Peace

Elder Thaddeus on Love, Hate, and Kindness

Elder Thaddeus, Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers / By
human-kindness

It seems that we do not understand one thing: it is not good when we return the love of those who love us, yet hate those who hate us. We are not on the right path if we do this. We are the sons of light and love, the sons of God, his children. As such we must have His qualities and His attributes of love, peace, and kindness towards all.

+ Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives

Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

Elder Thaddeus on Love, Hate, and Kindness Read More »

St. Anatoly of Optina: Wherever God is — there is peace. And the opposite is self-evident . . .

St. Anatoly of Optina / By
st-anatoly-of-optina-2

“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

Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina

St. Anatoly of Optina: Wherever God is — there is peace. And the opposite is self-evident . . . Read More »

St. Theophan the Recluse: When going to the Holy Mysteries, go with . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. Theophon the Recluse / By
receiving-communion

When going to the Holy Mysteries, go with simplicity of heart, in full faith that you will receive the Lord within yourself, and with the proper reverence towards this. What your state of mind should be after this, leave it to the Lord Himself. Many desire ahead of time to receive this or that from Holy Communion, and then, not seeing what they wanted, they are troubled, and even their faith in the power of the Mystery is shaken. The fault lies not with the Mystery, but with superficial assumptions. Do not promise yourself anything. Leave everything to the Lord, asking a single mercy from Him — to strengthen you in every kind of good so that you will be acceptable to Him. The fruit of Communion most often has a taste of sweet peace in the heart; sometimes it brings enlightenment to thought and inspiration to one’s devotion to the Lord; sometimes almost nothing is apparent, but afterward in one’s affairs there is a noted a great strength and steadfastness in the diligence one has promised.

+ St. Theophan the Recluse, The Spiritual Life: And How to Be Attuned to It

St. Theophan the Recluse: When going to the Holy Mysteries, go with . . . Read More »

St. Macarius of Optina: Woe to our times . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. Macarius of Optina / By
st-marcarius-of-optina

“Woe to our times: we now depart from the narrow and sorrowful path leading to eternal life and we seek a happy and peaceful path. But the merciful Lord leads many people from this path, against their will, and places them on the sorrowful one. Through unwanted sorrows and illnesses we draw closer to the Lord, for they humble us by constraint, and humility, when we acquire it, can save us even without works, according to St. Isaac the Syrian.”

+ St. Macarius of Optina, Quoted from Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina

Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina

St. Macarius of Optina: Woe to our times . . . Read More »

St. Leonid of Optina: Beware of passionate attachments to the world. . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. Leonid of Optina / By
st-leonid-of-optina

“Beware of passionate attachments to the world. Although they deceive you with peace and comfort, they are so fleeting that you do not notice how you are deprived of them, and in their place come sorrow, longing, despondency, and no comfort whatsoever.”

+ St. Leonid of Optina

St. Leonid of Optina: Beware of passionate attachments to the world. . . . Read More »

St. Gregory Nazianzen: But as the old Confusion of tongues was laudable, when men who were of one language in wickedness and impiety . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. Gregory the Theologian / By
st-gregory-the-theologian-4

“But as the old Confusion of tongues was laudable, when men who were of one language in wickedness and impiety, even as some now venture to be, were building the Tower; for by the confusion of their language the unity of their intention was broken up, and their undertaking destroyed; so much more worthy of praise is the present miraculous one. For being poured from One Spirit upon many men, it brings them again into harmony. And there is a diversity of Gifts, which stands in need of yet another Gift to discern which is the best, where all are praiseworthy.”

+ St. Gregory Nazianzen, Oration on Pentecost

St. Gregory Nazianzen: But as the old Confusion of tongues was laudable, when men who were of one language in wickedness and impiety . . . Read More »

St. John of Kronstadt: You are angry with your neighbor, you despise him, do not like to speak peaceably . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. John of Kronstadt / By
arguing

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.

“Physician, heal thyself.” Teacher, teach yourself.

Your own malice is the bitterest of all evils. Is it then possible to correct malice by means of evil? Having a beam in your own eye, can you pull out the mote from the eye of another?

Evil and faults are corrected by good, by love, kindness, meekness, humility, and patience.

+ St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ [paperback]  or  [hardback]

You don’t need a Kindle device to read the Kindle version of this book, which is available a very reduced cost. Try Amazon’s FREE Kindle Cloud Reader app for your computer, phone, or tablet.

St. John of Kronstadt: You are angry with your neighbor, you despise him, do not like to speak peaceably . . . Read More »

St. Maximus the Confessor: A soul that is nurtured by hatred toward man . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. Maximos the Confessor / By
st-maximos-the-confessor-5

“The deiform soul cannot nurse hatred against a man and yet be at peace with God, the giver of the commandments. ‘For’, He says, ‘if you do not forgive men their faults, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your faults’ (cf. Matt. 6:14-15). If your brother does not wish to live peaceably with you, nevertheless guard yourself against hatred, praying for him sincerely and not abusing him to anybody.”

+ St. Maximos the Confessor, Four Hundred Texts on Love 4.35, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)

St. Maximus the Confessor: A soul that is nurtured by hatred toward man . . . Read More »

St. Isaac the Syrian: This Nativity night . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. Isaac the Syrian / By
nativity-of-jesus-4

This Nativity night bestowed peace on the whole world;
So let no one threaten;

This is the night of the Most Gentle One – Let no one be cruel;

This is the night of the Humble One – Let no one be proud.

Now is the day of joy – Let us not revenge;

Now is the day of Good Will – Let us not be mean.

In this Day of Peace – Let us not be conquered by anger.

Today the Bountiful impoverished Himself for our sake;
So, rich one, invite the poor to your table.

Today we receive a Gift for which we did not ask;
So let us give alms to those who implore and beg us.

This present Day cast open the heavenly doors to our prayers;
Let us open our door to those who ask our forgiveness.

Today the DIVINE BEING took upon Himself the seal of our humanity,
In order for humanity to be decorated by the Seal of DIVINITY.

— St. Isaac Syrian, Nativity Sermon

St. Isaac the Syrian: This Nativity night . . . Read More »

St. Ignatius of Antioch: Take heed often to come together to give thanks to God . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. Ignatius of Antioch / By
st-ignatius-of-antioch-2

“Take heed often to come together to give thanks to God and show forth His praise. For when you assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith. Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, in heaven and earth, is brought to an end.”

— St. Ignatius of Antioch, The Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 1

St. Ignatius of Antioch: Take heed often to come together to give thanks to God . . . Read More »

St. John Climacus: . . . silencing the lips when the heart is excited. . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. John Climicus (of the Ladder) / By
Pic-Raging-Storm-121x150

“The first stage of this tranquility consists in silencing the lips when the heart is excited. The second, in silencing the mind when the soul is still excited. The goal is a perfect peacefulness even in the middle of the raging storm.”

+ St. John Climacus, Step 8.4, Ladder of Divine Ascent

St. John Climacus: . . . silencing the lips when the heart is excited. . . . Read More »

St. Seraphim of Sarov: When a man receives something Divine . . .

St. Seraphim of Sarov, Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers / By
st-seraphim-of-sarov-2

“When a man receives something Divine, in his heart he rejoices; but when he receives something diabolic, he is disturbed. The Christian heart, when it has received something Divine, does not demand anything else in order to convince it that this is precisely from the Lord; but by that very effect it is convinced that this is heavenly, for it senses within itself spiritual fruits: love, joy, peace, and the rest (cf. Gal. 5:22).”

— St. Seraphim of Sarov, Little Russian Philokalia: Vol. I

St. Seraphim of Sarov: When a man receives something Divine . . . Read More »

St. Gregory the Theologian: It is better to choose a commendable war . . .

St. Gregory the Theologian / By
st-gregory-the-theologian-10

“It is better to choose a commendable war than peace which separates from God. The faith which I was taught by the Holy Fathers which I taught at all times without adjusting according to the times, this faith I will never stop teaching; I was born with it and I live by it.”

— St. Gregory the Theologian

St. Gregory the Theologian: It is better to choose a commendable war . . . Read More »

St. Seraphim of Sarov: There is nothing better than peace in Christ . . .

St. Seraphim of Sarov, Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers / By
st-seraphim-of-sarov-3

“There is nothing better than peace in Christ, for it brings victory over all the evil spirits on earth and in the air. When peace dwells in a man’s heart it enables him to contemplate the grace of the Holy Spirit from within. He who dwells in peace collects spiritual gifts as it were with a scoop, and he sheds the light of knowledge on others. All our thoughts, all our desires, all our efforts, and all our actions should make us say constantly with the Church: “O Lord, give us peace!” When a man lives in peace, God reveals mysteries to him..”

— St. Seraphim of Sarov

St. Seraphim of Sarov: There is nothing better than peace in Christ . . . Read More »

St. Maximos the Confessor: In times of peaceful relationships . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. Maximos the Confessor / By

Leave a reply

st-maximos-the-confessor-4

“In times of peaceful relationships do not recall what was said by a brother when there was bad feeling between you, even if offensive things were said to your face, or to another person about you and you subsequently heard of them. Otherwise you will harbor thoughts of rancor and revert to your destructive hatred of your brother.”

+ St. Maximos the Confessor, Four Hundred Texts on Love 4.34, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2)

St. Maximos the Confessor: In times of peaceful relationships . . . Read More »

St. John of Kronstadt: The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who fills the whole universe, passes through all believing, meek, humble, good, and simple human souls, dwelling in them, vivifying and strengthening them. . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. John of Kronstadt / By
st-john-of-kronstadt-3

“The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who fills the whole universe, passes through all believing, meek, humble, good, and simple human souls, dwelling in them, vivifying and strengthening them. He becomes one spirit with them and everything to them – light, strength, peace, joy, success in their undertakings, especially in a pious life, and everything good – “going through all understanding, pure and most subtle spirits” (Wisdom of Solomon vii, 23). “We have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (I Cor. xii.13). All pious people are filled with the Spirit of God similarly as a sponge is filled with water.”

+ St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ [paperback]  or  [hardback]

You don’t need a Kindle device to read the Kindle version of this book, which is available a very reduced cost. Try Amazon’s FREE Kindle Cloud Reader app for your computer, phone, or tablet.

St. John of Kronstadt: The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who fills the whole universe, passes through all believing, meek, humble, good, and simple human souls, dwelling in them, vivifying and strengthening them. . . . Read More »

Scroll to Top