Orthodox Portal

This life is a spiritual struggle. To conquer or to be conquered! If we conquer, we will enjoy the fruits of victory through all eternity. If we are defeated, we will endure the horrors of destruction through all eternity. This life is a duel between man and all that opposes God. God is an almighty Ally to all who sincerely call upon Him for help. “This life is not a joke or a plaything,” says St. John of Kronstadt, “but men turn it into a joke and plaything. The capricious play around with the time given to us for preparing for eternity; they play around with empty words. They gather together as guests, they sit and chatter and after that they sit and play this or that game. They gather in theaters, and there they entertain themselves. All of life is an amusement for them. But woe unto them who do nothing but entertain themselves!”
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“Repent.” (Matt 4:17.) We must heed this injunction of Christ carefully, radically amend our inner life and our concept of the world; our attitude towards people and every phenomenon in the creature world; not slay our enemies but win them over with love. We must remember that there is no absolute evil. Only un-originate Goodness is Absolute. And this Goodness commanded us, “Love your enemies….” Being slain for the sake of one’s brethren is the best possible weapon for delivering them from servitude to the transducer, the devil, and preparing their souls to accept God, Who desires the salvation of all. (On Prayer, pg. 158.)

… 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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The Fast of the Nativity is the Church’s wise reassurance and aid to human frailty. Like Great Lent, the fast of Nativity is a journey, “Come, O ye faithful, and let us behold where Christ is born…”
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People were not created merely to live here on earth like animals that disappear after their death, but to live with God and in God, and to live not for a hundred years or a thousand years, but to live eternally. But only Christians can live with God; that is to say, those who rightly believe in Jesus Christ. Everyone, whoever he may be, desires and seeks prosperity and happiness. To desire what is good for oneself and to seek prosperity or happiness is a part of man’s nature, and therefore it is not a sin or vice. But we need to know that here on earth there has not been, and is not, and never will be true and perfect happiness and prosperity; for all our prosperity and happiness is only in God. No one will ever find true happiness and perfect prosperity without God or outside God.
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