![[double eagle]](http://stsymeon.com/dbleag2.gif)
The Holy Apostles
For though the Apostles themselves modestly ascribe it all to this cause, declaring that they did these things in the name of Christ, yet at the same time the life and noble-conduct of the men helped to produce this effect: 'And believers were more added unto the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.' Observe how he now no longer tells the number of them that believe; at such a rate was the faith making way even to an immense multitude, and so widely was the Resurrection proclaimed. So then 'the people magnified them: ' but they were now no longer lightly to be despised as once they were: for in a little moment, at a single turn of the scale, such have been the effects produced by the fisherman and by the publican! Earth was become a heaven, for manner of life, for boldness of speech, for wonders, for all besides; like Angels were they looked upon with wonder."
- St. John Chrysostom, Homily 12 on Acts IV
Healing
"The doctor does not cure all the illnesses of the body, because there also exist incurable illnesses. Yet the spiritual doctor cures all the illnesses of the soul easily, quickly, and without money, as long as the sinner confesses them and repents. Then he is instantaneously cured and from being a sinner he becomes righteous... "
- Elder Philotheos Zervakos
"Saint John Chrysostom says that everywhere we must have fervor and much fire of the soul, prepared to be armed against death itself. For otherwise it is impossible to receive the Kingdom.
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- St. Theophan the Recluse
Wisdom from the Fathers
"That the mercy of God that resurrects us and against which we sin later on is even greater then that mercy that He bestowed upon us before He gave us being; when we did not exist. 'Glory 0 Lord to Thine immeasurable mercy!' Thus speaks St. Isaac the Syrian. He wants to say that greater is the mercy that God showed toward us when, through Christ, He
saved us from the corruption of sin and death than when He created us out of nothing. Truly, it is so. Even our earthly parents show greater mercy to the perverted and fallen son when they embrace him again, forgive him all, make him civilized, cleanse him, heal him and again make him their heir, than when they gave him birth.
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- St. Nikolai of Serbia
"Beloved Christians! Let us know sin, that we may turn away from it, for everyone avoids a known evil. People know that poison harms, and .they avoid it. They know that a serpent kills with its sting, and they keep away from it. That know that thieves rob and kill, and they avoid them. Let us also know sin, 0 beloved, and the evil that proceeds from sin, and we will unfailingly avoid it.
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- St.Tikhon of Zadonsk
"If a person who has sinned against God continues to grieve over his sins, they will be justly regarded as unintentional, and along with those who have not sinned he will journey without stumbling on the path leading to eternal life.
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- St. Gregory Palamas
"Prayer is a conversation of man with God. He who prays with a broken and humbled spirit is filled with divine gifts and blessings - that is, with joy, peace, comfort, illumination, and consolation - and he, too, becomes blessed. Prayer is a doubled-edged sword that slays despair, saves from danger, assuages grief, and so on. Prayer is a preventative medicine for all diseases of soul and body.
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- Elder Ephraim
"A businessman, a soldier, a judge, or a scholar has work which is full of cares and difficulties. How do they sustain themselves in the midst of their labors? By enthusiasm and love for their work. One cannot sustain oneself by anything else on the path of piety. Without this we will be serving God in a state of sluggishness, boredom, and lack of interest. An animal like the sloth also moves, but with difficulty, while for the swift gazelle or the nimble squirrel movement and getting about are a delight. Zealous pleasing of God is the path to God which is full of consolation and gives wings to the spirit. Without it one can ruin everything.
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- St. Theophan the Recluse
"To produce something new is always a gamble, and God's creation of man in His image and after His likeness involved a certain degree of risk. It was not that He risked introducing an
element of instability or shock into His Eternal Being but that to give man god-like freedom shut the door against predestination in any form. Man is at full liberty to determine himself negatively in relation to God - even to enter into conflict with Him. As infinite love, the Heavenly Father cannot abandon man whom He created for eternity, in order to impart to him His divine plenitude. He lives with us our human tragedy. We appreciate this risk, so breath-taking in its majesty, when we contemplate the life of Christ on earth.
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- Elder Sophrony
"I say that the ineffable speech which Paul heard spoken in Paradise were the eternal good things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived. These things, which God has prepared for those who love Him, are not protected by heights, nor enclosed in some secret place, nor hidden in the depths, nor kept at the ends of the earth or sea. They are right in front of you, before your very eyes. So, what are they? Together with the good things stored up in Heaven, these are the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which we see every day, and eat and drink. These, we avow, are those good things. Outside of these you will not be able to find one of the things spoken of, even if you were to traverse the whole of creation. If you do want to know the truth of my words, become holy by practicing God's commandments and then partake of the holy things, and you will know precisely the force of what I am telling you.
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- St. Symeon the New Theologian
He Has Overturned Death
Hades received Christ like each of the earth-born; He devoured the Heavenly Bread like bait.
He was wounded by the hook of divinity, And lamenting, he cried out:
"I am pierced in the stomach; I cannot consume the One Whom I devoured;
What I have devoured is dread nourishment!
Not one of those whom I have eaten hitherto has troubled me.
Perhaps He is the One Whom Adam had announced to me, Saying,
'When He comes. He will chastise you through the Resurrection'."