Ορθοδοξία

Humble people don’t feel insecurity, nor distrust, either. They don’t feel weak, they allow others to do as they wish, but they themselves remain at their post. They’re steady and do no harm to other people.

Metropolitan Athanasios of Lemessos

People become uncharitable when they expect charity from others while others are expecting it from them... Charity isn’t a passive virtue; it’s active.

Saint Nicholas Velimirovich

So is it to be wondered at that we don’t know how to love our enemies, when we don’t love even our friends? ... How can you love a distant stranger when you can’t love your neighbour?

Saint Nicholas Velimirovich

We go to church, but not many of us live in the Church.

Elder Gavriil Tsafos

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 Orthodoxy isn’t philosophy and it isn’t romanticism, but it’s the very life of the Holy Spirit, it’s Christ Himself, ‘yesterday, and today, the same unto the ages of ages’.

Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of the Vatopaidi Monastery

There’ll be many opportunities to let your thoughts stray, but that doesn’t justify inattention. Make an effort and you’ll be able to keep your mind focused. Any task you undertake, bear in mind that you’re doing it before Christ Himself, Who readily accepts your service. Pray and God will bless your efforts.

Saint Theophan the Recluse

Is the kingdom of God not eternal then? Jesus says that this is why He was born and came into the world (John 18, 37) and we say: ‘May your kingdom come’, as if it hadn’t already done so. But this wish has another meaning. God comes when we receive His grace. He Himself asserts: ‘The kingdom of God is within you’ (Luke 17, 21).

Saint Ambrose of Milan

We have to try to be free of impure thoughts, especially when we pray to God. Because stench can’t co-exist with fragrance. If we don’t allow wicked thoughts, which come from the devil, we’re doing very well.

Saint Saint Seraphim of Sarov

We should never have confidence in ourselves until the day we die.

Abbess Makrina, Holy Monastery of Our Lady the Guide, Portaria

The struggle waged by Christians isn’t so that they can say to God: ‘I’m all right. I deserve to be saved’ because then they’d be Pharisees. It’s to say to God: ‘Lord, despite my weakness and my sinfulness, I love You. And, as an expression of my love, I try to observe Your commandments and Your holy will. It’s up to you whether You give me salvation and whether You give me Your Grace’.

Elder Georgios Kapsanis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Gregoriou (+)