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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

Love and self-control purify the soul.

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

The person who is unaffected by the things of this world loves stillness; and he who loves no human thing loves all men.

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

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

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

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.

If, wishing to correct another, you are moved to anger, you gratify your own passion. Do not lose yourself in order to save another.

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

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)