Orthodox Portal

St. Anthony teaches: “Learn to love humility, for it will cover all your sins. All sins are repulsive before God, but the most repulsive of all is pride of the heart. Do not consider yourself learned and wise; otherwise, all your effort will be destroyed, and your boat will reach the harbor empty. If you have great authority, do not threaten anyone with death. Know that, according to nature, you too are susceptible to death, and that every soul sheds its body as its final garment.” In Byzantium there existed an unusual and instructive custom during the crowning of the emperors in the Church of the Divine Wisdom (Hagia Sophia). The custom was that, when the patriarch placed the crown on the emperor’s head, he also handed him a silk purse filled with earth from a grave, so that even the emperor would recall death, avoid all pride and become humble.

Macarius was an Egyptian and one of the younger contemporaries of Anthony the Great. He married out of obedience to his parents but his wife died shortly thereafter. He withdrew to the wilderness, where he spent sixty years in labor and struggle, both inwardly and outwardly, for the Kingdom of Heaven. So much did he succeed in cleansing his mind of evil thoughts and his heart of evil desires, that God bestowed upon him the abundant gift of miracle-working, so that he even raised the dead from the graves.
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… stand before the icon, prostrate yourself a few times, and begin the recital of the customary prayers: “Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee! O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth…”
Repeat this without haste so that you enter into every word and so bring the meaning of each word down into your heart… and accompany this by bowing.
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A person’s salvation depends on prayer, for this is what, unites him to God and brings him near to God. When he is near God, it is natural for him not to deviate from the right and moral road because he pays attention to every step he takes…
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We should humbly contemplate in our heart the following thoughts: I now enter the house of the Lord God, the place of His great and holy Glory… Here, great mysteries are accomplished by which manifold gifts of Grace are freely granted to all… Here, upon the Holy Altar, the very Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ are offered and we are called to partake of them: “Take, eat…” …Here, the Lord of Glory Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ, is present and hearkens unto the supplications of those that believe on Him… Here, the Virgin Theotokos stands before us in Church and with the choirs of Saints invisibly prays to God for us. Here, Angels worship with Holy Hierarchs, Apostles rejoice with Prophets, interceding for us before the Throne of God… Here, we receive the gift of Eternal Life, freedom from sin, reconciliation with God, deliverance from eternal death and, in short, every good and blessed thing which our heart truly desires
(From Orthodox Life, Vol 5, 1997. pg. 24.)