I Am the True Vine (John 15, Ezekiel 15) | Orthodox Cross with Grape Vine | Photocopy Effect | Orthodox Long Sleeve Cotton ShirtI Am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. John 15: 1 2 +++ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any other wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest? Is wood taken from it to make any object? Or can men make a peg from it to hang

+ St Seraphim of Sarov

For they that say such things

But when he saith all things are put under him

Do not from without fetch frankincense

Homily I on the Gospel According to St Matthew

`Far be it from me that I should

and crushed the bars of iron to powder

"To the one who is victorious

But if thou refer the words to an allegory

he immediately throws away and buys the field

Blessed are those servants whom the Lord will find ready when He comes

The practice of asceticism - called ascesis - is most often associated exclusively with monasticism