To become a Christian, the man must have a poetic soul, must become a poet. Christ does not want “rough” souls close to Himself. Only when the Christian loves he is a poet and lives in the poetry. The poetic souls are able to accept love, lay it in their hearts, embrace it and feel it deeply. Take advantage of the beautiful moments. The beautiful moments draw the soul out to prayer, make it sensitive, noble, poetic. Wake up in the morning to see the king – the sun going in its purple garment from the high seas... Rejoy to everything. Everything enriches us and leads us to greater Love, everything leads us to Christ.

Elder Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvitos

What is the measure of love?

What is the measure of love?

What is the limit of perfection?

What is the limit of perfection?

“During times of dryness, when the heart is hard and prayer does not flow, stand your ground patiently. Even if you do nothing but struggle against despondency, you have already fulfilled your task.”

St. Gregory of Sinai
(On Stillness and Prayer)

“When God sees that a soul is not negligent but continues to knock at the door and seeks Him sincerely, He will remove the darkness that separates us from Him. But it is through endurance and patience that we reach this place. Do not be faint-hearted when you feel nothing, for the feeling of His presence is not the goal, but the purification of the heart is.”

St. Macarius the Great
(Homily 27)

The Church is not simply an institution. She is a 'mode of existence,' a way of being. The mystery of the Church is deeply bound to the being of man, to the being of the world and to the very being of God.
Ecclesial being is bound to the very being of God. From the fact that a human being is a member of the Church, he becomes [participates as/in] an 'image of God', he exists as God Himself exists, takes on God's way of being. This way of being is not a moral attainment, something that man accomplishes. It is a way of relationship with the world, with other people and with God, as an event of communion, and that is why it cannot be realized as the achievement of an individual, but only as an ecclesial fact.
However, for the Church to present this way of existence, she must herself be an image of the way in which God exists. Her entire structure, her ministries etc. must express this way of existence.

Met. John D. Zizioulas (Being as communion)