SHOULD ALL CHRISTIANS PRAY CEASELESSLY? -by St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite-

SHOULD ALL CHRISTIANS PRAY CEASELESSLY?

-by St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite-

My beloved Christians, let no one think that only members of the clergy and monastics are obligated to pray ceaselessly at all times, whereas laypeople are exempt from this. No! Not at all! 

All Christians in general have the obligation to constantly be in a state of prayer. 

The most-holy patriarch of Constantinople Philotheos writes the following in regard to this matter, in his biography of St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki: The divine St. Gregory was close friends with a guileless and virtuous monk named Job. Once, while conversing with him, he referred to the fact that every Christian in general must make a sustained effort to pray ceaselessly, citing the Apostle Paul who commands all Christians: “Pray ceaselessly” (1 Thes. 5:17); the prophet David who—despite the fact that he was a king and had to attend to all the matters of his kingdom—states: “I beheld the Lord ever before me” [through prayer] (Ps. 15:8); and St. Gregory the Theologian who similarly advises all Christians that it is necessary to commemorate the name of God through prayer more frequently than we breathe. 

Sayings of St Anthony the Great

Sayings of St Anthony the Great

1. When the holy Abba Anthony was living in the desert, he fell into acedia (a lack of concern for his salvation/ indifference to spiritual things) and was darkened by many impassioned thoughts (logismoi). He said to God, ”Lord, I want to be saved, but these thoughts will not leave me alone. What shall I do in my distress? How can I be saved?” A little later, when he got up to go out, Anthony saw someone like himself, sitting and working, then rising from work and praying, and again sitting and plaiting a rope, then again rising for prayer.” It was an angel of the Lord, sent to correct him and assure him. And he heard the angel saying, “Do this and you will be saved.” And when he heard this, he was filled with great joy and courage. He did this, and he was saved.

St. John of Kronstadt brings homeless children to the shelter.

St. John of Kronstadt and the Education of Children

    

A child’s soul is divine beauty

St. John of Kronstadt considered love for children to be the foundation of a teacher’s work—a foundation that is very often denied by modern-day so-called technicians of secular educational sciences and activities. He said to the students of the gymnasium where he taught, “You are my children, for I gave birth to you and continue to give birth in you to the good tidings of Jesus Christ. My spiritual blood—my instructions—flow in your veins. You are my children, because I have you always in my heart and I pray for you. You are my children, because you are my spiritual offspring. You are my children, because truly, as a priest I am a father, and you call me “batiushka” (“little father”, an affectionate term for a priest).

“THE JESUS PRAYER”. A SIMPLE BUT VERY POWERFUL PRAYER.

“THE JESUS PRAYER”.

 A SIMPLE BUT VERY POWERFUL PRAYER.

‘‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
have mercy on me a sinner’’

How should we say the Jesus Prayer, and what do its words mean?

“Lord”: When we say “Lord” we must recog­nize the Lordship of Christ, enthrone Him in our life, in order to acquire the mind of Christ; in our heart, so that our heart be pure; in our will, so that our intention will be to be totally faithful to the Gospel of God.

“Jesus”: Jesus is the human name of God. We are profess­ing His incarnation. Do we believe it or not? 

“Christ”: He’s the fulfilment of the Old Testament. He is our King.

Some sayings of the Holy Fathers about "Jesus Prayer"

Some sayings of the Holy Fathers about "Jesus Prayer"

"LORD JESUS CHRIST SON OF GOD HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER"

At your work, flee conversation; only measured words in case of need. The hands should work for the needs of the body, and the mind should say the sweetest name of Christ, so that the need of the soul, which we must not forget even for moment, also will be provided for.  

REF:Elder Ephraim of Philotheou Mount Athos, "Counsels from the Holy Mountain"

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Continually say the Prayer [of Jesus] intensely, with zeal, with longing; only thus does one become strong in soul. Avoid idle words by means of all sacrifice, for they weaken the soul and it does not have the strength to struggle.  

REF:Elder Ephraim of Philotheou Mount Athos, "Counsels from the Holy Mountain"

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An angel is giving answers to Abba Macarius!

‘‘An angel is giving answers!’’

An interesting conversation between Abba Macarius and an angel of the Lord

One day Abba Macarius was walking in the desert, when an angel of the Lord came up behind him and said:
‘‘Your blessing, Holy Father.’’  

Abba Macarius took him to be a hermit and said:
‘‘May the Lord forgive you my child.’’ 

As they walked along together, Abba Macarius noticed the figure and appearance of the monk and said to him:  

‘‘My child, I see you and marvel! How beautiful you are! I have never seen such beauty in a human face. Perhaps you aren’t a man? In the name of God in Heaven tell me the truth.’’ 

Then the angel bowed to the elder and said: 
‘‘Bless me father, as you can see I’m an angel and have come to teach you the hidden mysteries which you want to know.’’

The elder bowed too and prayed:
‘‘Lord, I thank you, because you’ve sent me such a guide to teach me about things unknown and mysteries which I desire to learn.’’

The angel said to him softly:
‘‘Tell me what it is you wish to know.’’

Be the Bee and not the Fly -Saint Paisios-

-Saint Paisios-

Be the Bee and not the Fly

Some people tell me that they are scandalized because they see many things wrong in the Church. I tell them that if you ask a fly, “Are there any flowers in this area?” it will say, “I don’t know about flowers, but over there in that heap of rubbish you can find all the filth you want.” And it will go on to list all the unclean things it has been to.

Now, if you ask a honeybee, “Have you seen any unclean things in this area?” it will reply, “Unclean things? No, I have not seen any; the place here is full of the most fragrant flowers.” And it will go on to name all the flowers of the garden or the meadow.

THIS WAS FROM ME -St Seraphim of Vyritsa-

"This Was From Me"

The Spiritual Testament of St Seraphim of Vyritsa (1866-1949)

Although written to one of the saint's spiritual children, a bishop who had been imprisoned, this testament is in fact addressed to us all.

Have you ever thought that all what concerns you, concerns Me too? For what concerns you, concerns the apple of My eye. 

You are precious in My sight, of great value, and I have loved you, and so it is a great joy for Me to educate you. 

When temptations rise up against you, when the enemy surges against you like the rough sea, I want you to know that - 

This was from Me.

"REMEMBER YOUR BAPTISMAL VOWS"! - Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk -

 

 

- Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk - 

"REMEMBER YOUR BAPTISMAL VOWS"!

Holy Baptism is like a door by which those that are baptized enter into the holy Church and become fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Eph. 2:19). And not just so, but before Baptism there are renunciations and vows:

1. We then renounced Satan and all his evil works. Satan is a wicked and evil spirit. He was created good by God, but he and those of like mind with him apostasized from Him, and so from light they became dark, and from good they became evil and wicked. His works are idolatry, pride, adultery, prodigality, all uncleanliness, slander, blasphemy and every sin; for he is the inventor of sin, and he beguiled our ancestors in paradise and led them into sin and apostasy from God. We renounce this wicked spirit and all his evil works before Baptism.