Pride upsets the nerves, heats the blood, stimulates the imagination and preserves life in the fallen state. Humility calms the nerves, regulates the flow of blood, reins in idle fancies, puts a stop to the life of the fall and gives the life which Jesus Christ brought. “Saint Ignatius Brianchaninoff”
When marriage is no more than a physical and social fact, without becoming a ‘sacrament’, that is without passing into the Church, into the Kingdom of God and being transformed, it can neither be saved nor can it save. “Abbot Georgios Kapsanis of Gregoriou”
I don’t want Paradise without you, my children. “Elder Amphilochios Makris of Patmos”
The passions cover Divine Grace, just as ash covers the spark. With asceticism and prayer, however, the heart is cleansed of the passions, the spark of divine grace is rekindled and the faithful feel Christ in their heart, which is the centre of their existence. “Abbot Georgios Kapsanis of Gregoriou”
We find ourselves on the sea of life – sometimes it’s a storm, other times it’s a mill-pond. God’s Grace doesn’t desert us. If things were otherwise, we’d never realize how Grace sustains us. “Elder Amphilochios Makris of Patmos”
Savage criticism of others wrecks their souls and sinks them. “Saint John Chrysostom”
All the impurities of sin that have piled up in the heart are cleansed by the tears of repentance.
Hypocrites want to be called saints and to be venerated by everyone as being pious. You see their outward appearance and you think that they’re doing everything according to God’s will, but their hearts are full of jealousy, guile and every form of evil. “Saint John Chrysostom”
You have a long struggle ahead of you. You have to cultivate within yourself a courageous frame of mind. Take a look at the objects of your love. Do you like them a lot? Are you very tied to them? Get rid of them! That rejection is what the Lord asks of you. “Saint Ignatius Brianchaninoff”
If you believe that God is trustworthy and powerful, then hope only in Him and you’ll become a sharer in His good things. “Abba Efprepios”
The Grace of God helps. I always believe in God’s power, which transforms and regulates everything for the good of our soul. People who are upset aren’t thinking clearly and rationally. “Elder Amphilochios Makris of Patmos”
How wounded our natural love is! How deep the wound of strong passion is that it bears. When the heart is engulfed with powerful passion, it’s capable of every kind of injustice, every kind of transgression, as long as it satisfies its sick love. “Saint Ignatius Brianchaninoff”
When you trust other people, you’re weak, but when you trust in God you’re strong. Cleave to God and all His strength will be with you. Confess your weakness before Him and He will send you His all-powerful Grace. “Saint Nicholas Velimirovich”
If other people do you harm, whatever it is, you shouldn’t take revenge, but, on the contrary, should forgive, from the bottom of your heart, those who’ve done you an injustice. “Saint Seraphim of Sarov”
We are Easter people living in a Good Friday world. “Barbara Johnson”
Be patient with your own passions and be patient with mine. Then you’ll become a saint. “Saint Ephraim of Katounakia”
The reason why people sin is because they’ve been hoodwinked in their search for what’s good by ignoring the moral law which is written in their hearts. “Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis”
The state of people’s souls is affected by their parents and this is something they carry with them throughout their lives. It leaves its traces, and a lot of the things which happen to them in life are the result of this state. “Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia”
We should always have complete affection in our souls, even though we may often be disappointed with the behaviour of other people towards us. “Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi”
Our struggle to enter into the eternal life of God Himself is neither a simple nor an easy thing. Our attitude is ‘May your will be done’. Then the potential develops within us to conceive of God as He is in His eternity. “Saint Sophrony of Essex”
Examine yourself. See who you are. Get to know your nature, that is that the body’s mortal, but your soul’s immortal. Don’t ask for superiority, but rather that you can recognize the equality of nature and can love, that you should be equal to those who seem in some way to be inferior to you. “Saint Basil the Great”
Beautiful things are linked to pain, but pain also brings joy. A rose produces a thorn and the thorn a rose. Generally, a rainbow appears after a squall. Unless there are storms, the sky won’t clear. “Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia”
Say the prayer, say the Jesus prayer and that’ll bring you into such a good state that however much you think about it, you can’t think about it. “Saint Ephraim of Katounakia”
We find ourselves on the sea of life – sometimes it’s a storm, other times it’s a mill-pond. God’s Grace doesn’t desert us. If things were otherwise, we’d never realize how Grace sustains us. “Elder Amphilochios Makris of Patmos”
The Church cures our deformation through its teaching, through the Gospel message, through asceticism, through its holy sacraments and through the pastoral care of its bishops. “Blessed Georgios Kapsanis, Proegumen of Gregoriou Monastery”
Pusillanimity and disbelief are very infernal attitudes, especially for people who’ve felt the miraculous intervention of our God and Savior. Alas, what a sinner I am. “Saint John of Kronstadt”
The passions are serpents. When one of them emanates from the heart, it’s like a snake sticking its head out of a hole. Strike it in the name of Christ. It’ll withdraw at once. As soon as another one manifests itself, hit that as well. Strike them all. “Saint Theophan the Recluse”
Without light, everything’s dark and without humility there’s nothing inside people, except darkness. “Saint Seraphim of Sarov”