St. Porphyrios: "Vigils are a great thing..."

A faithful Orthodox Christian, praying in vigil at home (source)

  
"Love vigils. Vigils are a great thing. Heaven opens. We speak with God. In our vigils up there***, until midnight, I got a little tired and I would close my eyes. Afterwards, my nous with open, and I experienced prayer until morning. When it would finish, I had such a disposition that I was ready to begin again from the beginning."
-St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

(source)
  
***Note: St. Porphyrios is referring here to vigils in their small hut on Mount Athos.
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on and save us! Amen!

St. Justin Popovich: "Every Holy Church is a piece of Heaven..."

Interior of an Orthodox Church (source)

  
"Every Holy Church is a piece of Heaven upon the earth. And when you are in Church, you are truly in Heaven. Thus, when the earth crushes you with its hell, run to Church, enter within, and behold, you are within Paradise! If people bother you with their evil, take refuge in Church, and kneel before God, and He will take you under His sweet and all-powerful protection."
-St. Justin Popovich
  
(source)
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Ephraim the Syrian: "Virtues are formed by prayer..."

St. Ephraim the Syrian (source)

  
"Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.”
-St. Ephraim the Syrian

(source)
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

A New Year's Blessing from Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra

The Adoration of the Magi (source)

  
"My brethren, I wish that the new year will be full of joy and happiness. I wish you many years. Many years, that your joy may increase along with your happiness. Many years that will bring to you and to your families the good things of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of the Patriarchs, the Prophets, of the Saints. May all good things come to your village, to your city and to your homes. I know that you are a people beloved by God. Many years, therefore, that we might say, as our Megalynarion says: 'Magnify my soul, Basil, the Great one among the Hierarchs', for he gave us an experience of God that has held fast in our lives. You open the heavens, O Basil, and revealer of heavenly things, and reveal to us that God has descended from there and has come among us."
-Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra (+2019)

(source)
  

St. Basil the Great (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios on the Divine Liturgy and on Frequent Communion

Christ serving the Divine Liturgy (source)

  
A conversation with St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia on the Divine Liturgy and on frequent Holy Communion.
He was very upset, because the faithful have rights, as is proper, that the priest be praying in the Holy Altar. But they many times are not in the state to help him.
"I," St. Porphyrios said, "cense them and they do not bow in reverence. I say 'Let us stand aright', but they sit down. I bless them, and they are having a conversation. And the most tragic, I say: 'Drink of this, all of you', and only few people approach for Holy Communion. This is a great pain for the priest."

I asked him: "Elder, does that mean that everyone should be receiving?"

"Hey, I am not saying this myself. The Lord is saying this 'all of you'!

"Perhaps this word has some other meaning that I don't know? And later on, the prayer says: 'through us and to all your people.' Naturally, this applies to those who do not have impediments [i.e. mortal sins for which they are under penance to not receive for a period of time, determined by one's spiritual father.] The rest should have beforehand received the permission of their spiritual father. Otherwise, without Holy Communion, without Christ, how will they go out into their everyday lives? You come to church and you lost the most important thing, the Gift, Which is everything, you remain only with antidoron. Hey George, do you know what "The Holy Altar" is? It is the most precious thing upon the earth. Royal thrones, presidential halls, academic institutions have little worth. The Holy Altar is the Burning Bush. Here Christ descends, the Holy Spirit is present, and the Angels encircle. It is an awesome thing. I, many times, am afraid to touch the Holy Altar with my hands. And before this wonder, you hear the faithful whispering and discussing various topics, not experiencing this unique event. How can one liturgize like this?

"Is the priest alone, or are we all together, clergy and laity? Why do we call it 'liturgy'? Is it or is it not 'the work of the people'? Eh!

"As the priest stands, so should the people stand. Concentrated. Totally dedicated to God. At that hour, we are not upon the earth. 'We who mystically represent the Cherubim', we are in heaven, before the Holy Trinity. Without the 'cares of life'. We are all liturgists...My, my, my! What God has made us worthy to experience! If we believe that before us is completed the Great Sacrifice, we would all be standing 'with fear of God'.

"We should be weeping out of joy that God Himself condescends to be sacrificed out of love for us. If we don't believe this, why are we coming to Church? Who are we mocking? Those who don't come to church therefore are more consistent [i.e. compared to those who come in a disrespectful or faithless manner]. In church we are silent, we are concentrated, and we speak to God.

"Do you understand what I'm saying? If so, you have a responsibility to share this among the rest of our brethren who are ignorant of the terrible mysteries that are being accomplished. If it is as I say.

"May God give us strength to accept this "wonder". Canonically, both the priest and the faithful should repose having lived so closely to the Mystery [of Holy Communion], as close as to the Sun.

"But the greatly compassionate God allows, (hear an awesome thing!) for us to experience rest already [in this life], in our worthlessness."

And the Saint, a true liturgist, began to cry, and finished:
"If you leave in this way, from the Divine Liturgy, full of peace, which shines throughout the world around you...You transmit Christ. You have become a Christ-bearer.

"One prayer says it all: 'Grant us to worship You in holiness."
(source)
  

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"Panagia had a silent life..."

Copy of the wondrous icon of Panagia Vimatarissa of Vatopedi Monastery (source)

  
Panagia had a silent life. Within, however, she prayed ceaselessly! Her prayer of the heart did not have any measure of comparison. It is something inconceivable to men, and even to the Angels, and because of this Panagia is the rector of all of the teachers of noetic prayer.

A short time before Panagia left this world, the disciples of Christ entreated her to give them a unique teaching, as a spiritual inheritance. Panagia told them:
"Life is like trade, and man resembles a merchant. Blessed is he who trades rightly with the time of his life! Trade your life as my Son said, that you might gain the Kingdom of the Heavens."

We use our time, either doing good works to obtain the Kingdom of the Heavens, or working sins, towards our damnation.
-Elder Ephraim of St. Andrew Skete
  
(source)

  

Most-holy Theotokos, save us!

St. Theophan the Recluse: "Look to Heaven..."

St. Dismas, the Good Thief crucified with Christ, who was led that day into Paradise by Christ for his repentance (source)

  

 

Look to Heaven, and measure every step of your life so that it is a step towards it.

-St. Theophan the Recluse, "The Spiritual Life"

  

(source)



   

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Luke of Simferopol on the Fragrance of Christ

Icon of the Theotokos and Christ, the "Unfading Rose" (source)

  

The rose does not speak, but puts forth a strong fragrance. We too, should put forth fragrance, pour forth spiritual fragrance, the fragrance of Christ. The fragrance of our deeds should be heard from far around: good, pure, and righteous deeds, full of love. Only thus can the Kingdom of God appear within our hearts, appearing not through words, but with power. Amen.

-St. Luke of Simferopol

  

(source)

  

St. Luke of Simferopol (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Selected Quotes of the Fathers on the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

The Rich Man at banquet, and the poor Lazarus, whose sores are being licked by the dogs (http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Decani/exhibits/Collections/PublicMinistry/CX4K2408_l.html)

Selected Quotes of the Fathers on the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
"We must observe also, that among the heathen the names of poor men are more likely to be known than of rich. Now our Lord mentions the name of the poor, but not the name of the rich, because God knows and approves the humble, but not the proud."
St Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome

"Lazarus is interpreted, "one who was assisted." For he was poor, and the Lord helped him.
St John Chrysostom

"This discourse concerning the rich man and Lazarus was written after the manner of a comparison in a parable, to declare that they who abound in earthly riches, unless they will relieve the necessities of the poor, shall meet with a heavy condemnation. But the tradition of the Jews relates that there was at that time in Jerusalem a certain Lazarus who was afflicted with extreme poverty and sickness, whom our Lord remembering, introduces him into the example for the sake of adding greater point to His words."
St Cyril of Jerusalem

But the insolence and pride of the wealthy is manifested afterwards by the clearest tokens, for it follows, and no one gave to him. For so unmindful are they of the condition of mankind, that as if placed above nature they derive from the wretchedness of the poor an incitement to their own pleasure, they laugh at the destitute, they mock the needy, and rob those whom they ought to pity."
St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan

The death of the Rich Man (http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Decani/exhibits/Collections/PublicMinistry/CX4K2416_l.html)

"Now if the wearing of fine and precious robes were not a fault, word of God would never have so carefully expressed this. For no one seeks costly garments except for vainglory, that he may seem more honorable than others; for no one wishes to be clothed with such, where he cannot be seen by others."

"And here we must narrowly watch ourselves, seeing that banquets can scarcely be celebrated blamelessly, for almost always luxury accompanies feasting; and when the body is swallowed up in the delight of refreshing itself, the heart relaxes to empty joys."

"But what means it, that when in torments he desires his tongue to be cooled, except that at his feasts having sinned in talking, now by the justice of retribution, his tongue was in fierce flame; for talkativeness is generally rife at the banquet. "
St. Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome

The Rich Man in the flame of Hades (http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Decani/exhibits/Collections/PublicMinistry/CX4K2418_l.html)

"It may here be observed, that all who are offended by us are exposed to our view. But the rich man sees Lazarus not with any other righteous man, but in Abraham's bosom. For Abraham was full of love, but the man is convicted of cruelty. Abraham sitting before his door followed after those that passed by, and brought them into his house, the other turned away even them that abode within his gate."

"He [the rich man] died then indeed in body, but his soul was dead before. For he did none of the works of the soul. All that warmth which issues from the love of our neighbor had fled, and he was more dead than his body. But no one is spoken of as having ministered to the rich man's burial as to that of Lazarus. Because when he lived pleasantly in the broad road, he had many busy flatterers; when he came to his end, all forsook him. For it simply follows, and was buried in hell. But his soul also when living was buried, enshrined in its body as it were in a tomb."
St John Chrysostom

The soul of Lazarus being carried by Angels (http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Decani/exhibits/Collections/PublicMinistry/CX4K2417_l.html)

"And here we must remark what fearful sufferings are heaped upon the rich man in flames. For in addition to his punishment, his knowledge and memory are preserved. He knew Lazarus whom he despised, he remembered his brethren whom he left. For that sinners in punishment may be still more punished, they both see the glory of those whom they had despised, and are harassed about the punishment of those whom they have unprofitably loved."
St Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome

"All this then is said to Him because he chose the happiness of the world, and loved no other life but that in which he proudly boasted; but he says, Lazarus received evil things, because he knew that the perishableness of this life, its labors, sorrows, and sickness, are the penalty of sin, for we all die in Adam who by transgression was made liable to death."
Blessed Augustine

"He says, You received good things in your life, (as if your due;) as though he said, If you have done any good thing for which a reward might be due, you have received all things in that world, living luxuriously, abounding in riches, enjoying the pleasure of prosperous undertakings; but he if he committed any evil has received all, afflicted with poverty, hunger, and the depths of wretchedness. And each of you came hither naked; Lazarus indeed of sin, wherefore he receives his consolation; you of righteous wherefore you endure your inconsolable punishment; and hence it follows, But now he is comforted, and you are tormented. "
St John Chrysostom

"Whatsoever then you have well in this world, when you recollect to have done any thing good, be very fearful about it, lest the prosperity granted you be your recompense for the same good. And when you behold poor men doing any thing blameably, fear not, seeing that perhaps those whom the remains of the slightest iniquity defiles, the fire of honesty cleanses."
 
"Whom does this rich man represent, this man so richly dressed, who enjoyed all those daily banquets? Is it not the Jewish people [or in another sense, hypocritical, false "Christians", for that matter], who made a cult of exterior things, using the delights of the law which they had received, for vain motives, not for true profit? And whom does Lazarus signify, covered in wounds, if not the Gentile peoples? These, when converted to God, were not ashamed to confess their sins, that is to say, they had many wounds and open sores. As when some infection comes from within the body to ulcers of the skin, so showing itself exteriorly, so when we confess our sins, it is in a sense an outbreak of our sores. In confession we manifest in a very profitable way the virus of sin which had concealed its venom within the soul. Exterior wounds bring to the surface the festering sore beneath, and when we confess our sins, we uncover this hidden sore. But the unfortunate Lazarus wished only to eat of the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, and no one would give him any, because those proud people disdained to admit the Gentiles to the knowledge of their law.
St. Gregory the great, Pope of Rome

(http://www.orthodox.net/questions/luke_16_19-31_parable_rich_man_lazarus_22sunape.html)

Lazarus' soul in the Boosm of the Patriarch Abraham (http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Decani/exhibits/Collections/PublicMinistry/CX4K2419_l.html)

  

Russian icon depicting the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!