Teach your children this lesson. The rewards of evil are temporary. The rewards of godliness are eternal.
☦️ St. Cyprian of Carthage

“And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for He has regarded the lowly state of His handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” Luke 1:46-49

At the Entrance (Presentation) of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (Nov 21/Dec 4), the Virgin is clearly made manifest. The Feast foretells God’s blessing for the human race, the preaching of salvation, and the promise of the coming of Christ.

When the righteous Joachim and Anna bring their child Mary to the temple, the era of the temple comes to an end. With Mary’s entrance the "preview of the good will of God" is shown forth. On the Feast of the Presentation (Nov 21) we celebrate that we too are the house and tabernacle of the Lord.

☦️”Marriage is not between two but three, the husband, the wife and God. And for it to be successful the three must perfectly cooperate and become a Holy Trinity.”

—Fr Demosthenes Nicolaou

The purpose of temptations is to reveal hidden passions and to battle against them, and this is in order to heal the soul. They are examples of divine mercy. Therefore, leave yourself in God’s hands with confidence and ask for His help, so that He will strengthen you in your struggle.

☦️ St Nectarios of Pentapolis (Nov 22 / Nov 9)

Into Your hands, O Lord Jesus Christ my God, I commend my spirit: bless me, have mercy on me and grant me eternal life. Amen.

We have deep-rooted infirmities, passions, flaws, many of which are hereditary. All this is not cut short by a single sudden movement, nor by anxiety and severe distress, but by patience and perseverance. ☦️ St Nectarios of Aegina

As a soldier-prince who died a monk, St Alexander Nevsky (Nov 23) prevented a general insurrection, thus saving the nation of Russia. Veneration of St Alexander began at his burial, after an incident which caused onlookers to stumble back in fear from his tomb.

The steward Sebastian and Metropolitan Cyril wanted to take the saint's hand, in order to put in it the customary document of absolution. The holy prince, as though alive, reached out his hand and took the document from the hand of the Metropolitan.

I advise you to convince yourself to prayer and every good action, even if you do not feel the desire for it. God seeing such labour and application will give you goodwill and zeal. Such good will and a certain attraction to prayer is often a result of habit. ☦️ St Tikhon of Zadonsk

St Clement of Ohrid, Equal to the Apostles and Bishop of Greater Macedonia (Nov 25) is hymned as “planter of faith and pruner of heresies.” He was brought to trial under the authority of Roman Pope Stephen VI for defending Orthodoxy and the use of Slavonic in church. Even under intense torture, St Clement did not relent, continuing to preach and write in the Slavonic language.

St Clement also continued the translation work begun by Sts Cyril and Methodius and left behind his own works, the first samples of Slavonic spiritual literature. For these activities, St Clement gained the title Enlightener of the Bulgarians.

“We Orthodox are not waiting for the end of history and the end of time, but through living in Christ we are running to meet the end of history and thus already living the life expected after the Second Coming. St. Symeon the New Theologian says that he who has seen the uncreated light and united with God is not awaiting the Second Coming of the Lord but living it."

—Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) of Nafpaktos

When you have finished your prayer, do not think that it is all over. Act as if you are attending the liturgy. Always have a sober mind and keep your thoughts chaste. ☦️ St Theophan the Recluse

The sign of the cross has a great power … Therefore it is very important to teach children from a young age to make the sign of the cross. Especially before eating and drinking, going to sleep, waking up, going on a trip and before going or returning from somewhere.

☦️ St Ambrose of Optina

“I was born blind! And I glorify the Panagia because that way I commit fewer sins! At some point, the Panagia gave me my sight, but when I saw that it didn't help me, I asked her to take it back... And she listened to me!”

+ Elder Isidoros the Blind Monk of Philotheou Monastery, of Blessed Memory +

Elder Isidoros, devout spiritual child of the Blessed Geronda Ephraim of Arizona, reposed on Sunday November 27, 2022 at the Athonite Monastery of Philotheou at the age of 87.

Twice a year, when the humble elder would come out of Mount Athos, many souls were blessed by his wisdom and many miracles.

"We have found the Messiah.” ☦️ The Apostle Andrew, the Holy and All-Praised First-Called (Nov 30)

“Andrew’s words reveal a soul waiting with the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to His appearing from heaven, rejoicing when He does appear and hastening to announce so great an event to others. To support one another in the things of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, of loving kinship and sincere affection.” ☦️ St John Chrysostom