Church Fathers 
Writings of the Church Fathers
Ladder of Divine Ascent – Lenten Reading Schedule
The Ladder (from which St John received the ‘nickname” Klimakos – “ladder” in Greek) was written in response to another Abbot’s advice on promoting health spirituality in his monastery. St John’s reply proved such a thorough and clear exposition that it has become de rigueur Lenten reading in Eastern Christians monasteries all over the world. As St John’s writings are also… Read More ›
John Climacus: “The Ladder”
John Climacus, who lived approximately between 575 and 650, became famous with his treatise on the spiritual life, called the “Ladder to Perfection.” . . . can the Ladder, a work written by a hermit monk who lived 1,400 years ago, say something to us today? Can the existential journey of a man who lived his entire… Read More ›
The laws of nature are changed
Today our Lord Jesus Christ, who is for ever the creator of all things, has become saviour for us by being born of a mother. Today by his own free will he was born for us in time, that he might lead us to the eternity of the Father. God was made man that man… Read More ›
The faithful is reborn in Christ
For the birth of Christ is the origin of the people of Christ, and the birthday of the head is the birthday of the body. It is true that each of those who are called is allotted a particular place, and that all the sons of the Church are separated from each other by intervals… Read More ›
Showing true love to God
We truly love God and keep His commandments if we restrain ourselves from our pleasures. For he who still abandons himself to unlawful desires certainly does not love God, since he contradicts Him in his own intentions. . . Therefore, he loves God truly, whose mind is not conquered by consent to evil delight. For… Read More ›
All Saints
Let us be filled with confidence and let us discard everything so as to be able to meet this onslaught. Christ has equipped us with weapons more splendid than gold, more resistant than steel, weapons more fiery than any flame and lighter than the slightest breeze[…]. These are weapons of a totally new kind for… Read More ›
No one can serve two masters
‘No one can serve two masters.’ What sort of masters? Christ explains it to you when he continues: ‘You cannot serve God and Mammon.’ [Matt. 6:24] It is clear then. Those who make Mammon their master cannot serve God, but they serve the master they have freely chosen. They love to be at Mammon’s disposal,… Read More ›
Owning a Slave is no Measure of Worth
Riches ought to be used in a reasonable way, and it is necessary to overcome avarice and share them generously with others. The love of beautiful objects must not become purely selfish. If it does, we shall end up not knowing what the true beauty is like. It would be sad indeed if people were… Read More ›
We revere the Creator’s skill
We marvel at the Creator, not only as the one who made heaven and earth, sun and ocean, elephants, camels, horses, oxen, leopards, bears and lions, but also as the one who made the small creatures: ants, gnats, flies, worms and the like – things whose shape we know better than their names. And as… Read More ›
The Saviour is working among us
Dead men cannot take effective action; their power of influence on others lasts only till the grave. Deeds and actions that energise others belong only to the living. Well, then, look at the facts in this case. The Saviour is working mightily among men, every day He is invisibly persuading numbers of people all over… Read More ›