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

Self-love -- that is, friendship for the body -- is the source of evil in the soul.

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

Whenever we enter the church and draw near to the heavenly mysteries, we ought to approach with all humility and fear, both because of the presence of the angelic powers and out of the reverence due to the sacred oblation; for as the Angels are said to have stood by the Lord's body when it lay in the tomb, so we must believe that they are present in the celebration of the Mysteries of His most sacred Body at the time of consecration.

A wise man is one who pays attention to himself and is quick to separate himself from all defilement.

A mind that dwells on everyday matters of life and vain things disperses the soul. One should turn inwardly, looking at the soul’s uncultivated vineyard, weeding it of all evil thorns and planting virtues there instead. But be wary, for this type of work is not easy at all. It requires perseverance and much patience. One will be confronted with a multitude of difficulties. Various writings of the Fathers are very helpful, and in our days are available by the dozens. In them one can find anything his heart desires, and anything it needs. The Fathers will lead you on the right spiritual path, if only you read them with humility and prayer.

Spiritual freedom is release from the passions; without Christ’s mercy you cannot attain it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A certain priest, an unfortunate man who had no knowledge of divine experience like that of St. Silouan, said to another person, 'I wonder why they go to him, he does not read anything.' The other replied, 'He does not read anything, but he practices everything, unlike those who read a lot but do not do a thing.'

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.

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

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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)