Tag Archives: Marriage

Nativity Fast and Thanksgiving Turkey

By Fr. Luke | Published: November 23, 2010

On November 25 America celebrates Thanksgiving Day which has a very significant role in American families because it is one of the few times a year that the family gets together. Thanksgiving Day is also called a Turkey day because it usually involves a meal with turkey or at least a more elaborate meal. Most [...]

Posted in Orthodox Christian Life | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 84 Comments

Human Logic and the Will of God for Childbearing

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 13, 2007

Oftentimes couples express to me their insecurity regarding the topic of childbearing, and they ask my opinion. Some only want one or two children, while others want to have many. It would, however, be to their advantage to leave the issue of childbearing to God—to entrust their lives to divine providence and not try to [...]

Posted in Fr. Luke's Translations, Writings of Elder Paisios the Athonite | Also tagged , , , | 228 Comments

Difficulties in Childbearing

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 12, 2007

—Geronta, if a woman is not Orthodox, and if she is not able to conceive a child, is it alright for her to wear the belt we have blessed on the holy relics of St. Arsenios? [1] —Does she believe in the power of the Saint or does she think that it will help in [...]

Posted in Fr. Luke's Translations, Writings of Elder Paisios the Athonite | Also tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Saints Joakeim and Anna are the Most Dispassionate Couple

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 6, 2007

—Geronta, tell us about Saints Joakeim and Anna, the ancestors of God. You once started to speak of them. —Since I was little I’ve had a great veneration for the Holy Ancestors. Surely I’ve told one of you about wanting them to give me the name Joakeim when they made me a monk. We owe [...]

Posted in Fr. Luke's Translations, Writings of Elder Paisios the Athonite | Also tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Spiritual Life of Spouses

By Fr. Luke | Published: September 11, 2007

—Geronta, when the husband doesn’t live spiritually, what should the wife do? —Entrust this to Christ and pray that his heart would soften a little. Little by little Christ will descend into his heart and he will begin to be uneasy. As soon as his heart softens a little she can, for example, ask him [...]

Posted in Fr. Luke's Translations, Writings of Elder Paisios the Athonite | Also tagged | 77 Comments

The Practice of Virtue Within the Family

By Fr. Luke | Published: August 24, 2007

— Geronta, how can a husband become practiced in the virtues? — God will give him opportunities. Many men, however, after asking God to give them opportunities to practice the virtues, grumble when they are faced with a certain difficulty. For example, sometimes the Good God, in His boundless love, and in order to provide [...]

Posted in Fr. Luke's Translations, Writings of Elder Paisios the Athonite | Also tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Harmony of God is Hidden Within a Diversity of Personalities

By Fr. Luke | Published: August 10, 2007

One day a man came to my kalyve and told me that he was very worried because he was not of the same mind with his wife. I saw, however, that there was nothing serious between them. He just had a few rough edges, his wife had a few others, and they couldn’t deal with [...]

Posted in Fr. Luke's Translations, Writings of Elder Paisios the Athonite | Also tagged , | 2 Comments

A Good Start to Family Life

By Fr. Luke | Published: August 3, 2007

Geronta, a certain young man who has chosen the married life asked me how one properly begins this. —From the beginning, he should seek to find a good girl who will comfort him, as people are relaxed and find comfort differently with different people. He should not seek to find someone who is rich or [...]

Posted in Fr. Luke's Translations, Writings of Elder Paisios the Athonite | Also tagged , | Leave a comment

Both the Married and Celibate Life are Blessed

By Fr. Luke | Published: June 26, 2007

Geronta, what should someone answer to young children who ask if the monastic life is higher than the married life? First, help them to understand what is man’s destiny and the meaning of life. Next, explain that the Church blesses both of these paths, because both are able to lead them to Paradise if they [...]

Posted in Fr. Luke's Translations, Writings of Elder Paisios the Athonite | Also tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Marital Relations

By Fr. Luke | Published: June 4, 2007

Regarding the topic of marital relations Elder Paisios wrote in one of his epistles: Concerning marital relations of married priests and laity, which you related to me: since the Holy Fathers do not define “how often” [to have marital relations] exactly, we must conclude that it is not defined, for everyone cannot be put into [...]

Posted in Fr. Luke's Translations, Writings of Elder Paisios the Athonite | Also tagged | Leave a comment