Selected quotes from St. John of Kronstadt.

"Sometimes in the affliction of your soul you wish to die. It is easy to die, and does not take long; but are you prepared for death? Remember that after death the judgment of your whole life will follow. You are not prepared for death, and if it were to come to you, you would shudder all over. Therefore do not waste words in vain. Do not say: 'It is better for
me to die,' but say rather, 'How can I prepare for death in a Christian manner?' By means of faith, by means of good works, and by bravely bearing the miseries and sorrows that happen to you, so as to be able to meet death fearlessly, peacefully, and without shame, not as a rigorous law of nature, but as a fatherly call of the eternal, heavenly, holy, and blessed Father unto the everlasting Kingdom."

Daily Reading

Saturday

LITURGY

Romans 9:1-5

     1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the

Selected quotes from St. Ambrose of Milan

"Now a good servant should make good his cost to his master, even if he is unable actually to pay the debt, lest he seem unworthy of his price. And you, also, conduct yourself as worthy of such a price so that Christ, who cleansed you, who redeemed you, may not come and find you in your sins, that He may not say to you, What profit is there in My blood? What did I benefit  you when I descended into corruption?"

Daily Reading

Friday

LITURGY

1 Corinthians 4:5-8

     5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of

Life Of Saint John (Maximovitch) The Wonderworker, Of Shanghai and San Francisco.

 What better description could be found to portray the essence of a man whose love for Christ drew him to such heights of spiritual perfection that he enkindled the faith of thousands from East to West? The life of Archbishop John Maximovitch demonstrates more vividly than any words that true Christianity far exceeds the bounds of human "goodness". Here is a shining reflection of the supernatural love of God, which works miracles, a living proof that the burning faith of the early Christian saints still warms the earth at a time when the love of many has grown cold. Archbishop John did not isolate himself from the world, but he was not of this world. First and foremost he was man of prayer. He completely surrendered himself to God, presenting himself as a "living sacrifice", and he became a true vessel of the Holy Spirit. His work continues even now today.

MARTYRS LEONTIUS, IPATIUS AND THEODOLUS (+ C. 70-79).

The holy Martyrs Leontius, Ipatius and Theodolus were Roman soldiers. The holy Martyr Leontius, a Greek by origin, during the reign of Vespasian (70-79) served as a military-chief in the imperial army in the Phoenician city of Tripoli. The Christian Leontius was distinguished for his bravery and good sense, and the people of Tripoli held him in deep regard for his virtue.

Selected quotes from St. Maximos the Confessor:

 "Give no ear to the slanderer's talk nor let your talk run on in the fault-finder's hearing, by readily speaking and listeneing to things against your neighbor; otherwise you will fall from divine charity [love] and be found a foreigner to eternal life."

Daily Reading

Thursday

LITURGY

1 Corinthians 3:18-23

     18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's; 23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.