The Martyr Fr. Alexander Men, "Between Past and Future"

"Christianity is not 'an ideology', an abstract doctrine or a fixed system of rituals. The Good News entered the world as a dynamic force, encompassing all sides of life, open to everything created by God in nature and in human beings. It is not just a religion which has existed for the past twenty centuries, but a Way focused on the future (John 14.6; Acts 16.17; 18.26)."

--- Fr. Alexander Men, martyred Russian Orthodox priest





Find out more about the holy martyr at Who is Father Alexander Men?

Consumerism and Prosperity Gospel

"Consumer capitalism is about excess, about great excess... not only the excess of the very wealthy and the very powerful, but the excess of society as a whole."

--- Archbishop Lazar (Puhalo), Orthodox Church in America

FOOD FROM PARENTS IN THE FAITH

"When God wants to have mercy on someone, He inspires someone else to pray for him, and He helps in this prayer." --- St. Silouan the Athonite
 
"Divine determination depends on the life of a human being, and not the person's life upon the determination." --- Saint Theophan the Recluse

"Make an effort , then, to meet more frequently to celebrate God's Eucharist and to offer praise. For, when you meet frequently in the same place, the forces of Satan are overthrown, and his baneful influence is neutralized by the unanimity of your faith. Peace is a precious thing: it puts an end to every war waged by heavenly or earthly enemies." --- St. Ignatius of Antioch, *Letter to the Ephesians*

“Since with all my soul I behold the face of my Beloved, therefore all the beauty of His form is seen in me.” --- St. Gregory of Nyssa

"Will not God, who has commanded human beings to act thus, do as much Himself and even more? For God commanded Peter to forgive till seventy times seven." --- St. Poemen

“And the creation, in the world and above the world, that once was at variance with itself, is knit together in friendship: and we ... are made to join in the angels' song, offering the worship of their praise.” --- St. Gregory of Nyssa

“When I gaze in meditation and with faith upon the holy icons in church, and upon all its appurtenances, then I am lost in wonderful contemplation; the whole temple appears to me to be sacred history in action, a wonderful scripture of the works of God, accomplished in the human race. Here I see the history in action of our fall and of our restoration by God's wonderful ordering...” --- St. John of Kronstadt, from *My Life in Christ* 

"God is fire, warming and igniting the heart and inward parts. So, if we feel coldness in our hearts, which is from the devil (for the devil is cold), then let us call the Lord: He, in coming, will warm our heart with perfect love, not only towards Himself, but to our neighbors as well. And the coldness of the despiser of good will run from the face of His warmth." --- St Seraphim of Sarov 

“Let us then, my sisters and brothers, endure in hope. Let us devote ourselves, side-by-side with our hoping, so that the God of all the universe, as He beholds our intention, may cleanse us from all sins, fill us with high hopes from what we have in hand, and grant us the change of heart that saves. God has called you, and you have your calling.” --- St. Cyril of Jerusalem

"It is always a good thing to devote ourselves to seeking God, as we have been commanded. For although in the present life we are unable to arrive at the limit of God's depth, yet at least by reaching in some small way His depth we would see the holier among holy things and the more spiritual among spiritual things. This is clearly indicated in the figure of the high priest who from the holy place which is more sacred than the courtyard enters into the Holy of Holies which is more sacred than the holy place." --- St. Maximus the Confessor

"When people say that it is impossible to attain perfection, to be once and for all free from the passions, or to participate fully in the Holy Spirit, we should cite Holy Scripture against them, showing them that they are ignorant and speak falsely and dangerously. For the Lord said: 'Become perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect' (Matt. 5:48)..." --- St. Makarios of Egypt, *The Homilies, II: Prayer nos. 29*

"The Woman sinned, and so did Adam. The serpent deceived them both; and one was not found to be the stronger and the other weaker. But do you consider the better? Christ saves both by His Passion. Was He made flesh for the Man? So He was also for the Woman. Did He die for the Man? The Woman also is saved by His death. He is called of the seed of David; and so perhaps you think the man is honored; but He is born of a Virgin, and this is on the woman's side. The two, He says, shall be one flesh; so let the one flesh have equal honor." --- St. Gregory the Theologian






"'A faithful friend is a strong defense' [Ecclesiasticus 6:14]; for when a person is faring well, that one is a good counselor and wholehearted supporter, and when the person is faring badly, that one is a most genuine helper and a most sympathetic defender." --- St. Maximos the Confessor

“I prefer a sinful person who knows he or she has sinned and repents, to one who has not sinned and considers oneself to be righteous.” --- Abba Sarmatas 

The Truly Christian Life

"A good conscience comes from a living relationship with God and with other human beings. ... The truly Christian life is not just doing things according to rules and regulations, but it's living a life of compassion, of mercy, of trusting one another with our weaknesses. That instead of condemning us, our brothers and sisters in Christ will lift us up again."

--- Archbishop Lazar (Puhalo) of Ottawa, Orthodox Church in America