"Don't be distressed if you have inherited faults, and don't boast if you have inherited virtues, because God will examine the efforts people have made on their old selves." - Elder Paisios of the … [Read more...]
Blasphemy, Cruelty, Hypocrisy
May 10, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Presumption and boastfulness are causes of blasphemy. Avarice and self-esteem are causes of cruelty and hypocrisy. -- Saint Kosmas Aitolos … [Read more...]
Covetousness stands with the Goats
May 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment
If a man does not keep himself from covetousness, he shall be defiled by idolatry, and shall be judged as one of the heathen. -- The Epistle Of Polycarp To The Philippians … [Read more...]
It has destroyed me. It has upheld me.
April 30, 2008 By Leave a Comment
No Christian believing rightly in God should ever be off his guard. He should always be on the look-out for temptation, so that when it comes he will not be surprised or disturbed, but will gladly … [Read more...]
Contemplating One's Own Navel
April 28, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Batiushka said regarding condemnation and criticism of other’s faults and sins: “You need to pay such close attention to your own internal life, that you not focus on what is happening around you. … [Read more...]
The One Ring that Rules them All
April 25, 2008 By Leave a Comment
The desire for possessions is dangerous and terrible, knowing no satiety; it drives the soul which it controls to the heights of evil. Therefore, let us drive it away vigorously from the beginning. … [Read more...]
Self Esteem is a Passion
April 22, 2008 By Leave a Comment
The passion of self-esteem is a three-pronged barb heated and forged by the demons out of vanity, presumption and arrogance. Yet those who dwell under the protection of the God of heaven (cf. Ps. … [Read more...]
Lent, Poverty, and Alms
April 21, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Money! Money! Power! Honor! These are the temptations which, unfortunately, many people are unable to resist. This is the source of all the disputes, disagreements and divisions among … [Read more...]
The Wall
April 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Let us too imitate these men [Prop. David, Apos. Paul & Silas], building a wall around our life with the habit of prayer and letting nothing ever prove an obstacle to us. There is, in fact, … [Read more...]
A List of the Passions
April 7, 2008 By Leave a Comment
by St. Peter of Damaskos The passions are: harshness, trickery, malice, perversity, mindlessness, licentiousness, enticement, dullness, lack of understanding, idleness, sluggishness, stupidity, … [Read more...]
