St. Symeon the New Theologian Orthodox Church

Right Faith and Holy Baptism

"The Savior did not simply command to Baptize, but first says, 'Teach'; then thus: 'Baptize in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit'; that the right faith might follow upon learning, and together with faith might come the consecration of Baptism, There are many heresies too, which use the names only, but not in a right sense, as I have said, nor with sound faith, and in consequence the water which they administer is unprofitable, as deficient in piety, so that he who is sprinkled by them is rather polluted by irreligion than redeemed. "

- St. Athanasius the Great: Patrologia Graeca, Vol. XXVI, Second Discourse Against the Arians

Christ's Coming in the Flesh

"How could the human race go to God if God had not come to us? How should we free ourselves from our birth into death if we had not been born again according to faith by a new birth generously given by God, thanks to that which came about from the Virgin's womb? "

- St. Irenaeus of Lyons

A Watchman on Duty

"The mind of a heedful man is as it were a watchman on duty, or an unsleeping guard of the inner Jerusalem. Standing at the height of spiritual contemplation, he looks with an eye of purity upon the enemy powers who go around and attack his soul, in accordance with the Psalmist: 'And my eye hath looked down upon my enemies' (Ps. 53:9). From his eye the devil is not hidden, who 'as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour' (I Pet. 5:8), nor are they who bend their bow 'to shoot in the dark the upright of heart (Ps. 10:2). And thus such a man, following the teaching of the divine Paul, receives 'the whole armor of God, that [he] may be able to withstand in the evil day (Eph. 6:13), and with this armor and with the cooperating grace of God, he repels visible attacks and vanquishes invisible warriors. "

- St. Seraphim ofSarov

The Gift of Knowing Right from Wrong

"Look at those who rule your city or nation. Some seem to have no qualities which mark them out for such a task; they hold a position of power through an accident of birth, or through ingratiating themselves with their superiors. Some have natural authority, so that they inspire confidence and respect in others. Some possess natural wisdom, so they easily handle the complex affairs of state. But whether or not they have natural gifts, there is another type of gift which surpasses all others: the gift of knowing right from wrong, and the courage to choose what is right.
This moral gift is not something which is given at birth, and which some posses and others do not. The potential of moral discernment is like a seed sown in every human heart; and this seed grows only if it is nurtured through reflection, education, prayer, and practice. It would be better that our leaders were poor in natural gifts, but rich in this moral gift, than that they exuded authority and wisdom, but used these natural gifts for their own ends. "

- St. John Chrysostom

In vain we ask "Why?"

"Often unexpected misfortune befalls us, and in vain we ask 'why?' The Church of Christ alone knows how to explain the cause of every misfortune. The Church basically classifies misfortunes into two groups. Some misfortunes befall the sinner because of old, unrepented sins. Other misfortunes assault the righteous and serve, according to the words of St. John Chrysostom, 'as a means of receiving a wreath, as was the case with Lazarus and Job.'

- St. Nikolai of Serbia

Perfect Fear - Perfect Love

"St. John in one of his Epistles says, 'Perfect love drives out fear' (I Jn. 4:18). What does the holy man signify to us by this? What sort of love and fear is he talking about? The psalmist says, 'Fear the Lord all you who love Him' (Ps. 34:9), and we find many similar sayings in Holy Scripture. If, therefore, the saints who so love Him feared Him, how can he say, 'Love casts out fear'? St. John wishes to show us that there are two kinds of fear: One preliminary, the other perfect; the one found in beginners - as someone called it 'of the devout'; the other in those perfected in holiness, of those having arrived at true love. One forms a desire of God through fear of condemnation; this is the starting point. His starting point is not 'what is good' but the fear of torments.
Another forms desire for God because he loves God Himself, loves Him and knows what is acceptable to God. Such a man is goodness itself, knowing what it is to be with God. See! This is the man who has true love, which St. John calls perfect love, and that love leads a man on to perfect fear. Such a man fears and keeps to God's will, not for fear of punishment, not to avoid condemnation, but because he has tasted the sweetness of being with God; he fears he may fall away from it; he fears to be turned away from it. This is perfect fear which is generated from perfect love and throws out preliminary fear. "

- St. Dorotheas of Gaza