The Spiritual Struggle

Fr. Andreas Agathokleous 1. If somebody isn’t thinking and says something that annoys you, don’t get upset. Ignore them. Never mind what they said. Is that a reason for you to burn? In cases like that, say nothing. Instead of saying ‘That mother-in-law of mine’ll be the death of me’, Read more

The Tattoo on our Being

Fr. Andreas Agathokleous   A certain monk confessed to Abba Pimen: ‘My body’s grown weak but my passions haven’t’. The wise elder replied: ‘The passions are thorn-pricks’ [i.e. ‘tattoos’ in today’s parlance] (Sayings of the Elders) The Sayings of the Elders is a product of the monastic state which also applies to Read more

Don’t worry

Saint Makarij of Optina   You’re suffering from sadness? It doesn’t matter. A heart that’s full of gratitude, humility and wisdom- a heart that’s been filled with gratitude, humility and wisdom by its struggles and labors- will be richly comforted and blessed with the acquisition of serenity and joy. Source: Read more

The Modernization of Magic

Archimandrite Gregorios Κonstantinou   Magician, witch or priest of the religion of Zoroastrianism for the people of Media: in classical antiquity this role referred to the priestly art of divination of Mazdaism (Zoroastrianism), who’s practitioners were also known as magicians or “magi.” During the Hellenistic period the magicians of Persia Read more

What we should pass on

Saint Porfyrios Kavsokalyvitis   We should have goodness and love in our soul. That’s what we should transmit. We should be careful not to become disgruntled when others do us harm, but should just pray for them with love. Whatever other people do to us, we should never think badly Read more