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

If you have a heart, you can be saved.

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.

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).

Four monks of Scetis, clothed in skins, came one day to see the great Pambo. Each one revealed the virtue of his neighbor. The first fasted a great deal; the second was poor; the third had acquired great charity; and they said of the fourth that he had lived for twenty-two years in obedience to an old man. Abba Pambo said to them, 'I tell you, the virtue of this last one is the greatest. Each of the others has obtained the virtue he wished to acquire; but the last one, restraining his own will, does the will of another. Now it is of such men that the martyrs are made, if they persevere to the end.'

It is better to eat meat and drink wine and not to eat the flesh of one's brethren through slander.

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

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

Long-suffering and readiness to forgive curb anger; love and compassion wither it.

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

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.

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

All sin is due to sensual pleasure, all forgiveness to hardship and distress.

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

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

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

If you are not willing to repent through freely choosing to suffer, unsought sufferings will providentially be imposed on you.

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

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)