March 2, 7534
Vices, passions, and sins—these are terms describing different phenomena that, in Christian worldview, are interconnected and share much in common. In the vocabulary of Orthodox Christians, the word vice has the following meanings: It is important to note that in ecclesiastical use, the meanings of words often differ from their everyday usage. Thus, the term vice is not used…
Indeed, while other commandments are relatively straightforward—”Do not kill” means you must not kill, and “Do not steal” means you must not steal—what does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit? Why is this sin unforgivable, even though Christians are called to emulate God and forgive their offenders? Furthermore, God is the Holy Trinity,…
By I.I. Alekseev Thousands of great and radiant lights burn before us, illuminating and warming with the rays of their gracious light the souls opened to them. Our earthly life, as one venerable father says, is a race toward heaven, an ascent up the great mountain of virtue. It is up to us to make…
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…