"Beholding Jesus, the author and finisher of the faith, Who, instead of the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, consider Him who suffered such reproach from sinners, that ye should not faint and faint in your souls. Ye have not yet fought unto blood, fighting against sin" (Heb. 12:2-4).

"Therefore, as Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same thought; for he who suffers in the flesh ceases to sin, so that the rest of the time in the flesh he may no longer live according to human lusts, but according to the will of God" (1 Pet. 4:1-2).

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me on My throne, even as I also overcame, and sat down with My Father in His throne" (Rev. 3:21).

He condescended that we might ascend...

Let us be like Christ, for Christ also became like us. Let us become rich in Him, for He also became man for us. He took the worst in order to give the best, He became poor in order that we might be enriched by His poverty. He took the form of a slave so that we might be set free. He condescended that we might be lifted up, He was tempted that we might conquer, He endured disgrace in order to glorify us. He died to save us, He ascended to draw to Himself those who lay on the earth after the fall of sin (11:7).

Those who know the purpose of our calling... we must not listen to theological words in passing, but try to discover the hidden meaning in each utterance and in each word. We are obliged to become like God, as far as it is possible for human nature, but assimilation is impossible without knowledge... (6, 198).

Every action and every word of our Saviour Jesus Christ is a rule of piety and virtue (113:278).

For this reason He was incarnated, as if on an icon depicting both piety and virtue, so that each and every one, looking at Him, would imitate the Prototype as much as possible. For this reason He wore our body, so that we, too, as much as possible, would imitate His life. Therefore, when you hear about His words or deeds, do not accept it as you have to, superficially, but immerse yourself in the depths of contemplation, try to become a partaker of the mysterious essence of what is said (113, 278).

God, who created man, is true Life; therefore, whoever has lost the likeness of God has also lost communion with life... St. Basil the Great (8:56).

As Adam was the beginning of the death of all the living, so our Lord was the beginning of life for all the dead. St. Ephraim the Syrian (31:102).

The Lord has come as an intercessor for you, to call upon the lost, the wounded, to return to you the original image of the pure Adam. St. Macarius of Egypt (33, 192).

A Christian is one who, as far as a person is possible, imitates Christ in words, deeds and thoughts. The Monk John of the Ladder (113, 278).

Each of us is a painter of our own life. Our soul is like a canvas, virtues are colors; Jesus Christ is the image from which we must copy. St. Gregory of Nyssa (113, 278).

He (Jesus Christ) inclined the unbelievers to the faith by persuasion, brought the ungrateful to their senses with condescension, answered those who contradicted with meekness, mercifully tolerated the proud, humbly yielded to persecutors, the murderers of the prophets and the eternal enemies of God, even in the very hour of suffering on the cross, wished to bring them to God (113:279).