On the Study of the Gospel Commandments and on Living by the Gospel Commandments (Saint Nikon of Optina)

One elder told his disciple that when he was still a layman, he came to his acquaintances and, among other things, began to talk about God, about the faith of Christ and about other spiritual subjects. One of those present did not agree with his reasoning and even expressed her disbelief and, in any case, disagreement with the teaching of the Orthodox Church.

A prophesy of the future lawlessness (St. Anatoly the Younger)

 

From that heresies will spread everywhere and deceive many people. The enemy of the human race will act with cunning in order to draw into heresy, if possible, even the elect.

He will not begin by crudely rejecting the dogmas of the Holy Trinity, the divinity of Jesus Christ and the virtue of the Theotokos, but he will begin imperceptibly to distort the teachings and statutes of the Church and their very spirit, handed down to us by the Holy Fathers through the Holy Spirit.