“You are angry with your neighbor, you despise him, do not like to speak peaceably and lovingly to him, because there is something harsh, abrupt, careless, unpleasant to you in his character, in his speech, in his manners-because he is more conscious of his dignity than perhaps is necessary; or because he may be somewhat proud and disrespectful; but you yourself, your neighbor's physician and teacher, are more guilty than him.” MayCharacterSpeakTeacherHumilityProudSpeechConsciousDignityAngryNeighborGuiltyMannersDespisePhysiciansHarshCarelessDisrespectful 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
“Do not despise any man, however poor he may be; but behave with full respect and kindness to every well-intentioned man, especially to the poor, as to our members worthy of compassion - or, rather, to members of Christ - otherwise you will cruelly wound your soul.” MenWellsMaySoulChristPoorCompassionKindnessMembersIntentionWorthyWoundsYour SoulBehaveDespiseGood IntentionsRespect And Kindness 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
“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
“When you pray either aloud or to yourself for others ? for instance, for the members of your household or for strangers, even though they may not have asked you to do so ? pray for them with the same ardor and zeal as you would pray for yourself. Remember the commandment of the law: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' (Lev. 19:18). Observe this rule upon all occasions.” MayChristianRememberLawLove YouPrayingMembersStrangerNeighborInstanceOccasionsOrthodoxHouseholdCommandmentsZealOrthodox ChristianArdorLove Your NeighborPraying For YouLove Your Neighbor As YourselfAll Occasions 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
“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
“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
“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
“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
