Beauty of Orthodoxy

"The King of the universe desired the mystical beauty of this Ever-Virgin, as David foretold [Ps 45, 12] and, bowing the heavens [Ps 18, 10; 144, 5], He descended and overshadowed her [Lk 1, 35] or, rather, the enhypostatic Power of the Most High dwelt in her."

,,We all carry a register of different sins, heavy or light, many or few, and no one is an exception, apart from God. Therefore, if we forgive, we will be forgiven; if we remit, the Heavenly Father will also remit our trespasses. It is in no way possible to receive forgiveness from God if we do not forgive our neighbor from the heart."

"The movement of thoughts in man comes about from four causes. First, from the natural bodily will. Second, from the imagination of worldly things by the senses, which he hears and sees.

Third, from passionate habits and inclinations of the soul, which he holds in his mind. Fourth, from the attacks (baits) of the demons who wage war against us through all passions, for the reasons shown above. Therefore, man cannot be without thoughts and warfare until death, as long as he remains in this physical life."

Surpatele Monastery, Vâlcea County, Romania

,,In the Mother of God we have in heaven a mother's heart, a heart that melted the most for her Son and has beaten and beats itself at His heart for His cause, which is our salvation, for salvation is not a matter of justice, but of love between God and human beings."

,,You know from history that our ancestors, Orthodox Christians, were very God-fearing people and always had strong and deep faith in the heavenly intercession of the Mother of God. And the Heavenly Queen did not leave their faith unanswered, but always sent help to all who fled to her with hope. It is difficult to show any trouble or misfortune from which the Mother of God did not deliver them when they fled to her with faith and fervent prayer."

,,When one member of the body suffers, then all the other members suffer together with it. So it is with Christians: when one Christian suffers, the others must also suffer together with him, weeping with sorrow. The members of the body do not despise one another, nor do they boast before one another. Likewise, Christians must not despise one another, nor boast before one another.

The members of the body all have the same value. In the same way, Christians must think about themselves. The physical members and senses warn one another regarding the evil that is to come: the eyes through sight, the ears through hearing, the feet through flight, and so on. Likewise, Christians must warn one another: one through word, another through advice, one through fear, another through prayer. The head takes care of this whole composition of the body. Likewise, the Head—Christ—takes care of His spiritual Body. To Him be glory forever and ever, amen!

Take heed, O Christian, how the true members of Christ's body are, and what kind of love, peace, understanding, mercy, compassion, and the like ought to be among them. Ask yourself whether you belong to this holy assembly. About the first Christians it is written: "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul" (Acts 4:32). Oh, if only it were so now as well! But with pain and sorrow we see that it is quite the opposite (see Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 12:12-13, etc.)."

Jgheaburi Schete, Vâlcea County, Romania

by @ bucuriiduhovnicesti on instagram

,,If you do not love fasting and do not strive with the general restraint of all your desires, you will never have spiritual clarity, right judgment, and positive results in the war against passions. Thus you will spend your life in the darkness of confusion and lack of wisdom, and you will receive as a reward banishment from heavenly happiness."

,, She [the Mother of God] alone is support and comfort for all, listened to and seen by all and cooperating in every way in the proclamation of the Gospel, thus showing in mind and word an extremely striving life and conduct.

Teodoreni Monastery, Suceava County, Romania

(photo by ooana.blaga on instagram )

,,If you want to do good, then fear the Lord and accomplish it."

"The Mother of God precedes humanity and everyone follows her. She precedes in love, in purity, in closeness to God."

"For just as every mother gives her children simple existence, so also the Mother of God gives to all happy existence."

,,If we truly felt that all of us humans are brothers, we would feel pain for those living in sin and their sinful life would not scandalize us, but we would pray for them. And if we are scandalized, the evil lies within us, it is not outside."