Russian Orthodox Church of the Nativity

"One must not demand too much of oneself. It is best to humble oneself before God. Open yourself to Him in all your filthiness and say, like the leper: Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean (Luke 5:12). Do not put time limits on God for this. Do all that is needed according to your strength, and the Lord will do everything necessary for your salvation. Just do not forsake God." Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

"A man who has never had that experience, be it only very briefly, who has never felt that he is exiled from God and from real life, will never understand what Christianity is all about. And the one who is perfectly "at home" in this world and its life, who has never been wounded by the nostalgic desire for another Reality, will not understand what is repentance." Great Lent

O Lord our God... Stop the rushing of passions, and quench the burning of bodily tension. Grant us to live chastely in word and act, that we may live a life of heroic virtue and not fall away from Thy promised blessings. Evening Prayers

"It is not the vocal repetition of the Jesus Prayer which gives results, but prayer as an outpouring of contrition. Then it will quickly generate compunction, warmth of heart, which in turn leads to facility in praying, etc." Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

Holy Great Martyr Demetrius, pray to God for us! "When thou wast pierced with spears, O Demetrius, by those very spears thou woundedst the enemy, making him ineffectual and then putting him to death. Deliver us also from his wickedness; and by thy sacred prayers make us always steadfast against the passions that trouble us; and bring compunction to our hearts and souls in the fear of God, O Saint." Stichera from the Praises

"It is of enormous importance that there should be someone in the family who really prays. Prayer attracts God’s Grace, and this is felt by all members of the family even those whose hearts have grown cold. Always pray. Blessed Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

Holy Apostle James, pray to God for us! https://www.oca.org//103039-apostle-james-the-brother-of-t

"As a man whose head is under water cannot inhale pure air, so a man whose thoughts are plunged into the cares of this world cannot absorb the sensations of that new world." Venerable Isaac the Syrian, bishop of Nineveh

"There is nothing impossible unto those who believe; lively and unshaken faith can accomplish great miracles in the twinkling of an eye. Besides, even without our sincere and firm faith, miracles are accomplished, such as the miracles of the sacraments" Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, pray to God for us! https://www.oca.org//10/18/102993-apostle-and-evangelist-l

Holy Prophet Hosea, pray to God for us! https://www.oca.org/saints//2018/10/17/102983-prophet-hosea

Holy Martyr Longinus, pray to God for us! https://www.oca.org//102980-martyr-longinus-the-centurion-

"One cannot wage a battle if one does not acknowledge the existence of an enemy; and the Church’s testimony is clear, that whether or not one acknowledges that foe, whether or not one elects to fight in the battle, the foe remains real and never ceases in his attacks against us. So our choice is not to fight or not to fight, to acknowledge the demons or not to admit of their reality; our choice is to fight or to be overcome." Bishop Irenei Steenberg