So there is the solution to your puzzle, "I do not know what to do with my life". Look to Heaven, and measure every step of your life so that it is a step towards it.

☦️ St Theophan the Recluse

It is the Lenten Spring. 🌷☘️ Let us shine!

We have within us deeply rooted weaknesses, passions, and defects. This can not all be cut out with one sharp motion, but by patience, persistence, care and attention.

The path leading to perfection is long. Pray to God so that he will strengthen you. Patiently accept your falls and, having stood up, immediately run to God, not remaining in that place where you have fallen.

Do not despair if you keep falling into your old sins. Many of them are strong because they have received the force of habit. Only with the passage of time and with fervor will they be conquered. Don’t let anything deprive you of hope.

☦️ St Nektarios of Aegina

The fruit of obedience: a homily for the 3rd Sunday of Lent

Full video at https://youtu.be/RB5epXVED2Q

The Spring Equinox has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Those who aim at ascending with the body to Heaven, indeed need violence and constant suffering, especially in the early stages of their renunciation, until our pleasure-loving disposition and unfeeling hearts attain to love of God and chastity by manifest sorrow. This is a great toil, very great indeed, with much unseen suffering, especially for those who live carelessly, until by simplicity, deep angerlessness, and diligence, we make our mind, which is a greedy kitchen dog addicted to barking, a lover of chastity and watchfulness.”

St John Climacus, from “The Ladder of Divine Ascent”

The Annunciation to the Most-Holy Theotokos (Mar 25) "is the beginning of our salvation, the revelation of the eternal mystery! The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin as Gabriel announces the coming of Grace. Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos: Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!"

(Troparion of the Feast, Tone 4).

Greek Independence Day (March 25) falls on the Feast of the Annunciation to the Theotokos.
Photo: Greek cat enjoying his independence.

"Heavenly Father, eternal salvation of our souls and bodies: grant Your heavenly blessing to my child(ren) (names). In all the changes and chances of this fleeting world, extend Your mighty hand over them to shield them from all physical and spiritual danger and adversity."

Some people living carelessly in the world have asked me: “We have wives and are beset with social cares, and how can we lead the solitary life?” I replied to them: “Do all the good you can; do not speak evil of anyone; do not steal from anyone; do not lie to anyone; do not be arrogant towards anyone; do not hate anyone; do not be absent from the divine services; be compassionate to the needy; do not offend anyone; do not wreck another man’s domestic happiness, and be content with what your own wives can give you. If you behave in this way, you will not be far from the Kingdom of Heaven”.
✝️ St John Climacus (of The Ladder), commemorated the 4th Sunday of Great Lent

Ships don't sink because of the waters that surround them but because of the waters that enter into them. Therefore, don't let what surrounds you fill your soul and drag you down.

— Patriarch Pavle of Serbia

The Christian family is in crisis: the solution is to resist sin

“Be the defenders of purity and the sanctity of family life. Teach your children to understand and keep in purity what God has ordained, namely that youth be a period of purity... They receive God’s blessing through the Sacrament of Marriage give birth to blessed children, and God will always protect them because God will never be indebted.”

-- His Eminence Metropolitan Laurențiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania

On Wednesday, the monks of the canonical UOC defied the government deadline to vacate Kiev Pechersk Lavra, the largest Orthodox monastery in Ukraine.

Thousands of faithful gathered at the monastery on Wednesday to protect it and the monks.

“Zosimas, you have struggled valiantly, as far as this is in the power of man. However, there is no one who is righteous (Rom 3:10). So that you may know how many other ways lead to salvation, leave your native land, like Abraham from the house of his father (Gen 12:1), and go to the monastery by the Jordan.” Thus spoke an angel to the Venerable Zosimas, a message he faithfully heeded.

St Zosimas (Apr 4) would later meet St Mary of Egypt in the desert and preserve her story. When God wished to give St Mary rest, He sent the holy ascetic Zosimas to hear her confession and to give her holy communion. He then received her holy soul into paradise. St Zosimas himself would repose in peace at the age of 100, in the early 6th century.

St Mary of Egypt (5th Sun. of Lent) embarked upon the journey of repentance in a few short moments of sincere repentance, which inaugurated seventeen years of sanctity… Could we possibly find the smallest desire to repent—even in these last hours of Great Lent…”?

“Have we profitably spent the days of Great Lent attending the divine services, in prayer, in reading spiritual material which profits the soul, and in watchfulness? If not, let us not despair. The Master is merciful accepting the last as the first, as we will hear on the Paschal night. He sees the intent, and He honours any effort. From the depths of vile sin, St Mary made such an effort. Could we possibly find the smallest desire to repent—even in these last hours of Great Lent prior to Holy Week—as we turn our spiritual gaze inwardly? Lord, save me, I am perishing! Could we find the slightest ounce of Faith to utter these words from the depths of our heart? It is better to make a beginning now than make no beginning at all.”

—Fr Ioannis Fortomas