Finding the Freedom to Live

Life in Christ frees us to build intimacy with integrity

You are here: Home / Archives for Quotes

It’s not victory that’s important, it’s striving towards God – St. John Maximovitch

By Leave a Comment

God’s grace always assists those who struggle, but this does not mean that a struggler is always in the position of a victor. Sometimes in the arena the wild animals did not touch the righteous ones, but by no means were they all preserved untouched.

What is important is not victory or the position of a victor, but rather the labour of striving towards God and devotion to Him.

Though a man may be found… [ read more ]

— attrib. St. John Maximovitch (http://www.orthodoxchurchquotes.com/2014/07/22/st-john-maximovitch-gods-grace-always-assists-those-who-struggle-but-this-does-not-mean-that-a-struggler-is-always/)

The Healer for the sinner is He who forgave even his crucifiers – St Isaac the Syrian

By Leave a Comment

There is indeed, a Healer for the man who has stumbled, even He who on the Cross asked that mercy be shown to His crucifiers, He who pardoned His murderers while He hung on the Cross. All manner of sin, He said, and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, that is, through repentance.

— /The Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian/ Homily 64

Do not be ashamed when you repent: it is a medicine for sin – St John Chrysostom

By Leave a Comment

Do not be ashamed to enter again into the Church. Be ashamed when you sin. Do not be ashamed when you repent. Pay attention to what the devil did to you. These are two things: sin and repentance. Sin is a wound; repentance is a medicine. Just as there are for the body wounds and medicines, so for the soul are sins and repentance. However, sin has the shame and repentance possesses the courage.

— transl. Gus George Christo: /The Fathers of the Church vol. 96: St John Chrysostom: On Repentance and Almsgiving/ Homily 8