Orthodox Saints

This little book introduces the reader to the Paisian tradition from his time through to the lives of the Optina Elders, giving a brief history of how this spiritual transmission developed from the labors and spiritual hunger of St. Paisius Velichkovsky on Mount Athos to his disciples in the Roslavl forests in Russia to the Optina Monastery which over the course of 100 years produced a series of fourteen charismatic elders. This is the tradition that gives us the Philokalia, The Kollyvades Fathers, and the spiritual renewals of Greece and Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries.

To my father, whom I truly love Your soul never stopped working for the sake of every soul, when it was imprisoned in your weak body - even in the bitterest moments of pain. It will never stop working even, now, after leaving the body and fleeing towards heaven to enjoy complete freedom in God's bosom and with the saints. When you were living in faith, God's peace filled your heart and pushed you to the pastoral work with great conviction - that everybody may experience unity with the suffering and the risen Jesus Christ. Now that you are in the Savior's bosom, seeing Him clearly, don't you...

I thank You, My Lord Jesus, O You who genuinely loves children. You became a child that I may experience You being a wonderous friend! When You entered Jerusalem, the infants and little children rejoiced and were praising You without anyone teaching them. For my sake You were crucified, allow me to kiss Your wounds! How joyful were the angels with the martyrs, especially the little children among them! Satan and his evil angels were envious, since they were banished from heaven, while we became like righteous angels! We await Your coming on the clouds that we may also join the procession of...

In a world of rapid advances in modern technology grafted together with the continual evolution of contemporary philosophies, humanity is plagued by an increasing number of cases of depression, psychological ailments and suicides. These societal maladies affect even our youth. By contrast the Church's Early Fathers, pastors, ascetics and theologians never expressed concerns associated with such hardships. Despite the ardent believer's exposure to today's many adversities he remains unaffected mainly because of his appreciation of man's true eminence. The Church's Fathers often invite us to ...