on renunciation


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do all the good you can

do not speak evil of anyone

do not steal from anyone

do not lie to anyone

do not be arrogant toward anyone

do not hate anyone

do not be absent from the Divine Services

be compassionate to the needy

do not offend anyone

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Saint John Climacus

the ladder of divine ascent

step 1 :: on renunciation of the world :: no. 21



he who would lose his life

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A man does not cease to feel pain because he has seen God.  On the contrary, God’s presence is often felt in the midst of great agony, in the midst of great pain, in moments of great loss and failure, for he who would lose his life for My sake shall find it (Matt 16:25).

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

Psalms and the Life of Faith





participate in grace

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It is in the Liturgical assembly, through prayer and the Sacraments, that we experience and share in God’s love and holiness.  God ceaselessly empties Himself, for no other reason than to fill us with Himself.

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

Psalms and the Life of Faith


our brother is our life

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Each person must bear the weaknesses of others.

Who is perfect?

Who can boast that he has kept his heart undefiled?

Hence we are all sick, and whoever condemns his brother does not perceive that he, himself, is sick, because a sick person does not condemn another sick person.

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Elder Ephraim of Philothoeu


kindle grace

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To kindle the grace of God in yourself, exercise yourself also in reading the Word of God.  The Word of God is a hammer that crushes and softens our stony hearts; it is a fire that burns away the uncleanness of our sins and warms our cold hearts (cf. Jer 23:29).

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Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk