Daily Quotes from "Words of the Heart" by Gerondissa Makrina Vassopoulou

Whereas Gerondissa’s book, ”Words of the Heart” is a compilation of homilies/sermons she delivered to the sisters at the Holy Monastery Panagia Odigitria, Protaria, Volos, Greece between 1971 and 1992 during her service as Reverend Mother Superior, “Daily Quotes from ‘Words of the Heart’” is a compilation of quotes from these homilies; sharing Orthodox monastic wisdom with Christian laypeople seeking salvation. I compiled this collection of quotes with the blessing of Gerondissa Efpraxia, Gerondissa Makrina’s spiritual daughter and Reverend Mother Superior at St. John the Forerunner Monastery in Goldendale, Washington, USA. Gerondissa Efpraxia instructed me to choose quotes suitable for laypeople. Being mindful of her instructions, I have chosen quotes inviting you the reader to meditate on the Ancient Faith of the Orthodox Church as preserved by our faithful monastic communities throughout the ages. My personal connection with this fruitful branch of Orthodox Monastic Christianity began when Gerondissa Efpraxia and two other sisters arrived from Greece to start St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Monastery in Goldendale, Washington. I lived only 70 miles away, in Yakima, with my young family.The first time we visited the fledgling monastery, the three founders prepared lunch for us. I was overwhelmed by their humble hospitality and cried my first tears of compunction, feeling my unworthiness of being served by these holy souls.For more than 20 years I have visited Gerondissa Efpraxia and the monastery, asking and receiving her guidance for my life. I will share with you a few personal instructions she gave me along the •Pray for my children every 2 prayer ropes “Lord, enlighten your servants.”•Thank God daily for your illness•Do morning prayers and vespers•Read my Bible daily•Moving near the church would be good• Attend Divine services•Give when you can, but if you can’t afford it, don’tOver the years the monastery of St. John the Forerunner has grow. Now, there are many sisters, new buildings including a beautiful church; several buildings for work, a shop, a guesthouse, and even a small cemetery.Join me in gleaning good fruit from this Holy branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church. We are living our Christian Faith “in the world” and God has not abandoned us. He has sent Gerondissa Makrina’s voice of monastic wisdom to teach us how to love our Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart, our mind, and our soul, and our neighbor as ourselves.