We need to have more prayer, more prostrations, and more self-control for God to have mercy on us.

Gerondissa Makrina (Vassopoulou)

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Concerning hypocritical prayer. Did the Pharisees think that they prayed hypocritically? They did not think so; they considered themselves to be right in their hypocrisy itself! It had become their habit; it had become, so to say, their nature; and they thought they were serving God by their prayer. Do the Christian hypocrites of the present day think that they pray and live hypocritically? They do not think so.

Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

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Under no circumstances should you become despondent or lose hope; this is worse than any sin. Such states lead one to spiritual death and even suicide. “There is no sin that cannot be forgiven, except the sin which is not repented of.”

Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

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Under no circumstances should you become despondent or lose hope; this is worse than any sin. Such states lead one to spiritual death and even suicide. “There is no sin that cannot be forgiven, except the sin which is not repented of.”

Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

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An overwhelming majority of people, have absolutely no understanding of Christianity; they are searching not for the path to salvation, not for eternal life, but for someone who can help them ‘do’ something, who can instantly rescue them from whatever troubles them.

Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

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When a thought bothers us and drives us so crazy that we cannot stand it any longer, we must remind ourselves that it will pass. Do we feel discouraged? We should say to the thought, Listen, get out of here, be on your way. You're not for me.

Gerondissa Makrina (Vassopoulou)

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When you are praying, watch over yourself so that not only your outward man prays, but your inward one also. Though you be sinful beyond measure, still pray.

Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

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If you want to conquer vainglory, love not praise, nor honor, nor fine clothes, nor precedence, nor favor; but on the contrary, cherish occasions when you are reprimanded and dishonored, when false charges are brought against you—and reproach yourself for being more sinful than any sinner.

Venerable Ephraim the Syrian

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What salt is for any food, humility is for every virtue. To acquire it, a man must always think of himself with contrition, self-belittlement and painful self-judgment. But if we acquire it, it will make us sons of God.

Venerable Isaac the Syrian, bishop of Nineveh

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The first passion that takes root in a person is egotism and pride. Take anyone, from infant to elder. Pride is like a medallion that we wear continually and cannot take off.

Gerondissa Makrina (Vassopoulou)

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Thus the present state of our souls foreshadows the future. The future will be a continuation of the present inward condition, only in a modified form as to its degree: for the righteous it will be turned into the fulness of eternal glory; for sinners, into the fulness of everlasting torment.

Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

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One must struggle and strive so as to become of Christ, lest he believe in Christ in vain, in which case Christ is of no benefit to him whatever. All his striving and all his struggle must be directed to acquiring the Spirit of Christ, and in this way to bring forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit: for in this consists the spiritual law and the blessed state.

Venerable Symeon the New Theologian

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King David, the holy prophet, the Godseer Moses and the saint and prophet Daniel pleased God amidst a multitude of activities and a diversity of entertainments. St John of the Ladder describes venerable saints living in the monastic communities of Egypt who told him acquire stillness of mind among the noise of human chatter and that is glorious.

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea

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How will it be with us in the future life, when everything that has gratified us in this world: riches, honours, food and drink, dress, beautifully furnished dwellings, and all attractive objects—how will it be, I say, when all these things leave us — when they will all seem to us a dream, and when works of faith and virtue, of abstinence, purity, meekness, humility, mercy, patience, obedience, and others will be required of us?

Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

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Do not refuse to learn, even though you may be very intelligent. For what God provides has more value than our own intelligence.

St Mark the Ascetic

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