By Andrey Denisov “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” These words are written in the Holy Gospel. Just as, after a dark and gloomy night, the sweet light of day shines forth, and after a blizzard in the dead of winter comes a fragrant stillness that brings comfort to living creatures…
What is conscience in a person? How can one learn to hear it? In life, we often face choices, and we want to act according to our conscience. Conscience is directly connected to what humanity gained after the Fall: the knowledge of good and evil. Conscience is one of the qualities that distinguishes humans from…
What is the ideal moral image of a Christian? Is it the one according to which we were created—in the image and likeness of God? Is it the image of Christ, which we are called to emulate today? In the account of creation, known as the Hexaemeron, there is an interesting feature. The word “God”…
What are the main Christian commandments and virtues? Are they innate to human nature from birth, or must they be cultivated and nurtured through effort? The commandments of the Christian faith, on one hand, present a lengthy list of what is good and should be done, and what is bad and must be avoided. On…
For several months now, the war has dragged on, claiming thousands of victims—our sons, brothers, and fathers. By God’s mercy, victory follows our warriors. Submissive to the will of God, we bear the sorrow and hardships of war with faith and hope. Yet, of course, all of us thirst for peace, longing for the end…
By Bishop Mikhail (Semyonov) The Prologue tells an instructive story. In the monastery of St. Theodosius, there were two monks who took a vow of eternal friendship. And it came to pass that one of the brothers slipped and fell. He decided to leave the monastery for the world and began to ask his friend…
The spiritual life of a Christian is built upon relationships with those around them. The Lord has given us a guiding principle: our faith and love for Him are not measured by outward displays of religiosity, but by our attitude toward our neighbor. The Apostle John put it plainly: “If a man say, I love…
How can one be happy? How can one live in difficult circumstances (family, domestic challenges, health problems, work issues, etc.) and still “rejoice always”? If a person strives to keep all the commandments and church rules, will there be fewer difficulties in their life? Neither the Lord Jesus Christ, nor His apostles, nor the holy…
In ancient times, a wise man was asked: What is most precious to a person? “Time,” he answered; through time one can acquire everything, but time itself cannot be bought for anything; it is not within man’s power either to prolong his day even by a single minute, or to reclaim even a single moment….
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, says Scripture (Proverbs 1:7). But the only truly wise one is God. Therefore, anyone who desires to enter the kingdom of heaven and live under God as King—so that his mind, thoughts, and reflections may be directed by God Himself, the one and only true…