This book contains a wide selection of sayings from fifty Orthodox saints, including Saint Joseph of Alexandria. These holy men hail from Syria, Egypt, Greece, Russia, Serbia, and Montenegro. It also contains a number of Western Church saints from France, Italy, and Montenegro.
Table of Contents
Saint Joseph’s zeal for virtue
Saint Joseph is a man of great sanctity and apostolic zeal. He is the patron saint of the poor and the patron of the virgins. He is also the patron of the sick, the hope of the afflicted, and the protector of the Holy Church. In his life, he devoted his life to God and his family, and he spent much of his free time in prayer.
Devotion to Saint Joseph is a powerful antidote to the moral dangers of our age. By following Saint Joseph’s example, we can practice virtue every day. He founded the Oblates of Saint Joseph, a religious order that serves the interests of Jesus and the poor. As a model for charity, they practice all four pillars of Christian charity.
His love of virtue
One of the greatest virtues of Christianity is love. Christians should always remember this when evaluating their own lives. Practicing virtue is more beneficial than pursuing pleasure. Virtues can be acquired through experience and struggle. This is the reason why the Christian life should be profitable.
His anger at the Great Prince Ivan III
Joseph was deeply angry with the Great Prince Ivan III for a number of reasons. First, Ivan had no intention of stepping down. He was aware that the people of Moscow were on his side and that the boyars would be powerless without him. Second, Ivan was a powerful ruler who had the power to repress and kill anyone who opposed his rule.
Ivan’s early reign was marked by sporadic campaigns against the Tatars of Kazan and the daily business of ruling. However, his private life took a dramatic turn in 1467 when his childhood bride was murdered, probably by poison. In addition, his brothers were reluctant to see the royal line continue. And his son, probably to predecease his father, was not wanted by them either. As a result, he set out to find a new wife.
His book against heretics
During his book, His Grace quotes ostensibly Orthodox authors such as Origen and Synesios of Cyrene. Both of these writers, however, were declared heretics by the Fifth OEcumenical Synod. They preached about universal salvation and the preexistence of souls. This doctrine, which has been condemned by the Church, declares that God has created all things and purifies Satan.
The early Christian writers often accused one another of altering scripture and forgery. Tertullian condemned Marcion in his Prescription against Heretics, and Paul wrote about heretics in the first century.