Praxis - Putting our Faith into Action

I came across a few very enlightening bits of information and thought I'd share them. They are very helpful in giving us a goal as to how we should be living our lives and the types of things we should be doing as Orthodox Christians.

First of all, an excerpt from http://www.rocor.org.au/news/?p=24 (emphasis is mine)
Father James Carles says: "Last year, some may recall, I spoke to you about what Saint Seraphim of Sarov called the 'necessary means' of Christian life: the various spiritual disciplines that our Holy Orthodox Church alone preserves in fullness. We discussed then how we can put God at the center of our lives and protect our life-giving relationship with Him by:

• Reading the Holy Scriptures every day;
• Saying morning and evening prayers;
• Praying in church as often as possible, especially on Sundays and feast-days;
• Receiving Holy Communion as often as possible;
• Making the home like a “family church”, with icons in every room;
• Following the church calendar of fasts and feasts; and
• Helping the poor and needy, showing love and kindness to all around us, and praying for others.

The importance of a habit of prayer cannot be overestimated. ... Another icon of the Mother of God, known to us as “Unexpected Joy”, testifies to this. This image was prepared after the experience of a certain lawless man became known. ... The lawless man repented, and from that day forward lived a Christian life. His habit of prayer from childhood – even when his life later was mired in sin – had saved him.

Secondly, here are some "works of mercy" we are called to practice from the website located at http://www.orthodoxnet.com/worship/occasionalprayers.html (incidentally, there are many helpful prayers at this page):

Chief Spiritual Works of Mercy:
1. To admonish sinners.
2. To instruct the ignorant.
3. To counsel the doubtful.
4. To comfort the sorrowful.
5. To suffer wrongs patiently.
6. To forgive injuries.
7. To pray for the living and the dead.

Chief Corporal Works of Mercy:
1. To feed the hungry.
2. To give drink to the thirsty.
3. To clothe the naked.
4. To ransom captives.
5. To shelter the homeless.
6. To visit the sick.
7. To bury the dead.