“When what has been created in time according to the temporal order has reached maturity, it ceases from natural growth. But when what has been brought about by the knowledge of God through the practice of the virtues has reached maturity, it starts to grow anew. For the end of one stage constitutes the starting point of the next.” Has BeensEndsChristianOrderNextGrowsGrowthNaturalPracticeVirtueStageStartingCeaseMaturityOrthodoxStarting PointKnowledge Of God Author:Maximus the Confessor
“No benefit comes from a just man's prayer if he who asks for it finds more pleasure in sin than in virtue. For Samuel mourned over Saul when he sinned, but he was not able to obtain God's mercy, for his grief was not supported by the necessary change of life on the part of the sinner. Hence God put an end to the pointless grief of His servant, saying to him, 'How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?' (I Sam. 16:1).” IfsMenLongEndsAbleChristianAsksPrayerSinPleasureGriefVirtueSeeingBenefitsMercyIsraelServantLife ChangingSinnerOrthodoxRejectedMournPointlessNecessary Change Author:Maximus the Confessor
“'The long-suffering man abounds in understanding' (Prov. 14:29), because he endures everything to the end and, while awaiting that end, patiently bears his distress. The end, as St. Paul says, is everlasting life (cf. Rom. 6:22). 'And this is eternal life, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent' (Jn. 17:3).” KnowsMenLongEndsMightChristianSufferingJesusUnderstandingChristBearsEternalJesus ChristEndureOrthodoxDistressEverlastingEternal LifeOrthodox ChristianCfsTrue GodLong SufferingEverlasting Life Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Our forefather Adam... used his freedom to turn toward what was worse and to direct his desire away from what had been permitted to what was forbidden. It was in his power 'to be united to the Lord and become one spirit with God...' (I Cor. 6:15). But Adam was deceived and chose to cut himself off voluntarily from God's happy end for him, preferring by his own free choice to be drawn down to the earth (cf. Gen. 2:17) than to become God by grace.” EndsEarthChristianUsedSpiritDesireTurnsChoicesUnitedLordGraceCuttingDirectOrthodoxAdamForbiddenDeceivedForefathersCfsFree Choice Author:Maximus the Confessor
“...one's movement towards the divine reaches its end only when one reaches God... 'The true Sabbaths are the rest laid up for the people of God' (Heb. 4:9). God can 'bear these sabbaths' (cf. Is. 1:13) because they are true. And the one 'in which the world is crucified' (Gal. 6:14) reaches these sabbaths of rest because he has clearly turned away from worldly things and returned to his own spiritual resting place. The one who arrives there will no longer be moved from his place, for there he finds quiet and tranquility.” PeopleWorldEndsChristianSpiritualMovementDivineBearsQuietMovedOrthodoxTranquilityWorldlySabbathCfsGalsWorldly Things Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Just as the teaching of the Law and the prophets, being harbingers of the coming advent of the Logos in the flesh, guide our souls to Christ (cf. Gal. 3:24), so the glorified incarnate Logos of God is Himself a harbinger of His spiritual advent, leading our souls forward by His own teachings to receive His divine and manifest advent. He does this ceaselessly, by means of the virtues converting those found worthy from the flesh to the spirit. And He will do it at the end of the age, making manifest what has hitherto been hidden from men.” MenMeanDoeSoulEndsAgeChristianSpiritualLawSpiritFoundChristVirtueTeachingDivineWorthyGuidesFleshProphetOrthodoxManifestAdventConvertingCfsLogosGalsHarbinger Author:Maximus the Confessor
“It is not he who begins well who is perfect. It is he who ends well who is approved in God's sight.” WellsEndsChristianPerfectSightOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianApproved Author:Saint Basil
“The brother of my grandfather was the patriarch of the Orthodox Church and revered as a saint. So everything in my childhood is about total sacrifice, whether to religion or to communism. This is what is engraved on me. This is why I have this insane willpower. My body is now beginning to be falling apart, but I will do it to the end. I don't care. With me it is about whatever it takes.” EndsBodyCareFallChurchSacrificeChildhoodBrotherSaintDon't CareInsaneCommunismI Don't CareOrthodoxGrandfatherWillpowerFalling ApartMy GrandfatherWhatever It TakesEngravedPatriarchOrthodox Church Author:Marina Abramovic