By the time of St. Athanasius (295-373) the concept of spiritual martyrdom had become fairly uniform and definite. From the first remarks of St. Athanasius about the spiritual martyrdom of St Anthony to those of Sulpicius Severus about the martyrdom of St Martin of Tours, the requirements for spiritual martyrdom remain rather constant. The requirements …
Go show yourselves to the priests Luke 17:14 The holy sacrament of confession can rightly be called “the Forgotten Medicine.” The whole world is lying in evil. Every one of us is infected with the deadly disease of sin, and one can be cured from this disease! The medicine is provided, and it is miraculous …
The cell was regarded in the apophthegms as a specific space where one lived and followed a particular praxis that suited the monastic. The cell was set aside from other spaces because it was the place for serious spiritual work, which often included battles against thoughts and demons. A brother went to Abba Moses to …
The Coptic monk is one who, above all, abides in the presence of God. Whereas, it may happen that a member of the laity might avoid renting a flat immediately next to a church because the constant reminder of divine immanence can become burdensome (e.g., when a husband and wife argue, or when a child …
Why did the church choose the Psalms of David the Prophet and organise them into an Agbia? I do not want to answer this question with my own words but I want you to hear what St John Chrysostom says, “We read the Books of the Old Testament once a year with an effort; we …
If the aim of man’s creation is for this unique creature to enjoy a life of sacred unity with God, then the incarnation can also be understood from the perspective of love. For just as God loved man and created him to enjoy life and have happiness; He gave him His love, His glory. God …
This is the first experience in our encounter with the Lord; He was born in Bethlehem in order to give us the second birth through water and the Spirit. In baptism, the old is buried and everything becomes new. In this holy sacrament we receive salvation from Christ. He gives us the new man and …
The act of writing held an almost sacred place in early Christianity. In putting word to parchment or papyrus, the Christian author ritually and mimetically recalled the incarnation of the divine Word (Iogos) in material form. As Derek Krueger has written, "From the perspective of late antiquity, the connection between logos and body always already …
And now I desire to narrate to you the excellent history and the great repentance of the blessed woman, Thais. For speech concerning her is most excellent, and it is full of encouragement and penitence of soul to those who love God. This woman had a mother who, because her daughter was beautiful of face, …
Let us look at an extract from the beginning of the first sermon: "So listen, O you who have friendship for the man who is discouraged, and look at his affliction when he says, 'Behold, Lord, I am tormented, my heart has become disturbed, and my heart has turned within me because I am in …
