Church Fathers V3 - Fr George Grube - Saint Mina Coptic Orthodox ...

clear that affliction and suffering are appointed by the Lord for His true slaves
and servants during their life on earth.
- Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov
+ In the very beginning, there existed no pain, no suffering, no illness, or death.
Man was a stranger to sin, sorrow, cares, and difficult circumstances”.
- St. Symeon the New Theologian
+ We should not dread any human affliction, save sin alone; we do not fear
poverty, disease, insult, neither malicious treatment, humiliation, nor death.
- St. John Chrysostom
+ The saints know that the greatest reward of all is to be able to love and serve
God. Thus, God wishing to show that it was not for reward that His saints serve
Him, stripped Job of all his wealth, gave him over to poverty, and permitted him
to fall into terrible diseases. And Job, who was not living for any reward in this
life, still remained faithful to God.
- St. John Chrysostom
+ Earthly life-this brief existence-is given to man by the mercy of the Creator
in order that man may utilize it for his salvation, that is, for the restoration of
himself from suffering and death.
- Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov
+ When man has been deceived and beguiled by the wicked demons, God
comes to him as a physician comes to a man suffering from an illness. For God,
when He finds a sinner, desires not that he pay the penalty for his sins, but
rather, how He may amend him and make him well again.
- St. John Chrysostom
+ The Blessed Apostle Peter openly calls it a gift for someone to be ready in
faith for suffering for the sake of his hope in God. Thus he says, “To you it has
been granted by God not only to believe in Christ, but to also suffer for His
sake” (Philippians 1:29).
- St. Isaac the Syrian
+ He who has given to the poor and has endured troubles with thankfulness
of soul and persevered in difficulties, and feels all the bitterness and pain of
sufferings, keeps his mind pure in the present time. In the life to come he has
great reward, in that he has imitated the sufferings of Christ and patently waited
for Him in the days when temptations and trials assailed him.
- St. Symeon the New Theologian
+ When you are at ease and enjoyment do not rejoice, and when tribulations
come upon you, do not be sullen or consider this as something alien to the way
of God.
- St. Isaac the Syrian
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