“Our requests are necessary expressly to strengthen our faith, through which alone we can be saved. 'By grace are we saved through faith' (Eph. 2:8). 'O woman, great is your faith' (Mt. 15:28). For this reason the Lord made the woman pray earnestly, in order to awaken her faith and to strengthen it.” MadeReasonChristianOrderLordGracePrayingSavedOrthodoxRequestOrthodox ChristianSaved By Grace Author:John of Kronstadt
“God is resplendently reflected in the souls of His chosen ones, and these pure souls, these images of God, like the transparent glass, shine forth like gold in the sun, like diamonds of the purest water, but they shine for God and the angels, not revealing their brightness to men, although at times, by God's ordering, they do shine even for them, by the light of their faith, their virtues, when necessary, similar to a candle put on a candlestick in a room, and lighting the room with all those who are in it. (cf. Mt. 5:15).” MenSoulLightChristianWaterRoomsSunVirtuePureAngelGoldShiningGlassesChosenOrthodoxCandleDiamondRevealingTransparentLightingOrthodox ChristianBrightnessGod ImageCfsPure SoulChosen One Author:John of Kronstadt
“The Lord called Himself and is the 'good Shepherd' (Jn. 10:11). If you believe in His guidance, then you will understand by your heart that as a zealous shepherd when feeding his flock does not allow the sheep to disperse, but gathers them together, so also the Lord pastures our souls, not allowing them to wander in falsehood and sins, but gathering them on the path of virtue, and not allowing the mental wolf to steal and scatter them.” IfsBelieveHeartDoeSoulChristianTogetherSinLordVirtuePathStealingWanderGuidanceOrthodoxAllowingSheepFalsehoodFeedingGatheringIf You BelieveOrthodox ChristianFlocksShepherdsPasturesZealousGood Shepherd Author:John of Kronstadt
“If God has given us Himself, if He abides in us and we in Him, according to His own true words, then what will He not give me, what will He spare for me, of what will He deprive me, how can He forsake me? 'The Lord is my shepherd: therefore I lack nothing' (Ps. 23:1).” IfsGivingChristianGivenLordGive MeOrthodoxSparesOrthodox ChristianShepherdsForsakeTrue Words Author:John of Kronstadt
“God is inexhaustible in His gifts to men? Everywhere we see plenty and joy; only the greedy rich lay their hands on and keep in their treasuries too many of God's gifts, which might plentifully nourish hundreds and thousands of poor. Man! Believe firmly in God's inexhaustibility in His gifts, and willingly 'deal your bread to the hungry' (Isa. 58:7)?” MenBelieveHandsMightChristianJoyPoorDealsRichLaysHungryBreadPlentyOrthodoxGreedyOrthodox ChristianPoor ManTreasury Author:John of Kronstadt
“If you are fond of dressing elegantly, or when you put on your clothes, think of the incorruptible garment of righteousness in which our souls should be arrayed, or of Jesus Christ Who is our spiritual raiment, as it is said: 'For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ' (Gal. 3:27).” IfsThinkingShouldHas BeensSaidSoulChristianSpiritualJesusChristClothesJesus ChristOrthodoxRighteousnessDressingsGarmentsOrthodox ChristianBaptizedGals Author:John of Kronstadt
“If you see the fury and hear the howling of the tempest, or read of shipwrecks, think of the storm of human passions causing daily groans and disturbance in the hearts of men, wrecking the spiritual ship of the soul or the ship of human society; and pray fervently to the Lord that He may subdue the tempest of sins, as He once subdued the tempest at sea by His word, and that He may root our passions from our hearts, and re-establish in them unceasing tranquility.” IfsThinkingMenHumansHeartMaySoulChristianSpiritualPassionSinLordSeaPrayingRootsStormShipsOrthodoxTranquilityFuryHuman SocietyTempestDisturbanceShipwreck Author:John of Kronstadt
“...when seeking material light, remember the spiritual light which is indispensable for the soul, and without which it remains in the darkness of the passions, in the darkness of spiritual death. 'I am come as a light into the world,' says the Lord, 'that whosoever believeth on Me, should not abide in darkness' (Jn. 12:46).” WorldShouldSoulLightChristianRememberSpiritualPassionLordDarknessMaterialsRemainsSeekingOrthodoxIndispensableOrthodox ChristianSpiritual DeathSpiritual Light Author:John of Kronstadt
“...if you wish to get pure air into your room, or if you go for a walk in the fresh air, think of the pure and of the unclean heart. Many of us like to have pure air in the room (and this is an excellent habit), or are fond of walking in the fresh air, but they do not even think of the necessity of the purity of the spirit or heart (of, so to say, spiritual air, the breath of life); and, living in the fresh air, they allow themselves to indulge in impure thoughts, impure movements of the heart, and even impurity of language, and most impure carnal actions.” IfsThinkingHeartActionChristianSpiritualSpiritLanguageWishWalksRoomsAirMovementHabitWalkingPureLife And LivingBreathsExcellentPurityOrthodoxIndulgeOrthodox ChristianIndulge InFresh AirYour RoomImpurityImpure Thoughts Author:John of Kronstadt
“The Lord is the accomplishment of everything good that I think, feel and do.” ThinkingFeelsChristianLordAccomplishmentOrthodoxOrthodox Christian Author:John of Kronstadt
“When you are in the temple, remember that you are in the living presence of the Lord God, that you stand before His face, before His eyes, in the living presence of the Mother of God, of the holy angels, and of the first-born of the Church - that is, our forefathers, the prophets, Apostles, hierarchs, martyrs, reverend Fathers, the righteous, and all the saints. Always have the remembrance and consciousness of this when you are in the temple, and stand with devotion, taking part willingly and with all your heart in the Divine service.” FirstsHeartEyeChristianRememberFacesMotherFatherBornChurchConsciousnessLordDivineHolyAngelSaintDevotionProphetHis EyesTemplesOrthodoxRighteousRemembranceMartyrApostlesOrthodox ChristianForefathersLord GodReverends Author:John of Kronstadt
“The longer we remain without confessing, the worse it is for us, the more entangled we become in the bonds of sin, and therefore the more difficult it is to give an account.” GivingChristianDifficultSinAccountsOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianConfessing Author:John of Kronstadt
“He who is accustomed to give account of his life at confession here will not fear to give an answer at the terrible judgment-seat of Christ. It is for this purpose that the mild tribunal of penitence was here initiated, in order that we, being cleansed and amended through penitence here below, may give an answer without shame at the terrible judgment-seat of Christ.” GivingMayChristianPurposeOrderChristAnswersTerribleJudgmentAccountsShameSeatsOrthodoxConfessionAccustomedOrthodox ChristianTribunalsPenitence Author:John of Kronstadt
“The heart is refined, spiritual, and heavenly by nature - guard it; do not overburden it, do not make it earthly, be temperate to the utmost in food and drink, and in general in bodily pleasures. The heart is the temple of God. 'If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy' (I Cor. 3:17).” IfsMenHeartChristianSpiritualPleasureDrinkTemplesHeavenlyOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianRefinedFood And Drink Author:John of Kronstadt
“Divine service, being the high contemplation of the mind, is at the same time, and pre-eminently, the peace, the sweetness and blessedness of the heart.” MindHeartChristianDivineContemplationOrthodoxSweetnessOrthodox ChristianBlessedness Author:John of Kronstadt
“Both learned and unlearned young men seldom go to church, and in general do not attend to their spiritual education, looking upon it as unnecessary and giving themselves up to worldly vanity. Attention must be paid to this. It is the fruit of pride... They consider attendance at church and Divine service as the business of the common people and women, forgetting that, in the temple, Angels officiate with trembling, together with men, and regard this as their highest bliss.” PeopleMenGivingChristianTogetherSpiritualYoungChurchForgetCommonAttentionDivinePrideHighestAngelPaidRegardFruitVanityBlissYoung ManTemplesOrthodoxUnnecessaryWorldlyOrthodox ChristianTremblingAttendanceSpiritual Education Author:John of Kronstadt
“The best moments on earth are those during which we meditate upon heavenly things in general, when we recognize or defend the truth, that heavenly dweller and denizen. Only then do we truly live. Therefore, the essential interests of the soul require that we should oftener rise above the earth, upwards to heaven, where is our true life, our true country, which shall have no end.” ShouldSoulEndsCountryMomentsEarthChristianHeavenInterestEssentialsHeavenlyOrthodoxRise AboveOrthodox ChristianTrue LifeDwellersBest Moments Author:John of Kronstadt
“He who is insolent towards men is insolent towards God... Respect in man the grand, inestimable image of God and be forbearing towards the faults and errors of fallen man, so that God may be forbearing towards your own.” MenMayChristianErrorsFaultsFallenOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianGod ImageInsolent Author:John of Kronstadt
“Do not be vexed with those who show pride, or malice, effeminacy, and impatience in their intercourse with you, or others, but , remembering that you yourself are subject to the same and greater sins and passions, pray for them and be meek with them.” ShowsChristianRememberPassionSinGreaterSubjectsPridePrayingOrthodoxImpatienceMaliceIntercourseOrthodox ChristianMeek Author:John of Kronstadt
“When you are subjected to the malicious and furious violence of the passions, and to the harassments of the Devil, during the fulfillment of various works for God, accept these sufferings as sufferings for the name of Christ, and rejoice in your sufferings, thanking God; for the Devil is preparing you, without knowing it himself, the most shining crowns from the Lord.” ChristianSufferingPassionNamesChristAcceptingLordKnowingViolenceDevilShiningVariousFulfillmentOrthodoxThank GodRejoiceCrownsPreparingFuriousHarassmentMalicious Author:John of Kronstadt
“Should thoughts of self-praise, of self-satisfaction, occur to you, say: 'I myself am nothing; all that is good in me is accomplished by the grace of God.' What hast thou that thou didst not receive?' (I Cor. 4:7). 'Without Me ye can do nothing' (John 15:5).” ShouldSelfChristianCan DoGracePraiseSatisfactionAccomplishedOrthodoxGrace Of GodOrthodox ChristianSelf-satisfactionSelf Praise Author:John of Kronstadt
“When hungry, do not throw yourself upon food - else you will overload your heart and body. Eat slowly, without avidity, with reflection to the glory of God, remembering the God Who feeds us, and above all His incorruptible food, His Body and Blood, that out of love He has given Himself to us in food and drink, remembering also the holy word of the Gospel.” HeartBodyChristianRememberGivenBloodDrinkHolyGloryReflectionHungryOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianGlory Of GodFood And DrinkOverload Author:John of Kronstadt
“In prayer and in every work of your life avoid suspicious ness, doubt and diabolical imaginations. Let your spiritual eye be single, in order that the whole body of your prayer, of your works and of your life may be light.” MayWholeBodyLightEyeChristianSpiritualOrderImaginationPrayerDoubtOrthodoxSuspiciousOur PrayersOrthodox ChristianDiabolicalSpiritual Eyes Author:John of Kronstadt
“Leave all human injustices to the Lord, for God is the Judge, but as to yourself, be diligent in loving everybody with a pure heart.” HumansHeartChristianLordJudgingPureInjusticeOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianDiligentPure Heart Author:John of Kronstadt
“Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and gave life to the fallen. O abyss of humility! Adam and Eve lost themselves through gluttony, the Lord fasted and died for them, in order to give them life. They were disobedient, Christ fulfilled obedience.” GivingChristianOrderLostChristLordHumilitySonPrideProudDiedObedienceFallenOrthodoxAdamFulfilledAbyssOrthodox ChristianAdam And EveGluttony Author:John of Kronstadt
“Love does not reflect. Love is simple. Love never mistakes. Likewise believe and trust without reflection, for faith and trust are also simple; or better: God, in whom we believe and in whom we trust, is an incomplex Being, as He is also simply love.” BelieveDoeChristianSimpleLove IsMistakeReflectionOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianSimply LoveSimple Love Author:John of Kronstadt
“Your Lord is a God of mercy and bountifulness: be a source of mercy and bountifulness to your neighbors. If you will be such, you will find salvation yourself with everlasting glory.” IfsLordSourceGloryMercySalvationNeighborEverlasting Author:John of Kronstadt
“God is nearer to us than any man at every time. He is nearer to me than my raiment, nearer than the air or light, nearer than my wife, father, mother, daughter, son, or friend. I live in Him, soul and body. I breathe in Him, think in Him, feel, consider, intend, speak, undertake, work in Him.” ThinkingMenFeelsSoulBodyLightMotherFatherSpeakWifeAirSonDaughterMy WifeBreatheMother DaughterSoul And BodyFather Mother Author:John of Kronstadt
“A Christian must always be kind, gracious, and wise in order to conquer evil by good.” KindChristianOrderEvilWiseConquerBe KindGracious Author:John of Kronstadt
“Our faith, trust, and love are proved and revealed in adversities, that is, in difficult and grievous outward and inward circumstances, during sickness, sorrow, and privations.” DifficultCircumstancesSorrowAnd LoveAdversitySicknessInwardLove And TrustFaith Trust Author:John of Kronstadt
“Your Lord is Love: love Him and in Him all men, as His children in Christ. Your Lord is a fire: do not let your heart be cold, but burn with faith and love. Your Lord is light: do not walk in darkness of mind, without reasoning or understanding, or without faith. Your Lord is a God of mercy and bountifulness: be a source of mercy and bountifulness to your neighbors. If you will be such, you will find salvation yourself with everlasting glory.” IfsMenMindHeartChildrenLightChristianUnderstandingChristWalksLordDarknessFireLove YouSourceColdGloryMercyAnd LoveSalvationNeighborReasoningEverlastingFaith And Love Author:John of Kronstadt
