Through Little Victories Progress Is Made The acquisition of holiness is not simply the result of having cultivated virtues, or controlling oneself through asceticism, but rather having a completely organic relationship with Christ. This organic relationship is the result of going through stages of repentance and purity, leading to a
Humility Quickens Love for the Man with the Malice Heart Saint John of Kronstadt said, “A man who is wrathful with us is a sick man; we must apply a plaster to his heart – love; we must treat him kindly, speak to him gently, lovingly. And if there is
The Meaning of Salvation in the Ancient Church According to Protopresbyter George Metallinos, Dean of the Athens University School of Theology, “For we Orthodox the unique and absolute goal of life in Christ is theosis, our union with God, so that man – through his participation in God’s uncreated energy
The Role of Obedience in the Acquisition of Humility In the Christian life there are two paths to salvation and whichever road you choose must be embraced with your whole being. The married state and monasticism both have as their primary means of aiding in your salvation the acquisition of
When the Doors of Mercy are Slammed Shut This world is filled with people who are suffering, and estranged from God. People who need the healing that the Church has to offer, are often excluded from the very place that can bring about wholeness, often because we exclude them from
A Healthy Soul Does Not React Each day brings on new challenges regarding the health of our soul. Those moments when a family member or coworker makes a remark that is meant to anger us, are those times we need to guard our heart. When those around us are gossiping
Tapping into the Noetic Memory of the Heart The heart, in the Orthodox tradition, does not only have a natural operation, as a mere pump that circulates blood. In Orthodox patristic tradition the heart is the center of our self-awareness. Saint Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (+1809) calls the heart
Living In Expectation Of Miracles While just a little boy in the Lutheran Church, I remember asking the pastor why we didn’t see miracles in the church like had happened in the Bible. He told me they were used in New Testament times to jump start the church, and were
Having Christ As Our Kingdom, Light, Life, and Crown Any good parent knows that he must love all his children equally. No favoritism should be displayed when raising children if we want them to know they are loved. Troubled children often get more attention from loving parents because mom and