Establishing and maintaining a prayer rule does not have to be an onerous experience, one that is more likely to fail than succeed, writes St. Theophan the Recluse. We need a prayer rule because we need discipline, but that discipline has to be doable, one that delivers the fruits of prayer and not one that drives us to frustration, or worse, despair, because we don't have the … [Read more...] about How to Establish a Prayer Rule
The Saints
The Life of Our Venerable Mother Mary of Egypt
This Life of Our Venerable Mother Mary of Egypt was written down in the seventh century by Saint Sophronios, Patriarch of Jerusalem, some hundred years after the repose of the holy Mary, who fell asleep in the Lord April 1, 522. It is one of the most beautiful and edifying lives of a saint. Its obvious and stated purpose is to glorify God and to feed the souls of its … [Read more...] about The Life of Our Venerable Mother Mary of Egypt
The Teaching of St Gregory Palamas: Theosis is Possible Through the Uncreated Energies Of God
By Archimandrite George, Egoumenos (Abbot) of the Holy Monastery of Gregoriou, Mount Athos, Greece Man is Able to Achieve Theosis According to the teachings of the Holy Bible and the Holy Fathers of the Church, man is able to achieve Theosis (Deification) because within the Orthodox Church of Christ, the Grace of God is uncreated. God is not only essence, as the West … [Read more...] about The Teaching of St Gregory Palamas: Theosis is Possible Through the Uncreated Energies Of God
St. Paisios of Mt. Athos on Love and Kindness
“He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love” (I John 4:8). So explains St John, Beloved of Christ. Love is at the center of our Orthodox faith, and indeed as the epistle reminds us, at the center of being itself. Assembled here is a selection of short sayings or aphorisms from St Paisios of Mt Athos, whose love for God, for his fellow humanity, and for … [Read more...] about St. Paisios of Mt. Athos on Love and Kindness
The Silence of Zacharias
By Fr. Matthew Fuhrman "Behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place” (St. Luke 1:20). As we all have just heard, because of his doubt, the priest Zacharias was struck dumb. And with this silencing of Zacharias the three traditional leadership roles of Ancient Israel were all silent. The people of God had no priest, prophet, or … [Read more...] about The Silence of Zacharias