Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone

Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ Our God, and gladdened Thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit; and they were assured by the blessing that Thou art the Son of God and Redeemer of the world.

Love, marriage, and sexuality concern everyone, because love is a vocation for everyone. As Christians, we believe that the entire creation was made through love. The source and end of all things is love, because the source and end of all things is God, and "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16). Saint John Chrysostom describes the All-embracing love of the Incarnate God in a homily on the Gospel of Saint Matthew.

Orthodoxy understands sexuality to be a God-given power that develops and deepens human communion by spiritual and physical love, and the mutual opening out to the other that intimacy fosters. The sexual drive of attraction to intimacy naturally moves in a more complex cycle, as a process of mutating that communion of two persons outwards from spiritual union, to biological diversification, the 'openness' to new life that develops the double bond of the lovers into the extended bond of a new family.

Fear evil like fire. Do not let it touch your heart even if it seems just or righteous. No matter what the circumstances, do not let it come into you. Evil is always evil. Sometimes evil presents itself as an endeavor to God's glory, or as something with good intentions towards your neighbor. Even in these cases, do not trust this feeling. It is wrong labor and is not filled with wisdom. Instead, work on chasing evil from yourself.

In order to wage war one must first identify the enemy. This is one reason why the war against pride is such a great struggle. The passion of pride, which is basically abnormal self-love, is not easily recognized in oneself. Saint Siluan states this quite clearly, "Pride is difficult to detect in oneself..." "No mortal", according to Saint Silouan, can accord his life with the Gospel in all its strength. However much we strain, the commandment in its perfection remains out of reach...There is no absolute perfection on this earth, and it is dangerous to be satisfied with what we have attained."