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[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

Of Thy Mystical Supper…

Fr. Matthew Jackson

Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant. For I will not speak of Thy Mysteries to Thine enemies, neither like Judas will I give Thee a kiss. But like the thief will I confess Thee: remember me O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.” We hear this hymn on Sundays before approaching the chalice to receive Holy Communion, so I thought it would be nice to look at the words of the hymn a little more closely.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

On the Passion of Christ and the Book of Job

Deacon Pavel Serzhantov

The Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament. The Book of Job reveals its meaning in an amazing way. It is read during the church services during Great Lent. This book prepares us to meet with the Suffering and Risen Christ. What does the Old Testament tell us about? It tells us about the interrelationship between God and man, just as do all the other Old Testament books. The Lord rules the world, rewards the righteous, and punishes sinners. However, as we can see from the Book of Job, not every affliction is punishment for sin.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

Obstacles on the Path to the Gospel

Archpriest Sergius Chetverikov

Modern man finds it hard to approach the Gospel in a simple and direct manner, to accept it as it is — without any philosophizing, with a trusting heart, like children and simple people, the way that it is absolutely required by our Lord Jesus Christ: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:3).

[English Edition / Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days ]

Homily on the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)

St. Nikolai Velimirovich

But this event has more than historical significance; it also has a spiritual meaning, and therefore also a moral meaning for every modern-day Christian. According to the spiritual meaning, Jerusalem signifies the human soul, and the entry of the Lord into Jerusalem signifies the entrance of God into the soul.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

The Epistles of St. Abba Dorotheus

Abba Dorotheos

When your soul becomes insensitive, brother, it is useful to read the Holy Scriptures and the heart-touching words of the Holy and God-bearing Fathers, to remember God's Last Judgment, the departure of the soul from the body, and the terrible powers that can greet it, and with whose cooperation the soul committed evil acts in this brief and tormented life.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

Nineteenth Instruction. Some brief instructions

Abba Dorotheos

Abba Dorotheus said that one who trusts in his own understanding or judgment cannot submit to nor follow the good example of his neighbor. He likewise said: Being passionate, we cannot at all believe in our own hearts; for a crooked rule will make even the straight crooked.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

Eighteenth Instruction. To the brother who served as cellarer

Abba Dorotheos

If you do not wish to fall into irritability and remembrance of evil, have no attachment whatever to things and do not be overly concerned for them, neither despise them as being of little importance or insignificance.When someone asks something of you, give it to him; and if he by chance, or by carelessness, should break or lose something, do not be grieved.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

The Seventeenth Instruction. To those who are instructors in monasteries and to disciples: How one should instruct the brethren and how one should receive instruction.

Abba Dorotheos

Believe that reproaches and dishonors are medicines which heal the pride of your soul, and pray for those who make you meek as the true physicians of your soul, be convinced that he who hates dishonor hates humility, and he that flees those who offend him is fleeing meekness.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

Sixteenth Instruction. To Certain Kelliotes

Abba Dorotheos

The Fathers say that half of spiritual life is to remain in the cell, and visiting the elders is the other half. This expression means that both inside the cell and outside the cell we must be equally heedful, and we must know why we should keep silence in the cell and why we should go to the fathers and brethren; for one who keeps sight of these aims strives to act as the Fathers teach.

[English Edition / Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days ]

Saint Mary of Egypt

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh

And she was so profoundly shaken by this experience that she left all that had been her life, retired into the desert, and with a life which the service books define as ‘extreme’, fought to conquer her flesh, her soul, her memories - everything that was sin, but also everything that could lead her away from God. And we know how glorious her life was, the kind of person she became.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

The Fifteenth Instruction. On the holy forty days of Lent

Abba Dorotheos

The Holy Apostles established and committed to us as a help and benefaction for our souls something yet greater and more exalted--that we should set apart a tenth portion of the very days of our lives and devote them to God. Thereby might we also receive a blessing for all our deeds, and yearly cleanse the sins we have committed over the course of the whole year.

[English Edition / Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days ]

Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom

Wherefore, enter ye all into the joy of your Lord; Receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival! You sober and you heedless, honour the day! Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away. Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

Fasting According to the Scriptures

Vincent Martini

Notice that Christ mentions the discipline of fasting as a foregone conclusion for his followers. We also see that fasting is pointless if it is not done with the right spirit. Those who fast “publicly” and with great “fanfare” have received their reward, and it is both temporal and fleeting. True fasting is a relational and Spiritual discipline that affects one’s whole person and transforms one into the likeness of Christ.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

The Fourteenth Instruction. On the building and completion of the soul's house of virtues

Abba Dorotheos

How is the house of the soul built? We can learn this by observing how a material house is built. For he who wishes to build such a house much fortify all around by building walls on all four sides, and not concern himself with one side only, neglecting the other three. Otherwise he will derive no benefit at all, but will waste everything in vain—his intention, expense, and labor. So does it happen also with the soul: for a man who desires to build a house of the soul should not neglect a single wall of his building, but should erect it evenly and harmoniously.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

The Thirteenth Instruction. That one must bear temptation with thanksgiving and without disturbance

Abba Dorotheos

Such are those who really want to be saved: this is what it means to bear the yoke of temptation with humility of wisdom and to pray for the life of Nebuchadnezzar. This is why the Prophet said, In the life of Nebuchadnezzar is our salvation. The same thing is implied in saying, "I see great fruit coming to me from this labor" as "in the life of Nebuchadnezzar is our salvation." This the Elder confirms by saying, "Today I know that you are in the way to making progress and you will surpass me."

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

I am climbing St. John’s Ladder

I have come to the conviction that God is pleased with me. This might seem like a ridiculous idea for those who know me. Spend a little bit of time with me and you will find me to be a foolish, silly old man who really ought to be farther along in his spiritual life than he is. After all, I’ve been a Christian since my youth, so how is it possible that I am still such a foolish, sinful, and silly old man?

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

The sin of Ham

A sermon given at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, Fourth Wednesday of Great Lent

Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov)

The Lord God does not look at a person’s actions, but at his heart. Despite the indignation in the heart of Noah’s son, if it were filled with sorrow over his father, if he had been contrite about himself also—because he himself, of course, is not without sin—if he, in grief over that sad incident had not gone and spread the word around, had not called his brothers and other people to take a look, then even that inner indignation he felt over another man’s impropriety would not have been a sin so severe as to merit a curse. But the sin of Ham was cursed by God’s word, as was Ham himself.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

The Twelfth Instruction.Concerning the Fear of Future Torture and that One Who Desires to be Saved Should Never Be Careless Over His Salvation

Abba Dorotheos

If you wish I will explain this to you by an example that I have said to you. Let any one of you come and I will shut him up in a dark cell, and even for three days let him not eat or drink or sleep, neither converse with anyone, nor sing psalms, nor pray, nor think at all about God—then would he see what the passions would do in him. But he would still be here: when the soul is separated from the body, how much more will it suffer from the passions, being left all alone with them, the poor wretch?

[English Edition / Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days ]

St. John of the Ladder (Climacus)

It is known from St. John's life that he ate what was allowed by the rule of fasting, but within measure. He did not go without sleep at night, although he never slept more than was needed to support his strength for ceaseless vigilance, and so as not to negatively affect his mind. "I did not fast beyond measure," he said of himself, "and I did not conduct intensified night vigil, nor did I sleep on the ground; but I humbled myself…, and the Lord speedily saved me.

[English Edition / Homilies and Spiritual Instruction]

The Eleventh Instruction. That We Should Strive to Cut Off Passions Before They Become an Evil Habit of the Soul

Thus it happens also with the soul: one person sins a little, but what a great amount of time he later spends shedding his blood to correct himself! However, physical ailments are prolonged for many reasons—either the physician is unskilled and gives one medicine when he should have given another, or the patient does not conduct himself properly and does not follow the prescriptions of the physician. But with regard to the soul it is different. We cannot call the physician unskilled, and say that he does not give the right medicine. For the physician of souls is Christ, Who knows everything and gives a fitting treatment for every passion.

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