True Fasting

Let us observe a fast acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.

True fasting is to put away all evil,
To control the tongue, to forbear from anger,
To abstain from lust, slander, falsehood and perjury.
If we renounce these things, then is our fasting true and acceptable to God.
Let us keep the Fast not only by refraining from food,
But by becoming strangers to all the bodily passions.

While fasting with the body, brethren, let us also fast in spirit.
Let us loose every bond of iniquity;
Let us undo the knots of every contract made by violence;
Let us tear up all unjust agreements;
Let us give bread to the hungry
And welcome to our house the poor who have no roof to cover them,
That we may receive great mercy from Christ our God.

Consider well, my soul: dost thou fast? Then despise not thy neighbor.
Dost thou abstain from food? Condemn not thy brother.
Come, let us cleanse ourselves by almsgiving and acts of mercy to the poor,
Not sounding a trumpet or making a show of our charity.
Let not our left hand know what our right hand is doing;
Let not vainglory scatter the fruit of our almsgiving;
But in secret let us call on Him that knows all secrets:
Father, forgive us our trespasses, for Thou lovest mankind.

Knowing the commandments of the Lord, let this be our way of life:
Let us feed the hungry, let us give the thirsty drink,
Let us clothe the naked, let us welcome strangers,
Let us visit those in prison and the sick.
Then the Judge of all the earth will say even to us:
‘Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you.

Source: The Lenten Triodion

War and Faith

   


 Ivan always prayed to God during the war. His commander remembered him as well-trained, persistent, and very disciplined. The two were together when a German shell exploded nearby, leaving them with severe shell concussions. "The war was so horrifying," he said later, "that I made a vow to God that if I survived this terrible battle, I would definitely enter a monastery."
    He witnessed transformations that were dramatic but true; one incident made such an impression on him that he used it later to describe how he came to believe so strongly in God. "Just imagine: a cruel battle is on, German tanks are crawling toward our front lines, crushing everything in their path. In that outer darkness of hell, I suddenly see our battalion commissar rip off his helmet, fall on his knees, and....pray to God. Yes, yes -- he was muttering the half-forgotten prayers of his childhood, begging the Most High, Whom he had only yesterday profaned, for mercy and salvation. I understood at that moment that every man has God in his soul, and each will turn to Him one day."

  -An excerpt about Father Alypy of the Pskov Caves Monastery-

taken from 'The Orthodox Word' no.275 p.267-268

A Prayer Against Abortion

 Father Demetrios Carellas, probably one of the most active orthodox clergy in the pro-life movement, wrote this prayer and I found it to be quite touching.

  O Lord Jesus Christ, Who – at the 6th hour of the day – didst shed Thy precious Blood upon the Cross for the salvation of all mankind: receive the souls of all the innocent pre-born babies, who have been, are being, or will be slaughtered today in the hospitals and abortion chambers throughout our nation. And as their untimely deaths have prevented them from receiving the grace of Holy Baptism, I entreat Thee to accept their innocent blood as their Baptism (Thou didst with the early Martyrs); so that they can share eternity with Thee.
  To the doctors, nurses, parents and hosts of accomplices responsible for this infanticide, grant tears of repentance; so that they can run to Thee for forgiveness and healing, and thus avoid the eternal death of their souls. I believe that all things are possible with Thee, O Lord. Therefore, I entreat Thee on this day – through Thy divine grace – to convince at least one mother in every state and province to cancel her abortion and bring her child to full term; and convince one doctor in every state and province to repent of his actions, and never again kill a child in the womb.
  Receive my prayer, O Lord, even though it is offered to Thee from such a sinful and unworthy servant; and unite my entreaty with those of all the other brothers and sisters that are crying out today on behalf of all Thy little ones, who are now being formed in the wombs of their mothers. Deliver us and our nation, O Lord, from their shedding of innocent blood! Forgive us! Heal us! Save us! Amen.

Thought 'Bombs'

"Just as the enemy, before going on the offensive with the infantry, will use the air force to bomb the fortifications and destroy them, in the same way, the devil will first bomb a person with thoughts, and then attack him directly.  He will not attack until he has managed to break down the man's thoughts, because a person can defend himself with good thoughts --- which are his basic protective trenches."


-Elder Paisios-