• Vespers: Saturdays 5PM
  • Divine Liturgy: Sundays 9:30AM
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Quotes

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

The zeal which wishes to destroy great evil without appropriate preparation is a great evil in itself.

You know that evil entered into us through the transgression of the commandments. Hence it is obvious that by keeping them, evil departs from us. But without the doing of the commandments we should not even aspire or hope for purity of soul, because at the very outset we do not walk on the path that leads us to purity of soul. Do not say that God can give us the grace of purity of soul even without our keeping the commandments.

Nothing is better than to realize one's weakness and ignorance, and nothing is worse than not to be aware of them.

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

A true monk does no reproach and does not praise.

Evil is not an actual substance, but absence of good; just as darkness is nothing but absence of light.

If they will praise you, you must remain silent—do not say anything.

People of high spirit bear offence nobly and gladly, but only the holy and righteous can pass through praise without harm.

Just as the most bitter medicine drives out poisonous things, so prayer joined to fasting drives evil thoughts away.

It is not always possible to fulfill the usual rules; one must take circumstances into account and try to fulfill what they make possible, as far as one can. The demons themselves are not unmindful of this law. So, being in constant enmity with us, they prevent us from doing what is possible and urge us to do what is impossible.

How harmful is the praise of man! Even though a person may have done something worthy of praise, when he enjoys the sound of praise he is already deprived of future glory, according to teachings of the holy fathers.

Pay no attention to praise and fear it; remember what one of the holy fathers says: 'If someone praises you, expect reproaches from him too.'

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.

Self-knowledge is a true idea of one's spiritual growth, and an unbroken remembrance of one's slightest sins.

Along with an evil thought, a hostile power enters into us, and then the soul is clouded, and evil thoughts harass her.

It is a great work to shake from the soul the praise of men, but to reject the praise of demons is greater.

One who is capable of seeing himself is better than one who has been made worthy to see angels.

Whoever reproaches us gives us a gift, but whoever praises us, steals from us.

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

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[email protected]
440-526-5192 (Phone)