A collection of scriptural meditations from Saints and Fathers of the Church.

The greatest weapons of someone striving to lead a life of inward stillness are self-control, love, prayer, and spiritual reading.

The person who listens to Christ fills himself with light; and if he imitates Christ, he reclaims himself.

We are sons of God or of Satan according to whether we conform to goodness or to evil.

Concern for one's soul means hardship and humility, for through these God forgives us all our sins.

The study of divine principles teaches knowledge of God to the person who lives in truth, longing and reverence.

Let us not wait to be convicted by others, let us be our own examiners. An important medicine for evil is confession, and care to avoid stumbling.

Imitate the Publican and you will not be condemned with the Pharisee. Choose the meekness of Moses and you will find your heart which is a rock changed into a spring of water.

It is an insult to the intelligence to be subject to what lacks intelligence and to concern itself with shameful desires.

Do not neglect the practice of the virtues; if you do, your spiritual knowledge will decrease, and when famine occurs you will go down into Egypt (Genesis 41:57, 46:6).

Spiritual reading and prayer purify the intellect, while love and self-control purify the soul's passionate aspect.

We know there are Angels and Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Princedoms, Powers, Splendors, Ascents, Intelligent Powers or Intelligences, pure natures and unalloyed, immovable to evil, or scarcely movable; ever circling in chorus round the First Cause (or how should we sing their praises?) illuminated thence with the purest Illumination, or in one degree or another, proportionally to their nature and rank...so conformed to beauty and molded that they become secondary Lights, and can enlighten others by the overflowings and largesse of the First Light. Ministrants of God's Will, strong with both inborn and imparted strength, traversing all space, readily present to all at any place through their zeal for ministry and the agility of their nature...

Just as desire and rage multiply our sins, so self-control and humility erase them.

Control your stomach, sleep, anger, and tongue, and you will not 'dash your foot against a stone.'

Struggle until death to fulfill the commandments: purified through them, you will enter into life.

Praise God continually with spiritual hymns and always remain in meditation and in this way you will be able to bear the burden of the temptations that come upon you. A traveler who is carrying a heavy load pauses from time to time and draws in deep breaths; it makes the journey easier and the burden lighter.

Keep the commandments, and you will find peace; love God, and you will attain spiritual knowledge.

Self-control and strenuous effort curb desire; stillness and intense longing for God wither it.

Blessed stillness gives birth to blessed children: self-control, love and pure prayer.

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Archangel Michael Orthodox Church
5025 E. Mill Rd
Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147

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[email protected]
440-526-5192 (Phone)