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"What example did Christ leave us in His Gospel? He covered sinners with mercy and generosity. He protected the harlot who was about to be stoned. He did not condemn her, but saved her, covered her with His Divine love, and gave her the opportunity to change: “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more” (John 8:11). He also allowed another repentant sinful woman to anoint His feet and head and thus prepare His body for burial. He gave her a chance to become better, and even praised her love: “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this Gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Matthew 26:13)."

-Bishop Partenij, Abbot of Bigorski Monastery

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How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside of themselves, in foreign lands and journeys, in riches and glory, in great possessions and pleasures, in diversions and vain things, which have a bitter end! In the same thing to construct the tower of happiness outside of ourselves as it is to build a house in a place that is consistently shaken by earthquakes. Happiness is found within ourselves, and blessed is the man who has understood this. Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus says Christ of those who have pure hearts: "I will visit them, and will walk in them, and I will be a God to them, and they will be my people." (II Cor. 6:16) What can be lacking to them? Nothing, nothing at all! For they have the greatest good in their hearts: God Himself!

St. Nektarios of Aegina #IIcorintians6:16 #saintnektariosifaegina #happiness #pureheart

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"We should never give in to the feeling of wounded pride or carefully scrutinize who should ask for forgiveness. Those who truly love are not concerned with whose fault something is. They are always ready to yield to the other, to ask for forgiveness."

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"God, Who knows the hearts and thoughts of all men, began a friendly conversation with this sinful woman, asking her to help Him draw water. He saw into her heart and knew that she had so much potential good in her, that she sincerely loved God and hoped in Him. Life had just been hard on her and she had many temptations so, unfortunately, she had become a harlot. With her story in the Gospels, God wants to teach us that we should never judge anyone and that we should not have stereotypes about different kinds of people or nations." -Bp. Partenij, Abbot of Bigorski Monastery

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https://bigorski.org.mk/en/sermons/bishop-parthenius/we-shall-see-christ-with-our-spiritual-eyes/

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A certain monk Isaac recounted the following incident from his life. “One time,” he says, “I argued with my brother and started to get angry at him. Later, while I was sitting in my cell and doing handiwork, I suddenly remembered the argument and I repented and was troubled by fear because of my responsibility before God. I began to think about what I should do. Just at that moment, a boy entered my cell and, not making the sign of the cross as he should, said: ‘You have sinned and that is why you are upset. Surrender to me and you will be at peace.’ Realizing that it was the devil, I answered him: ‘Go away, because you are not sent by God!’ And he said to me: ‘I feel sorry for you, because you are ruining your work, and yet you are mine.’ ‘No!’ I told him, ‘I am not yours, but God’s!’ And the devil replied: ‘If you are filled with anger and remember wrongs, God hands you over to us. You have been angry with your brother for three weeks.’ I answered: ‘You are lying.’ And he said to that:

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Holy and Great Lent Watch the full video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr41L8ADbHo

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Holy and Great Lent