“I feel the need to reaffirm my confidence in the youth and to pledge that their voice will always be heard in the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. Our Church will always have her arms open to embrace them with affection, to empower them, to give them the space they need, to give them a say and a role for the future. Above all, to give them Christ.”
Archbishop Makarios of Australia
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“Open your arms and throw yourself into Christ’s embrace.”
Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
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“The abstinence and chastity of the young people will be considered as a Martyrdom of the moral sense.”
Saint Paisios the Athonite
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“When you want to solve a complex problem, seek God’s Will in the matter, and you will find a constructive solution.”
Saint Kosmas of Aetolia
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Saint John the Russian, after his Blessed Repose, once appeared to a girl and told her: “Come and see my pillow which is full of tears. I am weeping for you the youth. I am especially Praying to God for the youth to support you.” In 1977, the Priest at the Church of Saint John the Russian in Evia opened the Holy Reliquary and saw the pillow on which the Saint was lying was completely clean, but beside his eyes it was wet with a large stain of tears.
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“Cleanse your mind from anger, remembrance of evil, and shameful thoughts, and then you will find out how Christ dwells in you.”
Saint Maximos the Confessor
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“The Elder had a special Spiritual relationship with young people. He truly loved them like his own children, and he Prayed for them, out of concern that they find their way. Identifying with them and feeling compassion for them, he helped them overcome their difficulties and problems, he sympathised with them, and he felt compassion for them. And they, sensing his great love, trusted him unreservedly, were obedient to him, and adored him. At his cell one would see not only young people who were living Spiritually and wanted to dedicate themselves to God as well as others who wanted to have families, but also drug addicts, anarchists, runaways, the mentally ill, as well as confused and suicidal youth. By means of the Elder’s counsels, they repented and pulled themselves together, and when they would next visit him they would be Spiritually transformed. They also became preachers of repentance to their friends, and brought them to see the Elder.”
The Elder is Saint Paisios the Athonite
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“Don’t be troubled if you don’t feel the Love of God in yourself. Just think about the Lord, that He is Merciful, and guard yourself from sins, and the Grace of God will teach you.”
Saint Silouan the Athonite
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“Do not say ‘I can’t.” This word is not Christian. Christian word: “I can, but not by myself, only through Christ Who strengthens me.”
Saint Theophan the Recluse
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“When a person takes one step to God, then God makes a thousand steps towards him.”
Saint Paisios the Athonite
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“God is everywhere. You decide if you are close to Him or not!”
Saint John Chrysostom
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“Let your door stand open to receive Him, unlock your Soul to Him, offer Him a welcome in your mind, and then you will see the riches of simplicity, the treasures of peace, the joy of grace. Throw wide the gate of your heart, stand before the Sun of the Everlasting Light.”
Saint Ambrose of Optina
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“Young persons should try to live as Spiritually as they can before marriage, since preserving their chastity secures their physical and Spiritual health.”
Saint Paisios the Athonite
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“Put Christ first because He puts us first, and let nothing deter us from loving Him.”
Saint Cyprian of Carthage
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“The devil belittles small sins; otherwise he cannot lead us into greater ones.”
Saint Mark the Ascetic
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“What the Soul is in the body, let Christians be in the world.”
Saint John Chrysostom
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“Try not to be idle. Because idleness is the mother of every vice, including despondency and despair.”
Saint Joseph of Optina
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“It seems as though every tree endeavours each year to advance by the strength that God has given it; therefore, say to yourself, I, too, must each day, each year, absolutely grow higher and higher morally, better and better, more and more perfect; must advance on the road to the Kingdom of Heaven, or to the Father Which is in Heaven, through the strength of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Spirit dwelling and working within me.”
Saint John of Kronstadt
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“We should lead the Spiritual life, be obedient to our Spiritual Father, confess, take Communion regularly, and, most important of all, avoid criticising other people. We should read Spiritual books and Scripture, the Psalter, and take part in beneficial Spiritual discussions… We need to persist in Prayer and obedience. We have to struggle.”
Saint Iakovos Tsalikis of Evia
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“The Lord is a true friend. When your friends and your brothers forget about you, He does not forget you and does not leave you, but He always abides with you.”
Saint Ephrem the Syrian
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“How can we find our way? According to the Gospel, Christ is our way.”
Saint Sophrony of Essex
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“Nothing in this world but God can fill our heart or fully satisfy our desires… because only the Grace of God can quench the thirst of our desires.”
Saint Innocent of Alaska
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“Say, ‘O Lord, help’ – and begin!”
Saint Theophan the Recluse
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“Concern yourself only that you have God for a friend and do not be afraid of anything. Behold, He is your only friend Who loves you without change.”
Saint Nikolai Velimirovich
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“May the Grace of Christ be with you, within your Soul, my child, to enlighten and increase your love for Him, so that you may be kept near Him and not be swept away by the current of worldliness and fall away from God and lose your immortal Soul, which is more than the entire world.”
Elder Ephraim of Arizona
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