Rev. Dr. Oliver Subotic
For Orthodoxy, the fundamental goal is the deification of man, his transformation in Christ, and not anything of this world.
Hieromonk Savatie (Bastovoi)
Every passion that takes root in our hearts is a harbinger of war. The guarding of the senses, the guarding of the mind, and of judgment expressed aloud, should keep us from this all-encompassing war.
Hieromonk Pafnuty (Fokin)
Preparations for manned spaceflight in the Soviet Union began in the spring of 1960. At that time, the concepts of “cosmonautics” and “religion” were regarded in the public consciousness as incompatible and mutually exclusive. And yet, almost all the cosmonauts of the first group were baptized Orthodox Christians.
Alexandra Kalinovskaya
The diocese of Voronezh was new and poor, established for the most part to combat the spread of the Old Believers. At that time, the land of Voronezh was troubled because of the “bespopovtsy” (priestless Old Believers), involuntary settlers from other places, and the local people with lax morals. The task of restoring order in the diocese was a serious challenge for the saint.
Archimandrite Sofian (Boghiu)
This is precisely what today’s feast calls each of us to do: to undergo an inward transformation, to be purified and enlightened, and to bring our lives into harmony with the holy will of God, who always desires what is good and blessed for us and for all mankind.
Hieromonk Philofei (Makharramov)
Here is the ideal that Christ left us: meekness, the spirit of humility, the spirit of love, and the spirit of self-sacrifice—this is always associated with self-emptying; we will always have to humble ourselves.
Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko)
Outward domination of one person over another is fundamentally incompatible with the preaching of the Cross.
Although she grew up in an atheistic Jewish family, from the age of six she felt drawn to the Orthodox faith and was baptized in 1941.
Fr. James Guirguis
The Lord says in effect, “I have forgiven and will continue to forgive you, but you must also forgive others continually.”
Hieromonk Agafangel (Davlatov)
These Seven Holy Youths fell into a deep and sound sleep; they did not die, but rather fell asleep, and they told this story themselves almost two centuries after they were sealed in this cave.
Priest Leonid Bartkov
Forgiveness is not amnesia. Forgiveness is not saying, “Nothing terrible happened.” No, something terrible did happen. Evil is evil. Forgiveness is not reconciliation with evil. Forgiveness is renouncing personal revenge. It is breaking the chain of evil within oneself.
Hieromonk Spyridon (Dorosh)
Our faith is called Christianity because Christ is at its center. We look to Him, we strive towards Him, and we become like Him.
Fr. Lawrence Farley
The Lord’s sacramental presence among us at Liturgy is a gift, a charisma, the gracious fulfillment of His promise to manifest Himself when His disciples gather together.
Sergei Kagirin
Hieromartyr Benjamin was condemned for his sharply negative attitude towards the Renovationist schism.
Sanctity inspires, heals, and calls us to goodness. It proves that the Gospel is not a distant ideal but real life, accessible to each of us.
For the hermits, silence was the battlefield of continuous spiritual warfare. In solitude, the usual worldly concerns disappeared, and a person was left face to face with his own passions and with temptations from the evil one and the demons.
While God speaks to us about grace and forgiveness, people speak about laws and punishments. Strength forgives, but weakness punishes.
In our neighbor, we find either salvation or perdition.
In November 1940, the wealthy Serbian-American Mihailo Ducic sent him financial assistance. The ingenious inventor thanked him in a telegram, stating, among other things: “Saint Nicholas and you are my best friends.”
Vera Andrejuk
How hard it was for the brothers in, the far north! Although autumn brought rain and wind to the brethren, the monks could not help but admire the beauty of the land and praise God despite the harsh weather.
