Tag: Orthodox spirituality

Philokalia – Saint John Cassian – On Anger

Our fourth struggle is against the demon of anger. We must, with God’s help, eradicate his deadly poison from the depths of our souls. So long as he dwells in our hearts and blinds the eyes of the heart with his somber disorders, we can neither discriminate what is for our good, nor achieve spiritual knowledge, nor fulfill our good intentions, nor
participate in true life; and our intellect will remain impervious to the contemplation of the true, divine light; for it is written, ‘For my eye is troubled because of anger’ (Ps. 6:7. LXX). Continue reading “Philokalia – Saint John Cassian – On Anger” →

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Abba Isaac the Syrian: Do you want to do a good deed? Prepare to be tested…

When you decide to embark on a good deed, you must first prepare yourself for the trials that you will encounter. Because, when the enemy sees you beginning to fervently live a God-pleasing life, he usually attacks with various and terrible trials that will render you cowardly and make you abandon your good intention.  Continue reading “Abba Isaac the Syrian: Do you want to do a good deed? Prepare to be tested…” →

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The Significance of Koliva (Boiled Wheat)

In Saint John’s Gospel we find this quote, “Christ said, ‘Unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (St. John 12:24). As Orthodox Christians we are awaiting the Second Coming of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the General Resurrection of the dead, through Christ we have Life, Life everlasting. But, remembering the memory of our deceased beloved ones is an opportunity to pray for the souls of the departed. Continue reading “The Significance of Koliva (Boiled Wheat)” →

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Pentecost – a frontal assault on Hades!

Pascha (Easter) comes with a great note of joy in the Christian world. Christ is risen from the dead and our hearts rejoice. That joy begins to wane as the days pass. Our lives settle back down to the mundane tasks at hand. After 40 days, the Church marks the Feast of the Ascension, often attended by only a handful of the faithful (Rome has more-or-less moved the Ascension to a Sunday to make it easier). Some excitement returns with the Feast of Pentecost, 50 days after Pascha, which conveniently falls on a Sunday making its observance easier in a too-busy-to-notice world. Lost in all of this, however, is a subtext (perhaps it is the main text). Continue reading “Pentecost – a frontal assault on Hades!” →

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