I recently found this quote on humility from Elder Paisios from Sihla (A skete in the North of Romania close to the Sihastria Monastery where Elder Cleopas lived)
“It’s best for a man to become a clay vessel, which is useful to all people and for all kinds of daily work, for food, water, and so on. But golden vessels are put in safes and locked up in cupboards. For fear of thieves they are seldom used, maybe only once a year. A clay vessel has its daily use and service to man. So also is a humble man who does not seek honors and rank. He remains insignificant even amid men of lower rank, but he benefits, counsels, and… Continue reading
Entries Tagged as 'Nativity'
Learn from me – A Nativity reflection on the humility of Christ
December 1st, 2010 2 Comments
Tags: Christ · Christmas · Communion · humility · meekness · Nativity · orthodox · pride
Orthodox Christmas Byzantine Hymn (in Greek)
December 16th, 2008 No Comments
9th Ode of the Christmas Canon… Continue reading
Who stole Christmas? – A consumerist Nativity story
December 16th, 2008 No Comments
From time to time even a benign shopping session at Walmart can give you insight on the status of our society today. The other night, as part of pre-Christmas preparation, I was looking for a copy of the recent Hollywood movie “The Nativity story”. After scouting for a while with no avail in the helter-skelter of the multi-media proposals, I… Continue reading
Avoiding post-Christmas Depression – Lisa C. DeLuca
November 28th, 2008 No Comments
How to Avoid Christmas Depression
The Eastern Orthodox Nativity Fast May Prevent Post-Holiday Blues
The ancient Orthodox Christian religion celebrates the Christmas holiday in a way that helps people cope with depression and experience the true joy of Christmas. People often feel deprived and lonely, in stark contrast to all of the pre-Christmas cheer. Others feel let down and weighed down by food and debt after the Christmas holiday. Continue reading
Tags: Christmas · Depression · Fast · Nativity · orthodox
The true Christmas spirit or Putting back Christ into Xmas
November 24th, 2008 No Comments
For a first comer in an Orthodox Church the thing that strikes the most is the richness of traditions that abound in the life of the faithful. It seems that we have a tradition for everything: the way we light the candles, the way we venerate the icons, the way we cross ourselves and so on. All conforms to some unwritten rules that are puzzling and difficult to follow Continue reading
