Divine Quotes. A storehouse of Christian wisdom: a selection of quotes and sayings from the Bible. What is love

Wise sayings, read in a timely manner, will open your eyes to many things, save you from mistakes, for which you have to pay so bitterly and for a long time later. No matter how much you re-read them, you always find something new that you need right at the moment.

Saint Ambrose of Optina:

  • Don’t be like a pesky fly that sometimes flies around uselessly, and sometimes bites and annoys both of them, but be like a wise bee that diligently began its work in the spring and by autumn finished honeycombs that are as good as correctly set notes . One is sweet and the other is pleasant.
  • Do not like to hear about the shortcomings of others, then you will have less of your own.
  • There was no sadness, but the crafty enemies pumped up, presenting themselves either as Efremka or as a toothy crocodile.
  • Grief is like the sea: the more a person enters it, the more it sinks.
  • Who gives in, gains more.
  • Why is a person bad? Because he forgets that God is above him.
  • Where it is simple, there are a hundred angels, and where it is tricky, there is not a single one.
  • From affection, people have completely different eyes.
  • Whoever reproaches us gives us gifts, and whoever praises us steals from us.
  • She herself was not Julia and did not lead others.
  • Sidor and Karp live in Kolomna, but it’s a sin and trouble with whom they don’t go.
  • If you listen to other people's speeches, you have to put the donkey on your shoulders.
  • We must live without hypocrisy and behave exemplarily, then our cause will be right, otherwise it will turn out badly.
  • To live is not to grieve, not to condemn anyone, not to annoy anyone, and all my respect.
  • Some are beaten for polishing, and others for correction.
  • One of our monks knew how to deal with jasmine. In November, he completely cuts it off and puts it in a dark place. But then the plant is covered abundantly with leaves and flowers. So it happens with a person: first you need to stand in the dark and cold, and then there will be a lot of fruit.
  • The saints were, like us, sinful people, but they repented and, embarking on the work of salvation, did not look back, like Lot's wife. ... For this they drive us with rods and whips, that is, sorrows and troubles, so that we do not look back.
  • If the sun always shines, then everything will wither in the field, so rain is needed. If everything rains, then everything will trample, because the wind is needed to blow it through. And if there is not enough wind, then sometimes a storm is needed to carry everything through. All this is useful to a person in due time, because he is changeable.
  • No matter how plausible and reliable the incoming thoughts may seem, but if they lead to confusion, then clear sign that they are from the opposite side and, according to the gospel word, are called wolves in sheep's skins. Right thoughts and reasoning soothe the soul, and do not revolt.
  • Our mental and spiritual unsatisfactoriness comes from ourselves, from our lack of art and from an incorrectly formed opinion, which we do not want to part with. And it is this that brings on us both confusion, and doubt, and various bewilderment, and all this torments and burdens us and leads us into a desolate state.
  • If you are healthy and she is healthy, you like each other, and the bride is of trustworthy behavior, and the mother has a good, meticulous character, then you can marry her.
  • It is not always done as one wishes, but for the most part with waiting and various obstacles, so that some learn patience and long-suffering, while others, seeing this, do not hasten and do not dare to judge and condemn whom they should not.
  • God often arranges something useful out of human mistakes… don’t regret in vain what you have done one way or another, just try to use things properly in advance.
  • It is said: The kingdom of God is within us. We, leaving the search for it within ourselves, turn outside, occupied with the analysis of other people's shortcomings. That is why our business is going badly, both spiritually and economically.
  • God alone knows the future, and therefore it is impossible to say in the affirmative how circumstances will turn out. People assume, but only God disposes of fate.
  • To speak well is to scatter silver, and prudent silence is gold.
  • To sin is a human matter, but to be and lie in sin is a devilish thing ( Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk).
  • Do not be horrified if you fall every day, and do not deviate from the path of God, but stand courageously and without a doubt ( Reverend John Ladder).
  • Doing good to someone, do not expect retribution from him ( Abba Isaac).
  • Just as fornication is born from gluttony, so from verbosity and countless conversations a storm of thoughts and a frenzy of mind ( Abba Isaiah).
  • Get away from thin people, as from an evil infection ( Abba Isaiah).
  • With tears, I ask and pray you: be the suns that warm those around you, if not all, then the family in which the Lord has made you a member. Be warm and light for those around you ... so try to keep your lamp burning brightly ( Saint righteous Alexy Mechev).
  • About the good deed that you intend to do, do not tell anyone in advance, but do it ( Venerable Anthony the Great).
  • Young children are more attentive to the actions of their parents than to their instruction. Therefore, if you want your children to be pious and kind, be pious and kind yourself, and set yourself as an example to them, and so educate them in the teaching and admonition of the Lord ( Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk).
  • You should never force the course of events, but watch carefully how they flow, and use it to your salvation ( Saint Theophan the Recluse).
  • Don't put off until tomorrow, there's no end to this tomorrow Saint John Chrysostom).
  • Hell is the darkness of ignorance that covers a rational creature after it has lost the contemplation of God. Abba Evagrius
  • Everyone imagines Hell and the torments there as he wishes, but what they are, no one knows for sure. Rev. Simeon the New Theologian
  • Angels are present everywhere here, and especially in the house of God they stand before the King, and everything is full of these incorporeal forces. St. John Chrysostom
  • Angels not only protect but also guide believers so that they do not stumble. St. John Chrysostom
  • Angels, being servants of love and peace, rejoice in our repentance and progress in virtue, which is why they try to fill us with spiritual contemplation and help us in every good thing. St. Theodore of Edessa
  • Angels, these incorporeal beings, do not remain without progress, but always receive glory for glory and mind for mind. Rev. John of the Ladder
  • The angels who have kept their order are free to fall, but they will not want this because of the abundance of blessings they have eaten out of obedience to the will of God. St. Feofan, the Recluse Vyshensky
  • Antichrist will be a logical, just, natural consequence of the general moral and spiritual direction of people. St. Ignaty Brianchaninov
  • Vigil is the extinguishing of carnal inflammations, deliverance from dreams, filling the eyes with tears, softening the heart, keeping thoughts, taming evil spirits, curbing the tongue, driving away dreams. Rev. John of the Ladder
  • Poverty seems to many to be an evil, but in fact it is not such, but on the contrary, if one is attentive and wise, it even serves to exterminate evil. St. John Chrysostom
  • Poverty is not good, but the good use of poverty is good. St. John Chrysostom
  • Poverty is by no means an obstacle to hospitality. St. John Chrysostom
  • Poverty, if you like, can give us much more than riches of occasions for pleasure. Why? Because she is free from worries, hatred, enmity, envy, scolding and countless evils. St. John Chrysostom
  • Silent envy can become an arrow. Rev. Ephraim Sirin
  • Dispassion is a peaceful state of the soul, in which it is not moved to evil. Rev. Maxim the Confessor
  • Dispassion is the immobility of the soul for evil, but it can only be obtained with the help of the grace of Christ. Abba Thalassios
  • Dispassion is the perfect knowledge of God, which we can have after the Angels... st. John of the Ladder
  • Dispassion is the love that the Lord Jesus taught everyone to have. Rev. Abba Isaiah
  • Passionlessness is possessed by the soul, not that which is not captivated by things, but that which, even in the remembrance of them, remains unperturbed. Abba Evagrius
  • Blessed is he who has not given himself room for doubt about God, who has not fallen into cowardice at the sight of the present, but awaits what is expected; who did not have an incredulous thought about the Creator of us. St. Basil the Great
  • Blessed is the one who, instead of all possessions, has acquired Christ, who has one acquisition - the cross, which he carries high. St. Gregory the Theologian
  • Blessed is the one whose mind is always on God, who refrained from everything worldly and with Him alone dwelt in the conversation of his knowledge. Rev. Isaac Sirin
  • Blessed is the humble soul; the Lord loves her. Above all in humility Mother of God and for this all generations on earth bless Her, and all the powers of heaven serve Her; and the Lord gave us this Mother of His intercession and help. Rev. Silouan of Athos
  • Blessed is that life in which the mouth of iniquity, like a source of filth, is forever barred and human life they will no longer defile with stench! St. Gregory of Nyssa
  • Deliver bliss not in a plentiful meal, not in cheerful singing, not in wealth flowing from everywhere, but in contentment with little, in not having a shortage of the necessary: ​​the first makes the soul a slave, and the last a queen. Rev. Isidore Peluciot
  • God created man free, honoring him with mind and wisdom, putting life and death before his eyes, so that if he wishes to freely follow the path of life, he will live forever, but if he goes the path of death out of evil will, he will forever suffer. Rev. Ephraim Sirin
  • God created man not so that he would perish, but so that he would march towards incorruption, so that even when He allowed death, He allowed it with the thought that you would be instructed by this punishment and, having become better, could again achieve immortality. St. John Chrysostom
  • God created man with sufficient strength to choose virtue and avoid evil. St. John Chrysostom
  • God values ​​deeds according to their intentions. For it is said, "The Lord will give you according to your own heart." … Therefore, whoever wants to do something, but cannot, is considered before God, who knows the intentions of our hearts, as having done it. This applies to both good deeds and evil deeds. Rev. Mark the Ascetic
  • God, having become a man, united with people and, having communed with humanity, gave to all those who believe in Him and who show faith from works the communion of His Divinity. Rev. Simeon the New Theologian
  • God, who appeared to us in the flesh, according to the teachings of pious tradition, is immaterial, invisible, uncomplicated, was and is unlimited and boundless, omnipresent and permeates all creation, but in what appeared to people, he was visible in human form. St. Gregory of Nyssa
  • God must be honored not with smoke and stench, but with a good life, not bodily, but spiritual. This is not how pagan idols act - they even demand sacrifices for themselves. St. John Chrysostom
  • Have God before your eyes in every deed, whatever you do. Rev. Abba Isaiah
  • Then you will most gloriously honor God when, through the virtues, you impress His likeness in your soul. Abba Evagrius
  • Wealth also contains the evil that the one who unjustly acquired it, committing sins with impunity, never ceases to commit them, receives wounds that cannot be healed, and no one from people imposes a bridle on him. St. John Chrysostom
  • God takes away wealth from those who use it badly if they are not hopeless for salvation, and thus crushes the instrument of their untruth. Basil the Great
  • Wealth, if you have it, squander it, and if you don't have it, don't collect it. Rev. Nile of Sinai
  • If you courageously endure poverty, thanking the Lord, then this subject has served as an occasion and opportunity for you to receive crowns; and if you blaspheme the Creator for it and condemn His Providence, then you have used it for evil. St. John Chrysostom
  • If you learn not to say anything superfluous, but constantly protect both your thought and your mouth with conversation from the Divine Scriptures, then your guardianship will be stronger than adamant. St. John Chrysostom
  • If you find that you do not have love, but you wish to have it, then do deeds of love, even if at first without love. The Lord will see your desire and effort and put your love into your heart. Rev. Ambrose Optinsky
  • If you are not able to stop the mouth of the one who slanders his friend, then at least beware of communicating with him. Rev. Isaac Sirin
  • If you do not know exactly all the deeds of your Lord, then especially worship Him for this - for His ineffable greatness, for His incomprehensible Providence, for His manifold and wise care. St. John Chrysostom
  • If you are not sure about the blessings of the future, then believe them on the basis of the present ones that you have already received. St. John Chrysostom
  • If you have slandered anyone, if you have become an enemy to anyone, reconcile before the judgment seat. Finish everything here so that you can see that seat (of the Judge) without worries. St. John Chrysostom
  • If you nail yourself to the ground, when the blessings of heaven are offered to you, then consider what an insult this is to the Giver of them. St. John Chrysostom
  • If we see or hear that someone in the course of a few years has acquired the highest dispassion, believe that such a person did not walk in another way, but in blissful humility. Rev. John of the Ladder
  • Whoever enjoys prosperity and feels gratitude does what is due, but whoever suffers adversity and glorifies God prepares his own reward. St. John Chrysostom
  • Whoever does not love enemies cannot know the Lord and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love our enemies in such a way that their souls will pity them, like our own children. Rev. Silouan of Athos
  • Whoever does not consider himself a sinner, that prayer is not accepted by the Lord. Rev. Isaac Sirin
  • Whoever does not feel the courage to endure an illness, it is better to resort to healers, yet expecting help from God, for He instructs healers. St. Feofan, Zatv. Vyshensky
  • Whoever hates his brother is in death. Rev. Ephraim Sirin
  • He who hates his sins ceases to sin; and whoever confesses them will receive forgiveness. It is impossible for a person to leave the habit of sinning unless he first acquires enmity towards sin, and it is impossible to receive remission of sin before confessing sins. For the confession of sins is the cause of true humility. Rev. Isaac Sirin
  • Whoever has found envy has found the devil with it. Rev. Isaac Sirin
  • Whoever attempts to quench this fornication by abstinence alone is like a man who thinks of swimming out of the abyss, swimming with one hand. Combine humility with abstinence, for the former is useless without the latter. Rev. John of the Ladder
  • Whoever voluntarily indulges in vices is worthy not of tears, but of weeping. St. John Chrysostom
  • Whoever knows the love of God loves the whole world and never grumbles at his fate, for temporary sorrow for the sake of God brings eternal joy. Rev. Silouan of Athos
  • Whoever prefers the earthly to the spiritual will lose both, and whoever strives for the heavenly will certainly receive the earthly. St. John Chrysostom
  • The mother of fornication is gluttony. Rev. John of the Ladder
  • Recognize laziness as the mother of vices, because the good that you have, it plunders, and what you do not have, it does not allow you to acquire. Rev. Nile of Sinai
  • Among the dispassionate, one is more dispassionate than the other. For one strongly hates evil, while another insatiably enriches himself with virtues. Rev. John of the Ladder
  • Between human actions, many are good in themselves, but are not good for some reason. For example, fasting and vigil, prayer and psalmody, almsgiving and hospitality are in themselves good deeds, but when done out of vanity, then they are no longer good. Rev. Maxim the Confessor
  • It seems to me that those who have embarked on the path of struggle with the weapon of the word against the enemies of truth should arm themselves only against those false opinions that are at least somewhat supported by probability, and not defile the word with dead and already stinking opinions. St. Gregory of Nyssa
  • Many rich and strong people would give dearly to see the Lord or His Most Pure Mother, but God does not reveal Himself to wealth, but to a humble soul. Every last poor person can humble himself and know God. You don't need money or possessions to know God, but only humility. Rev. Silouan of Athos
  • Hatred is alienation from what is unpleasant and aversion from what offends. St. Gregory of Nyssa
  • Hatred for God is much better than love for him; when they love us for God, then we become His debtors for such an honor, and when they hate us, then He himself becomes a debtor, to whom our reward remains. St. John Chrysostom
  • Hatred not only does not tolerate reasoning and learning, but, on the contrary, hastens to sin and destruction. Such people are the children of Satan. Rev. Ephraim Sirin
  • Hatred from irritability, irritability from pride, pride from vanity, vanity from unbelief, unbelief from hardness of heart, hardness of heart from negligence, negligence from sloth, sloth from despondency, despondency from impatience, impatience from voluptuousness. Rev. Macarius the Egyptian
  • The unbridled tongue means that it has no virtue within it. Rev. Abba Isaiah
  • Hostility and anger are allowed only when the subject of them is bad thoughts and feelings. St. Feofan, the Recluse Vyshensky
  • It is an undoubted truth that the highest Providence of God extends decisively to all created things: God provides for everything and takes care of everything. This is the divine care of the fathers, about which the blessed Apostle Peter speaks: "Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you." St. Ilya Minyatiy
  • There is no evil worse than her envy. The fornicator, for example, at least gets some pleasure and commits his sin in a short time, but the envious one tortures and torments himself before the one whom he envies, and never leaves his sin, but always remains in it. St. John Chrysostom
  • There is nothing more stubborn than this passion of envy, and it does not easily give way to healing if we are not careful. St. John Chrysostom
  • There is no person who does not mourn during training; and there is no man who does not find the time bitter when he drinks the poison of temptations. Without them, it is impossible to acquire a strong will. By repeatedly experiencing God's help in temptations, a person also acquires firm faith. Rev. Isaac Sirin. Words, 37
  • Unclean spirits intensify the passions in us, taking advantage of our negligence and inciting them; and the passions are reduced by the holy angels, prompting us to perform virtues. Rev. Maxim the Confessor
  • Neither poverty, nor sickness, nor the most important of all disasters, death, can harm the one subjected to them, when the soul is saved; just as from life itself you will not receive anything good when the soul is corrupted and perished. St. John Chrysostom
  • In no matter do you seek earthly glory, for it fades away for the one who loves it. For a while, like a strong wind, she blows around a person, and soon, having taken away from him the fruit of his good deeds, she leaves, laughing at his foolishness. St. Gennady of Constantinople
  • Commit to oblivion as soon as possible your good deeds and merits Do not write down your good deeds, for if you write them down, they will quickly fade, but if you forget about them, they will be inscribed in eternity. St. Nicholas Serbian
  • The limit of fornication is when someone lusts at the sight of animals and even soulless creatures. Rev. John of the Ladder
  • The hellish dungeons represent a strange and terrible destruction of life, while saving life. St. Ignaty Brianchaninov
  • When we suffer, let us rejoice, because this is the repayment for sins. St. John Chrysostom
  • When inflaming the flesh, do not touch the secret members, so as not to produce the strongest inflamed. Rev. Ephraim Sirin
  • Our nature is acceptable both for good and for evil, and for God's grace, and for the opposing force. Rev. Macarius the Egyptian
  • Language is the worst thing for people. This is a horse that always runs forward, this is the most prepared weapon. St. Gregory the Theologian
  • The tongue is given for you to sing and praise the Creator, but if you do not observe yourself enough, it becomes a cause for you to blaspheme and foul language. St. John Chrysostom
  • Language is a sharp sword; but we will not injure others with it, but will cut out our own rotten ulcers. St. John Chrysostom
  • Language is the king's horse. If you put a bridle on him and teach him to walk upright, then the king will sit on him calmly, but if you let him run and jump without a bridle, then the devil and demons will ride on him. St. John Chrysostom
  • A slanderous tongue is the devil's bed. Rev. Nile of Sinai
  • As soon as the tongue begins to speak for its own pleasure, it runs in speech like an unbridled horse, and blurts out not only good and proper, but also bad and harmful. Rev. Nicodemus the Holy Mountaineer
  • The tongue of many conceited has brought to ruin. Rev. Nile of Sinai

Words are backed up by deeds.

Gold is known in fire, man is in trouble.

The dawn of God's deliverance often breaks when the darkest hour of trials arrives.

There is peace in the soul when Christ rules the heart.

Faith in Christ is the bridge over the abyss of death.

The more you strive for heaven, the less you will like this world.

What matters is not how much we give, but how much we give.

Love never asks: "What will it cost me?"

God demands loyalty and rewards it generously.

In God's plan there is a place for every child of God.

If you know the truth, you will recognize the deceit.

Pray to know God, not just to get something from Him.

We praise God's name when we call Him Father and live like His Son.

To love God means to obey God.

The most reliable cleaning agent in the world is an honest confession before God.

When we are filled with pride, there is no place for wisdom in us.

There is nothing stronger than the truth. (Webster)

The one who loses his temper, then finds no place for himself anywhere.

Be tolerant of the shortcomings of others, because they also have to tolerate you.

The less we do today, the more we have left for tomorrow.

When we stumble, God sustains and leads us forward.

When Christ enters into someone's soul, He changes everything in it.

Our spirit will surely fail us if we are not filled with God's Spirit.

If we take care of our character, our reputation will take care of itself! (D.L. Moody)

It's never too early to plan for eternity.

If you get to know Christ, you will want others to know him too.

Is what you live for worth dying for?

Christ cares about us!

Take God's promises to heart, but never take them for granted.

We can stop forgiving others only when Christ stops forgiving us.

Big wins come from big challenges.

Your most expensive capital, life, invest in something that promises eternal dividends.

A good father shows the love of the Heavenly Father.

The noblest reason to be obedient to God is the desire to please God.

We don't have to be victims of circumstance, because Christ conquered all circumstances.

Plan how to pray and pray how to plan.

A good word can say more than whole volumes.

Peace can only be found by submitting to the will of God.

God's love both strict and gentle.

God operates in the shadows, but has complete control over everything that happens in the light.

If grief is shared with someone, it will be half as much.

Live as if Christ died yesterday and will come again today.

Christ takes away our sin and in return gives His salvation.

Christ gave everything for us. Do we give everything for Him?

We must consecrate ourselves to God every day, not once in a lifetime.

When Christians take on a task all together, the burden is shared and the result is multiplied by all.

The affairs of the family are the affairs of God.

Freedom gives us the right to do not as we want, but as God wants.

God's heirs cannot but be interested in the work that the Father has left them.

If we do not bring sin to clean water, we encourage it.

We can get through everything if we know that Jesus is with us.

He who justifies his sin will never be justified for his sins.

If you avoid sin, you will never fall into it.

God can give you everything you need, just let Him give it to you.

If you are familiar with Christ as Savior, you have nothing to fear from Him as Judge.

If you look only at God, you will see the whole world more clearly.

The greatest joy on earth is a firm hope in heaven.

The more you love Christ, the more you will strive for heaven.

When we glorify Christ with our lives, even our silence speaks volumes.

In vain we hide our sin - then it turns out that we have warmed a snake on our chest.

Only God has the right to say who is right and who is wrong.

Believers are like coals: together they blaze with heat, but individually they die out.

What someone's life is worth is determined by the One who gives life.

Without labor there is no fruit. With difficulty - it happens, and what else!

Only he who believes is obedient, only he who is obedient believes.

We cannot live like a Christian by our own strength, by our own willpower.

God does not see any other meaning of human life than to bear fruit.

To love God, to love Him truly, means to live according to His commandments, no matter what it costs you.

I decided to follow the Lord with all my heart. I also decided: it doesn’t matter if others are faithful to God, I will be faithful.

Likeness to Christ, spiritual maturity is obedience.

Our relationship with our Heavenly Father, although reliable, is not static. He wants His children to know Him more and more.

Relationship with God is not lower, but higher than any other.

It is not difficult for the God Who created this world to reveal Himself to those who sincerely want to know Him.

God is where the humble heart is.

Those who have met God now will have eternity ahead of them to know Him.

All our knowledge of God and all that we need from Him depends very much on how we relate to Christ.

When we accept Jesus Christ, holiness begins. When we revere Christ, holiness increases. But when we cannot even imagine life without Christ, this is complete holiness.

A relationship with God begins with fear, which leads us to security, confidence, and joy in His love.

You can distinguish the right fear of God from the wrong if you look at where this fear leads you - closer to God or away from Him.

To know God closer and closer means to love what He loves and hate what He hates.

Of one thing you can be sure. Your relationship with the Lord will change - either for the better or for the worse, but they will definitely change.

Knowing that Christ died is history. To believe that He died for me is salvation.

We are saved not by diligence, but by faith.

We find the strength we need in the one whom the Father has sent to give us all the fullness of life.

Do not ask for earthly


It is necessary to say for everything: “Glory to God!” We are not worthy to receive what the Lord sends us.
(hieroschemamonk Aristokliy,
farmstead Athos monastery in Moscow)


How to be saved? Some answer that we should pray to God. And do not leave this circle. Meanwhile, the prayer of a passionate person will not save him. The only purpose of our life is to eradicate passions and replace them with virtues. All passions are inherent in us, but some to a greater extent, and others to a lesser extent. It is necessary to determine what passion dominates in us, and to arm ourselves against it. It is impossible to fight all passions at once - they will strangle. Having conquered one passion, it is necessary to move on to the eradication of another, and so on.
(Reverend Barsanuphius, Optina Hermitage)

Do not judge your neighbor: you know his sin, but his repentance is unknown. In order not to condemn, one must run from those who condemn and keep one's ear. Let us take the rules for ourselves: do not believe those who condemn, never speak ill of those who are absent. Let's remember the old folk sayings: "Whatever you condemn, you yourself will stay", "Know yourself - and it will be with you"
(Elder Simeon, Pskov-Caves Monastery)

Never ask the Lord for anything earthly. He knows what is good for us better than we do. Pray like this: “I commit, Lord, myself, my children, relatives and neighbors to Your holy will.” The prayers of relatives, mothers, friends are especially strong - they have great power
(Reverend Seraphim Vyretsky, was the confessor of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra)

Salvation is given only through the realization of sins and heartfelt repentance, as well as through the patience of sorrows. If people knew what awaits them after death, they would pray to God day and night. And then they think - he died, and the end of everything. Our life after earthly death is just beginning, by earthly suffering we earn Eternity. Who knows God, he endures everything
(Saint Theodosius Caucasian)

Do not seek rest until death. A person is born not for peace, but in order to work hard, to endure for the sake of future life(rest). Here we are wanderers, aliens, and wanderers have no rest in a foreign country. They move forward step by step in order to reach their native fatherland as soon as possible - the house of God, the Kingdom of Heaven. Death is inexorable! Not a single rich man in wealth, nor a hero in strength, nor a king, nor a warrior can pay off death. No one can take with them anything acquired by them. Naked man was born, naked and departs. Only faith and good deeds go with him to the future life, and no one will help - neither friends nor relatives.
(Reverend Elder Sebastian of Karaganda)

















Orthodox faith lamps,
pillars of monasticism unshakable,
lands of Russian consolation,
Venerable Elders of Optinstia,
having acquired the love of Christ and the soul
who thought their own for their children...

  • If you ever do some kind of pardon to anyone, you will be pardoned for that.

:
  • The Pharisee prayed and fasted more than ours, but without humility all his work was nothing, and therefore be jealous of the most publican humility, which is usually born from obedience, and dominates you.
  • Moreover, it was noticed by the holy fathers that when a person prepares for the communion of the Holy Mysteries or expects to meet some kind of holiday, then the devil tries with all his might to annoy the person and thereby confuse his soul, so that that day would not be spent in joy in the Lord, but in demonic sorrow. . The reasons for his attack on us are different, but the most important is the condemnation of our neighbors, which sin, and besides fornication and other temptations, defiles not only the body, but our very soul.
  • Peace of mind is acquired from the perfect devotion of oneself to the will of God, without which it would be nothing to be with us, even to be. And if your husband was really not good, then ask yourself in conscience before God: “Am I, a sinner, worthy of a good and kind husband?” And your conscience will certainly say that you are not worthy of absolutely good things, and then in humility of heart, with obedience to the will of God, you will love him from the bottom of your heart and find much good that you have not seen before.

:
  • One passion reproaches another: where self-love, there love of money yields, and vice versa happens. And we know that all vices sometimes leave a person, and one stays with him - pride, which is pleased to replace the others.
  • But do not dare to blame the one who offends us, even though it seems to be an incorrect insult, but consider him an instrument of God's Providence, sent to us to show our dispensation.
  • And no one can offend or annoy us, unless the Lord allows it to be for our benefit, or for punishment, or for testing and correction.
  • If you appease your own heart to the one who is angry with you, then the Lord will proclaim to his heart to be reconciled to you.
  • Every deed must begin with an invocation of the name of God for help.

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  • If you want to have love, then do the deeds of love, even if at first without love.
  • We must live on the earth as the wheel turns: only with one point touches the earth, and with the rest it constantly strives upwards; and how we lie down on the ground - and we can’t get up.
  • Living the simplest is the best. Don't break your head. Pray to God. The Lord will arrange everything, just live easier. Don't torture yourself thinking about how and what to do. Let it be - as it happens: this is to live easier.
  • The requested cross is difficult to bear, but it is better to surrender to the will of God in simplicity.
  • Whoever has a bad heart should not despair, because with God's help a man can fix his heart. You just need to carefully monitor yourself and not miss the opportunity to be useful to your neighbor, often open up to the elder and do all possible alms. This, of course, cannot be done suddenly, but the Lord is longsuffering. He only ends the life of a person when he sees him ready for the transition to eternity, or when he sees no hope for his correction.
  • Before the judgment of God, it is not the characters that matter, but the direction of the will. Know that characters matter only in the judgment of man, and therefore they are either boasted or condemned; but at the judgment of God, characters, as natural properties, are neither approved nor condemned. The Lord looks at a good intention and compulsion to do good, and appreciates the resistance to passions, even if a person is sometimes overcome by weakness due to something. And again, negligence judges about this One, who knows the secret heart and conscience of a person, and his natural strength for good, and the circumstances surrounding him.

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  • If you see the error of your neighbor, which you would like to correct, if it violates your peace of mind and irritates you, then you also sin and, therefore, you will not correct the error with error - it is corrected with meekness.
  • And it is useful for us when we are pushed. That tree, which the wind shakes more, strengthens its roots more, and which is in silence, it immediately falls down.
  • As circumstances have arranged, so it should live, because the circumstances surrounding us are arranged not just by chance, as many of our modern-day wise men think, but everything is done with us by the Providence of God, unceasingly caring for our spiritual salvation.
  • We ourselves increase our sorrows when we begin to grumble.
  • Have what you need and need, but don’t collect too much, and if you don’t have it and you grieve, then what’s the point? Better stay in the middle.
  • Contradiction is the strongest thing in a person. At will, a person sometimes does something difficult, but if you tell him something easy to do, he will immediately get upset. And you have to listen.
  • Just as one should not seek honor, so one should not refuse it by those living in society for the benefit of others. The honor given is also from God.
  • To each, that act of a neighbor seems great, which convicts him of something.

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  • Let us humble ourselves, and the Lord will cover us, and we will be holy. In the meantime, we don’t humble ourselves and propitiate God - even if we break our forehead on the floor with bows, passions will not diminish.
  • Endure everything - you yourself will be peaceful, and you will bring peace to others! And if you start to reckon, you will lose the world, and with it, salvation.
  • I'm telling you a secret, I'm telling you the best way to find humility. This is what it is: to endure any pain that pierces a proud heart.
  • Without winter there would be no spring, without spring there would be no summer. So it is in the spiritual life: a little consolation, and then a little sorrow - and so little by little the path of salvation is formed.
  • We will accept everything from the hand of God. Consolation - thank you. And will not console - thank you.
  • Learn to be meek and silent, and you will be loved by all. And open feelings are the same as open gates: both a dog and a cat run there... and they shit.
  • We are obliged to love everyone, but to be loved, we do not dare to demand.

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  • A sure sign of the mortification of the soul is the avoidance of church services. A person who grows cold towards God, first of all, begins to avoid going to church, at first he tries to come to the service later, and then completely stops attending the temple of God.
  • The Lord puts each soul in such a position, surrounds it with such an environment that is most conducive to its success.
  • Our whole life is a great mystery of God. All the circumstances of life, no matter how insignificant they may seem, are of great importance. Meaning real life we will fully understand in the next century. How carefully one should treat it, and we turn over our lives like a book, sheet by sheet, not realizing what is written there. There is no accident in life, everything is created by the will of the Creator.
  • It must be remembered that the Lord loves everyone and takes care of everyone, but if, even humanly speaking, it is dangerous to give a million to a beggar so as not to destroy him, and 100 rubles can easily put him on his feet, then all the more so the Omniscient Lord knows better who what to the benefit.
  • The hardest part is prayer. Every virtue from passing turns into a habit, and in prayer, compulsion is needed until death itself. Our old man opposes it, and the enemy rises especially against the one who prays.
  • I have to hear complaints that we are now going through difficult times, that now complete freedom has been given to all heretical and godless teachings, that the Church is being attacked by enemies from all sides and it becomes terrible for her that these muddy waves of unbelief and heresies will overcome her. I always answer: “Don't worry! Don't be afraid for the Church! She will not perish: the gates of hell will not prevail against her until the very doomsday. Do not be afraid for her, but you must be afraid for yourself, and it is true that our time is very difficult. From what? Yes, because now it is especially easy to fall away from Christ, and then - death.

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  • They say the temple is boring. Boring because they do not understand the service! Services need to learn! Boring because they don't care about him. Here he seems not his own, but a stranger. At least they brought flowers or greenery for decoration, they would take part in the chores of decorating the temple - it would not be boring.
  • Live simply, according to your conscience, always remember what the Lord sees, and pay no attention to the rest!
  • The main thing is to beware of judging loved ones. As soon as condemnation comes to mind, immediately turn with attention: “Lord, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother.”
  • You cannot demand from a fly that it does the work of a bee - each person must be given according to his measure. It can't be the same for everyone.

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  • There has never been, is not and never will be a carefree place on earth. A carefree place can only be in the heart when the Lord is in it.
  • Human truth should not be pursued. Seek only the truth of God.
  • Always remember the law of spiritual life: if you are embarrassed by some shortcoming of another person and condemn him, later on you will suffer the same fate, and you will suffer from the same shortcoming.
  • Every deed, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you, do it carefully, as before the face of God. Remember that the Lord sees everything.

Our venerable fathers, Optina elders, pray to God for us!