The highest aim for Christianity is not ascetic detachment from the natural life but its hallowing and purification. But in order to purify it, one must, in the first instance, be pure from it.
Adopt A Life of Prayer
"Whoever is used to praying only at such time as the knee is bent, prays very little. But whoever, even on bent knee, is distracted by any sort of wandering heart, prays not at all. And for this reason, it behooves us even before the time of prayer to be such as we would wish... Continue Reading →
The Lord’s Entrance Into Egypt: The Healing of Death and Sin
Hades is fallen, death is abolished, the tyranny of Egypt is overthrown.
In Praise of Athanasius
"In praising Athanasius, I shall be praising virtue. To speak of him and to praise virtue are identical, because he had, or, to speak more truly, has embraced virtue in its entirety. For all who have lived according to God still live unto God, though they have departed hence. For this reason, God is called the... Continue Reading →
Not What You Were But What You Were Made For
When you wish to understand who you are, compare [yourself] not to who you were, but to what you were made from the beginning.Evagrius, Aphorisms, Saying 10 in Cassiday, Augustine M. Evagrius Ponticus. London: Routledge, 2006.
Vanity of Vanities
“Vanity of vanities”, says the Preacher, “vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” ’ "To those who are entering the church of the mind and are wondering at the contemplation of the created things, the Word says, ‘You must not think that these things are the final goal that has been stored up for you by the promises... Continue Reading →
Consecrating An Illustrious Life, Dear to God
"For they did not at all accept the Savior of all; they never stopped insulting him, practicing every kind of wickedness in their cruelty. Their insanity reached such a degree that they nailed to a cross the Author of life, and thought they could conquer by death the one who is greater than death. For... Continue Reading →
Lent and The Exodus From Egypt
"For when first the soul escapes from the Egyptians, the power of God approaches to help and leads it to the truth. But the spiritual Pharaoh, the king of darkness of sin, when it knows that the soul is in revolt and is fleeing out of his kingdom, pursues the thoughts which he so long... Continue Reading →
A Joyous Lent
"Ascend, my brothers, ascend eagerly. Let your hearts' resolve be to climb. Listen to the voice of the one who says: 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of our God (Isa 2.3.), Who makes our feet to be like the feet of the deer, 'Who sets us... Continue Reading →
An Unhoped for salvation
“From the beginning, God did bear human being to be swallowed up by the great whale, who was the author of transgression, not that they should perish altogether when so engulfed, but arranging in advance the finding of salvation, which was accomplished by the Word, through the ‘Sign of Jonah’ [Matthew 12:39-40], for those who... Continue Reading →
Our Slavish Idolatry
“But now your possessions are more a part of you than the members of your own body, and separation from them is as painful as the amputation of one of your limbs. Had you clothed the naked, had you given your bread to the hungry, had your door been open to every stranger, had you... Continue Reading →
He Who Sustains All Came to Birth
"The lofty one become like a little child, yet hidden in Him wasa treasure of wisdom that suffices for all. He was lofty but he sucked Mary's milk, and from His blessings all creation sucks. He is the Living breast of living breath; by His life the dead were suckled, and they revived.Without the breath... Continue Reading →
