Pokrov and Saint Therese

On October 1st the Byzantine Slavs celebrate the feast of the Protection of the Theotokos; in the west, this day commemorates the falling asleep of Saint Therese of Lisieux, the “little flower.” Is there any connection between these feasts? I…

To Love All

The Spirit of God teaches us to love all that exists, and the soul feels compassion for each being, and also loves enemies and pities demons, because in their fall they were detached from the good. Compassion makes no exceptions.…

Pope Saint John Paul II on Love

Man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it…

From the Desert

desert fathers

Abba Theophilus, the archbishop, came to Scetis one day. The brethren who were assembled said to Abba Pambo, ‘Say something to the archbishop, so that he may be edified.’ The old man said to them, ‘If he is not edified…

Dying to Self

Dali Crucifixion

Counting The Cost, By C.S. Lewis: “The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self–all your wishes and precautions–to Christ. “Christ says ‘Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so…