“How can it be other than right to worship the Body of the Lord, all-holy and all-reverend as it is, announced as it was by the archangel Gabriel, formed by the Holy Spirit, and made the Vesture of the Word? It was at any rate a bodily hand that the Word stretched out to raise her that was sick of a fever (Mk. 1:31): a human voice that He uttered to raise Lazarus - the dead (Jn. 11:43); and, once again, stretching out His hands upon the Cross, He overthrew the prince of the power of the air, that now works (Eph. 2:2) in the sons of disobedience, and made the way clear for us into the heavens.” WayHumansMadeBodyHandsChristianSpiritHeavenVoiceLordClearAirSonHolyWorshipCrossesSickRaisesRateHoly SpiritOrthodoxDisobedienceFeverOrthodox ChristianStretchingGabrielArchangelHuman VoiceReverendsLazarus Author:John of Kronstadt
“Everything that breathes, breathes by air and cannot live without air; similarly all reasonable free creatures live by the Holy Spirit, as though by air, and cannot live without Him. "Every soul is quickened by the Holy Spirit." Recognise that the Holy Spirit stands in the same relation to your soul as air stands in relation to your body.” SoulBodySpiritAirHolyCreaturesRelationBreatheYour BodyYour SoulHoly SpiritReasonableLive ByRecognise Author:John of Kronstadt
“The Saviour and the Comforter, two Persons of the Godhead: the One ever saves from sins, and the Other comforts him who is saved. Their very names are taken from their deeds, and are always actually justified. He comforts! The Holy Spirit comforts the believing soul, as a mother comforts her child.” BelieveChildrenPersonsTwoSoulSpiritMotherNamesSinTakenHolyComfortDeedsSavedHoly SpiritJustifiedSaviourComforter Author:John of Kronstadt
“When you say a prayer, He (The Holy Spirit) is in every word of it, and like a Holy Fire, penetrates each word.” SpiritPrayerFireHolyHoly SpiritPenetrate Author:John of Kronstadt
“Christ is our hope, our cleansing and santification, our resurrection, life and repose. He alone is what we all need, and therefore, the Orthodox Church constantaly pronounces these words aloud so that we may hear them during Holy Services of the Church, and be constantly renewed. For we are inclined to forget the only thing we need. With death all will be taken from us, all earthly goods, riches, beauty of body and raiment, spacious dwellings, etc., but the virtue of the soul, that incorruptible raiment, shall remain with us eternally.” LifeNeedsMaySoulBodyChristChurchForgetHealingVirtueTakenHolyRichesEtcOrthodoxGoodsResurrectionDwellingReposeCleansingOrthodox Church Author:John of Kronstadt
“As the Holy Trinity, our God is One Being, although Three Persons, so, likewise, we ourselves must be one. As our God is indivisible, we also must be indivisible, as though we were one man, one mind, one will, one heart, one goodness, without the smallest admixture of malice - in a word, one pure love, as God is Love. That they may be one, even as We are One (John 17:22).” MenMindHeartMayPersonsChristianThreeHolyPureGoodnessOrthodoxOne ManSmallestMaliceOrthodox ChristianTrinityPure LoveGod Is LoveIndivisibleHoly Trinity Author:John of Kronstadt
“The accursed one does not allow the eye of the heart to see the Lord or His saints. He darkens our heart in every way. He scatters faith, oppressing, burning and darkening us inwardly. We must look upon all such actions as illusions and falsehood, and break through this imaginary wall to the Lord, or to His Holy Mother, or His saints. As soon as you break through this wall you will be immediately saved. 'Your faith has made you whole' (Mt. 9:22).” WayLooksHeartDoeMadeWholeEyeActionChristianMotherLordBreakWallHolyIllusionSaintSavedBurningLook UpOrthodoxImaginaryFalsehoodOrthodox ChristianBreak ThroughDarkening Author:John of Kronstadt
“Besides loving each other, we must bear with each other and pardon ? 'forgive them that trespass against us' ? in order that our heavenly Father may 'forgive us our trespasses' (Mt. 6:14). Thus, with all your soul honor and love in every man the image of God, not regarding his sins, for God alone is Holy and without sin; and see how He loves us, how much He has created and still creates for us, punishing us mercifully and forgiving us bounteously and graciously. Honor the man also, in spite of his sins, for he can always amend.” MenMayStillsSoulChristianOrderFatherSinHe ManBearsHonorHolyAnd LoveForgivingEvery ManYour SoulSpiteHeavenlyOrthodoxPardonOrthodox ChristianHeavenly FatherGod Image Author:John of Kronstadt
“Firmly believe that the Lord is at all times everything to you. During prayer He is the power and the fulfillment in the Holy Spirit of each of your words. During pious conversation He is your living water, the ardent flow of your words at all times ? He is everything to you. Be free from care in the presence of your Lord. He has enclosed you with Himself upon all sides. He penetrates you wholly and knows all your thoughts, all your needs and inclinations, and if you live in Him with faith and love, then no evil shall befall you. 'The Lord is at hand; be careful for nothing' (Phil. 4:6).” IfsKnowsNeedsBelieveHandsCareChristianSpiritEvilSidesWaterPrayerLordHolyConversationFlowAnd LoveCarefulAll TimeFulfillmentHoly SpiritOrthodoxBe CarefulInclinationPenetratePiousArdentFaith And Love Author:John of Kronstadt
“'Hail, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you' (Lk. 1:28)! Thus does the holy Church invoke the most holy Virgin, the Mother of God. But the Lord is also with every pious soul that believes in Him. The Lord's abiding with the Virgin Mary before she conceived the Savior is not a particularity proper to the most pure Virgin alone. The Lord is with every believing soul: 'The Lord is with you.' These words may be said to everyone who keeps the Lord's commandments.” BelieveMayDoeSaidSoulChristianMotherChurchLordHolyPureOrthodoxSaviorMaryCommandmentsVirginsAbidingOrthodox ChristianPiousHailInvokeVirgin Mary Author:John of Kronstadt
“Prayer is spiritual breathing; when we pray we breathe in the Holy Spirit; praying in the Holy Spirit (Jd. 1:20). Thus, all church prayers are the breathing of the Holy Spirit; as it were spiritual air and also light, spiritual fire, spiritual food and spiritual raiment.” LightChristianSpiritualSpiritChurchPrayerFireAirPrayingHolyBreatheBreathingHoly SpiritOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianSpiritual Food Author:John of Kronstadt
“'If he trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to you, saying, I repent; you shall forgive him' (Lk. 17:4). As the Searcher of hearts, the Lord knows that men are liable to very frequent trespass, and that, having fallen, they often rise up again; therefore He has given us the commandment to frequently forgive trespasses, and He Himself is the first to fulfill His holy word. As soon as you say from your whole heart, 'I repent,' you will be immediately forgiven.” IfsKnowsMenFirstsHeartWholeChristianTurnsGivenLordHolyForgivingSevenFallenOrthodoxCommandmentsForgivenRepentLiableSearchers Author:John of Kronstadt
“How do we receive the highest mystery of Divine love to us ? the mystery of the Christian faith? With our mind, heart and life; with our free will? Are all the three powers of our souls penetrated by holy faith, as were the souls of the saints? The kingdom of heaven 'is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened' (Lk. 13:21). The three measures are the three powers of the soul.” MindHeartSoulWholeChristianThreeHeavenMysteryDivineHolyHighestSaintKingdomsMealsOrthodoxFree WillDivine LoveOrthodox ChristianChristian FaithKingdom Of HeavenMind Heart 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
“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
