One of the fathers said: “The secret of the strength and flourishing of monasticism in the early centuries was the system discipleship followed. The sweet aroma of Lord Christ, which was in the hearts of the fathers in the wilderness attracted many who became disciples to the Lord. That was why the deserts and wilderness …
"The true fast is that in which sins, anger, tongue, and instincts are under control" - St Basil the Great During these most holy days of Lent, one of the most common questions asked when deciding what to purchase from the supermarket is:  "Is it syami (is it fasting)"? You quickly turn the item around …
In His forty days experience of absolute fasting, Christ laid down for us the basis of our dealings with our enemy—along with all his allurements and vain illusions. ''This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting'' (Mk. 9:29). For when a person enters into prayerful fasting, Satan departs from the flesh. As …
We consider fasting a period of love. It is a period to test our love for God, and the love of God for us. We fast plenty in our church. Our church is an ascetic church and that’s how we have come to know Christianity. Fasting in actual fact is a very old commandment. When …
My pious sons and daughters, Monks and nuns of our Coptic Orthodox monasteries on our land Egypt and the various continents of the world. The peace of the Lord that exceeds every mind may protect your hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus. I am writing to you my annual monastic message for the second time, …
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 …
All it was is that I left the monastery to go for a walk in the desert. I walked until the evening. The hour was late and I could not find the way from which I came, so I sat down. Night fell and in the midst of this darkness I lost myself in prayer... …
Matanias, agpia prayers, the Jesus prayer, and contemplations on psalms...these are prayers and supplications made to God by all monks, who, living in isolation, devote themselves entirely to our Lord, pleasing him by perfecting themselves in love, through His grace. But these prayers, while they hold a prominent part amongst monks, clergy and devout laymen …
When we began to speak we said, "See how God honoured you; He glorified and exalted you. You also honour Him, glorify Him. You honour Him even more when you observe His commandments and His laws," someone replied and said, "The devil hinders us and trips us up and does not let us do this, …
Reading, in general, gathers the mind from its wandering and leads it to concentrate on the subject of the reading. When the topic of reading changes, the kind of thoughts will change also. St. Mar Isaac said, "Remembering virtuous people renews in us the desire of virtue. Therefore, spiritual reading does not gather the mind …
