It has to find its way
Saint Basil the Great From our first steps in life, the soul must be brought to the performance of every kind of good work, when it’s still pliable, smooth and soft as wax. It responds easily, depending on the forms and shapes presented to it, by those who are...
They feel alone
Elder Tadej Vitovničk There are times when people despair and lose heart, which, in its own way, is a kind of pride. If people love the things of this world, they’re sure to be brought to disappointment, because they aren’t going to find God in them. All people feel...
The Good of Our Soul
Saint Isaac the Syrian It takes a great struggle, because the passions are very powerful. But by God’s grace those who are courageous and fight with all their strength will be victorious. Bodily effort and study of the holy Scriptures preserve the purity of the mind. And then it...
On Not Despairing
Saint Amfilokhios Bishop of Iconium Saint Amfilokhios’ feast day is the 23rd November There was another brother who, after sinning, repented and then withdraw into solitude. It happened, though, that he struck his foot on a rock and injured it so badly that blood came pouring out of the wound....
It doesn’t protest
A wicked conscience is when people transgress God’s moral law, living in order to impose their own will, which is whatever their ego dictates. The conscience of these people has been distorted by their darkened understanding and the dominion of the law of sin. It no longer reacts, nor does...
It’s the same
Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou We should also note that we priests often lose the wonderful entry into the presence of God at the Holy Sacrament of the Anaphora, because we weren’t in God’s presence enough before we came to the Divine Liturgy. The same is true for all of us...
The result of judging others
Saint John of the Ladder Listen to me, listen to me all you bad judges of other people’s sins. Because if it’s true- and it really is- that ‘For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged’ (Matth. 7, 2), then rest assured that we shall fall into...
The weight will be lifted
When you feel a persistent weight or you’re tormented by lack of faith, you should know that the enemy has taken his seat in your heart and is making the most of your ignorance, weakness and instability in the faith. You must condemn your foolishness, blindness and lack of faith...
Saint Isaak the Syrian and the Wisdom of his Ascetical Homilies
Feast day: 28 September Not much can be stated with certainty about the life of Saint Isaak. He is believed to have been born in Beth Qatrye (‘region of the Qatars’) in the Arab peninsula, near the Persian Gulf. He entered a monastery as a young man, was consecrated Bishop...
