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

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

In the beginning, there is struggle and a lot of work for those who come near to God. But after that, there is indescribable joy. It is just like building a fire: at first it's smoky and your eyes water, but later you get the desired result. Thus we ought to light the divine fire in ourselves with tears and effort.

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

According to the degree to which the intellect is stripped of the passions, the Holy Spirit initiates the intellect into the mysteries of the age to be.

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

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

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.

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

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).

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

A treasure that is known is quickly spent: and even so any virtue that is commented on and made a public show of is destroyed. Even as wax is melted before the face of fire, so is the soul enfeebled by praise, and loses the toughness of its virtue.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)