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

Fasting needn't be limited to abstinence from food alone, because true fasting is departure from evil deeds. Forgive your neighbor any insult, abstain from causing your neighbor offence, abstain from irritation, from senseless sorrows, from fear, wrath, and so on. ‘True fasting is alienation from evil, temperance of the tongue, setting aside of wrath, casting out of lust, idle talk, lies, and oath-breaking’…This is a true and pleasing fast for the Lord. Departing from these vices and from a corrupt state is what comprises a true fast.

If you lay down rules for yourself, do not disobey yourself; for he who cheats himself is self-deluded.

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

The soul's health consists in dispassion and spiritual knowledge; no slave to sensual pleasure can attain it.

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

Love and self-control purify the soul.

Make the body serve the commandments, keeping it so far as possible free from sickness and sensual pleasure.

He who fears God will pay careful attention to his soul and will free himself from communion with evil.

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

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

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

Obedience with abstinence gives men control over wild beasts.

The intellect becomes a stranger to the things of this world when its attachment to the senses has been completely sundered.

Worldly virtues promote human glory, spiritual virtues the glory of God.

If you abandon God and are a slave to the passions, you cannot reap God's mercy.

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

Break the bonds of your friendship for the body and give it only what is absolutely necessary.

Half an hour of the Jesus Prayer is worth as much as three hours of deep sleep. The prolonged Jesus Prayer rests and calms us.

Filters
Search By Keyword
Filter By
See more See less
Topics (Love, Anger, Confession, etc.)
See more See less
Parish

Mailing Address

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

Email, Phone, and Fax

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