There is No Hurry
There is an old legend according to which Satan once called a meeting of his lieutenants to seek out the best way to keep people from God. One devil said, "Let's tell them there is no God." Another said, "Let's tell them that God doesn't care about right and wrong." Finally a third one said, "Let them believe that there is a God and that He cares about right and wrong.
But let's just keep whispering that there is no hurry." It was agreed that the last method was the best one. And Satan has been whispering in our ears ever since, "Yes, of course, you're right and you must do all these good things, but you need not do them today. There is no need to hurry. Take your time and do it when you're ready. There's always tomorow." Thus Satan has been tempting us and keeping us from achieving most of the good things we want and intend to do. Finally, we approach the end of our lives realizing, after it is too late, that we have achieved only a tiny portion of our potential, that we have done only a small bit of the good we intended to do. We pass this way but once, and we miss many of the opportunities that present themselves to us because of tomorrow. "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation."
There is an old legend according to which Satan once called a meeting of his lieutenants to seek out the best way to keep people from God. One devil said, "Let's tell them there is no God." Another said, "Let's tell them that God doesn't care about right and wrong." Finally a third one said, "Let them believe that there is a God and that He cares about right and wrong.
But let's just keep whispering that there is no hurry." It was agreed that the last method was the best one. And Satan has been whispering in our ears ever since, "Yes, of course, you're right and you must do all these good things, but you need not do them today. There is no need to hurry. Take your time and do it when you're ready. There's always tomorow." Thus Satan has been tempting us and keeping us from achieving most of the good things we want and intend to do. Finally, we approach the end of our lives realizing, after it is too late, that we have achieved only a tiny portion of our potential, that we have done only a small bit of the good we intended to do. We pass this way but once, and we miss many of the opportunities that present themselves to us because of tomorrow. "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation."
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“We who live on earth can hardly even begin to understand the reality of the spiritual world until we ourselves come to dwell in it. This is a process that begins now, in this life, but ends only in eternity, when we will behold “face to face” what we now see only “through a glass, darkly” (1 Cor. 13:12).”
“The other world is realer and closer than we usually think; and the path to it is right here in front of us, in the life of spiritual discipline and prayer which the Church has handed down to us as the way of salvation.”
Fr. Seraphim Rose, “The Soul After Death, Preface
“The other world is realer and closer than we usually think; and the path to it is right here in front of us, in the life of spiritual discipline and prayer which the Church has handed down to us as the way of salvation.”
Fr. Seraphim Rose, “The Soul After Death, Preface
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Forwarded from Orthodox Church in America
Today we commemorate Venerable Sisoes the Great
Read the account: https://www.oca.org/saints/id/lives/101918
More saints commemorated today: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/07/06
Music downloads: https://www.oca.org/liturgics/music-downloads/july
#saints #feastsandsaints
Read the account: https://www.oca.org/saints/id/lives/101918
More saints commemorated today: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/07/06
Music downloads: https://www.oca.org/liturgics/music-downloads/july
#saints #feastsandsaints
www.oca.org
Venerable Sisoes the Great
Saint Sisoes the Great (+ 429) was a solitary monk, pursuing asceticism in the Egyptian desert in a cave sanctified by the prayerful labors of his predecessor, Saint Anthony the Great (January 17). For his sixty years of labor in the desert, Saint Sisoes…
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Forwarded from Ask About The Orthodox Faith (Елена)
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This life is temporary and filled with various sorrows, and no one can avoid them—only their sorrows may differ. And as the soul is created according to the image and likeness of God, it will nowhere and never find peace and consolation, except in God. If we orient ourselves on the will of God, then sorrows will trouble us only slightly.
+ Elder Schema-Abbot John (Alexeev)
+ Elder Schema-Abbot John (Alexeev)
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Forwarded from Orthodox Spirituality
‘To throw yourself before God, not to measure your progress, to leave behind all self-will; these are the instruments for the work of the soul.’
+St. Poemen the Great
+St. Poemen the Great
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Forwarded from Orthodox Church in America
Today we commemorate Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Far Caves, Founder of Monasticism in Russia
Read the account: https://www.oca.org/saints/id/lives/101994
More saints commemorated today: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/07/10
Music downloads: https://www.oca.org/liturgics/music-downloads/july
#saints #feastsandsaints
Read the account: https://www.oca.org/saints/id/lives/101994
More saints commemorated today: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/07/10
Music downloads: https://www.oca.org/liturgics/music-downloads/july
#saints #feastsandsaints
www.oca.org
Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Far Caves, Founder of Monasticism in Russia
Saint Anthony of the Kiev Caves was born in the year 983 at Liubech, not far from Chernigov, and was named Antipas in Baptism. Possessing the fear of God from his youth, he desired to be clothed in the monastic schema. When he reached a mature age, he wandered…
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Forwarded from Orthodox Faith
O radiant Trinity, One God, save your people from men of violence in Syria, Israel, Gaza, and throughout the Middle East; in Ukraine, Russia, and in troubled places on the continents of Asia and Africa, for those who suffer for Thy sake in every place. And for those whose lives have become a sacrifice for Christ, may it not be in vain. Receive them, O Lord, even as martyrs, granting them rejoicing with Thy righteous ones, in Thine eternal Kingdom.
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Forwarded from Orthodox Church in America
Today we commemorate Holy Great Prince Vladimir, Equal of the Apostles, and Enlightener of Rus'
Read the account: https://www.oca.org/saints/id/lives/102031
More saints commemorated today: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/07/15
Music downloads: https://www.oca.org/liturgics/music-downloads/july
#saints #feastsandsaints
Read the account: https://www.oca.org/saints/id/lives/102031
More saints commemorated today: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/07/15
Music downloads: https://www.oca.org/liturgics/music-downloads/july
#saints #feastsandsaints
www.oca.org
Holy Great Prince Vladimir (Basil in Baptism), Equal of the Apostles, and Enlightener of Rus'
The Holy Equal of the Apostles and Great Prince Vladimir, the youngest son of Prince Svyatoslav of Kiev, was born in 963. He was only six years old when his grandmother, the Holy Princess Olga (July 11), who had raised him, reposed, and his father sent him…
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Forwarded from Orthodox Faith
If you left the Church to get away from hypocritical people, you should also quit your job, drop out of school, disconnect yourself from all your friends and family, and lock yourself in your room.
Or, you can see the Church for what she is: a hospital for wounded people, like you. There you are a patient as well as a practitioner. There are flaws wherever there are humans. Go for healing, but be a healer of messed up people who are sometimes rude, obnoxious and conniving in the throes of their diseases. Just like you.
Allow God's grace to transform you day by day, and to treat those who are yet being transformed with care, love and kindness.
Or, you can see the Church for what she is: a hospital for wounded people, like you. There you are a patient as well as a practitioner. There are flaws wherever there are humans. Go for healing, but be a healer of messed up people who are sometimes rude, obnoxious and conniving in the throes of their diseases. Just like you.
Allow God's grace to transform you day by day, and to treat those who are yet being transformed with care, love and kindness.
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Forwarded from A Monk In The World
O Lord, save me from myself!!
Lord you have said I am The Truth, The Way and The Life, and I believe that with my whole heart. Sadly, I can't live fully to what I believe. Then I am lying, I don't believe fully, as there are two wills in me fighting over you. My spirit has grasped how You are indeed the Living water Who would quench my thirst once and for all. I thirst and I am satisfied, the more You quench my thirst, the more I thirst after You. You satisfy and endow one with the need for more all at once. But my person, who I am is not cooperating in this salvific process. It longs after the Light but is too lazy to run after it. I have made myself weary for not following you to the measure I should. Thus I say save me Lord, save me, not from wicked men who have made my existence tedious, not from the devil who sets traps on my every step, But first from myself. From the old man within me who has made it impossible for me to accept you in my heart's chamber by replying for your uninterrupted calling. O lord, save me!!
Lord you have said I am The Truth, The Way and The Life, and I believe that with my whole heart. Sadly, I can't live fully to what I believe. Then I am lying, I don't believe fully, as there are two wills in me fighting over you. My spirit has grasped how You are indeed the Living water Who would quench my thirst once and for all. I thirst and I am satisfied, the more You quench my thirst, the more I thirst after You. You satisfy and endow one with the need for more all at once. But my person, who I am is not cooperating in this salvific process. It longs after the Light but is too lazy to run after it. I have made myself weary for not following you to the measure I should. Thus I say save me Lord, save me, not from wicked men who have made my existence tedious, not from the devil who sets traps on my every step, But first from myself. From the old man within me who has made it impossible for me to accept you in my heart's chamber by replying for your uninterrupted calling. O lord, save me!!
Forwarded from Orthodox Church in America
Today we commemorate Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene
Read the account: https://www.oca.org/saints/id/lives/102070
More saints commemorated today: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/07/22
Music downloads: https://www.oca.org/liturgics/music-downloads/july
#saints #feastsandsaints
Read the account: https://www.oca.org/saints/id/lives/102070
More saints commemorated today: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/07/22
Music downloads: https://www.oca.org/liturgics/music-downloads/july
#saints #feastsandsaints
www.oca.org
Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene
The Holy Myrrh-Bearer Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene. On the banks of Lake Genesareth (Galilee), between the cities of Capharnum and Tiberias, was the small city of Magdala, the remains of which have survived to our day. Now only the small village of…
Forwarded from Ask About The Orthodox Faith (Orthodox Christian)
⚡️☦️The Scripture is real, not metaphoric, but some events also have parallels in the inward reality
The closing of paradise, and the placing of the cherubim with the burning sword to prevent his entrance (Gen. 3:24), must be regarded as actual events; but they are also realities encountered inwardly by each soul. A veil of darkness-the fire of the worldly spirit-surrounds the heart, preventing the intellect from communing with God, and the soul from praying, believing and loving the Lord as it desires to do. All these things may be learnt from experience by those who truly entrust themselves to the Lord, persist in prayer, and fight zealously against the enemy.
St Macarius the Great
The closing of paradise, and the placing of the cherubim with the burning sword to prevent his entrance (Gen. 3:24), must be regarded as actual events; but they are also realities encountered inwardly by each soul. A veil of darkness-the fire of the worldly spirit-surrounds the heart, preventing the intellect from communing with God, and the soul from praying, believing and loving the Lord as it desires to do. All these things may be learnt from experience by those who truly entrust themselves to the Lord, persist in prayer, and fight zealously against the enemy.
St Macarius the Great
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Forwarded from Ask About The Orthodox Faith (SamiTafesh)
☦️🕯️If God the Father chose Her, God the Holy Spirit descended upon Her, and God the Son dwelt in Her, submitted to Her in the days of His youth, was concerned for Her when hanging on the Cross - then should not everyone who confesses the Holy Trinity venerate Her?🕯️☦️
♰ St. John Maximovitch ♰
♰ St. John Maximovitch ♰
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Forwarded from Orthodox Spirituality
“The Gospel is a harsh document; the Gospel is ruthless and specific in what it says; the Gospel is not meant to be re-worded, watered down and brought to the level of either our understanding or our taste. The Gospel is proclaiming something which is beyond us and which is there to stretch our mind, to widen our heart beyond the bearable at times, to recondition all our life, to give us a world view which is simply the world upside-down and this we are not keen to accept.”
– Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
– Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
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Why follow the Holy Fathers? Let’s see what Scripture and the Fathers say ☝️☦️
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. - 2 Thess. 2:15
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. - Jer. 6:16
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. - Prov. 22:28
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it - Eccl. 3:14
Contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. - Jd. 3
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. - Heb. 13:8
But, beyond these sayings [of Scripture], let us look at the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, the Apostles preached, and the Fathers kept. Upon this the Church is founded, and he who should fall away from it would not be a Christian, and should no longer be so called. - St. Athanasius the Great, Letter 1
Let us, therefore, brothers, stand on the rock of faith and in the tradition of the Church, not removing the boundaries, which our holy fathers set in place [Prov. xxii 28], nor giving space to those who wish to innovate or break up the structure of God's holy, catholic and apostolic Church. - St. John Damascene, Three Treatises on the Divine Images
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. - 2 Thess. 2:15
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. - Jer. 6:16
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. - Prov. 22:28
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it - Eccl. 3:14
Contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. - Jd. 3
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. - Heb. 13:8
But, beyond these sayings [of Scripture], let us look at the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, the Apostles preached, and the Fathers kept. Upon this the Church is founded, and he who should fall away from it would not be a Christian, and should no longer be so called. - St. Athanasius the Great, Letter 1
Let us, therefore, brothers, stand on the rock of faith and in the tradition of the Church, not removing the boundaries, which our holy fathers set in place [Prov. xxii 28], nor giving space to those who wish to innovate or break up the structure of God's holy, catholic and apostolic Church. - St. John Damascene, Three Treatises on the Divine Images