“Through the fall our nature was stripped of divine illumination and resplendence. But the Logos of God had pity upon our disfigurement, and in His compassion He took our nature upon Himself. On Tabor He manifested it to His elect disciples clothed once again most brilliantly. He showed what we once were and what we shall become through Him in the age to come if we choose to live our present life, as far as possible, in accordance with His ways.” IfsWayAgeSpiritualFallCompassionDivinePityDiscipleIlluminationLogosPresent LifeDisfigurement 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
“...we are not without hope of salvation, nor is it at all the right time for us to despair. All our life is a season of repentance, for God 'desires not the death of the sinner', as it is written, 'but that the wicked turn from his way and live' (cf. Ez. 33:11 LXX). For, if there were no hope of turning back, why would death not have followed immediately on disobedience, and why would we not be deprived of life as soon as we sin? For where there is hope of turning back, there is no room for despair.” IfsWayChristianLife IsDesireTurnsSinRoomsOur LivesWrittenDespairSeasonsSalvationWickedSinnerOrthodoxRepentanceRight TimeDeprivedDisobedienceNo HopeWithout HopeCfsThere Is Hope 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
“...the wise providence of God orders our affairs in many different ways and lovingly bestows on each one of us what is appropriate and profitable both for virtuous deeds and the mysteries of faith.” WayDifferentChristianOrderWiseMysteryAffairDeedsDifferent WaysAppropriateOrthodoxVirtuousProvidenceProfitableOrthodox Christian Book:The homilies Source: The homilies
“Being bodiless, God is nowhere, but as God He is everywhere. If there were a mountain, a place or any part of Creation where God was not, then He would be found to be in some way circumscribed. So He is everywhere and in everything. In what way is this so? Is He contained not by each part but by the whole? No, because then that would be a body. He embraces and encompasses everything, and is Himself everywhere and also above everything, worshipped by true worshippers in His Spirit and Truth.” IfsWayWholeBodyWould BeChristianSpiritFoundCreationMountainEmbraceOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianWorshippers Author:Gregory Palamas
