Elder Julian Lazăr from the Romanian Skete of St John the Baptist, Athos: About the prayer and holiness

“We do not know what God looks like, as we read in John 1:18, No man hath seen God at any time. This is true, but we can meet with Him in prayer. Go into your room, into your chamber, into your heart, and above all, truly think of Whom you will speak, and then...

Saint Seraphim from Sarov: “Truly to serve to the Lord, you need to have a practice and an unceasing prayer to Jesus Christ…”

Truly to serve to the Lord, you need to have a practice and an unceasing prayer to Jesus Christ, saying in mind: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. At the hours of the afternoon, you can say this prayer like this: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the...

Elder Cleopa Ilie: “If the man falls throughout his life, he doesn’t have to despair to rise, but to ascend again through the gift of the Holy Spirit and through true repentance…”

-How can people reach the Heaven? -Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, through God’s grace and mercy. The man, when being in a mortal sin and his soul is warm, he is with his soul in hell. But, through true repentance and the grace of the Holy Spirit, who unties the sins through the...

Elder Joseph the Hesychast: “Living in the wilderness has its own struggles, whereas living in the world has many other different kinds of struggles…” (From his letters)

You yourself know from experience that wherever we may be, my son, we need much patience. Living in the wilderness has its own struggles, whereas living in the world has many other different kinds of struggles. So be brave. And since you have chosen this burden, bear it with fear of God. And believe me,...

Elder Justin Parvu: “The thirst for God directs us towards the love of our neighbor and vice versa…”

“The thirst for God directs us towards the love of our neighbor and vice versa. So great is the power of love that one who reaches a genuine love for all people denying oneself, receives the gift of healing. This is the true “follower” of Christ! Such man loves with the love of Christ all...

Archbishop Justinian (Chira) (+2016): “Every word that you send in the world will build or will destroy…”

“Every word that you send in the world will build or will destroy. It will ascend peaks of light or will cause the opening of abysses of darkness. It will stir blessings or dreadful curses. How will we enrich the shape of light and dream of the world? How will we enhance the harmony and...

Elder Arsenios Papacioc: “God is more intimate with us than we are! When you think about this, you fill yourself with hope…”

“Don’t give up! No matter how little you are, no matter how tired, you mustn’t give up. For, I repeat, no misfortune means anything. Nothing is lost as long as faith is established, the soul doesn’t surrender, and you raise your head again! God forbid that you be sad! Don’t’ be afraid! It’s true, one’s...

Elder Cleopa Ilie: Spiritual advices

 - Father, sometimes we get into such a bad state that we can neither pray, nor sleep, nor eat, we can not talk, and we do not have any disposition. - Hear what the divine Father Isaac the Syrian says, because I will not cease to bring examples, not from me, I'm source of all...