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

Ascetic exertion, at the personal, family, and parish level, particularly of prayer and fasting, is the characteristic of Orthodoxy.

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

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

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

Fasting needn't be limited to abstinence from food alone, because true fasting is departure from evil deeds. Forgive your neighbor any insult, abstain from causing your neighbor offence, abstain from irritation, from senseless sorrows, from fear, wrath, and so on. ‘True fasting is alienation from evil, temperance of the tongue, setting aside of wrath, casting out of lust, idle talk, lies, and oath-breaking’…This is a true and pleasing fast for the Lord. Departing from these vices and from a corrupt state is what comprises a true fast.

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

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

Fear of the Lord conquers desire, and distress that accords with God's will repulses sensual pleasure.

Keep your mind from malicious thoughts of your neighbors, knowing that such thoughts are hurled by diabolical power, to keep your mind from your own sins and from seeking.

Keep the commandments, and you will find peace; love God, and you will attain spiritual knowledge.

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

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

Blessed stillness gives birth to blessed children: self-control, love and pure prayer.

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

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

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

If you abandon God and are a slave to the passions, you cannot reap God's mercy.

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

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)