Orthodox Spiritual Person

An Orthodox spiritual person is someone who practices the teachings and traditions of the Orthodox Church. He or she is someone who should always strive to cultivate a close relationship with God as well as who attempts to live a life of inner peace, seeking to align his or her thoughts, actions, and intentions with the teachings of Christ.

An Orthodox spiritual person should behave in a way that is in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Scriptures (Holy Bible) and the teachings of the Church Fathers. This means living a life of virtue, prayer, and service to others.

Here are key practices for an Orthodox spiritual person:

• Love God and neighbor. This is the greatest commandment, and it is the foundation of all other virtues.

• Pray regularly. Prayer is communication with God, and it is essential for spiritual growth.

• Read the Bible. The Bible is the inspired word of God, and it is our guide for living a Christian life.

• Read the life of the saints and any other holy books. This will enable us to grasp profound wisdom from the lives of the saints and sacred texts.

• Fast and abstain from sin. Fasting is a way of disciplining our bodies and minds, and it helps us to focus on spiritual things.

• Attend church services. Church services are a time for worship, fellowship, and learning.

• Serve others. Service to others is a way of showing love to God and neighbor.

Here are some actions that an Orthodox spiritual person should avoid:

• Reject the commandments of God. This includes things like murder, adultery, theft, and lying.

• Worship false gods. This includes anything that we put before God, such as money, power, or pleasure.

• Become proud or arrogant. Pride is a sin that separates us from God.

• Give up to temptation. Temptation is a test of our faith, and we should always resist it.

• Neglect our spiritual life. Our spiritual life is the most important thing in our lives, and we should never neglect it.

The Bible verses that support these ideas are too numerous to list here. However, some key verses include:

• Matthew 22:37-40, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, John 1:1-5, Matthew 6:16-18, Hebrews 10:25, Matthew 25:35-40.

Here are some sayings or teachings from the Church Fathers that support the above:

• St. Basil the Great: "The goal of our life is to become like God."

• St. John Chrysostom: "Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening."

• St. Isaac the Syrian: "The more you meditate on the Holy Scriptures, the more you will be filled with the Holy Spirit."

• St. Seraphim of Sarov: "Acquire the spirit of peace and thousands around you will be saved."

• St. Paisios the Athonite: "The greatest gift of God is love."

These are just a few examples of the many teachings of the Bible and the Church Fathers on how to live a spiritual life. By following their guidance, we can grow closer to God and live a more fulfilling life.