“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
“Do not be despondent when fighting against the incorporeal enemy, but even in the midst of your afflictions and oppression praise the Lord, Who has found you worthy to suffer for Him, by struggling against the subtlety of the serpent, and to be wounded for Him at every hour; for had you not lived piously, and endeavored to become united to God, the enemy would not have attacked and tormented you.” ChristianSufferingFightingFoundHoursUnitedLordEnemyStrugglePraiseWorthyOppressionMidstWoundedAfflictionSubtletySerpentFound YouDespondentPraise The Lord Author:John of Kronstadt
“...people mostly pray as if there were no God with them, or as if He did not heed their prayers. Let us ascribe to the Lord at least the same amount of attention that good parents show to the requests of their children, at least that provident and attentive love which good parents have for their children.” PeopleIfsChildrenShowsParentPrayerAttentionLordAmountPrayingRequestHeedGood Parent Author:John of Kronstadt
“The Lord, before His Incarnation, let mankind experience all the bitterness of sin, all their powerlessness to eradicate it; and when all longed for a Deliverer, then He appeared, the most wise, all-powerful Physician and Helper. When men hungered and thirsted after righteousness, as it grew weaker, then the everlasting righteousness came.” MenChristianSinPowerfulLordWiseMankindGrewOrthodoxRighteousnessBitternessPhysiciansEverlastingIncarnationPowerlessnessHelpersMost Wise Author:John of Kronstadt
“Remember that God, during your prayers, is watching for your affirmative answer to the question which He is inwardly asking you: 'Do you believe I am able to do this?' To which question you must from the depth of your heart reply, 'Yes, Lord'” BelieveHeartAbleChristianRememberPrayerAnswersLordAskingDepthOrthodoxOur PrayersAffirmative 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
“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
“'They straightway left their nets and followed Him' (Mt. 4:20). The Apostles did not grudge leaving their nets for the Lord's sake, although they were perhaps their only property, and precious to them because they lived by them; and we, likewise, for the Lord's sake, ought to leave everything that hinders our following Him ? that is, all the many and various nets in which the enemy entangles us in life.” ChristianLeftLordEnemyOughtPropertyLeavingSakeVariousFollowingOrthodoxApostlesOrthodox ChristianGrudgeHinder 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
“When you see your body wasted away through sickness, do not murmur against God, but say: 'The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord' (Job 1:21). You are accustomed to look upon your body as upon your own inalienable property, but that is quite wrong, because your body is God's edifice.” LooksBodyChristianJobsNamesLordTakenBlessedPropertyYour BodyLook UpSicknessOrthodoxAccustomedOrthodox ChristianEdifice Author:John of Kronstadt
“'For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them' (Mt. 18:20). I reverence even two or three praying together, for in accordance with the Lord's promise He Himself is in the midst of them.” TwoChristianTogetherThreeNamesLordPrayingPromiseMidstOrthodoxReverenceOrthodox ChristianPraying Together Author:John of Kronstadt
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
