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

As a ray of sun, passing through a crack, lights everything in the house and shows up even the finest dust, so the fear of the Lord, entering a man's heart, reveals to him all his sins.

The man who pets a lion may tame it, but the man who coddles the body makes it ravenous.

Lying is wiped out by the tortures of superiors; but it is finally destroyed by an abundance of tears.

A holy man told us one day, that the source of all heresies and schisms in the church was, loving God too little, and ourselves too much.

He who has tasted the things on high easily despises what is below. But he who has not tasted the things above finds joy in possessions.

A holy man told us one day, that the source of all heresies and schisms in the church was, loving God too little, and ourselves too much.

A holy man told us one day, that the source of all heresies and schisms in the church was, loving God too little, and ourselves too much.

It seems to me that, in all cases when indignity is offered to us, we should be silent; for it is our moment of profit.

A man who has embraced poverty offers up prayer that is pure, while a man who loves possessions prays to material images.

The lower you descend, the higher you ascend; and when, like the psalmist, you regard yourself as nothing before the Lord (cf. Ps. 39:5), then imperceptibly you will grow great. And when you begin to realize that you have nothing and know nothing, then you will become rich in the Lord through the practice of the virtues and spiritual knowledge.

Some people living carelessly in the world have asked me: 'We have wives and are beset with social cares, and how can we lead the solitary life?' I replied to them: 'Do all the good you can; do not speak evil of anyone; do not steal from anyone; do not hate anyone; do not be absent from Divine services; do not offend anyone; do not wreck another man's domestic happiness, and be content with what your own wives can give you. If you behave in this way, you will not be far from the Kingdom of Heaven.'

Be concentrated without self-display, withdrawn into your heart. For the demons fear concentration as thieves fear dogs.

As the gradual pouring of water on a fire completely extinguishes the flame, so the tears of mourning are able to quench every flame of anger and irritability. Therefore, we place this next in order. (after mourning).

He who really keeps account of his actions considers as lost every day in which he does not mourn, whatever good he may have done in it.

Do not allow human respect to get in your way when you hear someone slandering his neighbor. Instead, say to him, 'Brother, stop it! I do worse things every day, so how can I criticize him?' You accomplish two things when you say this. You heal yourself and you heal your neighbor with one bandage.

The beginning of the mortification both of the soul’s desire and of the bodily members is much hard work. The middle is sometimes laborious and sometimes not laborious. But the end is insensibility and insusceptibility to toil and pain. Only when he sees himself doing his own will does this blessed living corpse feel sorry and sick at heart; and he fears the responsibility of using his own judgment.

Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but stand your ground courageously. And assuredly, the angel who guards you will honor your patience.

A vigilant eye makes the mind pure; but much sleep hardens the soul.

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)