart has to be in a state of repentance and contrition. When people try to have a humble heart and a peaceful mind, then none of the machinations of the enemy is set in motion. Because where...

Saint John Chrysostom   Just as the surface of the ground often can’t be seen because of the rank weeds and thorns, so the nobility and purity of the soul was often not visible until the Farmer of human nature lit the fire of the Holy Spirit, cleared it and...

Elder Ephraim of Arizona   Humble yourself and confess from now on, because confession involves holy humility, without which nobody can be saved. It’s a great joy for the devil if he can persuade people to hide their diabolical thoughts, because then he’ll succeed in his carefully-planned aim of harming...

† Archimandrite Georgios Kapsanis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Gregoriou   It’s egotism that prevents people from loving God and their neighbour. Christians strive to root out egotism from within themselves, to root out the passions that darken their mind and make a prisoner of their heart. They strive...