The Wings of the Holy Spirit

"When God created Adam He did not endow his body with wings as He did for birds, but held in reserve for him the wings of the Holy Spirit. Namely, the wings that He will give him at the moment of the resurrection, so that they may lift and carry him where the Spirit wills. The saints possess these wings henceforth to fly away in mind towards heavenly thoughts."

The Spiritual Homilies of Saint Macarius the Egyptian (5:25).

The two powers in this world

Elder Paisios warned his disciple, interested in all things spiritual and even the occult:
"Look here, my child, there are two powers in this world: God and the devil. Everything depends on who you're connected with. I'm with God. I'm with Christ. Who are they [the yogis, magicians, etc.] with? Satan has his 'power,' too. He can work miracles of deception. He was an archangel, and he still has an archangel's power, because the gifts... of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29)."

D. Farasiotis, 2014, pp.87-88

Fasting

As the Dormition fast approaches, I thought I could share this concise and quite clear explanation of fasting in the Orthodox Church.

Fasting, or abstaining from food, was a discipline practiced by our Lord himself. It was after forty days of prayer and fasting in the wilderness, that Jesus victoriously faced the temptations of the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). He asked his disciples to use fasting, coupled with prayer, as a means to achieve spiritual victories (Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29; Luke 2:37), and the example of the Lord was followed by the disciples in their apostolic ministry and instruction to the early Christians (Acts 14:23; 27:9; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 6:5, 11:27).

In its most basic sense, fasting is abstinence from food. But it is far more than that. It helps us to open our minds and souls to the guidance of the Spirit and to break away from our captivity to bodily appetites and selfish desires. Through fasting we overcome the burdens and pressures of physical gratification that are placed upon us in our world, and through our faith in Christ we are renewed and transformed into the holy people God created us to be.

Fasting is a regular practice for Orthodox Christians. Fast days and periods have been established by the Church throughout the year to help us direct our hearts and minds toward the life of prayer and worship, our spiritual needs, and the condition of our souls and relationship with God. During most weeks, Wednesday and Friday are fast days. On these days, we are guided to abstain from meat, dairy products and oil and wine. On some days, fish, wine, and oil may be permitted if a specific feast falls on a Wednesday or Friday or a portion of a fast is not as strict as other times.

The calendar and practice of the Church has fasting periods, which include the forty days of Great Lent and Holy Week, before Pascha, the Nativity Fast (November 15-December 24), the Apostles Fast (the Monday after the Sunday of All Saints to June 28) and the Dormition Fast (August 1-14). Because there is a great diversity in fasting disciplines people observe you should consult your parish priest about how to incorporate the discipline of fasting into your religious life.

In the practice of fasting it is important to remember that we are not fasting simply for the sake of fasting. Our observance of the fasting days and periods of the Church is for our spiritual growth and greater communion with God. No matter how austere our fast or how much in accordance our fast may be with purely technical "rules," it is void of faith and grace if we are not also committed to prayer and worship, study and growth in our knowledge of our Faith, and philanthropic and charitable acts.

As Orthodox Christians, let us cherish fasting as a vital part of our spiritual lives and practice. Let us experience the great joys that come through fasting as it contributes to a life of repentance and prayer. And in following the wise and spiritual traditions of the Church, let us offer all "to fight the good fight, to walk the way of fasting...to prove ourselves victorious over sin, and without condemnation to reach our goal of worshiping the Holy Resurrection," our goal of eternal life. (Prayer of the Presanctified Liturgy).

From the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America's Faith & Life Series Fasting in the Orthodox Church.

On love without God

It is impossible to replace the absence of God with a love for humankind, because man will immediately say: why should I love humankind?

F.M. Dostoevsky  

Saint Paisios on the role of the teacher

"To be a real teacher - especially in our time - is truly something great. Children are like blank cassette tapes. One can record on them either dreadful songs or divine Byzantine music. The work of a teacher is sacred. A great responsibility lies on his shoulders, and if he is attentive, he can receive a great reward from God. His duty is to teach children the Fear of God. Teachers must find ways to bring the knowledge of God and of their country to children. Let them simply plant the seeds; if you don't see how they sprout, it's alright. Nothing happens without leaving a trace, the time will come when the seeds bud.

And teachers should always behave kindly to children, with leniency, with love. They should try to awaken 'philotimia' (a sense of honour) in children. A child wants love and warmth. Many children are completely deprived of this at home. If a teacher loves a child, then the child will love him in return. And then it will be easier for the teacher to do his job. Our teacher, when we misbehaved, could whip us. But he loved children, and children loved him too. He didn't have his own kids, and he really loved children.

Therefore, mothers and fathers who give birth to many children are worthy of praise. But even more worthy of praise are those true teachers who give 'rebirth' to many children and become mothers and fathers of 'a great multitude of children.' They give society reborn people, and thus society improves."

Saint Paisios of Athos

Happiness

How mistaken are those who seek happiness outside of themselves - in foreign lands and journeys, in fame and fortune, in great possessions and pleasures, in diversions and vain pursuits, all of which have a bitter end! Constructing the tower of happiness outside of oneself is like building a house on ground constantly shaken by earthquakes. Happiness is found within ourselves, and blessed is the man who has understood this. Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus speaks the Lord regarding those who possess a pure heart: "I will dwell in them, and will walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (2 Cor. 6:16). What can they possibly lack? Nothing, nothing at all! For they have the greatest gift in their hearts: God Himself! (St. Nektarios of Aegina, Path to Happiness).

Leo

"There are three things that are stately in their stride,

four that move with stately bearing:

a lion, mighty among beasts,

who retreats before nothing;

a strutting rooster, a he-goat,

and a king secure against revolt"

- Proverbs 30:29-31

On Fortune Telling

On the so-called Christmas Season fortune telling

Hegumen Job (Gumerov)

What is the Orthodox perspective on the Russian pastime of fortune telling at Christmas?

The desire to foresee, to know the future in advance, has been with man since ancient times. It is impossible to do so by earthly means alone. Man, limited by the laws of the physical world, inevitably resorts to supernatural forces. A question arises which requires a clear and resolute answer: what is the source of our knowledge of the future?

Holy Scripture shows us that the future is known only to God. The dark, demonic forces, as the Holy Fathers teach us, do not know the future. As immaterial beings, they are, however, better able than people to calculate and predict future events. Scripture also shows us the danger of turning to these forces, calling any divination hideous and a brazen sin before God (Deuteronomy 10-12).

In the book of Daniel there is an episode where the king Nebuchadnezzar turns to fortune tellers and magicians in the hope that they will interpret his dreams. Saint Daniel answers him: “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals the secrets” (Daniel 2:27-28).

In order for the Lord to reveal the future to a person, a strict and pure life is necessary, as is prayer and the fulfillment of God's commandments. And then God gives one knowledge of the future, according to his discretion, in the interest of our well-being. In order to enter into contact with demons, no ascetic achievement is required whatsoever. It merely suffices to employ well-known techniques. For this, however, the person pays a very high price – his spiritual health. Sometimes this ends in the person being possessed by demons. Even after repentance a scar still remains in one's soul.

The fortune telling which occurs during the Christmas season does not essentially differ  from divination during other times of the year. Even if people are not aware of it, but rather view it as a kind of exotic game, it does not become inoffensive. For the word has an existential power. Once spoken, it does not disappear, but goes into the infinite memory of God. On the day of judgment it will be presented for condemnation or for exoneration. The word used in magical formulas beckons the demons, even if one does not so desire. The existence of fortune telling in Russia during the Christmas season merely shows that certain sinful costumes can persist, for they are rooted in man's fallen nature.

In his time Saint John Chrysostom warned: “Willingly do not turn to fortune tellers, and if you are invited to them by others, even then do not accept... Man will always want to know the unseen, he especially wants to know about his troubles in advance, in order to avoid falling into distress... But if you resort to fortune telling, you will become unworthy of God's kindness and mercy, and thus you prepare for yourself a great deal of misfortunes.”

On the Love of God

"Love is the icon of the Lord's disciples, the imprint of the servant of God, the mark of the Apostles. By this everyone recognizes them as such."

- Saint Nektarios of Aegina