“The light of the Lord's transfiguration does not come into being or cease to be, nor is it circumscribed or perceptible to the senses, even though for a short time on the narrow mountain top it was seen by human eyes.” HumansDoeHas BeensMomentsLightEyeChristianSpiritLordSawsTaughtHolyMountainTransformationFleshSensesCeaseGrantedHoly SpiritOrthodoxThat MomentDiscipleShort TimeIneffableMountain TopHuman EyesTransfiguration Author:Gregory Palamas
“If, as we have said, we commemorate each of the saints with hymns and appropriate songs of praise, how much more should we celebrate the memory of Peter and Paul, the supreme leaders of the pre-eminent company of the apostles? They are the fathers and guides of all Christians: apostles, martyrs, holy ascetics, priests, hierarchs, pastors and teachers.” WorldShouldLightChristianSongFatherMemoriesCommonCompanyLeaderTeachVirtueTeacherMastersHolyPraiseSaintGuidesSupremeCelebrateChiefsAppropriatePriestsOrthodoxPeterPastorMartyrApostlesOrthodox ChristianShepherdsGodlinessHymnsBuilder Author:Gregory Palamas
“... whenever Christ, the Bridegroom of pure souls, is mystically united with each soul, He gives the Father occasion to rejoice over this as at a wedding. It is Christ Himself Who says, 'Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner who repents' (Lk. 15:7). For joy, according to the Apostle, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22), Who through conversion brings back to Christ those living in repentance, and reunites them with Him. And this joy embraces both those in heaven and godly men on earth. That is why there is joy in heaven over one repentant sinner.” MenGivingSoulEarthChristianJoySpiritFatherHeavenChristUnitedHolyPureEmbraceFruitConversionOccasionsHoly SpiritSinnerOrthodoxRepentanceRejoiceGodlyRepentApostlesOrthodox ChristianGalsPure SoulBridegroomGodly Man Author:Gregory Palamas
“If from one burning lamp someone lights another, then another from that one, and so on in succession, he has light continuously. In the same way, through the Apostles ordaining their successors, and these successors ordaining others, and so on, the grace of the Holy Spirit is handed down through all generations and enlightens all who obey their spiritual shepherds and teachers.” IfsWayLightChristianSpiritualSpiritGraceTeacherGenerationsHolyBurningHoly SpiritOrthodoxLampsEnlighteningApostlesSuccessionShepherdsSuccessors Author:Gregory Palamas
“...although divided in His various powers and energies, in each of His works the Holy Spirit is wholly present and active, undividedly divided, partaken of while remaining complete, like the sun's ray.” ChristianSpiritEnergySunHolyVariousActiveHoly SpiritOrthodoxDividedRaysOrthodox Christian Author:Gregory Palamas
“[Our Lord Jesus Christ] was... carried up to heaven (Lk. 24:50-51). With a radiant cloud for a chariot, He ascended in glory (cf. Acts 1:9), entered the Holy of Holies not made by hands and sat down on the right hand of the heavenly majesty, making our human substance share His own throne and divinity.” HumansMadeHandsChristianJesusHeavenChristLordShareHolyGloryJesus ChristCloudsSubstanceSatDivinityHeavenlyOrthodoxThronesMajestyOur LordOrthodox ChristianRadiantLord Jesus ChristCfsChariotsOur Lord Jesus Christ Author:Gregory Palamas
“We start... imitation of Christ with Holy Baptism, which symbolizes the Lord's Burial and Resurrection. Virtuous living and conduct in accord with the Gospel are its intermediate stage, and its perfection is victory through spiritual struggles against the passions, which procures painless, indestructible, heavenly life.” ChristianSpiritualPassionChristLordStruggleStageVictoryHolyPerfectionHeavenlyOrthodoxResurrectionVirtuousImitationAccordOrthodox ChristianBaptismBurialIndestructiblePainless Author:Gregory Palamas
“Grace comes immediately to meet some of those who strive, giving them assurance of the earnest of their inheritance (cf. Eph. 1:14), letting them taste the promised prizes, as if stretching out a loving hand to welcome them and anointing them for further struggles. With others, however, grace waits for the end of the struggle, and prepares for them the crown of patience as well. As one of the God-bearing Fathers says, 'Some receive holy rewards before their labours, some during labours, and some when they depart' (St. John Climacus).” IfsGivingWellsEndsHandsChristianFatherWaitingStruggleGraceHolyTasteRewardsStriveWelcomeLabourPrizeOrthodoxCrownsAssuranceEarnestInheritanceOrthodox ChristianStretchingCfsAnointingLoving Hands Author:Gregory Palamas
“The heavenly Father Whom we worship is the Father of the Truth, namely, of the only-begotten Son, and has the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, and those who worship Him in these Two do so because they believe in these Persons and act through Them. For the Apostle tells us that it is through the Spirit that we worship and pray (cf. Rom. 8:26), and God's only-begotten Son says, 'No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me' (John 14:6).” MenBelievePersonsTwoChristianSpiritFatherSonPrayingHolyWorshipHoly SpiritHeavenlyOrthodoxApostlesOrthodox ChristianHeavenly FatherCfs Book:The homilies Source: The homilies
“If you put something fragrant on to burning coals, you motivate those who approach to come back again and to stay near, but if instead you put on something with an unpleasant, oppressive smell, you repel them and drive them away. It is the same with the mind. If your attention is occupied with what is holy, you make yourself worthy of being visited by God, since this is the sweet savour which God catches scent of. On the other hand, if you nurture evil, foul and earthly thoughts within you, you remove yourself from God's supervision and unfortunately make yourself worthy of His aversion.” IfsMindHandsChristianEvilAttentionSweetHolyApproachWorthySmellBurningRemoveOrthodoxWithin YouScentNurtureCoalFoulBack AgainAversionSupervisionSavourBurning Coal Book:The homilies Source: The homilies
“Let no one out of laziness or continuous worldly occupations miss these holy Sunday gatherings, which God Himself handed down to us, lest he be justly abandoned by God... If you are detained and do not attend on one occasion, make up for it the next time, bringing yourself to Christ's Church. Otherwise you may remain uncured, suffering from unbelief in your soul because of deeds or words, and failing to approach Christ's surgery to receive... holy healing.” IfsMaySoulChristianSufferingNextChristChurchHealingFailingMissingHolyApproachDeedsOccasionsYour SoulSundayOrthodoxOccupationAbandonedLazinessNext TimeSurgeryWorldlyGatheringUnbelief Book:The homilies Source: The homilies
