“The ascetic is one who forces himself to do everything that is conducive to growth and development in the spiritual life and does nothing that would prevent this.”
Category: American Orthodox
“The true faith in Christ is in the heart, and it is fruitful, humble, patient, loving, merciful, compassionate, hungering and thirsting for righteousness; it withdraws from worldly lusts and clings to God alone, strives and seeks always for what is heavenly and eternal, struggles against every sin, and constantly seeks and begs help from God for this.”
– St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Orthodoxy of the Heart 