How can one laugh at a clergyman? So what if he serves poorly? He still has grace. He is ordained. One must not, must not, laugh!
+ St. Anatoly of Optina, quoted from Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina
Tag Archives: Short Quotes
St. Ambrose of Optina: In the beginning, envy is revealed through . . .
In the beginning, envy is revealed through inappropriate zeal and rivalry, and later by fervour with spite and the blaming of the one who is envied.
+ St. Ambrose of Optina, quoted from Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina
St. Mark the Ascetic: . . . without affliction virtue has not been tested.
Do not claim to have acquired virtue unless you have suffered affliction, for without affliction virtue has not been tested.
+ St. Mark the Ascetic, On the Spiritual Law Two Hundred Texts, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1)
St. Ambrose of Optina: . . . you should care about the main thing . . .
“You must not be greatly troubled about many things, but you should care for the main thing — preparing yourself for death.”
+ St. Ambrose of Optina, quoted from Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina
St. Mark the Ascetic: Let all involuntary suffering teach you to . . .
Let all involuntary suffering teach you to remember God, and you will not lack occasion for repentance.
+ St. Mark the Ascetic, “On the Spiritual Law: Two Hundred Texts” No. 57, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1)
St. Anatoly of Optina: Wherever God is — there is peace. And the opposite is self-evident . . .
“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, quoted from Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina
St. Isaac the Syrian: A man can never learn what divine power is . . .
“A man can never learn what divine power is while he abides in comfort and spacious living.”
+ St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 72, Ascetical Homilies of St Isaac the Syrian
St. Thalassios the Libyan: It is not difficult to get rid of material things . . .
“It is not difficult to get rid of material things if you so desire; but only with great effort will you be able to get rid of thoughts about them…”
+ St. Thalassios the Libyan, “On Love, Self-Control and Life in Accordance with the Intellect,” 3.23, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)
St. Thalassios the Libyan: The first renunciation is that of material things . . .
“The first renunciation is that of material things, the second that of the passions, the third that of ignorance.”
+ St. Thalassios the Libyan, “On Love, Self-Control and Life in Accordance with the Intellect,” 3.23, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)
St. Thalassios the Libyan: The person advancing in the spiritual life studies three things . . .
“The person advancing in the spiritual life studies three things: the commandments, doctrine, and faith in the Holy Trinity.”
+ St. Thalassios the Libyan, “On Love, Self-Control and Life in Accordance with the Intellect,” 3.28, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)
St. Nikon of Optina: Most of our sins happen . . .
“Most of our sins happen because we forget the commandments of God.”
+ St. Nikon of Optina, Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina
St. John of Kronstadt: Envy
“It is madness for a Christian to be envious. In Christ we have all received infinitely great blessings.”
+ St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ [paperback] or [hardback]
St. Ambrose of Optina: Our invisible enemy plants a sinful thought . . .
“Our invisible enemy plants a sinful thought in the soul of a person, and then records it as if it were the person’s own thought, so that later he can accuse the person at the terrible judgement of God.”
+ St. Ambrose of Optina, quoted from Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina
St. Mark the Ascetic: God tested Abraham. . . .
God ‘tested Abraham’ (cf. Gen. 22:1-14), that is, God afflicted him for his own benefit, not in order to learn what kind of man Abraham was – for He knew him, since He knows all things before they come into existence – but in order to provide him with opportunities for showing perfect faith.
St. Mark the Ascetic, “On the Spiritual Law: Two Hundred Texts” No. 203, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1)
St. Nikon of Optina: We must consider all evil things, even the passions which war . . .
“We must consider all evil things, even the passions which war against us, to be not our own, but of our enemy the devil. This is very important. You can only conquer a passion when you do not consider it as part of you.”
+ St. Nikon of Optina
St. Anatoly of Optina: Do not fear sorrows, but fear the stubbornness of heretics . . .
“Do not fear sorrows, but fear the stubbornness of heretics who try to separate a man from Christ, which is why Christ commanded us to consider them as pagans and pharisees.”
+ St. Anatoly of Optina, quoted from Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina
St. Nikon of Optina: Do not forget . . .
Do not forget prayer─it is the life of the soul.
+ St. Nikon of Optina, Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina
St. Ambrose of Optina: How does a person become bad? . . .
“How does a person become bad?─from forgetting that God is over him.”
+ St. Ambrose of Optina, Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina
St. Macarius the Great: The soul that really loves God and Christ . . .
“The soul that really loves God and Christ, though it may do ten thousand righteousnesses, esteems itself as having wrought nothing, by reason of its insatiable aspiration after God.
Though it should exhaust the body with fastings, with watchings, its attitude towards the virtues is as if it had not yet even begun to labour for them.”
+ St. Macarius the Great
St. Mark the Ascetic: When you suffer some dishonor from men . . .
“When you suffer some dishonor from men, recognize at once the glory that will be given you by God. Then you will not be saddened or upset by the dishonor; and when you receive the glory you will remain steadfast and innocent.”
+ St. Mark the Ascetic, “On Those Who Think They are Made Righteous by Works: Two Hundred and Twenty-Six Texts” No. 68, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1)
St. Macarius the Great: As the Lord put on the body . . .
“As the Lord put on the body, leaving behind all principality and power, so Christians put on the Holy Spirit, and are at rest.”
+ St. Macarius the Great, “Spiritual Homilies” (Homily 26)
St. Leo the Great: Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation . . .
Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife.
+ St. Leo the Great
St. Mark the Ascetic: He who hates the passions gets rid of their causes. . . .
“He who hates the passions gets rid of their causes. But he who is attracted by their causes is attacked by the passions even though he does not wish it.”
+ St. Mark the Ascetic, “On Those Who Think They are Made Righteous by Works: Two Hundred and Twenty-Six Texts” No. 119, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1)
St. Mark the Ascetic: He who is ignorant of the enemy’s ambush . . .
“He who is ignorant of the enemy’s ambush is easily slain; and he who does not know the causes of the passions is soon brought low.”
St. Mark the Ascetic, “On the Spiritual Law: Two Hundred Texts” No. 76, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1)
St. Mark the Ascetic: The forgiveness of insults is a sign . . .
“The sign of sincere love is to forgive wrongs done to us. It was with such love that the Lord loved the world.”
+ St. Mark the Ascetic, “On Those Who Think They are Made Righteous by Works: Two Hundred and Twenty-Six Texts” No. 48, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1)
St. Mark the Ascetic: The devil makes small sins seem smaller . . .
“The devil makes small sins seem smaller in our eyes, for otherwise he can’t lead us to greater evil.”
+ St. Mark the Ascetic, “On the Spiritual Law: Two Hundred Texts” No. 94, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1)
St. Macarius of Optina: The Lord calls to him all sinners . . .
“The Lord calls to him all sinners; He opens His arms wide, even to the worst among them. Gladly He takes them in His arms, if only they will come to Him.”
— St. Macarius of Optina
St. Nikon of Optina: In order to fulfill the commandments of Christ . . .
“In order to fulfill the commandments of Christ, you must know them! Read the Holy Gospel, penetrate its spirit and make it the rule of your life.”
+ St. Nikon of Optina
St. Thalassios the Libyan: If you wish to be in control of your soul and body . . .
“If you wish to be in control of your soul and body, forestall the passions by rooting out their causes.”
“On Love, Self-Control and Life in Accordance with the Intellect,” 1.64, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)
St. Maximos the Confessor: Every genuine confession humbles the soul. . .
“Every genuine confession humbles the soul. When it takes the form of thanksgiving, it teaches the soul that it has been delivered by the grace of God.”
+ St. Maximos the Confessor, Various Texts on Theology, the Divine Economy, and Virtue and Vice 3.62, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)
St. Thalassios the Libyan: Search the Scriptures . . .
“Search the Scriptures and you will find the commandments; do what they say and you will be freed from your passions.”
+ St. Thalassios the Libyan, “On Love, Self-Control and Life in Accordance with the Intellect,” 4.54, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)
St. Macarius of Optina: Avoid making idols . . .
“Avoid making idols either of things or of practices.”
— St. Macarius of Optina
St. Mark the Ascetic: Think nothing and do nothing without . . .
“Think nothing and do nothing without a purpose directed to God. For to journey without direction is wasted effort.”
+ St. Mark the Ascetic, “On the Spiritual Law: Two Hundred Texts” No. 54, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1)
St. Thalassios: Concern for one’s soul . . .
“Concern for one’s soul means hardship and humility, for through these God forgives us all our sins.”
+ St. Thalassios the Libyan, “On Love, Self-Control and Life in Accordance with the Intellect,” 2.69, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)
St. Thalassios the Libyan: Whether we think, speak, or act . . .
“Whether we think, speak or act in a good or an evil manner depends upon whether we cleave inwardly to virtue or to vice.”
+ St. Thalassios the Libyan, “On Love, Self-Control and Life in Accordance with the Intellect,” 3.3, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)
St. Ambrose of Optina: . . . only an instant.
“Years are not needed for true repentance, and not days, but only an instant.”
+ St. Ambrose of Optina, quoted from Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina
St. Thalassios the Libyan: Our memories can be stripped of passion . . .
“Our memories can be stripped of passion through prayer, spiritual reading, self-control and love.”
+ St. Thalassios the Libyan, “On Love, Self-Control and Life in Accordance with the Intellect,” 3.37, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)
St. Thalassios the Libyan: If you share secretly the joy of someone you envy . . .
“If you share secretly in the joy of someone you envy, you will be freed from your jealousy; and you will also be freed from your jealousy if you keep silent about the person you envy.”
+ St. Thalassios the Libyan, “On Love, Self-Control and Life in Accordance with the Intellect,” 3.57, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)
St. Thalassios the Libyan: He who fears God . . .
“He who fears God will pay careful attention to his soul and will free himself from communion with evil.”
+ St. Thalassios the Libyan, “On Love, Self-Control and Life in Accordance with the Intellect,” 2.63, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)
St. Thalassios the Libyan: . . . free us from all these destructive passions . . .
“Christ, Master of all, free us from all these destructive passions and the thoughts born of them.”
+ St. Thalassios the Libyan, “On Love, Self-Control and Life in Accordance with the Intellect,” 3.91, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)
Orthodox Church Quotes 
You must be logged in to post a comment.