Prayer & Spiritual Life
73 writings in Prayer & Spiritual Life. Clear
Prayer & Spiritual Life
Is it okay to read Protestant or Catholic spiritual books?
Yes, but you need to be careful. It’s not forbidden, but it’s also not usually what you need, especially if you’re new to Orthodoxy. Most…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What is the Orthodox view of spiritual warfare?
Yes, spiritual warfare is real. We’re in a genuine struggle against sin, the passions, and fallen spiritual powers. But it’s not what you might think…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
Do Orthodox believe in demons?
Yes. Demons are real. They’re not metaphors for psychological problems or symbols for abstract evil. Orthodox Christians believe demons are actual spiritual beings, fallen angels…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What is the Orthodox understanding of temptation?
Temptation isn’t sin. That’s the first thing to understand. Being tempted is part of being human. Christ himself was tempted in the wilderness for forty…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What are the passions?
The passions aren’t emotions. They’re disordered desires that have gotten out of hand and taken control of your soul. Think of it this way. You…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What is prelest (spiritual delusion)?
Prelest is spiritual delusion. It’s when you accept a false spiritual state as true, when you think you’re holier, more advanced, or closer to God…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
How do I avoid spiritual deception?
Stay humble, stay connected to your parish, and don’t trust your own spiritual experiences without checking them against your priest or spiritual father. The longer…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
Why is obedience important in Orthodox spirituality?
Obedience heals the will. Obedience in Orthodoxy isn’t what most people think it is. When Adam disobeyed in the Garden, he didn’t just break a…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What is humility in Orthodox teaching?
Humility is seeing reality as God sees it. That’s not what most people expect to hear. We’re used to thinking of humility as “not thinking…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What role does suffering play in Orthodox spirituality?
Suffering isn’t a sign you’re doing something wrong. It’s part of the Christian life. That might sound harsh, especially if you grew up hearing that…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
How do Orthodox deal with spiritual dryness?
You keep praying. Even when it feels like nothing. Spiritual dryness is normal in Orthodox life. It’s that season when your prayer rule feels like…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What if I don’t feel anything when I pray?
That’s normal. Most of the time, prayer feels like nothing at all. If you came from a Baptist or charismatic background, this might surprise you.…
