🔸 Saint Gregory of Nyssa on Man Being Made in God’s Image 🔸
“For this is the safest way to protect the good things you enjoy: by realizing how much your Creator has honored you above all other creatures. He did not make the heavens in His image, nor the moon, the sun, the beauty of the stars, nor anything else which you can see in the created universe.
You alone are made in the likeness of that nature which surpasses all understanding; you alone are a similitude of eternal beauty, a receptacle of happiness, an image of the true Light, and if you look up to Him, you will become what He is, imitating Him Who shines within you, Whose glory is reflected in your purity.
Nothing in all creation can equal your grandeur. All the heavens can fit into the palm of God’s hand; the earth and the sea are measured in the hollow of his hand (Is. 40.12). And though He is so great that He can grasp all creation in His palm, you can wholly embrace Him; He dwells within you, nor is he cramped as He pervades your entire being, saying: I will dwell in them, and walk among them (2 Cor. 6.16).”
From Glory to Glory, Texts from Gregory of Nyssa’s Mystical Writings, p. 162-163.
"Man must turn completely toward God. If you keep looking at the sun, your back remains in the shade. If you look at Christ, all the shadows and the evils of the world fall behind you and can no longer touch you."
Saint Paisios the Athonite
"Prayer is the mighty weapon of the Christian, and especially the monk. We have been called to become unknown heroes, visible only to the unsleeping eye of God."
+ Elder Ephraim of Arizona
Today we commemorate the Repose of Saint Jonah, Archbishop of Novgorod
Read the account: https://t.co/8jHMx4FSRl
More saints commemorated today: https://t.co/xVI24a0reJ
Music downloads for today: https://t.co/W6iRj4lgly
#saints#feastsandsaints
“The word “heretic” is indeed used too frequently nowadays. It has a definite meaning and function, to distinguish new teachings from the Orthodox teachings but few of the non-Orthodox Christians today are consciously “heretics,” and it really does no good to call them that.
In the end, I think, Father Dimitry Dudko’s attitude is the correct one, We should view the non-Orthodox as people to whom Orthodoxy has not yet been revealed, as people who are potentially Orthodox (if only we ourselves would give them a better example!).
There is no reason why we cannot call them Christians and be on good terms with them, recognize that we have at least our faith in Christ in common, and live in peace especially with our own families.
St. Innocent’s attitude to the Roman Catholics in California is a good example for us. A harsh, polemical attitude is called for only when the non-Orthodox are trying to take away our flocks or change our teaching”
- Saint Seraphim Rose
Today we commemorate Hieromartyr Seraphim (Samoilovich), Archbishop of Uglich
Read the account: https://t.co/HbfcvV4eWs
More saints commemorated today: https://t.co/oHsROrzmB1
Music downloads & other resources: https://t.co/GzvAdj8ht2
#saints#feastsandsaints
When there are sorrows, and you do not have the strength to endure them, then turn with all your heart to the Lord, the Mother of God, St. Nicholas, the saint whose name you bear, and the sorrow will be alleviated. - St. Nektary of Optina
Do not be really disturbed by the arrangement of your fate. Have only the unwavering desire for salvation and, standing before God, await His help until the time comes. - Saint Ambrose of Optina
Every good and bad thing on this earth has its origin and our thoughts. This is why we must struggle. We are a thought-apparatus that emits thoughts, that radiate thoughts which influence all beings: men, animals, plants. The plants too, have a nervous system. They expect peace, comfort, and love from us. - Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, pg. 173
Οι λέξεις έχουν τεράστια δύναμη... ~ Όσιος Γαβριήλ ο δια Χριστόν σαλός
Οι λέξεις έχουν τεράστια δύναμη, γι’ αυτό να τις χρησιμοποιείτε πάντα με σύνεση. Για παράδειγμα, όταν ένα παιδί φεύγει από το σπίτι, δεν πρέπει να του πει κανείς: «Ντύσου ζεστά, αλλιώς θα κρυολογήσεις». Αντίθετα, πρέπει να πει: «Ντύσου ζεστά και δεν θα κρυολογήσεις».
~ Όσιος Γαβριήλ (Ουργκεμπάτζε),
ο δια Χριστόν σαλός του Σαμτάβρο, και Ομολογητής
https://t.co/NL35IRN7bz
My brother in law once remarked that God seems to send saints to a people that run counter to their bad tendencies.
For example: Slavs can be very somber and self-serious, so He sends them many fools for Christ. Greeks can be a bit lax and lazy, so He sends them a lot of strict ascetics.
For America, our generalized vice is probably being weird and neurotically self-centered. St Olga, by comparison, lived a quiet life of service, compassion, and endless hours of knitting clothes for others. The site for the OCA Archdiocese of Canada describes her as “one who lives in harmony with others, serves quietly, and carries warmth into the lives of those around her,” and that she “spoke little but listened much.”
St Olga, pray for us
Today we commemorate Hieromartyrs Akepsimas, Bishop in Persia, Presbyter Joseph, and Deacon Aeithalás
Read the account: https://t.co/PBPe62cdG5
More saints commemorated today: https://t.co/qjZvgvPXdw
Music downloads for today: https://t.co/W6iRj4lgly
#saints#feastsandsaints
''Να κάνεις σωστά το σταυρό σου... Όταν δεν τον κάνεις σωστά, τα πονηρά πνεύματα όχι μόνο δεν φεύγουν, αλλά γελάνε...'' (...)
~ Άγιος Γαβριήλ, ο δια Χριστόν σαλός και ομολογητής
+ 2 Νοεμβρίου
I love this story about Saint Silouan. One time, he fell into despair over making no spiritual progress. He believed he gave up everything to become a monk for nothing. Then, he despaired over his brothers, who were making no spiritual progress either. Then, he thought about the outside world and how the majority of people weren’t even trying. So, he despaired even more. To Silouan, it seemed no one could be saved.
But then God spoke to Silouan. He said not to worry about the world, because He is the only One who can judge it. God consoled the saint by telling him everyone who cries out to Christ at least once will be shown mercy. Silouan was finally at peace. However, he also started to wonder why he was putting in so much extra effort! God said those who suffer for My commandments won’t just be shown mercy, in heaven, they’ll be My friend.
"God is an infinite Love, Goodness and Justice. Who loves goodness and justice, he loves God and he is loved by God as his own child."
- St. Gabriel of Georgia, The Fool-for-Christ