By St. Andronicus, Archbishop of Perm
To live a godly life, one must know the will of God, the law of Christ, His teachings, which can be learned through the Holy Gospel. This is why everyone must have the Gospel, to study it and to remember that it contains the words of our Lord Jesus.
On Sundays and feast days it is not good to sit in our homes and engage in ordinary occupations and preoccupations. These days we must offer to God for the salvation of our souls and go to church for communal prayer.
Live with piety, like the saints. Which is why you should read the lives of the saints and other good books, from which you will learn the state and conduct of the saints. In Christian antiquity spiritual books, like manuscripts, were very expensive. However the faithful bought them, and both read them and copied them with alacrity. Now spiritual books are printed and are cheap, but the willingness of Christians to buy and study them is small. Those who are parents should themselves study, and encourage their children to do the same.
It is very commendable that you try to build a new temple, as it shows how much you love the church and you are interested in its decoration. Do not forget, however, the inner temple of your soul to embellish it with piety and every virtue.
There are people who live and behave as if they constantly see before them the face of God, because they have enclosed Him within their hearts. In their faces one sees divine peace. Saint Seraphim of Sarov was such a man:
"Instead of occupying yourselves with others, gossiping and judging them, as you do often, occupy yourselves with the lives of the saints, to learn good and not evil."
