In the ninth century before Christ lived the most holy and pious Elias of Thisbe or Thesbe, a town of Gilead, beyond the Jordan. We know from Scripture that he was of priestly lineage, a man of a solitary and ascetical character, clothed in a mantle of sheepskin, and girded about his loins with a leathern belt. His zeal for the glory of God was compared to fire, and his speech for teaching and rebuke was likened unto a burning lamp. From this too he received the name Zealot. Therefore, set aflame with such zeal, he:
- Reproved the impiety and lawlessness of Ahab and his wife Jezebel.

Father Alexander Schmemann of blessed memory wrote of Pascha:

For Easter is not the remembrance of an event in the past.  It is the real encounter in happiness and joy, with him whom our hearts long ago knew and encountered as the life and light of all light.  Easter night testifies that Christ is alive and with us, and that we are alive with him.  The entire celebration is an invitation to look at the world and life, and to behold the dawning of the mystical day of the Kingdom of light.  “Today the scent of Spring begins,” sings the church, “and the new creation exults…” It exults in faith, in love and in

In the eighteenth century, Saint Kosmas Aitolos exclaimed: “As work according to God is called virtue, so unexpected affliction is called a test.”  The Great and Holy Week of the Church beckons us to confront our trials and afflictions by “look[ing] at the Crucified One” in the words of the elder Epiphanios of the Holy Hermitage of the Graceful Mother of God in Trizina.

“What is faith?”  Saint John of Kronstadt suggests that it is the “sureness of spiritual truth, of that which is, or of, God.  To believe means to be as sure of the reality of the spiritual world as of the material world.” In another instance, he suggests, that “Faith gives rest and joy; unbelief troubles wounds.” When Abba Poemen asked to define “faith”, he answered, “Faith is to live humbly and to give alms.” “Faith, according to the teaching of St. Antioch, is the beginning of our union with God.” For Saint Augustine, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”

During these solemn days of Great Lent, we are introduced if not brought into a more intimate and sincere relationship with Christ.  We are to generously give alms, dedicate ourselves to fasting, and increase both our personal and corporate prayers.  Why?  The answer is simply because it was the Lord Himself who established these disciplines for His disciples saying: “When you pray…”, “When you fast…” and “When you give alms…” not “if!”

Once, the Elder Epiphanios of the Holy Hermitage of the Graceful Mother of God in Trizina in Hydra related:

A certain spiritual child of mine came and was telling me: “You know, Father, I don’t accept fasting.  What does fasting mean anyway?”  I answered him, “Fasting is an institution of the Church.  It was given as a law in Paradise.  The Prophets fasted, as did Moses, the Lord Himself, the Apostles, the Fathers…If you continue not to fast and hold on to this viewpoint, then change Elders! 

Amidst all your worldly pleasures, man, the greatest misfortune hangs over you.  You are a sinner; you are God’s enemy; you are in great danger of losing eternal life, particularly if you live negligently, if you do not bring forth works meet for repentance.  The wrath of God hangs over you, particularly if you do not appease by your prayers, penitence, and amendment, the God whom you have offended.  This is no time for pleasures, but rather for tears; your pleasures should be rare, and principally such are afforded spiritually in the feasts of the Church. 

“Listen, my brethren, how the sign of the Cross is made and what it means. First, just as the Holy Trinity is glorified in heaven by the angels, so should you join your three fingers of your right hand. And being unable to ascend into heaven to worship, raise your hand to your head (because the head means heaven) and say: ‘Just as the angels glorify the Holy Trinity in heaven, so do I, as a servant glorify and worship the Holy Trinity. And as the fingers are three separate, and are together, so is the Holy Trinity three persons but one God.’ Lowering your hand to your stomach, say: ‘I worship you and adore you, my Lord, because you condescended and took on flesh in the womb of the Theotokos for my sins.’ Place your hand on your right shoulder and say: ‘I beg you, my God, to forgive me and to put me on your right with the just.’ Placing your hand again on your left shoulder say: ‘I beg you, my Lord, do not put me on the left with the sinners.’ This is what the Cross means.”

Know and remember that your salvation is always near to the heart of our Lady the Mother of God; for it was for this that God the Word chose her out of all generations, and took flesh of her – to save the human race from sin, from the curse and from eternal death, eternal torment.  As he desires that we should be saved, so does she.  Turn to her in full faith, trust and love.

When reflecting upon our weakness and inconsistency versus the stability of the saints, St. Ephraim the Syrian wrote:

Be merciful O Good One, to us who have freely chosen evil, the cause of all misery.  The thoughts of our choosing are secret afflictions, and the deeds thereof are public afflictions.  Such a choice brought on the first transgression of the law, and all sin is a consequence thereof.  Do You, O Pure One, purify our freedom, for now it is a fountain of turbid waters.