“Every day we should stand in awe of Him, as He is with us, and do what is pleasing before Him. If we are unable now to perceive Him with our physical eyes, we can, if we are watchful, see Him continuously with the eyes of our understanding and not just see Him, but reap great benefits from Him.” IfsGivingShouldEyeSpiritualEvilUnderstandingSinVisionBirthBenefitsEternalPerceivePurityAweEternal LifeReapDemolish Author:Gregory Palamas
“You should secretly give from what you have to those in need, so that you receive from God, Who sees in secret, a hundred times more, as well as life eternal in the age to come (cf. Mt. 6:4; Mk. 10:30).” NeedsGivingShouldWellsAgeChristianSecretEternalHundredOrthodoxCfsThose In Need 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
“... we grapple with this 'law of sin' (Rom. 8:2) and expel it from our body, establishing in its place the surveillance of the intellect. Through this surveillance we prescribe what is fitting for every faculty of the soul and every member of the body. For the senses we prescribe what they should take into account and to what extent they should do so, and this exercise of the spiritual law is called self-control.” ShouldSoulSelfBodyChristianSpiritualLawSinExerciseMembersAccountsIntellectSensesOrthodoxFacultySelf ControlSurveillanceFitting Author:Gregory Palamas
“Anyone who has fallen into fornication, adultery or any other such bodily impurity, should desist from this revolting filth and cleanse himself through confession, tears, fasting and the like. For God judges unrepentant fornicators and adulterers. He condemns them, dismisses them and consigns them to hell, unquenchable fire and other never-ending punishments, saying, 'Let the impure and accursed be taken away, lest they see and enjoy the glory of the Lord' (cf. Isa. 26:10 LXX).” ShouldChristianEnjoyLordHellTakenFireTearsJudgingGloryPunishmentFallenOrthodoxConfessionAdulteryFastingNever EndingFilthCfsImpurity Book:The homilies Source: The homilies
“Given that we desire long life, should we not take eternal life into account? If we long for a kingdom which, however enduring, has an end, and glory and joy which, great as they are, will fade, and wealth that will perish with this present life, and we labour for the sake of such things; ought we not to seek the kingdom, glory, joy and riches which, as well as being all-surpassing, are unfading and endless, and ought we not to endure a little constraint in order to inherit it?” IfsShouldWellsLittlesLongEndsChristianJoyDesireOrderGivenWealthOughtEternalGloryAccountsEndureSakeRichesEndlessKingdomsLabourOrthodoxFadesLong LifeEternal LifeConstraintsOrthodox ChristianSurpassingPresent Life Author:Gregory Palamas
“If... God highly exalted Christ because He humbled Himself, suffered dishonour, was tempted and endured a shameful cross and death for our sake, how will He save, glorify and raise us up if we neither choose humility, nor show love to our fellows, nor gain our souls by enduring temptation (cf. Lk. 21:19), nor follow the saving Guide through the 'strait gate' and along the 'narrow way' leading to eternal life (Mt. 7:14)? To this end we were called, says Peter, the chief Apostle, ' Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow His steps' (I Pet. 2:21).” IfsWayShouldSoulEndsShowsChristianChristStepsExampleHumilityEternalGainsCrossesRaisesFellowsEndureLeavingSakeGuidesTemptationSavingChiefsPetOrthodoxGatesPeterTemptedEternal LifeApostlesOrthodox ChristianShamefulExaltedGlorifyCfsDishonour Author:Gregory Palamas
“...those called by Christ's name should order their lives. They should persevere in prayers and supplications and, in imitation of the angels, have their eyes lifted up to the Master above the heavens, praising and blessing Him with irreproachable conduct, and waiting for His mystical Coming. As the Psalmist says to Him, 'I will sing and will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt Thou come unto me?' (Ps. 101:2).” WayShouldEyeChristianOrderNamesHeavenWaitingChristPrayerPerfectMastersBlessingAngelPraiseBehaveOrthodoxImitationMysticalPersevereOrthodox ChristianSupplication Author:Gregory Palamas