Founded in the eleventh century, the monastery received its name after either the Roman emperor Karakala or the monk, Karakalas, who was said to be its founder. Karakalou was first mentioned in documents from 1018 and 1087. Built on the side of a mountain Karakalou appears now like a fortress overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the consequence of having been destroyed twice. In the thirteenth century it was devastated by Latin and pirate raids during the period of occupation by Frankish forces after they had conquered Constantinople in 1204. Then, prior to its rebuilding in the sixteenth century, the monastery was […]

The tree of knowledge of good and evil is the power of discernment by multiple vision, and this is the complete knowing of one’s own nature. Of itself it manifests the magnificence of the Creator and it is good for them that are full-grown and have walked in the contemplation of God for them that have no fear of changing, because in the course of time they have acquired a certain habit of such contemplation.

By religion today is meant, primarily, a concrete theory which enables us to surpass the dividing wall between us and God and thus to expiate God. Also, we often refer to religion as man’s invention: God is man’s creation, since the latter feels isolated in the universe and weak. So he needs a strong God to secure his weakness. Moreover by religion it is considered that we ensure our future so as to be happy in the future life. Or finally religion is simply the satisfaction of our religious feelings.

Thoughts are the movements of the mind which can be motivated by: 1. God and His angels or even by His servants, ie the saints. from which pure & positive thoughts are always generated.

Let us imitate John the Baptist: leaving luxury and drunkenness, let us go over to the life of restraint.

Logic is one of the two rational aspects of the soul but is not powerful enough in order to solve the human equation. What is important here is the fact that logic is powerful enough to realize its incapacity. This generates a tension which should push the human being to faith in God.

He showed me many trees that had no leaves; they were withered, and they all looked alike to me. And he said to me, “Do you see these trees?” “I see, sir, that they are all alike, and all withered,” I replied. “These trees that you see,” he answered, “are those who dwell in this world.”

The Iviron Monastery, (Greek: Ιβήρων) is one of the twenty monasteries located on the peninsula of Mount Athos in northeastern Greece.

Some people, especially when they feel very down or hopeless, mentally look during prayer at an image of Our Lord on the cross or some other images.

If anyone gives people rules to live by, and molds the character of others, is he bound to practice what he preaches or not?

The Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary, throughout history has performed numerous and countless miracles which have been recorded and published to date by our Monastery. There are several remarkable things about miracles which we should mention here: First of all and most importantly is that authentic miracles have as a purpose for our eternal salvation through repentance. If a miracle doesn’t help in our salvation, then the authenticity of such a miracle is very questionable, at best. Secondly, the issue of our faith: If there is a lack of faith, miracles more than likely do not occur because God […]

Do not fight to expel darkness from the chamber of your soul. Open a tiny aperture for light to enter, and the darkness will disappear.

During confession, especially one’s first confession – it is much better to list the sins in front of the priest – that is in front of God – and to seek His forgiveness in order to show your repentance.

In order to define sin, we must firstly clarify which is the aim or purpose of our transitory life.

The Monastery of Philotheou is one of twenty monasteries on the Athonite peninsula and is located on the eastern side. It is twelfth in hierarchical rank among the monasteries.

The aim of the Christian is to attain the blessed state of deification. Deification is identical with `likeness’, that is, to be like God.

Humility consists in constant prayer combined with tears and suffering. For this ceaseless calling upon God for help prevents us from foolishly growing confident in our own strength and wisdom, and from putting ourselves above others. These are dangerous diseases of the passion of pride.

Just as people do not enter a war in order to enjoy war, but in order to be saved from war, so we too do not enter this world in order to enjoy this world, but in order to be saved from it. People go to war for the sake of something greater than war.

Depression suppresses us from the lack of God’s grace in our heart and soul for without God nothing makes sense anymore, we lose our aim and purpose in life and since the result of God’s grace is love, happiness and peace, then that is why we fall victim to depression. Besides that we suffer from depression as a result of a cronical bad habit or because of the devil’s warfare of the thoughts which have succeeded to convince us that we are good for nothing and that nobody loves us.

We should unceasingly pray especially during the services, even if we do something concrete during them because the prayer should help us to be more aware, more attentive if we, also, want this.

What saves and makes for good children is the life of the parents in the home.

When going to the Holy Mysteries, go with simplicity of heart, in full faith that you will receive the Lord within your heart and soul,

Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.

Christ said: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Some pleasures are true, others false. The only true pleasures are the ones generated by God’s grace. The exclusively intellectual pleasures consist in knowledge and contemplation, while the pleasures of the body depend upon sensation.

The intervention of God in our life is shown by different signs. There are miracles which appear as an obvious surpassing of the natural law which God himself created.

When the soul betrays itself and loses the blessed and longed for fervor, let it carefully investigate the reason for losing this. And let it arm itself with all its longing and zeal against whatever has caused this. For the former fervor can return only through the same door through which it was lost.

We celebrate the return to Cenobitic (regulated community life) monasticism of our monastery because in this way we can partially experience the paradise that is the life of the Holy Trinity as far as it is possible for a human being.

An intelligent, discreet, and pious young woman is worth more than all the money in the world.

The Lord looks at the inner depth of the heart, at what the heart longs for and what it desires. And if He sees that a soul cannot come home, the Lord will in His own time, cleanse it and draw it to the center and the soul will find peace. However, if in the innermost part of the heart there is something unclean, something that is attracted to this world and is bound to it, then our wandering will last a long time and we will endure much sorrow and suffering.