On the Same Day [Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent], a Homily of Our Holy Father Niphon, on How Orthodox Christians Ought to Eat at the Table in Silence Once, as the venerable Father Niphon was walking, he saw a man sitting at table, eating with his wife and children, and with others who…
On Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent: A Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom on the Fear of God Listen, my brethren: above all, have the fear of God in your hearts. For if a man acquires the fear of God in his heart, he can be lifted away from all evil. Be diligent and…
On Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent, A Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom on Prayer Let all who hear these words take them to heart sincerely. When I say to you, “Pray to God and keep His commandments,” do not say, “I have prayed to Him many times, yet received nothing.” Do not give…
On the Same Day [Friday of the Third Week of the Fast]: A Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom on the Reading of Books. Reading is a good and beneficial practice, especially for every Christian. “Blessed are they that search out His testimonies, that seek Him with the whole heart” (Psalm 118:2). What does it mean to “search…
On Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent: A Teaching of St. Ephrem on Judgment and Repentance Come, all of you, brothers, both small and great, and listen to my humble teaching, for I speak to you for your benefit. Beloved ones, the great and dreadful day is drawing near, yet we remain careless, unwilling…
On Monday of the Third Week of Lent: A Teaching of St. John Chrysostom on the Rule of the Christian Life Whoever is merciful and gives alms from his own labor is pleasing to the Lord. But whoever lives by injustice, taking profit from the poor and the orphan, and then gives alms from that…
On Monday of the Second Week of the Fast: A Sermon of Saint Cyril the Monk on the Fear of God Beloved brethren and sisters, have ever before your eyes the fear of God, and remember the hour of death and those dreadful torments prepared for sinners. Let us fear the kinship of fire, for…
“Prayer is the breath of our soul,” says St. Macarius. How long can one remain alive without breath? Not long at all. In the same way, our spiritual life, if not refreshed and sustained by prayer, quickly weakens, withers, and dies. This is why the holy Apostle exhorts us not only to pray frequently—as often…
We read of the true meaning and spiritual purpose of fasting in the writings of one of the brightest apologists of Orthodoxy in the early 20th century — Bishop Mikhail (Semyonov). What is fasting? Nowadays we hear many objections against fasting — often and from many directions. Why fast at all? “Not that which goeth into…
In addition to the commonly observed fasting days for all (the four long fasts, and Wednesdays and Fridays of each week), there also exist customs of private fasting. A Christian, in agreement with his spiritual father, may take on an additional day of abstinence to strengthen his repentance. An extra fasting day may also be…