On Absent-Mindedness During Prayer

St. Luke of Crimea

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Homilies and Spiritual Instruction

On Absent-Mindedness During Prayer

St. Luke of Crimea

Pray as best as you can, sincerely, like small children. Christ hears your prayer, for no matter how weak it is, it rises very high to God, and the Lord accepts all prayers. Don’t be discouraged, don’t be idle, don’t expect your prayer to be freed from distraction quickly and easily.

How Do God’s Promises to Abraham Concern Us?

Sergei Komarov

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Theology

How Do God’s Promises to Abraham Concern Us?

Sergei Komarov

All of our hope and our thoughts should strive to go there, “to the Heavenly… to the Heavenly… to the light…,” as said the dying St. Gregory Palamas. There God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away (Rev. 21:4). Let us turn our hope there and let us believe: It will not put us to shame, for the promises of God are immutable.

Our Saving Seal

Archimandrite John (Krestiankin)

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Orthodoxy Today

Our Saving Seal

Archimandrite John (Krestiankin)

The Sign of the Cross is the only seal that has spiritual power. Our cross-bearing, our struggle with sin, our endurance of sickness, anguish, co-suffering with others, and much more—life according to God—is a witness to the fact that we bear God’s seal on ourselves. What is technology, computers, someone’s human or even diabolical desire to make us submit to his influence, to his seal? Nothing compared to that great seal which the Savior has given us for salvation.

Do Not Panic Before the Time

Archimandrite John (Krestiankin)

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Orthodoxy Today

Do Not Panic Before the Time

Archimandrite John (Krestiankin)

The seal of antichrist will come when antichrist comes to reign and receives power, and becomes the one and only ruler on the earth. Right now every nation has its own head. Therefore, do not panic before the time, but fear now the sins that open and pave the way to the future antichrist.

“Thou Wast Translated to Life, O Mother of Life”

Commentary on the Troparion and Kontakion of the Feast of the Dormition

Professor Larisa Marsheva, George Surkov

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Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days

“Thou Wast Translated to Life, O Mother of Life”

Commentary on the Troparion and Kontakion of the Feast of the Dormition

Professor Larisa Marsheva, George Surkov

And in this holiness, in total devotion to God, the Most Holy Virgin showed an example of the highest life, which is possible for everyone. In holiness and purity, in ineffable motherhood, she has become so close to God that the Church ceaselessly turns to her as to an intercessor, a patroness, and places its hope on her and praises her as a “firm hope in … intercessions.”