The unique gift of the Holy Spirit

To every person who repents is given a unique gift of the Holy Spirit. This holds him united with the wondrous Body of Christ and makes him a partaker in all the gifts of all the members of this sublime communion 

of grace, of the saints in heaven and the elect of God on earth. In this divine-human communion, man is enriched and in this he has his point of reference, which guides him and keeps him unabated on the path of truth which was revealed by Christ.

“Very Rev. Archimandrite Zacharias (Zacharou)”

Πηγή

What is true humility

A disciple once asked an elder:

– Elder, is true humility to see yourself worse than everyone else?

– No, replied the elder. True humility is to not see yourself at all.

Πηγή

Elder, why are you happy all day long?

A disciple asked an elder, “Elder, why are you happy all day long?”

The elder replied, “Because all night long I weep for my sins before God.”

In the photo, Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi

Πηγή

The athletes of spirituality

When the athletes of spirituality ascend to heaven, all the heavenly powers gather from everywhere to bear careful witness to their past sufferings.

As with heroes returning from war with many trophies and victories, they’re greeted with great joy and given a grand reception.

Based on St. John Chrysostom

The most burdensome and grievous thing

There is nothing more burdensome and grievous then when our conscience accuses us , and there is nothing dearer than calmness and approval of our conscience.

So many psychological illnesses are caused by the anxiety of death, the lack of meaning in life, a guilty conscience and the loss of communion with God on man’s part.

What are the proofs of God’s existence?

First of all, for the one who is stuck in his own reasoning, it is impossible with human means to prove to him the existence of God, because God does not impose His existence on anyone. Such a man can be convinced only through our personal example and prayer.

However, here are some proofs which, according to the Holy Fathers, will help an open soul:

the biggest one is the practical feeling of divine energies in our hearts and in our lives. This is the biggest proof: our personal experience.

Faith, hope and love

And now, finally, after all that we have said, there remain these three that bind and secure the union of all, faith, hope, love; and the greatest of these is love, for God Himself is so called.

And (as far as I can make out) I see the one as a ray, the second as a light, the third as a circle; and in all, one radiance and one splendor.

Elder Seraphim Rose: How God behaves with those whom He chooses?

God often isolates those whom He chooses, so that we have nowhere to turn except to Him, then He reveals Himself to us.

Based on Hieromonk Seraphim Rose

Πηγή

The Church is a hospital for sinners

The Church is a hospital for sinners who are fighting to become saints. That’s why I think thatthere is no labor greater than that of prayer to God. Prayer is warfare to the last breath.

However, to win in the war that is against you, you must fight as if you are already dead.

Based on Avva Agathon

Πηγή

Why your image of God isn’t good enough

If your photos aren’t good enough then you aren’t close enough. This applies as well with regards to God: if your image of God isn’t good enough, then you aren’t close enough. Humble yourself and you will be more God-like.

Based on Robert Capa, St. Nikolai Velimirovic

Πηγή

Lord is standing at the edge of your existence waiting for you

At the edge of your heart the Lord is standing with a tall candle that burns without smoking or melting. The Lord is standing and waiting at 

your invitation, to bring the candle into your heart and enlighten it, to burn up all the fear in your heart, all its selfish passions and all its ugly desires, and to drive out of your heart all the smoke and foul stench.

God’s commandments are beyond human limits

We can see the limits to all human “perfections” but God’s commandments are beyond that because God’s commandments are existential in nature and have as their main target our deification.

God’s commandments aren’t an expression of a boss to the His subordinates. They are the expression of perfect, divine love for us.

God doesn’t gain anything if we keep the commandments or not. We have to gain our eternal happiness… …or not.

Πηγή

How to determine God to act

When you’ve done everything you can do, that’s when God will step in and do what you can’t do.

Two monks fighting to put chains against snow on the monastery’s truck. Holy Mountain (Athos), 2017.

Πηγή

The “I love you” of God

Perhaps you see yourself as a religious person. But if your tongue is out of control, you are fooling yourself. Your careless talk makes your offerings to God worthless.

The “I love you” of God is Christ crucified, not a feeling or words.

Based on James 1:26

The ceiling of the Chapel of St. Demetrius at Vatopaidi.

Πηγή

Self-love brings sorrow

Self-love brings sorrow and is healed by silence. That’s why your first love should not have been yourself.

Based on Archbishop Seraphim Sobolev

Πηγή

We are perfectly different and perfectly equal

Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free. However God loves us equally and perfectly. And we should do the same: let us respect and love that we are different.

Based on Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Πηγή

What is the role of a spiritual father

A spiritual father, like a signpost, merely indicates the way; but you yourself must follow the path.

Based on St. Nikon of Optina

In this photo Abbot Ephraim is giving loving counsel to one of the monks. Beside him is a student from the Athoniada Academy on Mount Athos.

Πηγή

One of the most important thing God teaches us

One of the most important things God has taught me is that I don’t need to understand. I don’t need to have all the answers. I need only to believe and to abide by His will.

A monk reading the Hours in the Chapel of Our Lady Paramythia.

Πηγή

Elder, why are you happy all day long?

A disciple asked an elder, “Elder, why are you happy all day long?”

The elder replied, “Because all night long I weep for my sins before God.”

In the photo, Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi

Πηγή

But there are those who say…

But there are those who say that this phrase [That the glory of God should be made manifest] isn’t causative, but expresses the consequence of the miracle; as when He says, ‘I came into this world for judgement, so that they who do not see may see, and that they who see might be made blind’. 

Yet it wasn’t for this that He came- that those who saw might be made blind. Again Paul says, ‘because that which may be known of God is manifested in them, that they may be without excuse’.