The Holiness of the Theotokos

October 4, 2016 | Instagram, Uncategorized, Wisdom

View this post on Instagram

"If the nine orders of angels desired to descend from the heavens, and become demons; If all men would become evil; If all creations, heaven, lights, priests, animals desired to apostasize from God; All these evils of creation weighed against the fulness of the Holiness of the Theotokos could not sadden God. For only the Lady Theotokos was able to please Him in all things. She alone stands between God and men, who made God the son of men, and men sons of God. Without her intercessions no one, neither angels, nor men could entreat God, for she alone is found on the border between the uncreated and natural creation. She alone is God immediately after God and has second place to the Holy Trinity, as being truly the mother of God in essence. And she alone is not only the protector of the treasury of all the riches of the Godhead, but she is the distributor to all angels and men, all those gifts from God to the supernatural creation, illumination and divine and spiritual gifts. And there is no one who cannot call upon her with faith and not be heard with compassion. This Son of God and beloved son of the Virgin gave us His mother (and thus our mother) as such an advocate, to help us towards our salvation." -St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain #TheOrthodoxWay #OrthodoxChristian #EasternOrthodox #Christian #TheChurch #Christ #Lord #Mercy #Love #Light #Faith #Prayer #Philotimo #TheCross #World #Salvation #Theotokos #Panagia

A post shared by The Orthodox Way (@theorthodoxway) on Oct 3, 2016 at 3:01pm PDT

A Humble Man

October 1, 2016 | Uncategorized, Wisdom

View this post on Instagram

A humble man is never rash, hasty or perturbed, never has any hot and volatile thoughts, but at all times remains calm. Even if heaven were to fall and cleave to the earth, the humble man would not be dismayed. Not every quiet man is humble, but every humble man is quiet. There is no humble man who is not self-constrained; but you will find many who are self-constrained without being humble. This is also what the meek humble Lord meant when He said, ‘Learn of Me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.’ [Matt 11:29] For the humble man is always at rest, because there is nothing which can agitate or shake his mind. Just as no one can frighten a mountain, so the mind of a humble man cannot be frightened. If it be permissible and not incongruous, I should say that the humble man is not of this world. For he is not troubled and altered by sorrows, nor amazed and enthused by joys, but all his gladness and his real rejoicing are in the things of his Master. Humility is accompanied by modesty and self-collectedness: that is, chastity of the senses; a moderate voice; mean speech; self-belittlement; poor raiment; a gait that is not pompous; a gaze directed towards the earth; superabundant mercy; easily flowing tears; a solitary soul; a contrite heart; imperturbability to anger; undistributed senses; few possessions; moderation in every need; endurance; patience; fearlessness; manliness of heart born of a hatred of this temporal life; patient endurance of trials; deliberations that are ponderous, not light, extinction of thoughts; guarding of the mysteries of chastity; modesty, reverence; and above all, continually to be still and always to claim ignorance. – St. Isaac the Syrian #orthodox #orthodoxy #orthodoxchurch #christian #wisdomofthefathers #stisaacthesyrian #humility #calmness

A post shared by Wisdom of the Fathers (@wisdomofthefathers) on Sep 30, 2016 at 7:34pm PDT

Wounded Pride

September 29, 2016 | Uncategorized, Wisdom

View this post on Instagram

When you are slandered, and therefore grow disturbed and sick at heart, it shows that pride is in you, and that it must be wounded and driven out by outward dishonour. Therefore do not be irritated by derision, and do not bear malice against those who hate you and slander you, but love them as your physicians, whom God has sent you to instruct you and to teach you humility, and pray to God for them. "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you." Say to yourself, "It is not me that they slander, but my evil passions; not me that they strike, but that viper which nestles in my heart, and smarts when anybody speaks ill of it. I will comfort myself with the thought that, perhaps, these good people will drive it from my heart by their caustic words, and my heart will then cease to ache. "Therefore, thank God for outward dishonour: those who endure dishonour here will not be subjected to it in the next world." – St. John of Kronstadt #orthodox #orthodoxy #orthodoxchurch #christian #wisdomofthefathers #stjohnofkronstadt #transformation #humility #forgiveness

A post shared by Wisdom of the Fathers (@wisdomofthefathers) on Sep 29, 2016 at 9:51am PDT

The will of God

August 30, 2016 | Instagram, Uncategorized, Wisdom

He who lives according to God’s will has no worries. When he needs something, he simply prays for it. If he does not receive that which he asked for, he is joyful as though he had received it. A soul that has given itself over to God has no fear of anything, not even robbers, sickness, or death. Whatever happens, such a soul always cries, ‘It was the will of God’. – Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, of blessed memory #orthodox #orthodoxy #orthodoxchurch #christian #wisdomofthefathers #elderthaddeusofvitovnica #joseph #godswill #trustgod

A post shared by Wisdom of the Fathers (@wisdomofthefathers) on Aug 30, 2016 at 7:10am PDT

The Mother of God prays for us

August 23, 2016 | Uncategorized, Wisdom

The Most Holy Mother of God prays for us ceaselessly. She is always visiting us. Whenever we turn to her in our heart, she is there. After the Lord, she is the greatest protection for mankind. How many churches there are in the world that are dedicated to the Most Holy Mother of God! How many healing springs where people are cured of their ailments have sprung up in places where the Most Holy Theotokos appeared and blessed those springs to heal both the sick and the healthy! She is constantly, by our side, and all too often we forget her. – Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, of blessed memory

A Christian is…

August 3, 2016 | Instagram, Uncategorized, Wisdom

A Christian is: a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, and a hand through which Christ helps. – St. Augustine of Hippo #orthodox #orthodoxy #orthodoxchurch #christian #wisdomofthefathers #staugustineofhippo

A post shared by Wisdom of the Fathers (@wisdomofthefathers) on Aug 3, 2016 at 12:05am PDT

Don’t let anything deprive you of hope

July 22, 2016 | Instagram, Uncategorized, Wisdom

View this post on Instagram

“We have within us deeply rooted weaknesses, passions, and defects. This can not all be cut out with one sharp motion, but patience, persistence, care and attention. The path leading to perfection is long. Pray to God so that he will strengthen you. Patiently accept your falls and, having stood up, immediately run to God, not remaining in that place where you have fallen. Do not despair if you keep falling into your old sins. Many of them are strong because they have received the force of habit. Only with the passage of time and with fervor will they be conquered. Don’t let anything deprive you of hope.” – St Nektarios. Amen! 🙏 #orthodoxy #orthodox #orthodoxchurch #orthodoxchristianity #orthodoxquotes #christianorthodox #christianquotes #christianity #christians #stnektarios #stnektariosofaegina #hope #prayer #pray #humble #humility #God #Christ #Godslove #spiritualgrowth #spiritualinspiration #spiritualstrength #spiritualstruggle #weaknesses #strengthfromgod #faith #love #peace #graceofgod #throughthegraceofgod

A post shared by ThroughtheGraceofGod:Orthodoxy (@throughthegraceofgod) on Jul 21, 2016 at 9:42pm PDT

No one can carry the Cross of Christ

July 20, 2016 | Instagram, Uncategorized, Wisdom

View this post on Instagram

If we are to cultivate the soil of our hearts we will first need a plough, and our plough must be the Cross of Christ. This will lead us into obedience to His word and we will take up our own cross. No one can carry the Cross of Christ. The pain and the crushing ignominy contained in it are beyond describing. It would grind our whole being to dust for it bears within itself the whole tragedy of man since the day of his fall from Paradise until the end of ages. It bears the whole cosmic weight of Adam's disobedience. We bear our small personal cross in obedience to Christ's commandment. This cross is the pain and sacrifice involved in freeing the heart from passionate attachments and secret deceits, that it may run freely after its beloved God and call upon Him. It will have room for nothing but a yearning for God by which to invoke His Name. The one desire of the heart is to be one with Him Who joined Himself to our nature, bringing into it all His divine virtues so that we might become 'partakers if the divine nature.' Thus, by taking up our small cross, we inherit the life hidden in His great Cross. – Archimandrite Zacharias #orthodox #orthodoxy #orthodoxchurch #christian #wisdomofthefathers #archimandritezacharias #carryyourcross #cross #sacrifice

A post shared by Wisdom of the Fathers (@wisdomofthefathers) on Jul 19, 2016 at 5:59pm PDT

Having God fear nothing

July 11, 2016 | Instagram, Uncategorized, Wisdom

View this post on Instagram

Having God, fear nothing, but cast all of your care upon Him, and He will take care of you. Believe undoubtingly, and God will help you according to His mercy. – St. Barsanuphius the Great #orthodox #orthodoxy #orthodoxchurch #christian #wisdomofthefathers #stbarsanuphiusthegreat

A post shared by Wisdom of the Fathers (@wisdomofthefathers) on Jul 11, 2016 at 11:40am PDT

Complete Trust in God 

June 30, 2016 | Instagram, Uncategorized, Wisdom

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHQ_Xkmjr9U/