“How can I stop smoking? I tried many times but I didn’t manage it.” “Every time you have the desire to smoke, say ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’ Prayer to Christ is the solution to each and every one of our problems. Do you see that even this parrot, this beautiful bird that I keep here in my room, has see that even this parrot, this beautiful bird that I keep here in my room, has learned to say, ‘Lord have mercy on me.’”
Category: General
St John’s spiritual trajectory
Here is what St. John says of himself in the above-mentioned “Homily”: After being ordained a priest and pastor, I soon learned from personal experience with whom I was entering into combat in my spiritual field of endeavor – specifically, with the strong, cunning, indefatigable prince of this world, who breathed evil, destruction and the… Continue reading St John’s spiritual trajectory
A list of amazing Orthodox articles I’ve read (and re-read) over the years
Will add more to this list. Some of these articles, at the time of my reading of them, provided me extraordinary spiritual nourishment. Of course, I believe there is always more joy and fulfillment in growing spiritually with others, hence we can try to share the knowledge we learnt with a friend afterwards, or reading it together at the same time and discussing, or whatever, or sending one of these links to a friend whom you think might need it.
“Don’t despair when you fall, but get up eagerly and do a metanoia”
I received your letter, my child, and I saw your anxiety. But don’t be sad, my child. Don’t worry so much. Even though you have fallen again, get up again. You have been called to a heavenly road. It is not surprising for someone running to stumble. It just takes patience and repentance at every moment Therefore, always do a metanoia when you are wrong and don’t lose time, because the longer you wait to seek forgiveness, the more you allow the evil one to spread his roots within you. Don’t let him make roots to your detriment.
The Art of Orthodoxy 