tell me a word

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A word spoken from the heart of the hermit as from the Holy Spirit, in the language of the desert, is considered real and authentic; and the one who requests it, receives it as the fruit of Grace without elaborating on it in his mind. This “word” from the spiritual father is absolutely necessary for the one who asks. The “word” comes from a soul which is the friend of God, Wounded by the love of God, and is spoken in accordance with the measure of the “thirst” of the one who asks.

Metropolitan Nafpaktos Hierotheos

A Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain

our task :: our work :: and God’s Grace

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sunflowers of the garden 2019

For the soul to repent it must first be awake. It is in this awakening that the miracle of repentance occurs. This is where human will plays a role. The awakening however is not something that rests solely with the man or the woman. The individual alone is not able to bring it about. God intervenes. Then Divine Grace comes. Without Grace a person can not repent. The love of God does everything. He may use something — an illness, or something else — it depends — in order to bring a person to repentance. Accordingly, repentance is achieved through divine grace. We simply make a move towards God and from then on Grace supervenes.

Saint Porphyrios

our strength is in God

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“Do not be negligent, for prolonged indifference will diminish the light, rather study and grow strong, always asking for divine grace, having learned that your strength is in God. Have as your example every virtue so that you may hear from your Lord the sweet voice saying, “Come to me good and faithful servant, good worker in my mystical vineyard, you have been faithful in a little way, I will reward you in a great way, come forth unto the joy of your Lord.:

For you to be worthy to hear the meek voice of the Lord you must become humble. Learn from the humility of the Lord and ask for the grace of humility so that the Lord may raise you up and reward your works.”

“Spiritual Advice of the Elder Philotheos Zervakos” 

Translated by Archimandrite Polycarpos Rameras

the mercy of God towards man

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“…great is the mercy of God towards man. If all the people of the earth knew how deeply the Lord loves man, their hears would be filled with love of Christ and Christ’s humility, and they would seek to be like Him in all things. But man cannot do this by himself, for it is only of the Holy Spirit that he can become like unto Christ. Man that is fallen purified himself through repentance, and is made new by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and in all t things become like unto the Lord.

So great is God’s mercy towards us.”

The Writings of Staretz Silouan Wisdom from Mount Athos

page 67

concerning prayer {cling to Christ}

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“To become children of God and gods by Grace, let us always pray. All good things are given from above by the Father of Lights. If we wish to be children of God, let us entreat and pray continuously to make us worthy of such a grace.

Let our souls cling to God as the prophet David says, “my soul clings to you and my right hand upholds you” Saint Gregory the Theologian says, “remembrance of God brings us rest.” The God Bearing Maximos the Confessor writes, “The mind unified in prayer and Love of God becomes wise, good, merciful, and long-suffering, reflecting all the Divine energies in itself.”

Let us love God with all our strength and our neighbors as ourselves, that we may be worthy to be children of God and gods by Grace. Amen.”

“Spiritual Advice of the Elder Philotheos Zervakos”

Translated by Archimandrite Polycarpos Rameras

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