"She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her..."

Christ Crucified and His Precious Cross as the Tree of Life, mosaic from San Clemente in Rome (1118) (source)

  

My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives. Blessed is He who Finds Wisdom Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence. For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver. And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value. For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue. Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful. She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is a secure help to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.

-Proverbs 3:11-18, read at the Great Vespers for the Feast of the Precious Cross

 

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Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"Today is the prelude of universal joy..."

The Nativity of the Theotokos (source)

  
Today is the prelude of universal joy. Today blows the breeze foretelling salvation, for the barrenness of our nature is dissolved, as the barren [Anna] is shown to be a mother of her who will remain a Virgin after giving birth to her Creator. From [the Theotokos], God, Who is foreign to nature, will come to dwell within, working salvation for the deluded through the flesh, Christ, the Lover-of-man, and the Redeemer of our souls.
-Idiomelon of the Stichera from the Nativity of the Theotokos

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The Nativity of the Theotokos (source)

  

Most-holy Theotokos, save us!

St. Nektarios the Wonderworker on Seeking Happiness

St. Nektarios the Wonderworker (source)

  
“How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside of themselves, in foreign lands and journeys, in riches and glory, in great possessions and pleasures, in diversions and vain things, which have a bitter end! In the same [way,] to construct the tower of happiness outside of ourselves as it is to build a house in a place that is consistently 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 says Christ of those who have pure hearts: “I will visit them, and will walk in them, and I will be a God to them, and they will be my people.” (II Cor. 6:16) What can be lacking to them? Nothing, nothing at all! For they have the greatest good in their hearts: God Himself!”
— St. Nektarios of Aegina, Path to Happiness, 1
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Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Elder Epiphanios Theodoropoulos: "Only with Christ can everything be explained..."

Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior (source)

  
Without Christ, the world is a theater of the absurd. Without Christ, we can't explain anything!
Why is there so much sadness, injustice, failures, why do illnesses come, why? Why? Why?
A thousand "whys?"
Understand this. No man can explain this infinite logic, the answer to all of these "whys?"
Only with Christ can everything be explained...
They prepare us for eternity. Most likely, there He will explain to us some of these "whys".
-Elder Epiphanios Theodoropoulos

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Christ, the Good Samaritan (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"O Forerunner of the Savior, you censured the king that he might not work lawlessness..."

The Beheading of St. John the Forerunner (Source)

  
O Forerunner of the Savior, you censured the king that he might not work lawlessness, through the games of a lawless woman, but Herod fell upon you and cut off your head. Because of this, your name is praised from the rising of the sun until its setting. As one having boldness before the Lord, entreat ceaselessly that our souls be saved.
-Doxastikon of the Aposticha from the Feast of the Beheading of the Precious Forerunner

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Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"You truly showed your deeds to correspond to the calling of your name, O Great Martyr Phanourios..."

St. Phanourios, holding the Cross and the Phanouropita and Candles (source)

  
You truly showed your deeds to correspond to the calling of your name, O Great Martyr Phanourios*, for you are revealed to us all, you who were formerly hidden, revealing the radiance of your martyric graces, and deeds of wondrous protection, having been glorified as an athlete of Christ. Therefore, we joyously celebrate your blessed struggle, and the finding of your Icon, and we proclaim your benefactions towards us, and together, we cry out to you: Intercede with the Word and Giver-of-crowns, that we might find mercy on the day of judgment.
-Doxastikon of the Litia from the feast of St. Phanourios the Great Martyr and Newly-revealed

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*Note: "Phanourios" derives from the Greek word "phanero", which means "to reveal".

 

St. Phanourios entreating Christ, holding the Candle and the Phanouropita (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Anatolios of Optina on the Best Fasting

Prayer before Christ (source)

  

"The best fasting is to endure whatever is sent to you by God."

-St. Anatolios of Optina

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Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!