St. Maximus the Confessor on perfect love for all people

The post features two sayings attributed to St. Maximus the Confessor. The first states: "Blessed is he who can love all men equally." The second explains that perfect love has not been acquired if regard for people still depends on their characters, if one loves some and hates others, or loves and hates the same person at different times.

Also included is an excerpt from Elder Cleopa's "Chapter 4: On the Veneration of the Saints and Angels," which addresses the Orthodox practice of asking saints to intercede. Elder Cleopa clarifies that Christ alone is the mediator and sacrifice for salvation, but the saints entreat Christ for our salvation; they are not placed in Christ's place or beside Him. Additional image fragments show Greek liturgical terms and a dedication dated 1949.