Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papadakis of the Ecumenical Throne The hatred of the devil towards those engaged in the spiritual struggle is well known. This hatred was faced particularly by the fathers in the desert, whose purity, not only of body but also of mind, was greater than the enemy could Read more
Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papadakis of the Ecumenical Throne The word ‘snare’ doesn’t mean only something which is part of the life of a hunter, but has a significance that extends to people’s life in general. As ‘trap’, it’s particularly important in a time of war against the enemy, as a Read more
Saint Ignatij Brianchaninoff The gates of the senses have been closed. The tongue is silent, the eyes shut and the ears hear nothing of what’s happening all around. The mind casts off the yoke of worldly thoughts, clothes itself in prayer and descends to the inner chamber of heart. Read more
Archimandrite Kyrillos Kostopoulos ‘Herein lies the essence of sin: in our lack of trust in and absolute love for God the Creator; and in our total attachment to the ego’. In society today, in particular, the notion of sin has been deliberately distorted. This is because we dwell on Read more
Archimandrite Varnavas Lambropoulos As we enter the reflective period of the Triodio, the Church urges us to remember the clear distinction between genuine devotion and tainted piety. At the beginning of this spiritual struggle, which will soon intensify with our entry into Great Lent, the Church reminds us of Read more
Elder Moses the Athonite † The saints are necessary in our life. This is why we should read their lives carefully and frequently. We should love the saints. Honor them. Imitate them. Ask for their help and intercessions. Be friends with them. So that they’ll accompany us, and help Read more
Fr. Andreas Agathokleous It’s easy to say: * The world’s going to pieces * Other people are so difficult * It’s impossible to change Just as it’s easy for us to judge the behavior of others, so it’s easy to justify ourselves, to be content that we’re doing well Read more
Saint Nicholas Velimirovich Inequality is wiser and is preferable to equality. Inequality was placed as the very foundation of the created world. We should rejoice over this inequality and not rebel against it, because it was put in place by love, not by hatred; by wisdom, not derangement. Our Read more
Protopresbyter Georgios Dorbarakis ‘Wretched and pitiful are those who have no patience, because it is against them that the ‘Woe’ in Holy Scripture is directed. It says woe to those who have lost patience. So really, woe betide those who have no patience, because such people are tossed hither Read more
Protopresbyter Georgios Dorbarakis ‘Do not become accustomed to being defeated in the spiritual war, because habit becomes second nature’ (Saint Efraim the Syrian). The great Saint Efraim the Syrian makes a profound psychological and also spiritual observation, the truth of which we can all confirm from our daily experience. Read more