RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF ST.JOHN THE BAPTIST

The Beatitudes

Introduction

The Old Testament commandments concerning God and neighbor were a revelation of Law as the basis of moral life. They did not disclose the inner Love of God's Law to mankind. The New Testament...
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

The First Commandment of Blessedness is also the first condition for spiritual life. Whoever is poor in spirit is blessed, says the Lord. This blessed poverty is called spiritual in the Gospel...
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted

In this commandment, Lord Jesus Christ speaks about the contrition and sorrow that come from knowing one's separation and remoteness from God. Christ lists this spiritual mourning next after those...
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth

Meekness is necessary in a spiritual person; the power of meekness erases anger, malice, enmity, and condemnation from the heart and adorns the soul with a gentleness. Christ Himself was meek. Come...
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness

We hardly think about the daily bread that we eat to keep up our strength. But the hungry man thinks about bread constantly; he seeks it everywhere. A man fainting from thirst feels himself ready to...
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy

Mercy is an attribute of Divine love and one of man's noblest sentiments. To show mercy means to be Godlike, for He, according to the testimony of the 102d psalm, is compassionate and merciful ......
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God

In this commandment, Jesus Christ prompts us to achieve purity of heart. The heart is the guardian of our spiritual life. It contemplates whatever the eyes cannot see and the mind cannot grasp....
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God

Our Creator is the God of Peace. The Heavenly Father sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to earth, in order to reconcile man to God. The Apostle Paul speaks with encouragement about Christ the...
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake be called sons of God

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil...