Igumen Nektary (Morozov), Archpriest Igor Shestakov, Archpriest Vasily Mazur, Priest Vladimir Voitov
Rating: 10|Votes: 7
With whatever inner disposition we begin any task—that is how we will carry it out. It is the same for the fast: with whatever disposition we enter the fast—that is probably how we will go through it. That means that we need to relate to the first week of Lent with particular responsibility.
Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose)
Rating: 5,3|Votes: 12
This rule of fasting, to be sure, is not intended to be a "straight-jacket" for Orthodox believers, nor a source of pharisaical pride for anyone who keeps the letter of the Church's law. It is rather the rule, the standard, against which each is to measure his own practice, and towards which one must always strive, according to one's strength and circumstances.
Igumen Zacchaeus (Wood)
Rating: 3,3|Votes: 4
Of course much can be, and indeed has been said about each preparatory Sunday—from the desire of Zacchaeus to the humble prayer of the publican to the repentance of the prodigal son, and finally with the clear teaching of the Lord as to what we need to do to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Today's theme, however is more frightening—the expulsion of Adam from Paradise.
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)
Rating: 7,2|Votes: 5
Beloved brethren! We have already reached the very gates of the holy fast! They are even now about to open before us! Already, according to the typicon of the Holy Church, we hear the instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ read to us today in the Holy Gospels about the correct way to begin the podvig of fasting.
Aleksandar M. Prascevic
Faith in God is an integral part of human beings. It is an indisputable fact, and modern man often becomes aware of it when he is in trouble or danger. A working slogan in communism was: Religion is the opium of the people. This is not true because the Christian religion is faith, hope and love; Islam promotes charity and zeal, the Buddhist goal is to achieve nirvana, and so on. These are all human virtues whose source is the human heart, and reminder of religion.
