The Church: On Earth As It Is In Heaven | Lord's Prayer | Ancient Russian Wooden Church Design | Orthodox Christian Long Sleeve ShirtThe Church is not a wall and a roof; it is the faithful themselves. The Church is heaven. + St. John Chrysostom The Church is an image of God because it realizes in itself the same union of the faithful that God realizes in Himself between the divine Persons. It is heaven on earth. + St. Maximus the Confessor The Church is the earthly heaven wherein the heavenly God dwells and moves. + St. Symeon the New Theologian The Church is already heaven: where

the Lord of hosts

nor even saw a war

Christ beneath me

rapt in the bliss of manifold blessed contemplations

But when He saith all things are put under Him

who protects us from enemies visible and invisible

and his train filled the temple

but even their influence

Ephraim the Syrian

they shall rejoice

takes pity on me and bestows His Grace upon me

against the world rulers of this darkness