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

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

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

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

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.

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

Patient endurance is the soul's struggle for virtue; where there is struggle for virtue, self-indulgence is banished.

Strive to love every man equally, and you will simultaneously expel all the passions.

Listlessness is an apathy of soul; and a soul becomes apathetic when sick with self-indulgence.

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

In the beginning there are a great many battles and a good deal of suffering for those who are advancing towards God and afterwards, ineffable joy. It is like those who wish to light a fire; at first they are choked by the smoke and cry, and by this means obtain what they seek -- as it is said, 'Our God is a consuming fire' -- so we also must kindle the divine fire in ourselves through tears and hard work.

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.

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

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).

I think that for those living in community obedience is a greater virtue than chastity, however perfect. Chastity carries within it the danger of pride, but obedience has within it the promise of humility.

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

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

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

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)