Best Orthodox Christian Quotes | Short & Famous Sayings Page 6

“...we know that God arranges the opportunities for salvation in different ways. Our situation is that we respond eagerly or in a laggardly manner to these opportunities made available by God to us. God made the call come out of your homeland; Abraham by coming out was exercising obedience. There was the instruction come into the land; it was done, and that was the work of obedience. But the addition which I shall show you has to do with the grace of God, who gave a command - and a promise.”

Source: Conferences

“...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).”

World Should Soul Light Christian Remember Spiritual Passion Lord Darkness Materials Remains Seeking Orthodox Indispensable Orthodox Christian Spiritual Death Spiritual Light

Author:John of Kronstadt

“...when we abandon visible riches... it is strange goods and not our own that we are leaving. And this is so even if we boast that we acquired them through our own efforts or that they were passed on to us as an inheritance. I say nothing is ours except what is in our hearts, what belongs to our souls, what cannot be taken away by anyone.”

Ifs Heart Soul Christian Effort Taken Strange Leaving Riches Visible Abandon Orthodox Goods Boast Inheritance Orthodox Christian

Book:Conferences

Source: Conferences

“...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.”

“...knowing God is the condition for the sanctification of a human being by God's assistance and according to His intention. Wherever God is, there He is always creating... He wants to create a new human being. To need God is to become new. And to know God is the crucial thing.”

Knows Want Needs Humans Christian Human Beings Knowing Conditions Creating Intention Orthodox Crucial Assistance Knowing God Orthodox Christian Sanctification Need God God Is There

Author:Soren Kierkegaard

“...angels... are always being filled full of light, becoming ever more radiant and making blessed use of their natural ability to change. They dance for joy around the First Light, look continuously towards Him and are enlightened directly by Him, as they tirelessly sing the praises of the Fount of light and, being ministers of light, transmit illuminating grace to those lower beings who are being enlightened.”

“...though every thinking being longs for God, the First Cause, it is powerless... to grasp Him. Tired with the yearning it chafes at the bit and, careless of the cost, it tries a second tack. Either it looks at things visible and makes of these a god - a gross mistake, for what visible thing is more sublime, more godlike, than its observer... - or else it discovers God through the beauty and order of things seen, using sight as a guide to what transcends sight without losing God through the grandeur of what it sees.”

“... the more one needs God the more perfect he is. To need God is nothing to be ashamed of but is perfection itself. It is the saddest thing in the world if a human being goes through life without discovering that he needs God!”

Ifs World Needs Humans Christian Human Beings Perfect Perfection Ashamed Orthodox Discovering Orthodox Christian Saddest Need God

Author:Soren Kierkegaard

“No one seeing a beautifully elaborated lyre with its harmonious, orderly arrangement, and hearing the lyre's music will fail to form a notion of its craftsman-player, to recur to him in thought though ignorant of him by sight. In this way the creative power, which moves and safeguards its objects, is clear to us, though it be not grasped by the understanding. Anyone who refuses to progress this far in following instinctive proofs must be wanting in judgment. But still, whatever we imagined or figured to ourselves or reason delineated is not the reality of God.”

“It was not to save a nation that Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac, nor to appease angry gods... Then why does Abraham do it? For God's sake... He does it for the sake of God because God demands proof of his faith... He was not justified by being virtuous, but by being an individual submitted to God in faith.”

Doe Christian Individual Nations Sacrifice Demand Angry Sake Proof Orthodox Virtuous Justified Orthodox Christian Abraham Isaac Appease

Author:Soren Kierkegaard

“If... God highly exalted Christ because He humbled Himself, suffered dishonour, was tempted and endured a shameful cross and death for our sake, how will He save, glorify and raise us up if we neither choose humility, nor show love to our fellows, nor gain our souls by enduring temptation (cf. Lk. 21:19), nor follow the saving Guide through the 'strait gate' and along the 'narrow way' leading to eternal life (Mt. 7:14)? To this end we were called, says Peter, the chief Apostle, ' Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow His steps' (I Pet. 2:21).”

“The Lord is the accomplishment of everything good that I think, feel and do.”

Thinking Feels Christian Lord Accomplishment Orthodox Orthodox Christian

Author:John of Kronstadt

“It is more important that we should remember God than that we should breathe: indeed, if one may say so, we should do nothing else besides.”

Ifs Should May Important Christian Remember Breathe Orthodox Orthodox Christian

Author:Gregory of Nazianzus

“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.”

“Busyness, keeping up with others, hustling hither and yon, makes it almost impossible for an individual to form a heart.”

Heart Christian Form Individual Impossible Orthodox Orthodox Christian Hustle

Author:Soren Kierkegaard

“Who should listen to discussions of theology? Those for whom it is a serious undertaking, not just another subject like any other for entertaining small-talk, after the races, the theater, songs, food, and sex: for there are people who count chatter on theology and clever deployment of arguments as one of their amusements.”

“...whoever is guided solely by his own judgment and decision will never climb up to the summit of perfection and will not fail to be the victim of the devil's ruinous power to delude.”

People Christian Decision Power Failing Failure Judgment Devil Perfection Catholic Victim Guides Climbs Orthodox Theologian Summit Orthodox Christian Deluded Guidelines

Book:Conferences

Source: Conferences

“We make assertions and denials of what is next to [the Divine Nature], but never of It, for It is both beyond every assertion, being the perfect and unique cause of all things, and, by virtue of Its preeminently simple and absolute nature, free of every limitation, beyond every limitation; it is also beyond every denial.”

Christian Next Causes Simple Perfect Virtue Divine Unique All Things Absolutes Limitation Denial Orthodox Orthodox Christian Assertion Divine Nature

Author:Pope Dionysius

“[God] arranged that the boy Samuel should be chosen but instead of teaching him directly He had him turn once or twice to an old man. This youngster, to whom He had granted a direct encounter with Himself, had nevertheless to go for instruction to someone who had offended God, and all because that person was an old man. He decided that Samuel was most worthy of a high calling and yet He made him submit to the guidance of an old man so that once summoned to a divine ministry he might learn humility and might himself become for all the young a model of deference.”

“Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil togetherness, where admittedly great crimes, wild excesses, and powerful aberrations cannot easily occur - but where God's unconditional demand has even greater difficulty in accomplishing what it requires: the majestic obedience of submission.”

“The fact is that the more we take flight upward [to God], the more our words are confined to the ideas we are capable of forming; so that now as we plunge into that darkness which is beyond intellect, we shall find ourselves not simply running short of words but actually speechless and unknowing.”

Ideas Facts Running Christian Darkness Capable Intellect Flight Orthodox Confined Orthodox Christian Plunge Our Words Speechless Unknowing

Author:Pope Dionysius

“...those called by Christ's name should order their lives. They should persevere in prayers and supplications and, in imitation of the angels, have their eyes lifted up to the Master above the heavens, praising and blessing Him with irreproachable conduct, and waiting for His mystical Coming. As the Psalmist says to Him, 'I will sing and will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt Thou come unto me?' (Ps. 101:2).”

Way Should Eye Christian Order Names Heaven Waiting Christ Prayer Perfect Masters Blessing Angel Praise Behave Orthodox Imitation Mystical Persevere Orthodox Christian Supplication

Author:Gregory Palamas

“...unless the grace of God comes to the help of our frailty, to protect and defend it, no man can withstand the insidious onslaughts of the enemy nor can he damp down or hold in check the fevers which burn in our flesh with nature's fire.”

Men Helping Christian Enemy Fire Grace Protect Flesh Checks Orthodox Grace Of God Fever Orthodox Christian Frailty Insidious Damp

Author:John Cassian

“The greatest danger to Christianity is, I contend, not heresies, not heterodoxies, not atheists, not profane secularism - no, but the kind of orthodoxy which is cordial drivel, mediocrity served up sweet. There is nothing that so insidiously displaces the majestic as cordiality.”

Kind Christian Christianity Danger Sweet Atheist Orthodox Mediocrity Secularism Heresy Orthodoxy Orthodox Christian Majestic Profane Drivel Cordiality

Author:Soren Kierkegaard

“I pray we... come to this darkness so far above light! If only we lacked sight and knowledge so as to see, so as to know, unseeing and unknowing, that which lies beyond all vision and knowledge. For this would be really to see and to know: to praise the Transcendent One in a transcending way... We would be like sculptors who set out to carve a statue. They remove every obstacle to the pure view of the hidden image, and simply by the act of clearing aside they show up the beauty which is hidden.”

“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.”

Giving Christian Difficult Sin Accounts Orthodox Orthodox Christian Confessing

Author:John of Kronstadt

“When you say 'Yes' or promise something, you can very easily deceive yourself and others also, as if you had already done what you promised. It is easy to think that by making a promise you have at least done part of what you promised to do, as if the promise itself were something of value. Not at all! In fact, when you do not do what you promise, it is a long way back to the truth.”

Ifs Thinking Way Long Done Facts Christian Values Easy Promise Orthodox Deceiving Long Way Orthodox Christian

Author:Soren Kierkegaard

“[Our Lord Jesus Christ] was... carried up to heaven (Lk. 24:50-51). With a radiant cloud for a chariot, He ascended in glory (cf. Acts 1:9), entered the Holy of Holies not made by hands and sat down on the right hand of the heavenly majesty, making our human substance share His own throne and divinity.”

“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.”

Giving May Christian Purpose Order Christ Answers Terrible Judgment Accounts Shame Seats Orthodox Confession Accustomed Orthodox Christian Tribunals Penitence

Author:John of Kronstadt

“What has actually to be said about the Cause of everything is this. Since it is the Cause of all beings, we should posit and ascribe to it all the affirmations we make in regard to beings, and, more appropriately, we should negate all these affirmations, since It surpasses all being. Now we should not conclude that the negations are simply the opposites of the affirmations, but rather that the cause of all is considerably prior to this, beyond privations, beyond every denial, beyond every assertion.”

Should Said Christian Causes Opposites Regard Denial Orthodox Affirmation Orthodox Christian Assertion Negation

Author:Pope Dionysius

“Where unclarity resides, there is temptation, and there it proves only too easily the stronger. Wherever there is ambiguity, wherever there is wavering, there is disobedience down at the bottom.”

Christian Prove Stronger Bottom Temptation Orthodox Ambiguity Disobedience Orthodox Christian Wavering

Author:Soren Kierkegaard

“Trinity!! Higher than any being, any divinity, any goodness! Guide of Christians in the wisdom of heaven! Lead us up beyond unknowing and light, up to the farthest, highest peak of mystic scripture, where the mysteries of God's Word lie simple, absolute and unchangeable in the brilliant darkness of a hidden silence. Amid the deepest shadow they pour overwhelming light on what is most manifest. Amid the wholly unsensed and unseen they completely fill our sightless minds with treasures beyond all beauty.”

“We start... imitation of Christ with Holy Baptism, which symbolizes the Lord's Burial and Resurrection. Virtuous living and conduct in accord with the Gospel are its intermediate stage, and its perfection is victory through spiritual struggles against the passions, which procures painless, indestructible, heavenly life.”

“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).”

Ifs Men Heart Christian Spiritual Pleasure Drink Temples Heavenly Orthodox Orthodox Christian Refined Food And Drink

Author:John of Kronstadt

“...there is one thing that all Satan's cunning and all the snares of temptation cannot take by surprise - an undivided will.”

Christian One Thing Surprise Temptation Satan Orthodox Cunning Orthodox Christian Snares

Author:Soren Kierkegaard

“...we should realize that there are three sources for our thoughts - God, the devil, and ourselves.”

Should Christian Three Realizing Source Devil Orthodox Our Thoughts Orthodox Christian

Author:John Cassian

“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.”

Mind Heart Christian Divine Contemplation Orthodox Sweetness Orthodox Christian Blessedness

Author:John of Kronstadt

“God is present in the moment of choice, not in order to watch but in order to be chosen. Therefore, each person must choose. Terrible is the battle, in a person's innermost being, between God and the world. The crowning risk involved lies in the possession of choice.”

World Persons Moments Christian Lying Order Choices Watches Risk Involved Terrible Battle Possession Chosen Orthodox Orthodox Christian

Author:Soren Kierkegaard

“...the grace of the Spirit takes possession of the quiet soul, and gives it a taste of the unspeakable good things to come, which no passionate and negligent eye has seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of such a man (cf. I Cor. 2:9). This taste is the earnest of these good things, and the heart which accepts these pledges becomes spiritual and receives assurance of its salvation.”

“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.”

“...it is presumptuous ridicule of God if someone thinks that only the person who desires great wealth chooses mammon. Alas, the person who insists on having a penny without God, wants to have a penny all for himself. He thereby chooses mammon. A penny is enough, the choice is made, he has chosen mammon; that it is little makes not the slightest difference. The love of God is hatred of the world and love of the world hatred of God.”

“...we must all offer up a hymn of praise to the God... who is 'Lord of lords' (Deut. 10:17, Ps. 136:1, I Tim. 6:15, Rev. 17:14, 19:16)... Lordship is not simply a matter of being superior with respect to inferiors but a complete possession of all that is beautiful and good, and is furthermore a true and unshakable stability.”

Matter Christian Beautiful Lord Offers Praise Possession Superiors Orthodox Stability Inferiors Orthodox Christian Hymns Unshakable Lordship

Author:Pope Dionysius

“It is impossible for the mind to remain undisturbed by thoughts, but anyone serious about the matter can certainly permit them entry or drive them away, and although their origin does not lie entirely under our control we can choose to approve of them and to adopt them.”

Mind Doe Matter Christian Lying Impossible Serious Orthodox Permit Orthodox Christian Entry

Book:Conferences

Source: Conferences

“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.”

Should Soul Ends Country Moments Earth Christian Heaven Interest Essentials Heavenly Orthodox Rise Above Orthodox Christian True Life Dwellers Best Moments

Author:John of Kronstadt

“...a human being not only can choose but... he must choose... for in this way God retains His honor while at the same time has a fatherly concern for humankind. Though God has lowered Himself to being that which can be chosen, yet each person must on his part choose. God is not mocked. Therefore the matter stands thus: If a person avoids choosing, this is the same as the presumption of choosing the world.”

Ifs World Way Humans Persons Matter Christian Human Beings Honor Concern Chosen Orthodox Humankind Orthodox Christian Presumption

Author:Soren Kierkegaard

“One can take eternity and time to be predicates of God since, being the Ancient of Days, He is the cause of all time and eternity. Yet He is before time and beyond time and is the source of the variety of time and of the seasons. Or again, He precedes the eternal ages, for He is there before eternity and above eternity, and 'His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom' (Ps. 145:13). Amen.”

Age Christian Causes Source Eternal Seasons Eternity Ancient Kingdoms All Time Variety Orthodox Everlasting Orthodox Christian Amen

Author:Pope Dionysius

“...if anyone looks with faith at the mystical table and the Bread of Life placed on it, he sees the Person of the Word of God, Who was made flesh for our sake and dwelt among us (John 1:14). If he shows himself a worthy receptacle, he will not only see but become a partaker of Him, receive Him to dwell within him, and be filled with His divine grace.”

Ifs Looks Persons Made Shows Christian Grace Divine Tables Filled Sake Worthy Flesh Bread Orthodox Word Of God Mystical Orthodox Christian Divine Grace Bread Of Life

Author:Gregory Palamas

“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.”

Men May Christian Errors Faults Fallen Orthodox Orthodox Christian God Image Insolent

Author:John of Kronstadt

“...the greatest thing each person can do is to give himself to God utterly and unconditionally - weaknesses, fears, and all. For God loves obedience more than good intentions or second-best offerings, which are all too often made under the guise of weakness.”

Giving Persons Made Christian Can Do Weakness Intention Obedience God Love Orthodox Offering Orthodox Christian Good Intentions Guise Second Best

Author:Soren Kierkegaard

“'Go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father, and to My God, and your God' (Jn. 20:!7). He is our Father by grace through the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15), but His Father by nature on account of His divinity. Similarly, He is our God as the creator of our human nature, but His God by reason of the dispensation whereby He became man. He made these distinctions so that we might understand the difference.”

Men Humans Made Reason Might Christian Spirit Father Differences Grace Human Nature Accounts Creator Distinction Divinity Orthodox Adoption Our Father Orthodox Christian Brethren

Author:Gregory Palamas

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