"The serenity of the Athonite world of monks..."

An Athonite service (source)

  
The serenity of the Athonite world of monks, on the slopes of Athos that neighbors Heaven, that is constantly spoken of by the world, continues to reply with silent messages to turn to one's self and reconstitute the spiritual powers of man towards repentance and the sacramental life.
-Elder Prodromos, Abbot of Great Lavra Monastery, Mount Athos

(source)
   

Icon of the Synaxis of the Holy Athonite Fathers (source)

   

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

 

"Panagia had a silent life..."

Copy of the wondrous icon of Panagia Vimatarissa of Vatopedi Monastery (source)

  
Panagia had a silent life. Within, however, she prayed ceaselessly! Her prayer of the heart did not have any measure of comparison. It is something inconceivable to men, and even to the Angels, and because of this Panagia is the rector of all of the teachers of noetic prayer.

A short time before Panagia left this world, the disciples of Christ entreated her to give them a unique teaching, as a spiritual inheritance. Panagia told them:
"Life is like trade, and man resembles a merchant. Blessed is he who trades rightly with the time of his life! Trade your life as my Son said, that you might gain the Kingdom of the Heavens."

We use our time, either doing good works to obtain the Kingdom of the Heavens, or working sins, towards our damnation.
-Elder Ephraim of St. Andrew Skete
  
(source)

  

Most-holy Theotokos, save us!

Photios Kontoglou on Panagia as the Humble Queen

The Most-holy Theotokos and Christ surrounded with Angels depicted in the wonderworking icon of Panagia Pantanassa (Queen of All) treasured by Vatopedi Monastery, Mount Athos (source)

  
"Panagia is the spiritual adornment of Orthodoxy. For us Greeks [and for all peoples], she is the pained mother, the consolation, the protector, who stands beside us in every circumstance.

"In every part of Greece are built countless churches and monasteries, palaces to this humble Queen, and a multitude of chapels in the mountains, the fields, the islands, that are fragrant from her virginal and spiritual fragrance.

"Within each of these is found her ancient and honored icon with her dark hair and golden face, which receives all of the tears of our tortured faithful, because we have no one else to help us except Panagia: 'we who sin have no one else, who intercedes for us before God, praying endlessly, in ills and all dangers, for us who are laiden with our many sins and mistakes' (Paraklesis to the Theotokos).
  
"The beauty of the Panagia is not a bodily beauty, but spiritual, because where there is pain there is also found holiness, there alone is spiritual beauty. Bodily beauty brings bodily excitement, but spiritual beauty bring contrition, respect and pure love. This is the beauty which our Panagia has.
  
"And this beauty is depicted in her [Byzantine] icons which pious men fashion, who fast and chant and are found with contrite heart and spiritual purity.
  
"In the face of Panagia are depicted this mystical beauty which attracts like a magnet pious souls and brings them silence and consolation."
-Photios Kontoglou (+1965)
  
(source)
  

Forgive me, and may the Lord forgive us all and grant us a blessed Lent!

  

Most-holy Theotokos, save us!

Elder Nikon of New Skete: "Show me your faith from your works..."

Excerpt from an interview with Elder Nikon of New Skete where he discusses faith, works and evangelism as regards the Christian faith (source)

   

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

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia: "You can't force the other person..."

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)

   

You can't force the other person. Their hour will come, the time will come, it is enough to pray for them. With silence, tolerance, and most especially with prayer, we benefit the other mystically. The grace of God cleanses the horizons of their nous, and confirms him in His love.

-St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

   

(source)

      

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

St. Porphyrios: "If you love and you don't seek the love of others, all will come close to you..."

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)

  
"The phrase, 'I love you', is a humble thing to say. It is not simply said though. It is gained silently with the personality that you fashion. You fashion it, and the other may be mad at you. You are working and look as to ultimately hide it. But the other senses it and is attracted by it. If you love and you don't seek the love of others, all will come close to you. It is a mystery. Mystically you will love and they will understand it, and even while far away, they will send you their good feelings. Do you understand this? ... It is natural what I am telling you: to love selflessly!"
-St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
  
(source)
  

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

St. Sophia of Kleisoura (+1974): "Don't say many words..."

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

St. Sophia of Kleisoura (+1974) (source)

   

"Don't say many words, may they be few and blessed. Love God, and your heart will shine like the sun."
-St. Sophia of Kleisoura

(source)

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!

Truly the Lord is risen!