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...
“The brethren asked Abba Agathon: “Amongst all of our different activities, father, which is the virtue that requires the greatest effort?” He answered: “Forgive me, but I think there is no labour greater than praying to God. For every...
For once, when about to eat, having risen up to pray about the ninth hour, he perceived that he was caught up in the spirit, and, wonderful to tell, he stood and saw himself, as it were, from outside...
It seems that every year there is news of a Christian group somewhere around the world is being persecuted for their Christian faith. We hear of what’s happening to the Christians in Nigeria, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, etc. In Egypt...
The text tells us about a probably young Upper-Egyptian man, who was a merchant of imported women's fabrics. His extensive contacts with Moslems, especially crafty ones, resulted in him falling into sin with a woman and eventually he was...
The most useful thing in our spiritual life is for us to reflect on suffering, and in particular the sufferings of Christ. Meditation in suffering lifts up the spirit. It lifts the spirit above the level of worldly desires....
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...
“Martha and Mary are very beautifully portrayed in the Gospel as examples of this attitude and manner of behavior. For although Martha was indeed devoting herself to a holy service, ministering as she was to the Lord Himself and...
The brethren said, “Why do the devils fear the labours of the monks, even as the Fathers say, ‘If you wish the devils to be afraid of you, despise lusts?’” The old man said, “They are afraid because of...
The harshest form of covetousness is not even to give things perishable to those who need them. “But whom do I treat unjustly,” you say, “by keeping what is my own?” Tell me, what is your own? What did...
