From Bp. Theophan the Recluse
Repentance is a decisive change for the better, a breaking away from sin and a turning to God, or a kindling of the fire of zeal for exclusively God-pleasing things, with renunciation of the self and everything else. It is above all characterized by an extreme breaking of the will. If a person has acquired evil habits, he must now rend himself. If he has offended God, he must now grieve in the fire of just judgment. . .
With the repentant person there is first fear, then the lightness of hope; sorrow, then comfort; terror to the point of despair, then the breath of the consolation of mercy. . . .
It is something painful, but it saves. It is therefore inevitable that whoever has not experienced such a painful break has not yet begun to live through repentance. It is impossible for a person to begin cleansing himself in everything without having gone through this crucible. Decisive and active resistance to sin comes only from hatred of it. Hatred of sin comes only from a sense of evil from it; the sense of evil from it is experienced in all its force in this painful break within repentance. . .
Without this painful experience, even if he begins cleansing himself in some other way, he will be able to cleanse himself only slightly, more outwardly than inwardly, more in actions than in disposition. . .
Such change is brought about in the human heart by divine grace. This alone can inspire a man to raise his hand to himself and bring himself to God in sacrifice.
Recent Posts
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
Sayings of the Holy Fathers:
"The Church is an earthly heaven in which the super-celestial God dwells and walks about. It represents the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Christ: it is glorified more than the tabernacle of the witness of Moses, in which are the mercy-seat and the Holy of Holies.
It is prefigured in the patriarchs, foretold by the prophets, founded in the apostles, adorned by the hierarchs, and fulfilled in the martyrs."
St. Germanus of Constantinople
"What are `our traditions'? They are everything that the God-man Christ, He Himself, and by the Holy Spirit, gave the commandment to hold and to live according to then; whatever He delivered in His Church, in which He dwells continuously with His Holy Spirit (cf. Mt. 28:19-29).
`Our traditions' are our whole life in grace in God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the life of us Christians, which began in the Church of Christ, through the Apostles, by the descent of the Holy Spirit. All of this life of ours is not from us, but from the Lord Jesus, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, or, more precisely, our entire life is from the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit."
St. Justin Popovich
"Faith comes by hearing, because when we hear the Holy Scriptures we believe in the teaching of the Holy Spirit. This faith is made perfect by all the things which Christ has ordained; it believes truly, it is devout and it keeps the commandments of Him Who has renewed us. For he who does not believe in accordance with the traditions of the catholic church or who through untoward works holds communion with the devil is without faith."
St. John of Damascus
It is prefigured in the patriarchs, foretold by the prophets, founded in the apostles, adorned by the hierarchs, and fulfilled in the martyrs."
St. Germanus of Constantinople
+ + +
"What are `our traditions'? They are everything that the God-man Christ, He Himself, and by the Holy Spirit, gave the commandment to hold and to live according to then; whatever He delivered in His Church, in which He dwells continuously with His Holy Spirit (cf. Mt. 28:19-29).
`Our traditions' are our whole life in grace in God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the life of us Christians, which began in the Church of Christ, through the Apostles, by the descent of the Holy Spirit. All of this life of ours is not from us, but from the Lord Jesus, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, or, more precisely, our entire life is from the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit."
St. Justin Popovich
+ + +
"Faith comes by hearing, because when we hear the Holy Scriptures we believe in the teaching of the Holy Spirit. This faith is made perfect by all the things which Christ has ordained; it believes truly, it is devout and it keeps the commandments of Him Who has renewed us. For he who does not believe in accordance with the traditions of the catholic church or who through untoward works holds communion with the devil is without faith."
St. John of Damascus
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
On Antichrist
Excerpt from: Antichrist, by Archpriest Boris Molchanoff
"People are lead into such a complete slavery of the soul by the leaders of today's revolution. Their teaching and slogans are clothed in high-sounding language about universal equality and brotherhood, but in reality they try to entice men to dwell on material happiness alone, diverting them from all exalted moral and religious aspirations. When material goods become man's sole value, he becomes without fail completely enslaved to anyone who will give him that good. The materialistic education of people will give Antichrist limitless power, for all the means of existence will be controlled by him totally. He will distribute them lavishly to his followers and lackeys. And the man who has not taught himself abstinence, and who does not have steadfastness of soul and principle, will be compelled to submit to his will. "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their right hand, or in the foreheads...that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Rev 13:16-16).
"People are lead into such a complete slavery of the soul by the leaders of today's revolution. Their teaching and slogans are clothed in high-sounding language about universal equality and brotherhood, but in reality they try to entice men to dwell on material happiness alone, diverting them from all exalted moral and religious aspirations. When material goods become man's sole value, he becomes without fail completely enslaved to anyone who will give him that good. The materialistic education of people will give Antichrist limitless power, for all the means of existence will be controlled by him totally. He will distribute them lavishly to his followers and lackeys. And the man who has not taught himself abstinence, and who does not have steadfastness of soul and principle, will be compelled to submit to his will. "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their right hand, or in the foreheads...that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Rev 13:16-16).
Labels:
Antichrist,
Archpriest Boris Molchanoff
Sayings of the Holy Fathers
"I exhort you therefore - no, not I , but the love of Jesus Christ: partake of Christian food exclusively; abstain from plant of alien growth, that is, heresy. Heretics weave Jesus Christ into their web - to win our confidence, just like persons who administer a deadly drug mixed with honeyed wine, which the unsuspecting gladly take - and with baneful relish they swallow death!"
St. Ignatius of Antioch
"But pray unceasingly also for the rest of mankind, for they offer ground for hoping that they may be converted and win their way to God."
"Give them an opportunity therefore, at least by your conduct, of becoming your disciples. Meet their angry outbursts with your own gentleness, their boastfulness with your humility, their reviling with your prayers, their error with your constancy in the faith, their harshness with your meekness; and beware of trying to match their example."
"Let us prove ourselves their brothers through courtesy. Let us strive to follow the Lord's example and see who can suffer greater wrong, who more deprivation, who more contempt."
"Thus no weed of the devil will be found among you; but you will persevere in perfect charity and sobriety through Jesus Christ, in body and soul."
St. Ignatius of Antioch
St. Ignatius of Antioch
+ + +
"But pray unceasingly also for the rest of mankind, for they offer ground for hoping that they may be converted and win their way to God."
"Give them an opportunity therefore, at least by your conduct, of becoming your disciples. Meet their angry outbursts with your own gentleness, their boastfulness with your humility, their reviling with your prayers, their error with your constancy in the faith, their harshness with your meekness; and beware of trying to match their example."
"Let us prove ourselves their brothers through courtesy. Let us strive to follow the Lord's example and see who can suffer greater wrong, who more deprivation, who more contempt."
"Thus no weed of the devil will be found among you; but you will persevere in perfect charity and sobriety through Jesus Christ, in body and soul."
St. Ignatius of Antioch
Monday, August 06, 2007
On Antichrist
Excerpt from: Antichrist by Archpriest Boris Molchanoff
"Venerable Father: In the most recent issue of Revue Biblique, on page 298, the Reverend Fr. Semeria mentions the opinion of G. Gode, which identifies the Beast of the Apocalypse as "Jewish might reborn at the end of time." Observing the growing power of Judaism, it must be acknowledged that this opinion finds confirmation in modern history. If so, Antichrist will be a Jewish king.
"St. John discloses to us that the "number of his name... is six hundred threescore six (666) [Rev 13:17-18], and invites us to decipher the number of the Beast." If this means that the name of Antichrist can be deduced therefrom, and if this deduction is possible before his coming, then it is highly unlikely that St. John had [Antichrist's] proper name in mind. We inevitably arrive at conclusions which are quite arbitrary when we produce results by utilizing proper names.
"Since the Antichrist shall come under the guise of the messiah, he shall indubitably assume the title "King of the Jews"; doubtless he shall be called king chiefly in Israel. "
"Venerable Father: In the most recent issue of Revue Biblique, on page 298, the Reverend Fr. Semeria mentions the opinion of G. Gode, which identifies the Beast of the Apocalypse as "Jewish might reborn at the end of time." Observing the growing power of Judaism, it must be acknowledged that this opinion finds confirmation in modern history. If so, Antichrist will be a Jewish king.
"St. John discloses to us that the "number of his name... is six hundred threescore six (666) [Rev 13:17-18], and invites us to decipher the number of the Beast." If this means that the name of Antichrist can be deduced therefrom, and if this deduction is possible before his coming, then it is highly unlikely that St. John had [Antichrist's] proper name in mind. We inevitably arrive at conclusions which are quite arbitrary when we produce results by utilizing proper names.
"Since the Antichrist shall come under the guise of the messiah, he shall indubitably assume the title "King of the Jews"; doubtless he shall be called king chiefly in Israel. "
(read from left to right)
Labels:
666,
Antichrist,
Archpriest Boris Molchanoff,
King of Israel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)