Monday March 10/23ns 2025 • Holy Martyrs Codrátos of Corinth et al. ~ Fast day ~ Sixth Hour: Pr. Is. 37:33-38:6 Vespers: Gen. 13:12-18; Prov. 14:27-15:4 ~ ON THE LAW OF GOD by St. Philaret of New York Section 28 The Necessity of Prayer ~ Q & A Do you have a question concerning Christianity/Orthodoxy/Various Faiths? Submit it (link below) ~ T O D A Y ' S ANECDOTE

Higher than the heavens above art thou,

and thou art much purer

than the radiance of the sun

"

Wouldn't you say that it is easier to motivate yourself than to move a mountain?

Reflect! It only takes a mustard seed of genuine faith/love for God to move a mountain.

Reflect! Where does that leave our so-called love of God?

Reflect! What purpose does in ice cube serve once it has melted?

This LIFE is melting and for a purpose. Do you know why?

MY SOUL, MY SOUL, ARISE! WHY ARE YOU SLEEPING?

THE END IS DRAWING NEAR AND YOU WILL BE CONFOUNDED, AWAKE THEN, AND BE WATCHFULL, THAT CHRIST OUR GOD, WHO IS EVERYWHERE PRESENT FILLING ALL THIINGS, MAY SPARE YOU - St. Andrew of Crete

WHY ARE WE SLEEPING?
On Thursday, we will hear the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete read in its entirety.

15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

St. Matthew 11:15 KJV

Monday March 10/23 ns 2026

Great Lent

Fast Day

Holy Martyrs Codrátos of Corinth et al

During the time of the persecution of Christians, many of the faithful fled to the mountains and into the caves. So did the mother of Codrátos. She was pregnant at the time and gave birth to Codrátos in the forest and died shortly thereafter. Codrátos was cared for by, fed by and guided by Divine Providence and by his Guardian Angel. Codrátos grew up in nature and in solitude. He, who gave manna from heaven to the Israelites in the wilderness, dropped from the clouds a sweet dew on the mouth of the child Codrátos.
When he was twelve years old, he entered into town and there some benevolent men took a liking to him and provided him with an education. He studied medicine and healed the sick, as much with natural cures and even more by the power of the spirit and prayer, which he was accustomed to since his childhood.
When a new persecution arose again under Decius, Codrátos was brought to trial and cast into prison. Five companions joined him and confessed the name of Christ. They were Cyprian, Dionysius, Anicetos, Paul and Crescens. They were all dragged through the streets by the pagans, especially by their children. They were beaten with rods and stoned until they were eventually dragged to the scaffold. There, the martyrs prayed to God and were beheaded. On this spot a source of water gushed out of the ground which is still called Codrátos even today and is a reminder of the heroic deaths of these six holy innocents for Christ. They honorably suffered for the truth in the year 250 A.D. in Corinth during the reign of Emperor Decius and his governor, Jason.

Holy Prophet Isaiah 37:33-38:6 KJV

33 Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.

34 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord.

35 For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

36 Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

38 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

38 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.

2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord,

3 And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

4 Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying,

5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

6 And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.

Genesis 13:12-18 KJV

12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

14 And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.

Proverbs 14:27-15:4 KJV

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

15 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

ON THE LAW OF GOD

by St. Philaret of New York

Section 28

The Necessity of Prayer

The knowledge of God is obviously based on faith. This faith is the first response of the human heart to the content of religious truths, an agreement with and acceptance of them. As it strengthens and becomes deeper, this faith eventually brings one's heart to peace in God, to a Christian hope on God. On the other hand, Orthodoxy teaches us that the Christian faith is inseparably bound to love for God. And love always demands a living, personal relationship with the one we love. In our relationship with God, this love is first of all made manifest in prayer.

One who does not pray is not a Christian. Prayer is the first and most essential element in our spiritual life. It is the breath of our soul, and without it, the soul dies, just as the body dies without air. All the vital functions of the body depend upon its breathing. In exactly the same way, one's spiritual life depends on prayer, and a person who does not pray to God is spiritually dead.

Prayer is the conversation of man with God. One who remembers, knows and loves God will unfailingly turn to Him in prayer. There is a seriously erroneous view of prayer now becoming wide spread. Some say, "One must not force oneself to pray. If I desire to pray, I will pray, if there is no desire, there is no need to pray."

This is a complete lack of understanding of the matter. What would one accomplish in one's worldly activity if one did not force oneself to do anything, but only did what was desired? More so in spiritual life, where everything that is precious and meaningful is acquired by force, by the struggle of work on oneself. Let us again recall that according to our Savior, the Kingdom of God (and everything pertaining to it) is attained by force. So, it is indispensable for a Christian to firmly accept in his heart that he must pray no matter what, regardless of his desire or lack of desire. If you have a good desire to pray, thank God from Whom everything good comes, and do not lose the chance to pray from the soul. If you do not have this desire, and the time for prayer arrives, then it is necessary to force yourself, encouraging your lethargic and lazy spirit by reminding it that prayer (like every good deed) is all the more precious in God's eyes when it is given with difficulty. The Lord does not disdain any prayer if one prays sincerely, as best he knows how, even though he has not developed the habit of praying fully and with unweakening fervor.

One who lives even a partial spiritual Christian life, will always find something about which to pray to Him, because for such a person, God is a loving Father, a Mighty Protector and an unending Spring of help and strength. The Christian hurries to Him in need and in woe, as a child to its parent.

In His conversation with the Samaritan woman, our Lord declared that, "True worshippers worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth." This is the basic principle of Christian prayer. It must be fulfilled in spirit and truth, and in praying, a Christian must gather all his spiritual strengths into one deep, concentrated effort in himself, in his soul and contemplate the words of the prayer. Obviously, when one has such a correct view of prayer one understands that it is impossible to give the name "prayer" to the act of merely being present at prayer, or reading it with the tongue while one's thoughts are far from it. St. John Chrysostom says of such "prayers," "Your body is inside the church, but your thoughts have flown to who knows where. The lips pronounce prayers, but the mind counts income, crops, real estate and friends ... You do not hear your own prayers - how do you expect that God will hear them?" A Christian must not pray in such a manner. He prays in "spirit and truth." He prays in spirit, concentrated in the depth of his "I," through profound experiences of the heart. He prays in truth - not hypocritically, but in a sincere frame of mind, in true supplication to the Incarnate Truth - to Christ the Savior.

Of course, this does not (in spite of Protestant error) abrogate the necessity of external prayer, but only requires its union with internal prayer. Man is not an angel; his soul does not live without the body, just as the body does not live without the soul. Apostle Paul says, "Glorify God in your bodies also, and in your souls, which are God's." Therefore, the most basic and complete view of prayer is that in which both the internal and external are present. They tightly unite with each other: both inner experience, man's supplication to God, and outer activity - prostrations, standing at prayer, crossing oneself and various acts in the Divine Services.

Ordinarily, there are three distinctive types of prayer: petitioning, glorifying and thanksgiving. In our prayerbooks and Divine Services, all these three types are applied, mutually complementing one another.

A person who prays to God must remember that prayer cannot go unheard if it is sincere and breathes of living faith. The Lord Himself said, "Everything is possible to one who believes." Apostle James, however, explains how destructive doubt is in prayer, saying that one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, tossed to and fro by the wind. Such a person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. In the Holy Gospel, moreover, we often read how the Lord, in healing those who came to Him, told them, "Let it be according to your faith...Your faith has made you whole." But firmly believing in God's strength, mercy and help, a Christian must not forget that every petition for his desires must submit to the all-good will of the Heavenly Father, Who knows what we need. In such a state of faith and dedication to God's will, one will thank God equally whether or not the Lord fulfils one's request. This is quite natural, since such a person believes absolutely that God's wisdom and love directs everything to the benefit and good of man. With good reason, we sing in the Church prayer:

"O Thou Who, with wisdom profound, mercifully order all things, and give that which is expedient unto all men."

Q & A 

Do you have a question concerning Christianity/Orthodoxy/Various Faiths?

Submit it HERE 

T O D A Y ' S

ANECDOTE

Arrogance: It doesn’t always claim to be more intelligent than everyone but rather treats everyone else as stupid.

Archives

"The heart of an Orthodox Christian is filled with such divine love and radiates it everywhere and upon everyone." St. Philaret

Dear Orthodox Christian, Does the quote above quote from St. Philaret, describe you?

• What cannot be seen, can be revealed.
• I personally think that one reason all the planets are round is to send us a message, the message being that no matter where you go, you end up where you started. If you desire a destination, transcend "mammon" while you have "time".
• Being familiar with the immense power of desire, must we obey?
On occasion, we wake from a dream thankful, thankful that it wasn’t real
• God gave woman a smile that is all her own
• God's love is so deep that He can endure and love all of His creation - past, present and future, men and women, who pay no attention to Him at all.
• Isn't it time to admit and show regret and sorrow? We have a lifetime to do so! How long is that?
• Only He Who is beyond male or female can Create male and female.
• Make no mistake, to put on Christ through Holy Baptist is a wedding garment. We can be no less than be married to our Lord Jesus Christ in order to be one with Him. The pearls, jewels and embroidery on this wedding garment are the jewels and ornaments of self-denial, the Cross lying across our shoulders, the same Cross of the same love and forgiveness Christ showed all mankind no matter how brutal, no matter how hateful, no matter how estranged from Him we are.
• Make no mistake, this is a garment that cannot be put on at the last moment when we meet our Creator Christ - it will not fit over the obesity of our attachments to the temporary life, to the attachments of our desire for material things, all of which must have been shed.
• Make no mistake !! This life, although only somewhat of a facsimile, since it is temporary, is not a life of continual fear but one that can blossom into the love of God and neighbor - our ticket to entry into the bridal chamber called Paradise Eternal. In unfailing love, we remain clothed in our baptismal garment throughout our lives and therefore found to radiantly beautiful in the image of Christ when we meet Him face to face.
• Our Lord inspired those who would hear Him with words and acts that would guard and protect, that would guide us and help us maintain our wedding garments. If you have no use for their words or example, what are you saying to Christ? Are you saying He inspired them in vain?
• En guarde! Satan never sleeps and never prays. He hates God and hates every one of us. He lurks in the shadows,; silently and relentlessly attacking. He doesn't want us to hear God but wants us to hear and obey only him. He knows Christ speaks to us continually but can only be heard in stillness.
• Why do you read what they saints say? Why do you believe what thy say? Simple: because you believe God speaks through the prophets! No? You claim you do! Reread the Nicene Creed!
• Love: Experienced, but has only one definition, obtained by revelation.
• Anyone who has fallen in love knows that once it happens, it needs no reminding, no prompting, no reasoning, no examination because it is unfathomably simple and constantly experienced/treasured and inexplicable. You wake in it, you sleep in it, it never wavers. And in many cases, it is mutual.
• Such it is with Christ. However, when we seek with all our heart to love Him, it tis the ecstasy of worship and is always mutual.
• If and again if desired, a taste is given and one is on the way.
• Christ gave you a head start didn’t He? How? In His love He gave you life didn’t He?
• Don't judge yourself by how well you follow the rules or how poorly others do, simply love God with all your heart and you will follow Him as you should because when you genuinely love Him, He will correct any failure you make, and, in addition He will confirm for you that you have pleased Him and that you really do love Him and all others! Do you want to feel you truly love God or would you rather than He, Himself confirm it for you directly? Can we ask for more?

Now wait just a minute!

Saint John 15:5 KJV

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

• If we can do nothing without Christ why do we credit or glorify ourselves for our accomplishments? He quickens all of us and all things. Pleasing Him is a great form of gratitude.
• From where does fruit get its color, its sweetness, its nutrients? Is it not by accepting what comes from the vine that it becomes beautiful, delicious and nutritious! Are we who follow Christ, expected to be like Him.  Did He not say that we are made in His image? 
  
• We must stop giving ourselves credit. What we have, has been given as a gift otherwise why would our Lord say, "... for without me you can do nothing.". What we do with what He gives, is what's profitable because it glorifies the Giver who is Christ our Father Who in turn glorifies us because it is His pleasure.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

THE DEPARTURE OF THE SOUL ACCORDING TO ORTHODOX TEACHING

{References the Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacos}

https://stanthonysmonastery.org/products/the-departure-of-the-soul-readers-edition?srsltid=AfmBOooxtkV72GlaywZ6E8HrRZrMMMQYH_cSde-oc37EU0soN3QsxvI0

SUNDAY March 9/22 ns 2026 † 4th Sunday of Lent (St. John of the Ladder) † The Forty Holy Great Martyrs of Sebastia ~ Wine and olive oil are permitted ~ 8th Matins Gospel: St. John 20:11-18 Saints: Heb. 12:1-10; Sunday: St. Mark 9:17-31 ~ Steps or Rungs on the Ladder to Heaven ~ ON THE LAW OF GOD by St. Philaret of New York ~ Q & A ~ ANECDOTES ~ BOOK RECOMMENDED: THE DEPARTURE OF THE SOUL ACCORDING TO ORTHODOX TEACHING

March 9/22 ns 2026

† 4th SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT

(St. John of the Ladder)

Fast Day

Wine & Olive oil

† The Forty Holy Great Martyrs

of Sebastia

Once, someone related to me a case involving an exceptionally high level of purity. He told me, "A certain man, upon beholding an attractive body, praised the Great Creator, and from this one glance he was brought to a love of God and a spring of tears. It was fantastic to see how something which would have been the ruin of most, was for such a one the unnatural occasion of a crown." If a person regularly acts thus and has similar emotions on similar circumstances, then he has risen eternal even before the general resurrection.
Climacos, John. The Ladder of Divine Ascent

Steps or Rungs on the Ladder to Heaven

1–4: Renunciation of the world and obedience to a spiritual father

1. (On renunciation of the “world”)

2. (On detachment)

3. (On exile)

4. (On blessed and ever-memorable obedience)

5–7: Penitence and affliction (as paths to true joy)

5. (On painstaking and true repentance)

6. (On remembrance of death)

7. (On joy-making/mourning)

8–17: Defeat of vices and acquisition of virtue

8. (On freedom from anger and on meekness)

9. (On remembrance of wrongs)

10. (On slander or calumny)

11. (On talkativeness and silence)

12 (On lying)

13. (On despondency)

14. (On that clamorous mistress, the stomach)

15. (On incorruptible purity and chastity)

16. (On love of money, or avarice)

17. (On non-possessiveness)

18–26: Avoidance of the traps of asceticism (laziness, pride, mental stagnation)

18. (On insensibility, that is, deadening of the soul and the death of the mind before the death of the body)

19. (On sleep, prayer, and psalmody)

20. (On bodily vigil and how to use it to attain spiritual vigil, and how to practice it)

21. (On unmanly and puerile cowardice)

22. (On the many forms of vainglory)

23. (On mad pride and on unclean and blasphemous thoughts)

24. (On meekness, simplicity, and guilelessness, which come not from nature but from conscious effort, and on guile)

25. (On the destroyer of the passions, most sublime humility, which is rooted in spiritual perception)

26. (On discernment of thoughts, passions and virtues; on expert discernment)

27–29: Acquisition of hesychia, or peace of the soul, of prayer, and of apatheia (dispassion or equanimity with respect to afflictions or suffering)

27 (On holy stillness of body and soul; different aspects of stillness and how to distinguish them)

28.(On holy and blessed prayer, the mother of virtues, and on the attitude of mind and body in prayer)

29. (Concerning Heaven on earth, or Godlike dispassion and perfection, and the resurrection of the soul before the general resurrection)

30. (Concerning the linking together of the supreme trinity among the virtues).

Orthros Saint John 20:11-18 KJV

11 But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher,

12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Hebrews 12:1-10 KJV

12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Saint Mark 9:17-31

17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

ON THE LAW OF GOD

by St. Philaret of New York

Section 27

The Christian Obligation:  To KNOW God

If our first and basic obligation to God is to love Him, then it follows naturally that we must know Him. Man will not and cannot love one whom he does not know.

We must observe that the necessity to know God is one of the least fulfilled of our obligations. How different it was in former times when interest in theological matters and religious knowledge was deeply felt by Orthodox souls. St. Gregory the Theologian testifies that in his time even merchants in the market place turned from their business affairs to discuss the consubstantiality of the Son of God.

Now, many intelligent people, sometimes even those who write and speak on various purely Christian themes, positively fear all theology. They tend to consider all its explanations and questions as somehow remote from life.

Because of this, an oppressive religious ignorance has appeared - a lack of acquaintance with the basic truths of the faith. Take for example, the masses of intelligent, educated Russian people. They will enumerate for you, without error, all the tsars of the house of Romanov, or the main Russian writers, etc. It is considered a disgrace for an educated person not to know this. Ask them, however, the main dogmas of the Christian faith, or to name the twelve apostles of Christ (people who did immeasurably more for mankind than any tsar or writer) and in nine of ten cases, the result will be lamentable. Even worse is the fact that no one considers this ignorance to be a disgrace, and people even admit it lightheartedly.

It is absolutely necessary that each Orthodox Christian have a knowledge of the content of his faith and of its basic truths - the dogma of the Trinity, of Divine Love, the Incarnation, the saving death and Resurrection of the Savior, and the future destiny of the world and of mankind, etc. These questions are not something distant and insignificant, rather they are vital and important to us, for the whole meaning of life hangs upon their answers.

All these questions coalesce in one: is there a God and Who is He? These are questions of singular importance even for people who barely believe. For truly believing people, to know about God is to know what He means to us and what His will is concerning all of us. This is the basic, most important and precious knowledge in life. In fact, Orthodox life itself is defined first of all by the knowledge of God, The Lord Himself, while praying to His Father, said: "This is eternal life, that they know You, the One True God and the One Whom You sent."

From all this, we see that the knowledge of God is our direct Christian duty, and the way to it, in addition to the study of theology, is the contemplation of God. Contemplation of God is the description of the spiritual mood in which man intentionally introduces into, maintains in his conscience, the thought of God, of His highest properties, the matter of our salvation and of our eternal future, etc. Such contemplation of God is especially loved by our Orthodox ascetics, but, unfortunately, it is not even familiar to most of us.

The knowledge of God is not, however, the mere rational acceptance and remembrance of our Orthodox Christian teaching of faith and life. Christianity is a living life, an experience of the human heart, and therefore it is accepted by people unequally. The more a person has experienced the truths and commandments of his faith in his personal life, in the inner experience of inner struggle and striving to live according to Christ's Gospel, the deeper does he assimilate Christianity. Conversely, if a person treats his faith dryly, with external formalism, and is not guided by the appeals of Christ's Gospel in his personal life, he will not accept Christianity into his soul and heart, and the profound content of the truths of Christ's faith will remain alien to him.

Q & A 

Do you have a question concerning Christianity/Orthodoxy/Various Faiths?

Submit it HERE 

T O D A Y ' S

ANECDOTE

"The heart of an Orthodox Christian is filled with such divine love and radiates it everywhere and upon everyone."

Dear Orthodox Christian, Does the quote above from St. Philaret, describe you?

Archives

• What cannot be seen, can be revealed.
• I personally think that one reason all the planets are round is to send us a message, the message being that no matter where you go, you end up where you started. If you desire a destination, transcend "mammon" while you have "time".
• Being familiar with the immense power of desire, must we obey?
On occasion, we wake from a dream thankful, thankful that it wasn’t real
• God gave woman a smile that is all her own
• God's love is so deep that He can endure and love all of His creation - past, present and future, men and women, who pay no attention to Him at all.
• Isn't it time to admit and show regret and sorrow? We have a lifetime to do so! How long is that?
• Only He Who is beyond male or female can Create male and female.
• Make no mistake, to put on Christ through Holy Baptist is a wedding garment. We can be no less than be married to our Lord Jesus Christ in order to be one with Him. The pearls, jewels and embroidery on this wedding garment are the jewels and ornaments of self-denial, the Cross lying across our shoulders, the same Cross of the same love and forgiveness Christ showed all mankind no matter how brutal, no matter how hateful, no matter how estranged from Him we are.
• Make no mistake, this is a garment that cannot be put on at the last moment when we meet our Creator Christ - it will not fit over the obesity of our attachments to the temporary life, to the attachments of our desire for material things, all of which must have been shed.
• Make no mistake !! This life, although only somewhat of a facsimile, since it is temporary, is not a life of continual fear but one that can blossom into the love of God and neighbor - our ticket to entry into the bridal chamber called Paradise Eternal. In unfailing love, we remain clothed in our baptismal garment throughout our lives and therefore found to radiantly beautiful in the image of Christ when we meet Him face to face.
• Our Lord inspired those who would hear Him with words and acts that would guard and protect, that would guide us and help us maintain our wedding garments. If you have no use for their words or example, what are you saying to Christ? Are you saying He inspired them in vain?
• En guarde! Satan never sleeps and never prays. He hates God and hates every one of us. He lurks in the shadows,; silently and relentlessly attacking. He doesn't want us to hear God but wants us to hear and obey only him. He knows Christ speaks to us continually but can only be heard in stillness.
• Why do you read what they saints say? Why do you believe what thy say? Simple: because you believe God speaks through the prophets! No? You claim you do! Reread the Nicene Creed!
• Love: Experienced, but has only one definition, obtained by revelation.
• Anyone who has fallen in love knows that once it happens, it needs no reminding, no prompting, no reasoning, no examination because it is unfathomably simple and constantly experienced/treasured and inexplicable. You wake in it, you sleep in it, it never wavers. And in many cases, it is mutual.
• Such it is with Christ. However, when we seek with all our heart to love Him, it tis the ecstasy of worship and is always mutual.
• If and again if desired, a taste is given and one is on the way.
• Christ gave you a head start didn’t He? How? In His love He gave you life didn’t He?
• Don't judge yourself by how well you follow the rules or how poorly others do, simply love God with all your heart and you will follow Him as you should because when you genuinely love Him, He will correct any failure you make, and, in addition He will confirm for you that you have pleased Him and that you really do love Him and all others! Do you want to feel you truly love God or would you rather than He, Himself confirm it for you directly? Can we ask for more?

Now wait just a minute!

Saint John 15:5 KJV

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

• If we can do nothing without Christ why do we credit or glorify ourselves for our accomplishments? He quickens all of us and all things. Pleasing Him is a great form of gratitude.
• From where does fruit get its color, its sweetness, its nutrients? Is it not by accepting what comes from the vine that it becomes beautiful, delicious and nutritious! Are we who follow Christ, expected to be like Him.  Did He not say that we are made in His image? 
  
• We must stop giving ourselves credit. What we have, has been given as a gift otherwise why would our Lord say, "... for without me you can do nothing.". What we do with what He gives, is what's profitable because it glorifies the Giver who is Christ our Father Who in turn glorifies us because it is His pleasure.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

THE DEPARTURE OF THE SOUL ACCORDING TO ORTHODOX TEACHING

{References the Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacos}

https://stanthonysmonastery.org/products/the-departure-of-the-soul-readers-edition?srsltid=AfmBOooxtkV72GlaywZ6E8HrRZrMMMQYH_cSde-oc37EU0soN3QsxvI0

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Saturday March 8/21 ns 2026 • St. Theophylact the Confessor, Bishop of Nicomedia ~ Wine and olive oil are permitted ~ Heb. 6:9-12; St. Mark 7:31-37 ~ ON THE LAW OF GOD by St. Philaret of New York ~ Q & A ~ T O D A Y ' S ANECDOTE

Saturday

March 8/21 ns 2026

Great Lent

Fast Day

Wine & Olive oil

St. Theophylact the Confessor,

Bishop of Nicomedia

“The Lord shows us that we ought not to answer those who ask a question with malicious intent (St. Mt. 21:23-27). For He Himself did not reply to those Jews who questioned Him with cunning, although He was not at a loss for an answer.”

When the emperor's advisor Tarásios, as a layman, was elected Patriarch of Constantinople, then with him and from him, many of his friends, admirers, and others of the laity received the monastic tonsure. Among them was Theophylact. Tarásios appointed him Bishop of Nicomedia. As a bishop, Theophylact was a good shepherd to his entrusted flock and proved to be exceptionally filled with compassion toward the less fortunate and indigent.

After the death of St. Tarásios, the Patriarchal Throne was occupied by Nicephorus and shortly after that, the Imperial Throne was occupied by Leo the Armenian, who was an Iconoclast and, as such, raised up a absolute storm in the Church of Christ. Even though Iconoclasm had been anathematized by the Seventh Ecumenical Council [Nicaea, 783 A.D.], nevertheless, Emperor Leo re-instated it and by this wanted to supplant Orthodoxy. Saint Theophylact opposed the emperor to his face and, when the emperor would not yield, Theophylact said to him, "O emperor, violent injury will unexpectedly befall you, and you will not find anyone who will save you from it." Because of these words and by the order of the emperor, Theophylact was ousted from his position and banished into exile, where he spent thirty years undergoing many hardships and insults and, where, in the end, he rendered his soul to the Lord about the year 845 A.D.

Hebrews 6:9-12 KJV

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Saint Mark 7:31-37 KJV

31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

 

ON THE LAW OF GOD

by St. Philaret of New York

Section 26

The Unity of Love for God and for Neighbor

Ascending from our most simple obligations to our highest, we rise to their apex - our obligations in relationship to God.

According to the clear, precise directions of the Holy Scripture, our main obligation to God is to love Him. This commandment was expressed in the Old Testament with the words, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus Christ said of this command, "This is the first and greatest commandment."

To this commandment of God's law, our Savior bound a second - love for neighbor. He said of this commandment that it is "like unto the first," that is, love for neighbor is like love for God. The Holy Church, being founded on the words of the Lord, has always set forth the following order in the moral obligations of man: lowest of all are the obligations to oneself. Therefore, love for oneself must be sacrificed in the name of love for God and neighbor. Love for one's neighbor takes precedence over love for oneself, but it is subject to the highest love - love for God Whom we must love most of all.

There is a contemporary theory that great love for God hinders one's love for neighbors. The proponents of this theory claim that man must make the relationship with neighbors his primary concern. By this, they claim, one fulfils one's obligation of love for God. People who advocate this theory are usually set against the struggles of the anchorite life. From their point of view, the anchorite's mode of life is a manifestation of egoism and dislike for others. In their opinion, the anchorite is a person who is occupied exclusively with himself and the salvation of his own soul, and does not think about others at all.

No one will dispute the fact that in serving one's neighbors, a Christian serves God. More than that, love for neighbor is the proof of love for God, as the Beloved Apostle says, "He who says: 'I love God, but hate my brother,' is a liar; for if one does not low one's brother whom one sees, how can one love God Whom one does not see?" In serving our neighbors, we serve God, for we fulfil his law of love.

Nevertheless, it is even more certain that our love for God can never hinder our love for neighbors. God is love (1 Jn.8:16). By loving God, we lift ourselves up to a higher spiritual atmosphere, an atmosphere of love and a new "inspiration of life." The heart of an Orthodox Christian is filled with such divine love and radiates it everywhere and upon everyone. Thus, contrary to the novel opinion cited above, love for God does not obstruct love for neighbors, but on the contrary, strengthens and deepens it.

An excellent clarification of this bond between love for God and neighbor is given by one of the great Orthodox strugglers, Abba Dorotheos. He gave the illustration that mankind is like the rim of a wheel. God is the hub, and each person is like a spoke. If we look at a wheel, we notice that the closer the spokes come to the hub, the closer they come to one another. But man can come close to God and neighbor only through love. It is clear that if one loves God, one will inevitably love one's neighbors.

In the history of Orthodox asceticism, we repeatedly see how strugglers, inflamed with love for God, left the world with its temptations. They did this according to the instructions of the apostle of love, John the Theologian, who said, "Do not love the world or the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (I Jn. 2:15). It is wrong to think that the ascetics renounced their love for people in the world. Not at all. They themselves constantly pointed out that they departed not from people, but from the sins available in the world, from the temptations of a sinful, worldly life. They love their brethren in this world incomparably more than those who have remained in this world and participated in its sins. It should not be forgotten that the solitude of these strugglers has always been filled with prayer - and Christian prayer is not merely about oneself, but also about others. History records for us the following incident in the life of St Pachomios the Great, a native of Alexandria. Once, while living in the desert, he learned that the city of Alexandria was being ravaged by famine and epidemic. He spent several days in tears, not even eating the meager ration of food which he allowed himself His novices begged him to eat and restore his strength but St Pachomios replied, "How can I eat when my brethren do not have bread?" How far are even the best of us from such love and commiseration?

Such love for God is not only the summit of a Christian's moral ascent, but it is also the basis of his spiritual existence. Without love there cannot be any spiritual life, struggle, virtue.

The highest service of Christian love is the pastor's service, and it can be fulfilled only by one who can love Christ. This is the reason that our Savior Himself, in calling Apostle Peter to pastorship, asked him, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" Orthodoxy is a religion of love. "By this they will recognize you that you are My disciples, if you have love amongst you." said the Lord. Here, His words are about mutual Christian love of people for one another, and also about filial love, and child-like devotion to Him Whom the Gospel constantly calls, "Our Heavenly Father." Therefore, the basis of a truly Christian life is a heart which believes in God and is devoted to Him in a child-like manner, and penetrated by a sincere gravitation to Him, as to the loving and beloved Father.

Q & A 

Do you have a question concerning Christianity/Orthodoxy/Various Faiths?

Submit it HERE 

T O D A Y ' S

ANECDOTE

What cannot be seen, can be revealed.

"The heart of an Orthodox Christian is filled with such divine love and radiates it everywhere and upon everyone."

Dear Orthodox Christian, Does the quote above from St. Philaret, describe you?

Archives

• I personally think that one reason all the planets are round is to send us a message, the message being that no matter where you go, you end up where you started. If you desire a destination, transcend "mammon" while you have "time".
• Being familiar with the immense power of desire, must we obey?
On occasion, we wake from a dream thankful, thankful that it wasn’t real
• God gave woman a smile that is all her own
• God's love is so deep that He can endure and love all of His creation - past, present and future, men and women, who pay no attention to Him at all.
• Isn't it time to admit and show regret and sorrow? We have a lifetime to do so! How long is that?
• Only He Who is beyond male or female can Create male and female.
• Make no mistake, to put on Christ through Holy Baptist is a wedding garment. We can be no less than be married to our Lord Jesus Christ in order to be one with Him. The pearls, jewels and embroidery on this wedding garment are the jewels and ornaments of self-denial, the Cross lying across our shoulders, the same Cross of the same love and forgiveness Christ showed all mankind no matter how brutal, no matter how hateful, no matter how estranged from Him we are.
• Make no mistake, this is a garment that cannot be put on at the last moment when we meet our Creator Christ - it will not fit over the obesity of our attachments to the temporary life, to the attachments of our desire for material things, all of which must have been shed.
• Make no mistake !! This life, although only somewhat of a facsimile, since it is temporary, is not a life of continual fear but one that can blossom into the love of God and neighbor - our ticket to entry into the bridal chamber called Paradise Eternal. In unfailing love, we remain clothed in our baptismal garment throughout our lives and therefore found to radiantly beautiful in the image of Christ when we meet Him face to face.
• Our Lord inspired those who would hear Him with words and acts that would guard and protect, that would guide us and help us maintain our wedding garments. If you have no use for their words or example, what are you saying to Christ? Are you saying He inspired them in vain?
• En guarde! Satan never sleeps and never prays. He hates God and hates every one of us. He lurks in the shadows,; silently and relentlessly attacking. He doesn't want us to hear God but wants us to hear and obey only him. He knows Christ speaks to us continually but can only be heard in stillness.
• Why do you read what they saints say? Why do you believe what thy say? Simple: because you believe God speaks through the prophets! No? You claim you do! Reread the Nicene Creed!
• Love: Experienced, but has only one definition, obtained by revelation.
• Anyone who has fallen in love knows that once it happens, it needs no reminding, no prompting, no reasoning, no examination because it is unfathomably simple and constantly experienced/treasured and inexplicable. You wake in it, you sleep in it, it never wavers. And in many cases, it is mutual.
• Such it is with Christ. However, when we seek with all our heart to love Him, it tis the ecstasy of worship and is always mutual.
• If and again if desired, a taste is given and one is on the way.
• Christ gave you a head start didn’t He? How? In His love He gave you life didn’t He?
• Don't judge yourself by how well you follow the rules or how poorly others do, simply love God with all your heart and you will follow Him as you should because when you genuinely love Him, He will correct any failure you make, and, in addition He will confirm for you that you have pleased Him and that you really do love Him and all others! Do you want to feel you truly love God or would you rather than He, Himself confirm it for you directly? Can we ask for more?

Now wait just a minute!

Saint John 15:5 KJV

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

• If we can do nothing without Christ why do we credit or glorify ourselves for our accomplishments? He quickens all of us and all things. Pleasing Him is a great form of gratitude.
• From where does fruit get its color, its sweetness, its nutrients? Is it not by accepting what comes from the vine that it becomes beautiful, delicious and nutritious! Are we who follow Christ, expected to be like Him.  Did He not say that we are made in His image? 
  
• We must stop giving ourselves credit. What we have, has been given as a gift otherwise why would our Lord say, "... for without me you can do nothing.". What we do with what He gives, is what's profitable because it glorifies the Giver who is Christ our Father Who in turn glorifies us because it is His pleasure.
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