Words from the Saints -- December 25, 2025

“He who gives riches becomes poor; for He assumes the poverty of my flesh, that I may assume the riches of His Godhead.” --St Gregory the Theologian

“He receives human nature in order to save the human race.” --St John Chrysostom

“The mystery of the Incarnation is the revelation of God’s love for mankind.” --St Gregory of Nyssa

“Joseph was chosen not only to be a witness of the Virgin Birth, but also a guardian of the mystery.” --St Ambrose of Milan

“The Word, uniting to Himself a body animated by a rational soul, became man in an ineffable and incomprehensible manner.” --St Cyril of Alexandria

“He who is true God is also true man, and in this unity there is no deception.” -- St Leo the Great

Words from the Saints -- December 18, 2025

“The banquet is prepared, the table is ready, the Master calls; let no one be careless, lest he be shut out not by force, but by his own indifference.” --St. John Chrysostom

“Blessed is He who became small, that He might make us great. Blessed is He who clothed Himself in our poverty, that He might clothe us in His glory.” --St. Ephraim the Syrian

“He who has put to death the passions has put on Christ; for Christ Himself becomes the life of those who have died to sin.” --St. Maximus the Confessor

“The righteous men of old were justified by faith, for they embraced beforehand the mystery of Christ, though it was revealed to them only in shadow and promise.” --St. Cyril of Alexandria

“Christ did not disdain to take flesh from sinners, for He came not to call the righteous, but to heal the wounded nature of mankind.” --St. Ambrose of Milan

“The man who has renounced the world has already tasted the joy of the Kingdom, for his heart is no longer divided.” --St. Isaac the Syrian

“God calls, but man must answer. Grace invites, but the will must open the door.” --St. Theophan the Recluse

Words from the Saints -- December 11, 2025

“Purity is not in the body but in the soul; and when the soul preserves itself unstained, it keeps the body pure as well.” –St. Ambrose of Milan

“To hear the word of God is not enough; we must obey it. Hearing is the seed, but obedience is the fruit.” –St. John Chrysostom

“When the lamp of the heart is lit by grace, nothing remains hidden. All is illumined, and the soul becomes a dwelling place for Christ.” –St. Theophan the Recluse

“The truly grateful soul does not merely acknowledge gifts, but hastens to give glory to the Giver, and in doing so receives yet greater mercy.” –St. Basil the Great

“In Christ the promises made in shadow are fulfilled in truth; for the freedom of the children of God shines forth from the womb of the Virgin.” –St. Gregory of Nyssa

“Let none of you be found in the flesh, but all in Jesus Christ—living not for yourselves but for Him who died and rose for us.” –St. Ignatius of Antioch

“The Lord is not merely a teacher of truth, but Truth Himself, the eternal Word through whom all things exist and who has appeared for our salvation.” –St. Athanasius the Great

Words from the Saints -- December 4, 2025

“The power of Christ works in those who proclaim Him. Not by their strength, but by His grace, the Gospel is confirmed in the world.” –St. Cyril of Alexandria

“The apostles were set forth as a spectacle in their trials, that we might learn that the power of the Church is not in earthly glory, but in endurance for Christ.” –St. John Chrysostom

“Be imitators of Jesus Christ, as He is of the Father. And become imitators of the apostles, for in them the Lord’s life is made visible.” –St. Ignatius the God-Bearer

“He truly preaches Christ who follows Him. For the life of the preacher must be a voice that speaks even when the tongue is silent.” –St. Gregory the Great

“The Lord does not force the soul; He invites it. ‘Come and see’ means: open your heart, draw near, and the light will reveal itself.” –St. Theophan the Recluse

“He who seeks God with his whole heart will see Him, not by the eyes of the body, but in the illumination of the Spirit.” –St. Symeon the New Theologian

Words from the Saints -- November 27, 2025

“Let us give thanks to God always, for it is outrageous to enjoy His blessings and to not even acknowledge the Giver.” --St. John Chrysostom

“When you sit down to eat, pray. When you eat bread, remember the goodness of God. When you drink wine, remember Him who has given it for your joy and consolation.” --St. Basil the Great

“Even if you have nothing to give, offer thanks. Let your thanksgiving be your gift to the Creator.” --St. Ephraim the Syrian

“God greatly appreciates a thankful person. When we thank Him for everything, even for our trials, then He gives us even more blessings.” --St. Paisios the Athonite

“He who has no gratitude in his heart has no true faith. For thanksgiving is the language of heaven.” --St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Words from the Saints -- November 20, 2025

“Wherever God is — there is peace. And the opposite is self-evident: where there is envy, enmity, impatience, self-love — there is the devil. Wherever the devil is — there, everything is ruinous, proud and hostile.” --St Anatoly of Optina

“The money you keep locked away is the money of the poor. The acts of charity you do not perform are the injustices you commit.” --St Basil the Great

“All our attention must be centered on the parable of the Prodigal Son.... He knows how the burden of sin on the soul and body...impels us...to return, and how it actually does turn many again to God, to a virtuous life.” --St John of Kronstadt

“Until a person achieves humility, he will receive no reward for his works.... And... ‘A humble person never falls. Being already lower than any, where can he fall?’ – vanity is a great humiliation, but humility is a great exalting, honor and dignity.” --St Isaac the Syrian

“In the mercy of God, the little thing done with humility will enable us to be found in the same place as the saints who have labored much and been true servants of God.” --St Dorotheus of Gaza

Words from the Saints -- November 13, 2025

“Do not be troubled when you fall every day; do not despair, but stand your ground courageously. And assuredly, the angel who guards you will honor your patience.” --St. Nektarios of Aegina

“No one can harm the man who does not injure himself; no other person can destroy the man who will not be destroyed from within.” –St. John Chrysostom

“When we are humble, grace comes. When we are proud, grace departs. The humble soul is full of peace, while the proud soul suffers constantly.” –St. Paisios the Athonite

“Whoever wants to become a Christian must first become a poet. When you love Christ, you can live even in the darkest suffering with joy.” –St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

“I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world, and I said groaning, ‘What can get through from such snares?’ Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Humility.’” --St. Anthony the Great

Words from the Saints -- November 6, 2025

“Ask with tears, seek with obedience, knock with patience.” --St. John Chrysostom

 “The merciful person is he who gives to others what he himself received from God, whether it be money, or food, or strength, a helpful word, a prayer or anything else...” --St. Peter of Damascus

 “You should always say your prayers with tireless diligence... For humble patience, tirelessness and persistence in prayer conquer the unconquerable God and incline Him to mercy.” --St John Climacus

“You must descend from your head into your heart. At present your thoughts of God are in your head.” --St. Theophan the Recluse

“Love sinners, but hate their works; and do not despise them for their faults, lest you be tempted by the same trespasses.” --St. Isaac the Syrian

 “No human being can take God as his Father unless he takes the Church as his mother.” --St. Cyprian of Carthage

Words from the Saints -- October 30, 2025

"God and our conscience know our secrets. Let them correct us." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"How can you find out if you are living within the will of God? Here is the sign: If you are troubled about anything, this means that you have not completely given yourself over to the will of God. A person who lives in the will of God is not concerned over anything. And if he needs anything, he gives both it and himself over to God. And if he does not receive the necessary thing, he remains calm nevertheless, as if he had it. The soul which has been given over to the will of God is afraid of nothing, not of thunder nor of thieves - nothing. But whatever happens, she says, "Thus it pleases God." If she is sick, she thinks: this means that I need to be sick, or else God would not have given it to me. Thus peace is preserved in both soul and body." --St. Silouan the Athonite

"Happy is the man in whom there is love for God, for he bears God within himself. The one in whom there is love is with God, above all things. Whoever has love in himself does not fear. He is never mad at anyone, nor does he exalt himself above anyone. He does not calumniate anyone, nor does he listen to the calumniator. He does not compete with anyone, is not jealous, does not rejoice in the fall of another, does not slander the fallen, but sympathizes with him and helps him. He does not disdain his brother who is fallen into need, but helps him and is ready to die for him. Whoever has love fulfills the will of God." --St. Ephraim the Syrian

Words from the Saints -- October 23, 2025

"When Scripture says 'He will reward every man according to his works' (Matthew 16:27), do not imagine that works in themselves merit either hell or the kingdom. On the contrary, Christ rewards each man according to whether his works are done with faith or without faith in Himself; and He is not a dealer bound by contract, but God our Creator and Redeemer." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"In everything that we do God searches out our purpose to see whether we do it for Him or for some other motive." --St. Maximos the Confessor

"If you want to be free of all the passions, practice self-control, love and prayer." --St. Thalassios the Libyan

"Even if others make war against us, it is right for us to remain in peace." --St. John Chrysostom

Words from the Saints -- October 16, 2025

"Food is not evil, but gluttony is." --St. Maximus the Confessor

"Correct faith does not benefit in anything when life is corrupted." --St. John Chrysostom

"I am not ignorant of what is said of my Lord in the Psalm: 'You destroy those who speak a lie.' And again: 'A lying mouth deals death to the soul.' And likewise the Lord says in the Gospel: 'On the day of judgment men shall render account for every idle word they utter.'" --St. Patrick of Ireland

Words from the Saints -- October 9, 2025

"A man in this world must solve a problem: to be with Christ, or to be against Him. And every man decides this, whether he wants to our not. He will either love Christ or fight against Christ. There is no third option." --St. Justin Popovich

"If we do not have love we are deprived of everything. For nothing attracts God so much as charity. And nothing enrages God so much, as for us to be uncharitable." --St. John Chrysostom

"'Like a tree planted by streams of water,' (Psalm 1:3) the soul is irrigated by the Holy Scriptures and acquires vigor, produces tasty fruit, namely, true faith, and is beautified with a thousand green leaves, namely, actions that please God." --St. John of Damascus

Words from the Saints -- October 2, 2025

"Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward and learning to enjoy whatever life has and this requires transforming greed into gratitude." --St. John Chrysostom

"The soul cannot know peace unless she prays for her enemies. The soul that has learned of God’s grace to pray, feels love and compassion for every created thing, and in particular for mankind, for whom the Lord suffered on the Cross, and His soul was heavy for every one of us." --St. Silouan of Mt. Athos

"If you believe in the Gospel that you like, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe in, but yourself." --St. Augustine of Hippo

"When self-will and ease become habitual, they overthrow a man." --St. Poemen

"Presumption and boastfulness are causes of blasphemy. Greed and self-esteem are causes of cruelty and hypocrisy." --St. Kosmas Aitolos

Words from the Saints -- September 25, 2025

"Every passion has an opposing virtue: pride — humility, anger — meekness, hatred — love." --Abba Dorotheus of Gaza

"If the intention is unclean, the deed that follows from it will also be evil, even if it seems it is good." --St. Gregory the Great

"Nothing troubles the man who is given over to the will of God, be it illness, poverty or persecution. He knows that the Lord in His mercy is solicitous for us." --St. Silouan of Mt Athos

"He who is careless about prayer is careless about his salvation; he who quits prayer renounces his salvation." --St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

"The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance. He is not felt as a burden, for God is light, very light... the Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend to save, to heal, to teach..." --St. Cyril of Jerusalem

“Nothing troubles the man who is given over to the will of God, be it illness, poverty or persecution. He knows that the Lord in His mercy is solicitous for us.”

"Do not let pass any opportunity to pray for anyone, either at his request or at the request of his relatives, friends, of those who esteem him, or of his acquaintances. The Lord looks favorably upon the prayer of our love, and upon our boldness before him. Besides this, prayer for others is very beneficial to the one himself who prays for others; it purifies the heart, strengthens faith and hope in God, and enkindles our love for God and our neighbor. When praying, say thus: “Lord, it is possible for Thee to do this or that to this servant of Thine; do this for him, for Thy name is the Merciful Love of Men and the Almighty." --St. John of Kronstadt

Words from the Saints -- September 18, 2025

"There is faith 'that comes by hearing' (Romans 10:17) and there is faith that 'is the substance of things hoped for' (Hebrews 11:1)." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"The Cross is the hope of Christians, the staff of the lame, the comfort of the poor, the destruction of all pride, the victory over devils, the guide of youth, the pilot of mariners, the refuge of those who are in danger, the counsellor of the just, the rest of the afflicted, the physician of the sick, the glory of Martyrs." --St. Ephraim the Syrian

"The Lord wants us to love one another. Here is freedom: in love for God and neighbor. In this freedom, there is equality. In earthly orders, there may not be equality, but this is not important for the soul. Not everyone can be a king, not everyone a patriarch or a boss. But in any position it is possible to love God and to please Him, and only this is important. And whoever loves God more on earth will be in greater glory in His Kingdom." --St. Silouan of Mt. Athos

"The Cross is the door to mysteries. Through this door the intellect makes entrance into the knowledge of heavenly mysteries. The knowledge of the cross is concealed in the sufferings of the cross. And the more our participation in its sufferings, the greater the perception we gain through the cross." --St. Isaac the Syrian

"Through the Cross we have been freed from the tyranny of the devil … through the Cross we have been delivered from death and destruction. … From such darkness the human race has crossed over to infinite light; from death it has been called to everlasting life." --St. John Chrysostom

Words from the Saints -- September 11, 2025

"Just as water falling a drop at a time onto the fire in the end puts it out, so tears of sincere sorrow damp down in us the flame of anger and contempt. Then gentleness arrives, a deep tranquility of soul, which is untroubled either by honors or by ridicule." --St. John Climacus

"In the measure to which a man cuts off and humbles his own will, he proceeds toward success. But insofar as he stubbornly guards his own will, so much does he bring harm to himself." --St. Ephraim the Syrian

"The righteous have no sorrows that are not turned into joy, as sinners have no joy that is not turned into sorrow." --St. Dmitri of Rostov

"When you want to make a beginning of a good deed, first prepare for temptations, which will come to you, and don't doubt the truth [of that which you do for God.}" --St. Isaac the Syrian

"We must always remember that the Lord sees us wrestling with the enemy and so we must never be afraid. Even should all hell fall upon us, we must be brave." --St. Silouan of Mt. Athos

Words from the Saints -- September 4, 2025

"Never confuse the person, formed in the image of God, with the evil that is in him: because evil is but a chance misfortune, an illness, a devilish reverie. But the very essence of the person is the image of God, and this remains in him despite every disfigurement." --St. John of Kronstadt

"It may be that a man seems to be silent, but if his heart judges others, then he is always speaking." --St. Pimen the Great

"Estrangement and turning away from God are more unbearable than the punishments expected in hell." --St. Basil the Great

Words from the Saints -- August 28, 2025

"The room of the soul is the body; its doors are the five bodily senses. The soul enters its room when the mind does not wander here and there, roaming among the things and affairs of the world, but stays within, in our hearts. Our senses become closed and re main closed when we do not let them be passionately attached to external sensory things and in this way our mind remains free from every worldly attachment, and by secret mental prayer unites with God our Father." --St.Gregory Palamas

"O Eternal God and King of all creation, Who hast granted me to arrive at this hour, forgive me the sins that I have committed today in thought, word and deed, and cleanse, O Lord, my humble soul from all defilement of flesh and spirit. And grant me, O Lord, to pass the sleep of this night in peace, that when I rise from my bed I may please Thy most holy Name all the days of my life and conquer my flesh and the fleshless foes that war with me. And deliver me, O Lord, from vain and frivolous thoughts, and from evil desires which defile me. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen." --St. Macarius the Great

"Love Christ and put nothing before His Love. Christ is Everything. He is the source of life, the ultimate desire, He is everything. Everything beautiful is in Christ." --Elder Porfyrios

Words from the Saints -- August 21, 2025

"When God wants to have mercy on someone, He inspires someone else to pray for him, and He helps in this prayer." --St. Silouan of Mt. Athos

"The beginning of evil is heedlessness." --St. Poemen

"He who stands in awe of God searches for the divine principles that God has implanted in creation; the lover of truth finds them." --St. Thalassios the Libyan

"The remembrance of God is suffering of heart endured in a spirit of devotion. But he who forgets God becomes self-indulgent and insensitive." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"What use is it if we distribute all of our goods to the poor, but fail to make a break with evil and to hate sin? What use is it if, while we do not actively commit bodily sin, we mentally engage in shameful and unclean thoughts and invisibly commit sin and are governed and controlled by unrestrained passions of the soul?" --St. Simeon the New Theologian

"It is not an abundance of words that supplicate God, but a pure soul which manifests good deeds." --St. John Chrysostom

Words from the Saints -- August 14, 2025

"I reckon prosperity, O men, to consist in nothing else than in living according to truth. But we do not live properly, or according to truth, unless we understand the nature of things." --St. Justin Martyr

"When a person accepts anything Godly, then he rejoices in his heart, but when he has accepted anything devilish, then he becomes tormented." --St. Seraphim of Sarov

"The man ensnared by pride will need God's help, since man is of no use to him." --St. John Climacus