The love of God is not something that is taught, for we do not learn from another to rejoice in the light or to desire life, nor has anyone taught us to love our parents or nurses. In the same way and even to a far greater degree it is true that instruction in divine …
“In a full belly there is no knowledge of the mysteries of God” By: St Isaac the Syrian Of all forms of ascetic techniques that St Isaac employs, fasting is probably the one that is most difficult to understand for modern man. This is due to some important differences between our time and that of …
The monk ought to be in his appearance and all his actions an exemplar of profit to those who see him, so that by reason of his many virtues which shine forth like sunbeams, the enemies of truth, when they look upon him, will involuntarily confess that the hope of salvation which the Christians have …
Two eminent phenomena distinguished the Christians of the early generations of Christianity, these are the desire for martyrdom and the love of chastity and virginity. We find the dominance of these two phenomena over the believers an ordinary matter which keeps pace with the deep spirituality they enjoyed and the wonderful sublimity they attained by …
The Lord, wishing to show that every commandment is obligatory but that sonship is a gift bestowed on human beings by means of his own blood, says, “When you have done everything that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves, we have done only what we ought to have done”’ (Lk 17.10). …
Among the many themes that St John Cassian discusses with the desert fathers in his conference, is the theme of the attaining the purity of heart. In his first conference titled “on the purpose and goal of the monk” he asks the ultimate question, “What is the purpose and end of the monastic life?” The …
“I sleep, but my heart is awake; it is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, “Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.” Song of Songs 5:2 The virgin of the Song of Songs …
For as the Lord said. "Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord, to me will go Into the kingdom. but the one who will do the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Mat 7:21) Likewise, it is not the one who reads or says or hears Him who will enter life but those who …
St. Anthony used to conquer the devils with humility. Whenever they gathered around him, he used to address them humbly, "Ye strong, what do you want with me who am weak?" and he prayed, "Save me, O God, from those who think I am of any worth though I am too weak to fight even …
St Theodore once asked Apa Pachomius “I desire you to tell me, O my father, that I shall see God; otherwise, what good is it to me ever to have been born?” Our father Pachomius asked: “Do you wish to see Him in this world or in the world to come?” Theodore answered: “I wish …
