All of Virtue is to Be a Stranger To this World (St John Chrysostom) | Skulls & Cityscape | Orthodox Christian Cotton Tank TopThese all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things, declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is

we are then taught what we should ask for first of all

may the speech of the company of heaven be in my mouth

He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death

God will number us with the monastics of the end times

The Lord did not promise us positions as victors as a reward for righteousness

And it is truly astonishing how even the pagans have said something of the sort

" The Lord says

by several individuals

They are the natural results of a chosen lifestyle

He who wins against these three great temptations is invited to sit with Christ on the eternal throne of his glory and blessedness during the absolute and final triumph of Christ and the final triumph of the faithful as well

and by the word of their testimony

The Nicaea Icon is of a similar design to the Icon of the "Inexhaustible Chalice" Icon