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

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

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

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

Patient endurance is the soul's struggle for virtue; where there is struggle for virtue, self-indulgence is banished.

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

I suppose that it is sometimes better to fall oneself and rise, than to judge one's neighbor; because one who has sinned is incited to self-abasement and repentance, while he who judges one who has sinned becomes hardened in an illusion about himself and in pride. Therefore everyone must guard himself, as much as possible, so as not to judge.

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

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

He who knows himself pays no heed to the sins of others, but looks at his own and is always repenting over them; he reflects concerning himself, and condemns himself, and does not interfere in anything apart from his own position.

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

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

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

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

Strive as well as you can to enter deeply with the heart into the church reading and singing and to imprint these on the tablets of the heart.

Labor to acquire meekness. Concerning the heavenly virtues, meekness and humility, the Lord Himself teaches us, saying: Learn of Me, for I am meek and humble in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Matt. 11:29). Learn not from angels, nor from men, but from Me, He says; that is, from the higher wisdom.

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

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

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

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)