Psalms 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

"But I say to you," the Lord says, "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute you." Why did he command these things? So that he might free you from hatred, sadness, anger and grudges, and might grant you the greatest possession of all, perfect love, which is impossible to possess except by the one who loves all equally in imitation of God.
St. Maximus the Confessor
A Christian should distinct sin from sinner, although it in no way means tolerance to distortion of truth.

Psalms 40:4-5
Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

If God suffers in the flesh when He is made man, should we not rejoice when we suffer, for we have God to share our sufferings? This shared suffering confers the kingdom on us. For he spoke truly who said, 'If we suffer with Him, then we shall also be glorified with Him' (Rom. 8:17).
St. Maximus the Confessor

Psalms 40:6-9
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8. I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.

🌟 God is close to us when we have constant communion with Him in prayer and works of love.
St. Luke of Crimea
Photo: Sretensky Monastery, Moscow

“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:” Rev 12:1

The Orthodox Church declares the woman clothed with the sun
as the Theotokos, the perfect symbol of Israel and the Church, in opposition to the powers of evil. She is a radiant bride, the antithesis of the harlot of Rev. 17. The twelve stars represent the twelve tribes of Israel, and may also be understood as symbolizing the twelve apostles.

Icon: “The Woman Clothed In The Sun”, Russian, 17th century

#Break_Free

A bit late to the party, but I guess better late than never..


Greek Metropolitan warns of “digital totalitarianism” threatening human freedom

https://t.me/orthochristian/15857

☦️ With your beauty, your kindness, your affection and friendliness, your mercy, you can and must shine in this world.
St. Luke, Bishop of Crimea

☦️🕯️Faith is the root; love is the fruit of a Christian life."🕯️☦️

♰ St. Innocent of Alaska ♰

☦️🕯️"Humility is the garment God loves to see."🕯️☦️

♰ St. Vissarion of the Agathonos ♰

Psalms 40:10-11
I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. 11. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

"We do not worship by fear, but by love, for God is not a tyrant, but a Father."

+ St Justin Martyr

Source

#Family #Reflection #Knowing_Jesus #Millstone

A beautiful Reflection on marriage and family under God

☦️🕯👑The purpose of the Christian marriage is for people to reach unselfish love and cut of their own will and thence to reach God.👑🕯☦️

♰ St. Sophrony of Essex ♰

Source

#Apologetics

The Islamic dilemma.

A very good starting point when discussing with Muhammadans or when you find yourself having to defend your faith against this specific heresy.

God bless

https://youtu.be/zowLWKHzoyE?si=qCov4VdsjwlRgVyO

🌟🙏 We know how Christ was depicted iconographically, in particular by ancient coins.