When were times easy?

Today, we often hear that we are living in difficult times. We can’t argue with that. However, there is another question: When were times easy? Can we say that it was easy for our grandfathers to rebuild the country, almost completely destroyed by war? Was it easy for our great-grandfathers to survive the civil war after the 1917 revolution, Stalin's repressions and famine? Was it easy for those who had lived before them? No, in fact there are no easy times. It is hard to all and always. The problem lies in us.

This means that not the time or even the problem which we face takes the most important place in our life, but how exactly we treat this.

Today, a piece of bread on the table (and nothing else), says that people who have this piece are on a poverty line – they do not have money for meat, butter, caviar, etc. But let us remember that not so long ago this same piece of bread was considered as a great treasure, as a sign of prosperity.

What has happened, what has changed between now and then? Only our perception. It's simple – we forgot to thank God for what we have. And we are not talking about "today" and "yesterday", but about our life in general. The fact is that’s when we lose a thing, we begin to appreciate it. Moreover, it concerns peoples as well.

Now I'm not trying to justify what is happening and to reassure those who do not have a piece of bread on the table. I'm just trying to say that grumbling and indignation have never been creative forces. Only love and gratitude create.
In this regard, we would recall a good parable. Once a man complained, "My goodness, how hard I feel!" To which the Lord answered him: "You do not know what is hard. I’ll show you."

And another man said, "Oh, Lord, how easy and good I feel!" To which the Lord answered him, "You do not know what is easy and good. I'll show you."

Exactly the same happens to us: the more we resent and complain, the worse and harder we live. After all, according to the Holy Fathers, a prayer of a grumbling man does not come to God. So let us all do so that our prayer will always be effective. The only means for that is gratitude. Thank God for everything!

Same-Sex Attraction: A Lesson from the Desert Fathers

The Fathers reject both license and cruelty. They offer no stigma, only the call to crucify the flesh with its passions (Gal. 5:24) and rise in Christ.

Conservatism or Orthodoxy?

Life is very short. I’d rather spend it reading St. Paisios the Athonite than David Brooks. That has nothing to do with Mr. Brooks and everything to do with St. Paisios.

Put Down Your Smartphone and Grab Your Prayer Rope

St. Paisios calls us to become “spiritual signalmen,” reminding us of the victory that has already been accomplished. He says that joy in the Risen Christ must be stronger than any fear for tomorrow.

In Defense of Fr. Michael Crowley

In a pointed irony, Pokrov Truth tried to discredit Archpriest Michael Crowley’s ability to protect his flock from predators. Yet their own correction admits Fr. Michael knew of a convicted sex offender in his parish, enforced strict monitoring and supervision, informed parishioners, consulted the community, and ensured ongoing oversight. The very update disproves Pokrov 's fears while proving Fr. Michael's competence in managing such risks effectively and transparently.

The Man from Montenegro: A Response to Abp. Elia of Finland

We respect His Eminence’s right to defend himself vigorously. However, the UOJ claims the same right for ourselves. And so we must say once again: Our coverage was accurate and our analysis was perfectly fair, given the information available at the time. To label our work “misinformation” is not merely wrong but slanderous.

The Myth of ‘Judeo-Christian’ Civilization

American Evangelicals tend to idolize Rabbinic Judaism and the Zionist State. They should remember: Jesus Christ is the God of Israel, and the Church is His Kingdom on Earth. There is no other God; there is no other Kingdom.