In his mentorship as an elder, father Alexei (Mechev) always led the person, under his guidance, to spiritual struggle, in other words, to the hardest and most-important. But everything hard begins with the easy. The external spiritual struggle is necessary, even the smallest. It trains the strength of will, without which any struggle, even more a spiritual one, is impossible. But before that a person has to evaluate his strength and possibilities carefully: “Measure seven times – he said – cut once”. But if you have decided something, you have to do it to the end. Otherwise you won‘t accomplish your goal. For example the prayer rule may not be big, but it has to be done necessarily, no matter tiredness, busyness and other impediments.

“No Prayer, my children, gets lost.” – Saint Iakovos Tsalikis of Evia

“As often as I have Prayed with faith, God has always heard me and fulfilled my Prayers.“ – Saint John of Kronstadt

“God always helps. He always comes in time, but patience is necessary. He hears us immediately when we cry out to Him, but not in accordance with our own way of thinking.“ – Saint Joseph the Hesychast

St. Seraphim of Sarov taught everyone the following rule of prayer:

Upon rising from sleep, let each Christian, standing before the holy icons, read the prayer “Our Father” thrice, in honor of the Most Holy Trinity. Then the song of the Mother of God: “Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos Mary, full of grace…” also thrice. In conclusion the Creed: “I believe…” — once. Completing such a rule, let each Orthodox engage in his duties, to which he is assigned or called. During his work at home or along the way anywhere he should quietly read “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me, a sinner,” but if others surround him, then, while busy with his duties, let him only say in his mind “Lord, have mercy,” — and thus until lunch. Right before lunch let him repeat the morning rule. After lunch, busy with his work, let every Christian read just as quietly: “Most Holy Mother of God, save me, a sinner.” When preparing for sleep, let every Christian again read the morning rule, i.e., “Our Father” thrice, “Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos Mary” thrice and once “I believe.”

1) If you want to live a spiritual life, you should look after yourself. Every evening look at the good and bad things you did that day. Thank God for the good, repent in the bad.

2) When someone is praising you but you know that you have disadvantages, then this praising must be like a stab in your heart and must foster your desire to improve yourself.

3) Less philosophizing, more doing. In our life, we already devote too much time to the former at the expense of the latter.

4) Be especially careful with your impure thoughts.

5) If you feel any tendency to sin, make two prostrations to the Mother of God with prayer: “O Holy Theotokos, by the prayers of my parents, save me, a sinner”. The spirit of your parents will unite with yours in your prayer.

Endure the sorrows that happen, always repent. When preparing for Holy Communion, read the Rule*, and if you have not read it, tell the priest to whom you are confessing. Never judge anyone – and you will receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Do not despair – you are sinful, but you are God’s.

Archimandrite Vitaly (Sidorenko)

* Prayers in Preparation for Holy Communion 
 

Venerable Simeon, the Myrrhgusher and Prince of Serbia and Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev)

What does it mean to walk in truth (III John 1:4)? It means accepting truth in your heart, abiding in such thoughts and feelings as the truth requires. Thus, it is the truth that God is everywhere and sees everything.

He who accepts this truth with his heart and begins to keep himself both inwardly and outwardly as if God Himself were before him and were seeing everything within him, is walking in this truth. It is the truth that God contains all, and that without Him we cannot do anything successfully.

The absence of envy among the saints is a startling and wonderful phenomenon. Not only did the saints not allow envy to seize their hearts, but they labored to uplift their companions and to diminish themselves with all their might. On one occasion, when St. Hilarion of Palestine visited St. Anthony in Egypt, St. Anthony exclaimed: “Welcome, O morning star!” To that St. Hilarion replied: “Greetings and health be to you, O shining pillar who sustains the universe!” When they praised St. Macarius as a monk, the saint replied: “Brethren, forgive me. I am not a monk–but I have seen monks!” When some people told St. Sisoes that he had attained the same level of perfection as St. Anthony, Sisoes replied: “If only I had but a single thought as does Anthony, I would be all aflame.”

Prologue of Ohrid, January 28