Ακάθαρτος άνθρωπος ( Αγιος Γρηγόριος ο Παλαμάς )

Μου είπε κάποτε προ ετών ο σεβαστός γέρων Γεράσιμος ο Υμνογράφος.

Ο άγιος Γρηγόριος ο Παλαμάς λέει ότι το μόνο το οποίο αδυνατεί να πράξει ο Παντοδύναμος Θεός είναι το να ενωθεί με τον ακάθαρτο άνθρωπο.

Σε αυτό αδυνατεί.


Αγιος Γρηγόριος ο Παλαμάς

Μη φοβηθείς ποτέ, μόνον αγάπα τον Χριστό μας. ( Γεροντας Παϊσιος )

Oι δοκιμασίες κάνουν καλό. Μη φοβηθείς.

Ό Χριστός μας σαράντα μέρες αγωνίσθηκε στην ερημον, αλλά έπειτα Άγγελοι τον υπηρετούσαν.

Είναι πολύ στοργικός ο Χριστός μας.

Συχνά, για ωφέλειά μας, επιτρέπει και δυνατή λύπην. Για λίγο νοιώθουμε πώς μας εγκατέλειψε, αλλά μετά επειδή λυπάται, μας αγαπά, μας πνίγει το έλεος Του, ή στοργή Του.

Μη φοβηθείς ποτέ, μόνον αγάπα τον Χριστό μας. 


Γεροντας Παϊσιος

WE MUST ENDURE LIFE'S DIFFICULTIES WITH JOY (PART 3)—from the book The Salvation of Sinners—

If we carefully considered and examined the weight of the Lord's Cross, our own cross would seem minute and light as a feather. The Lord was hanging
on the Cross completely naked and without any help from anyone. This is why He voiced, "My God, My God, why hath Thou forsaken Me?" (Mt. 27:46). We, on the other hand, are neither naked nor nailed to and hanging from such a cross.
 



On the contrary, we receive considerable consolation from our friends and
relatives during difficult moments. Additionally, God has promised to be next to
us in times of sorrow, and with His help we can endure any hardship.How pathetic we are! Our true God endured various tortures and suffered
such a cruel death on account of our sins. We insignificant and wretched sinners, on the other hand, cannot tolerate even the slightest pain, which our good Lord sends for our own benefit and correction. Oh, how foolish it is for us to seek
Christ in comfort and pleasure!
 



Christ prayed for them who crucified Him: "Forgive them, O Father, for they do not know what they are doing" (Lk. 23:34), whereas we do not want to forgive anyone who hurts us even a bit. The good thief confessed Christ while he was on
the cross, and we ungrateful sinners ridicule Him along with the evil thief saying, "If You are the Son of God, save Yourself and us" (Lk. 23:39). In times of difficulty we deny Him by contending, "If You
are God, deliver us from our cross, and we will believe in You (Mt. 27:43).
 


You should allow ungodly and evil people to suffer, not us. We have done nothing wrong..."Oh, how unrighteous and insensitive we are! We sit back and allow a thief to surpass us in the faith! A condemned criminal in a state of such harsh
suffering and punishment was able to understand better than us the benefit of sorrows! We should mimic the good thief and confess Christ during every sorrow and hardship—even bitter death itself
—, welcoming difficulties not as remorseful and repentant criminals but as true Christians and genuine children of God.
 



If the Lord entered into the glory and bliss (which He as the rightful owner was always entitled to)
after first suffering and enduring His Passion (cf.Hb. 12:2), how much more fitting is it for His servants to suffer in order to inherit the Kingdom that does not belong to them? How is it possible for us slaves to have it easier than our Master, or as
students to be greater than our Teacher? Christ
suffered for us, and we do not want to suffer in order to save our own soul? The Son of God chose to ascend to the Father through scorn and humiliation, and we worthless worms desire recognition and praise?
 

My dear brothers, when we experience difficulties and sorrows, let us not only endure them patiently without complaining, but let us rejoice—because,
indeed, "The sufferings of this present life are not worthy of and cannot be compared to the future glory that will be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18).

False Dispassion - ( Saint John Climacus )

Saint John Climacus. "The Ladder of Divine Ascent". Step 26.


Demons and passions quit the soul entirely or for some length of time. No one can deny that. However, the reasons for such a departure are known to very few.
Some of the faithful and even of the unfaithful have found themselves in the position of being bereft of all passions except one, and that one proved so overwhelming an evil that it took the place of all the others and was so devastating that it could lead to damnation.
The material of the passions is done away with when consumed by divine fire. It is uprooted, and all evil urges retire from the soul unless the man attracts them back again by his worldly habits and by his laziness.
Demons leave us alone so as to make us careless, then pounce on our miserable souls. And those beasts have another trick, of which I am aware; namely, to depart when the soul has become thoroughly imbued with the habits of evil, when it has turned into its оwn betrayer and enemy. It is rather like what happens to infants weaned from the mother's breast, who suck their fingers because the habit has taken hold of them.
There is a fifth kind of dispassion. It comes from great simplicity and from admirable innocence. "To such is help rightly given by the God Who saves the upright of heart" (Ps. 7:11) and Who rids them of ill evil without their perceiving it. They are like infants who when undressed have no realization of the fact that they are naked.


Saint John Climacus

Μυστική σημασία - ( Άγιος Ιγνάτιος Μπριαντσιανίνωφ)

Μερικά από τα θαύματα του Κυρίου μας είχαν μια μυστική σημασία. Μα αυτό δεν σημαίνει πως τα θαύματα αυτά δεν είχαν κάποιο ιδιαίτερο σκοπό. Αντίθετα μάλιστα. Υποδήλωναν μια ευεργεσία γενική• για όλους• που ήταν πια καιρός να εκχυθή σε ολόκληρη την ανθρωπότητα. Ένα τέτοιο θαύμα ήταν η ξήρανση της άκαρπης συκής.

α. η ξήρανση της άκαρπης συκής

Η άκαρπη συκιά ήταν πλούσια σε φύλλα. Μόνο σε φύλλα. Για το δένδρο αυτό η αγία Γραφή, στην διήγηση για την πτώση των πρωτοπλάστων πατέρων, μας λέγει πως η συκιά ήταν ένα από τα δένδρα του Παραδείσου. Από αυτό επήραν ο Αδάμ και η Εύα φύλλα για να κρύψουν την γύμνωσή τους. Πριν πέσουν στην αμαρτία, οι προπάτορές μας δεν είχαν καθόλου αισθανθή πως ήσαν γυμνοί. Δεν την αισθάνονταν τότε την γυμνότητά τους. Τους την έδειξε μετά η αμαρτία. Αυτό μας λέει, πως πρέπει να είναι σωστή η άποψη των αγίων πατέρων, που μας λένε πως ο απαγορευμένος καρπός ήταν σύκο. Κατευθυνόμενος προς την Ιερουσαλήμ ο Κύριος, μας λέγει το Ευαγγέλιο, επείνασε. Και επήγε σε μια συκιά. Μα δεν βρήκε σ’ αυτήν καρπό. Και δίκαια δεν βρήκε. Γιατί τον ζητούσε παράκαιρα. Παράκαιρα είχε αφήσει τον Εαυτό Του ο Κύριος και να αισθανθή την πείνα. Το έκαμε, για να δείξη, ότι η επιθυμία των προπατόρων να φάνε τον απαγορευμένο καρπό δεν ήταν σωστή• ήταν παράκαιρη. Γι’ αυτό επήγε στη συκιά παράκαιρα, εποχή που δεν ήσαν καιρός σύκων. Γι’ αυτό επείνασε παράκαιρα. Επειδή ήλθε να άρη και να διορθώση όλες μας τις κακές επιθυμίες. Και να τις σβήση.

Επήγε λοιπόν ο Κύριος στην συκιά. Μα δεν βρήκε σ’ αυτήν καρπό. Ευρήκε μόνο φύλλα. Και καταπράσινα. Αλλά δεν συγκινήθηκε από αυτά. Και καταδίκασε την άκαρπη συκιά. Και την καταράσθηκε. Όχι μόνο την ακαρπία της. Καταράστηκε ολόκληρο το δένδρο. Και η συκιά ξεράθηκε. Και ο Χριστός στην θέση της εφύτευσε ένα άλλο δένδρο• ή (όπως λέγει η Γραφή) ένα άλλο «ξύλο»: το ξύλο του Σταυρού, που το είχε ετοιμάσει να γίνη το όργανο της σωτηρίας μας.

Το ξύλο-όργανο πτώσης και απώλειας εξηράνθη. Το εξήρανε η εντολή του Κυρίου και Σωτήρα μας. Το θαύμα αυτό, θαύμα γεμάτο σημασία μυστική, ο Κύριος το ετέλεσε μπροστά στους μαθητές του μόνο• μπροστά στους αγίους Αποστόλους μόνο• μπροστά μόνο σ’ εκείνους, που ευδόκησε να τους αποκαλύψη τα βάθη του Πνεύματος.

Το θαύμα αυτό έγινε λίγο πριν ο θεάνθρωπος λυτρωτής μας αρχίση το πιο μεγάλο Του έργο, πριν μας ελευθερώση από τα δεσμά της αμαρτίας και του διαβόλου με τα πάθη Του και τον Σταυρό Του• λίγο πριν ανεβή στον Σταυρό• λίγο πριν φυτεύση το ξύλο του Σταυρού• και το αναδείξη ξύλο ζωής.

Ανάλογα βαθειά είναι η σημασία και πολλών άλλων θαυμάτων, που έκαμαν ο Κύριος και οι Απόστολοι. Ας ιδούμε ένα ακόμη θαύμα διηγηματικά.

β. η θεραπεία του παραλυτικού

Έδινε την εντύπωση ότι δεν είχε στόχο να προκαλέση καμμιά απολύτως ευεργεσία σε κανέναν.

Ας το ιδούμε λίγο διηγηματικά.
Και τότε έφεραν έναν παραλυτικό, κατάκοιτο. Εκείνοι που τον έφεραν, βλέποντας τον συνωστισμό και το πλήθος, τον ανέβασαν στη στέγη. Και αφού άνοιξαν ένα άνοιγμα, τον κατέβασαν από εκεί με το κρεβάτι μπροστά στον Κύριο. Ο εύσπλαγχνος Κύριος, όταν είδε την ενέργειά τους αυτή – καρπό της πίστης τους – είπε στον παραλυτικό: «τέκνον αφέωνταί σοι αι αμαρτίαι σου». Εκεί όμως ευρίσκοντο και μερικοί γραμματείς. Αυτοί ήξεραν το Νόμο με το νι και με το σίγμα. Και επειδή τους έκαιγε το μίσος και ο φθόνος κατά του Θεανθρώπου, ακούγοντας τα λόγια αυτά, επιάστηκαν από αυτά και είπαν: «Τα λόγια αυτά είναι βλάσφημα! Γιατί ποιος μπορεί να συγχωρή αμαρτίες εκτός από ένα και μόνον, τον Θεό;». ο καρδιογνώστης Κύριος, όταν είδε τι διελογίζοντο, είπε: «τι ταύτα διαλογίζεσθε εν ταις καρδίαις υμών; τι εστιν ευκοπώτερον; ποιο είναι για σας πιο εύκολο; ειπείν τω παραλυτικώ; Αφέωνταί σοι αι αμαρτίαι; ή ειπείν• έγειρε και άρον τον κράββατόν σου και περιπάτει;». Με άλλα λόγια ο Χριστός τους είπε: Όταν ξέρη, πως δεν υποχρεωθή να αποδείξη τα λόγια του με έργα, ακόμη και ένας υποκριτής, ένας απατεώνας, εύκολα το ξεφουρνίζει το: «Αφέωνταί σοι αι αμαρτίαι σου». Όμως εγώ δεν λέω κούφια λόγια. Για να το ιδήτε, «ότι εξουσίαν έχει ο Υιός του Ανθρώπου» να συγχωρή τις αμαρτίες «επί της γης» - λέγει στον παραλυτικό: «Σοι λέγω, άρον τον κράββατόν σου και ύπαγε εις τον οίκον σου». Και αυτοστιγμεί ο παραλυτικός έγινε καλά. Και γερός πια, επήρε το κρεββάτι του και βγήκε από το σπίτι εκείνο μπροστά στα μάτια όλων.

Το θαύμα αυτό είναι γεμάτο από τη θεία σοφία και αγαθότητα. Στην αρχή ο Κύριος έδωσε στον πάσχοντα ένα πνευματικό δώρο, μη ορατό με τα μάτια τα αισθητά, αλλά πολύ ουσιαστικό: την άφεση των αμαρτιών του. Όταν ο Κύριος είπε, πως συγχωρεί τις αμαρτίες του παραλυτικού, οι παρόντες λόγιοι ιουδαίοι έκαμαν άθελά τους διακήρυξη, ότι τέτοιο δώρο μπορεί να δώση ένας και μόνος, ο Θεός. Με την απάντηση που τους έδωσε ο Κύριος, δίνει μια νέα απόδειξη ότι είναι πράγματι ο Θεός. Γιατί στο τέλος, το πνευματικής φύσης δώρο Του και η πνευματικής φύσης απόδειξη ότι είναι Θεός, επισφραγίστηκαν με ένα υλικής φύσης δώρο Του και μια υλικής φύσης απόδειξη: με την σε μια στιγμή πλήρη θεραπεία τους ασθενούς.

Ο άγιος ευαγγελιστής Μάρκος στο τέλος του Ευαγγελίου του γράφει: Οι απόστολοι μετά την Ανάληψη του Κυρίου «εκήρυξαν πανταχού τον λόγον, του Κυρίου συνεργούντος και τον λόγον βεβαιούντος δια των επακολουθούντων σημείων» δηλ. με τα θαύματα που εγίνοντο με τον λόγον των αποστόλων. Την ίδια αυτή σκέψη εξέφρασαν και όλοι οι απόστολοι στην προσευχή που έκαμαν μετά τις απειλές που άκουσαν στο Συνέδριο των Ιουδαίων, που τους απαγόρευε να κηρύττουν και να κάνουν θαύματα στο όνομα του Χριστού! Είπαν: «Κύριε, δώσε σε μας τους πιστούς δούλους Σου, να κηρύττωμε τον λόγο Σου με παρρησία και θάρρος. Ενίσχυσέ μας με το να απλώνης το χέρι Σου και να κάνης Συ μέσω ημών διάφορες θεραπείες και άλλα σημεία και θαύματα στο όνομα του αγίου Υιού σου Ιησού».

Τα σημεία εγίνοντο για να βοηθούν τους ανθρώπους να δεχθούν το λόγο του Θεού. Το κύριο ήταν ο λόγος.

Τα σημεία απλώς μαρτυρούσαν τη δύναμη και την αξία του λόγου. Εκεί που εγίνετο δεκτός, τα σημεία ήσαν περιττά. Αυτό εξηρτάτο, από το αν απέδιδαν οι ακροατές στο λόγο την αξία που του ανήκε. Τα σημεία είναι η συγκατάβαση του Θεού στην ανθρώπινη ασθένεια.

Αλλιώς ενεργεί ο λόγος και αλλιώς ενεργούν τα σημεία. Ο λόγος ενεργεί στον νου και στην καρδιά άμεσα. Τα σημεία ενεργούν στον νου και στην καρδιά μέσω των σωματικών αισθήσεων. Τα επακόλουθα του λόγου, που ενέργησε άμεσα, είναι πολύ πιο δυνατά και πιο σαφή από τα επακόλουθα, που δημιουργεί στον νου η ενέργεια των θαυμάτων. Και όταν ενεργούν και τα δυο μαζί, λόγος και θαύματα, τότε η ενέργεια των θαυμάτων περνάει σχεδόν απαρατήρητη λόγω της πλούσιας ενέργειας του λόγου. Αυτό φαίνεται ολοκάθαρα στις διηγήσεις του Ευαγγελίου. Ο Νικόδημος είχε επηρεασθή από τα σημεία και ωνόμαζε τον Κύριο «διδάσκαλο και απεσταλμένο του Θεού». Αντίθετα στον απόστολο Πέτρο ενέργησε ο λόγος του Θεού. Και για αυτό διεκήρυξε, ότι ο Κύριος είναι «ο Χριστός, ο Υιός του Θεού». Του είπε: «Κύριε, ρήματα ζωής αιωνίου έχεις. Και ημείς επιστεύσαμεν και εγνώκαμεν, ότι συ ει ο Χριστός, ο Υιός του Θεού». Ο άγιος Πέτρος είδε με τα ίδια του τα μάτια πολλά θαύματα του Κυρίου. Ο πολλαπλασιασμός των πέντε άρτων και των δύο ιχθύων και ο χορτασμός του πλήθους μόλις είχαν γίνει. Και όμως ο Πέτρος στην ομολογία του αυτή δεν λέγει τίποτε για τα θαύματα. Μιλάει μόνο για την δύναμη και την ενέργεια του λόγου. Το ίδιο συνέβη και με τους Μαθητές, που (χωρίς να το ξέρουν!) πηγαίνοντας για τους Εμμαούς συζητούσαν με τον Κύριο, χωρίς να καταλάβουν ποιος ήταν• και Τον αναγνώρισαν, όταν είχαν πια φθάσει στο χωριό και είχαν σε κάποιο σπίτι καταλύσει• και πότε; «εν τη κλάσει του άρτου»! Μα μόλις Τον αναγνώρισαν, ο Κύριος «άφαντος εγένετο απ’ αυτών». Πόσο το θαύμα αυτό ήταν μεγαλειώδες και καταπληκτικό! Μα εκείνοι δεν ασχολήθηκαν καθόλου με το καταπληκτικό αυτό θαύμα! «Ουχί η καρδία ημών (είπαν μεταξύ τους) καιομένη ην εν ημίν», την ώρα που ο Κύριος «ελάλει ημίν εν τη οδώ και διήνοιγεν ημίν τας Γραφάς»;





Άγιος Ιγνάτιος Μπριαντσιανίνωφ

Τί ωφελεί η ελεημοσύνη ( ΑΓ. ΙΣΑΑΚ ΣΥΡΟΥ )

Εάν θέλεις να δώσεις κάτι σε αυτόν που έχει ανάγκη, δώσε το με όμορφο πρόσωπο, και με λόγια καλά να παρηγορείς την θλίψη του· και αν πράξεις έτσι, νικάει η ομορφιά του προσώπου σου, αυτό που δίνεις, στην καρδία του, περισσότερο την ανάγκη του σώματος του· την ημέρα που θα ανοίξεις το στόμα σου να κατηγορήσεις κάποιον, θεώρησε τον εαυτό σου νεκρό εκείνη την ημέρα, και όλα σου τα έργα μάταια, και αν ακόμη σου φαίνεται, ότι ειλικρινά και προς οικοδομή σε παρακίνησε ο λογισμός σου να μιλήσεις· γιατί ποια η ανάγκη να καταστρέψει κάποιος το σπίτι του, και να διορθώσει το σπίτι του φίλου του;

Την ημέρα που θα λυπηθείς για κάποιον άνθρωπο, ο οποίος ασθενεί ψυχικά ή σωματικά, εκείνη την ημέρα θεώρησε τον εαυτό σου μάρτυρα, και ότι έπαθες για τον Χριστό, και αξιώθηκες την ομολογία Του.
Καθότι και ο Χριστός για τους αμαρτωλούς πέθανε και όχι για τους δίκαιους. Σκέψου πόσο μεγάλη είναι αυτή αρετή· στ' αλήθεια μεγάλη αρετή είναι να λυπάται κάποιος για τους κακούς, και να ευεργετεί τους αμαρτωλούς περισσότερο παρά τους δίκαιους· αυτό ο απόστολος Παύλος το αναφέρει ως άξιο θαυμασμού· εάν σε όλα σου τα έργα μπορέσεις να έχεις την συνείδησή σου καθαρή, μην φροντίσεις να εκτελέσεις άλλη αρετή.
Σε όλα σου τα έργα ας προηγηθεί η σωφροσύνη του σώματος σου και η καθαρότητα της συνείδησής σου· διότι χωρίς αυτά τα δύο κάθε άλλη αρετή θεωρείται μάταια για τον Θεό.
Να γνωρίζεις ότι κάθε έργο που κάνεις χωρίς σκέψη και εξέταση υπάρχει μάταιο· καθώς ο Θεός υπολογίζει την αρετή με την διάκριση και όχι με την αδιάκριτη ενέργεια.

ΑΓ. ΙΣΑΑΚ ΣΥΡΟΥ

Cremation ( St. Nikolai Velimirovich )

By St. Nikolai Velimirovich (Written in 1956)


You ask me, why is the Orthodox Church against cremation. First of all, because it considers it violent. The Serbs still shudder with the crime of Sinan Pasha, who burned the dead body of St. Sava in Vratsa.*


Do people burn dead horses, dogs, cats and monkeys? I have not heard of this. I have heard of and seen them buried. Why should the dead bodies of people who are the lords of all animals on earth endure violence? Would it not be in all respects much more reasonable to incinerate dead animals, especially in big cities, than people?


Second, because this pagan and barbaric habit disappeared from Europe thanks to Christian civilization two thousand years ago. Anyone who wants to reinstate it doesn't do anything else, neither civilized nor modern nor new, but something ancient which has long expired.


In England, which one can hardly call uncivilized, this form of Neopaganism is very much hated by the people. To tell you a case: during the years of World War II a famous Yugoslav lost his mind. When asked before he died, he said his only desire was to have his body burned.


In our day, our little Yugoslavian community was reduced in the incinerator of Golders Green. When the dead bodies entered the burning furnace we began to tremble with horror. Then they shouted to us on the opposite side of the furnace, "wait a quarter of an hour to see your compatriot in the form of ashes". We waited over an hour and were mystified why the fire struggled with the dead body, and we asked the stoker about this. He apologized saying the furnace was cold, "it is not heated every day, since rarely do volunteers get handed over to the fire". Listening to this we were dissolved, unable to wait at the edge for our compatriot. And we know that in London over a thousand human beings die every day.


I am in America, I saw the graves of the great Presidents Wilson, Roosevelt, Lincoln and many other important persons. None of them are cremated. Now this surprised me, that among the descendants of Saint Sava there could be found those who are like-minded with Sinan Pasha!


But why create an issue that has already been solved? If we want to be loaded with unnecessary worries, then someday we could be troubled by the question on whether to kill our decrepit men and women as do some primitive tribes? And we will create clubs to propagate this "idea"!


Finally, what sense is there in fighting the cemeteries, particularly in this country where the cemetery serves as a national pride, as a source of inspiration, and if you will as the book of the state?


Peace to you and health from God.



St. Nikolai Velimirovich

The mother with one eye

His mother had only one eye ... embarrassed about her hours and hours he hated her.Her job was a cook in the student club. She would cook for the students and teachers to pay for her expenses ... She didn't want to speak to him so they would not find out that she was a mother of a child ... with one eye. The students left quickly when they saw her coming from the kitchen and said that they could not bear the sight, and that caused them an intolerable shiver ...The boy from very young had a problem with the image of his mother.
One day, the mother passed by his school, to say a simple hello. . He felt very upset."How could she do this?" he wondered ...he ignored this, and only threw a hateful look towards his mother while trembling. The next day one of his classmates shouted: "Eh, your mother has only one eye! .. He wanted to die. He wanted to disappear. When he returned home, he said: "If everyone is laughing at me because of you then you should die!". The mother did not answer ..."I did not care about what I said or what I felt, because I was very angry," he said later to a friend. "I wanted to leave that house and not have anything to do with her. So I studied hard in order to leave for a scholarship abroad ... and I did it.He thought, she came and got the job at the club to help me ... couldn't she go somewhere else? ... " .
Later, he got married, bought his own home, had two children and was happy with his life, his children, his wife and his job!One day after years of absence, he asked his mother to visit him.The mother had never seen up close her grandchildren. Once she appeared at the door, the children began to laugh at her, he got angry because she had gone without his request and without her calling him to say that I am coming. Then he shouted: "How dare you come suddenly to my house and scare my children? Get out! Get out! ". His mother replied very quietly: "Oh, I'm sorry sir! I guess I have the wrong address "and she then left, without the kids understanding that this was their grandmother ... Years passed, one day he found in his home mailbox, a letter for a school reunion at the primary school, which was the city where he was born ... He lied to his wife and told her that he had to go on a business trip and was on his way. . Once the reunion of classmates was over, he went to the house that he grew up, just out of curiosity ... The neighbors told him that his mother had died recently and He never uttered a tear. They gave him a letter that she had left for him:
"Dear son, I am thinking of you very often. I am very sorry that I came to your house that day and scared your children. I have learned that you will be attending the school reunion and I feel very happy. Unfortunately, I fear that I may not be able to get out of bed to come and see you. I wrote this letter to be given to you just in case I don't make it in time to see you. I am very sorry that I embarrassed you and that you were ashamed of me when you were young.. You see ... when you were very young, you had a serious accident and lost one of your eye. I could not see my child grow up with one eye and live that way, so I gave you mine. I was so proud that my son would see the world with my help, with my own eyes ... You always have all my love. "Your mother.

Holy Relics-Orthodox Saints

Importance of the Jesus Prayer - Elder Paisos

Many ask why is this Jesus prayer so important. It is not as many eastern meditation practices teach to gain a state of bliss or some psychic experience. The purpose is to keep our soul connected with God so we can live according to His will.

Elder Paisos puts it this way,
The soul must be constantly ready and alert and always in contact with the spiritual headquarters, that is, God. Only then, it will feel secure, full of hope and joy.
When we learn to pray continually, we gain an sense of security because God is always with us to guide and help us no matter what situation we encounter. We are never left to rely solely our own thoughts and reason, but always have God at our side.

The Elder says,
The more we pray, the more secure we feel, on a spiritual basis, of course.




Source: Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain, p 79

CHRIST THE ANTIDOTE OF DEATH IN AN AGE OF DISBELIEF

CHRIST THE ANTIDOTE OF DEATH
IN AN AGE OF DISBELIEF


One of the great challenges of every human being that is born into this world is to discover the ultimate purpose for our existence. As Orthodox Christians, we are brought into the Kingdom of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. This is called the New Creation that has been given to us by the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The first phase of a Christian’s life is in being given the gift of eternal life through Holy Baptism. The second phase of one’s journey of faith is to make the saving message of Jesus Christ an integral part of our lives. This means making a personal commitment to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Once we enter the age of discernment, we are called upon to take the gift of spiritual rebirth we received in baptism and give it meaning through our faith commitment to Jesus Christ. When I say faith commitment, I mean that Jesus Christ becomes a living reality in our lives. This means that the Church and the sacraments that it offers us are more than just traditions and pietistic religious practices. There are far too many of our people today who look upon the sacraments as lifeless rituals. The third phase of our journey in Christian living is the adult stage where we are all immersed in the struggles of life with all its triumphs and tragedies. It is during this critical time, as we live out our limited time here on earth, that we struggle to become Christ-like. It is during this stage of life when all Orthodox Christians are called to prepare their souls to pass over from death to life in Jesus Christ. It is during this stage of life that Orthodox Christians are asked to live in obedience to the commandments of God, go to sacramental confession, and receive Holy Communion frequently.


My dear friends, these thoughts of mine about our Orthodox Christian walk in life have been prompted by the untimely death of a spiritual child of mine. When these tragedies occur we often hear the question, is there any purpose to our struggles in life? My response to this question is there any meaning in life without Christ and His Holy Church in the face of our mortality? These thoughts of mine about our Orthodox Christian walk in life have also been prompted by my recent discussion with three adult Orthodox Christian men born, baptized and raised in the Orthodox Christian Church. In spite of being raised in an Orthodox Christian environment, they still question the reality of Jesus Christ and life after death. These men today are grandfathers and are entering the twilight years of their lives, but it is apparent from our conversation that they have not yet made a commitment to Jesus Christ. It suddenly struck me, after having this conversation that these men suffer from a crisis of faith. Having entered the Greek Orthodox priesthood some fifty-four years ago, I have been privileged to delve deeply into the profound meaning of life as revealed to us by Jesus Christ. My priesthood has also allowed me to see up close the cycle of life unfolding before me. I have seen all the troubles we humans encounter as we move through this veil of tears called earthly life. Having had the privilege of studying the depths of Christ’s saving message, I find it indispensible for all of us to use the time that is allotted to each of us to seek a peaceful, holy, and tranquil end to our lives. If we prepare ourselves properly, our souls will joyfully enter the realm of eternity to dwell with Jesus Christ for all eternity.


There is no doubt, my beloved spiritual fellow travelers, that there is a crisis of faith in the times in which we live. There is also a crisis of faith in far too many of our people in the Orthodox Church today. In view of this fact, it seems that the burden of redirecting these people back to their spiritual roots falls to the Church and its priests. Since this is not an easy task to accomplish, I find it most enlightening and beneficial for me to turn to the wisdom of the holy men and women of the Church who have lived Christ-like lives. The Elders Porphyrios, Paisios, and the Eldress Gabrilia are contemporary examples of holy people who opened the portholes of heaven to harvest the Grace and Wisdom of God. The Elder Porphyrios tells us: “That in the Church we are all one and Christ is the head of the Church. We, the members of the Church, are the body as St. Paul tells us in Colossians 1:18. The Church and Christ are one. The body cannot exist without its head. The body of the Church is nourished, sanctified and lives with Christ. He is the Lord, omnipotent, omniscient, everywhere present and filling all things. He is the pillar and sure foundation of the Church. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the basis for everything. Without Christ the Church does not exist. Christ is the Bridegroom; each individual soul is the Bride.”


The Elder goes on to say: “Christ united the Body of the Church with heaven and with earth: with angels, men and all created things, with all of God’s creation with the animals and birds, with each tiny wild flower and each microscopic insect. The Church thus became the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Eph1:23) Everything is in Christ and with Christ. This is the mystery of the Church. For the people of God there is no such thing as distance, even if they be thousands of miles apart. However far away our fellow human beings may be, we must stand by them. Some people regularly telephone me from a town on the edge of the Indian Ocean—Durban is what it is called, if I am pronouncing it correctly. It’s in South Africa, two hour’s drive from Johannesburg. Indeed, a few days ago they came here. They were taking a sick person to England and they came here first to ask me to read a prayer. I was much moved.”


The Elder Paisios is asked the following question: “Elder, what does ‘Καλό Παράδεισο mean? Could it mean Elder, may you enter the blessedness of Paradise?” The Elder replied. “In any case, in order for anyone to go to Paradise, one must endure much bitterness here in order to acquire a passport for that journey. What terrible things are happening in hospitals! What tragedies! What pain the world has! How many mothers, poor people, are being operated on while thinking of their children and the worry the whole family is going through. How many fathers have cancer and are receiving radiation and the torture they are enduring? They can’t work but yet they continue to have expenses in order to support their families.


“There are also others who are healthy and yet they still cannot make ends meet. How much harder it is for someone who is sick or does not have the energy to work to fulfill all his obligations! These people come to me with all their problems. How much I hear from them every day! I hear about their continuous struggles and difficulties. During the day I hear of all their suffering and at night I fall down fasting before I fall asleep. I sense great bodily fatigue but inner peace.”


***Note: The greeting, Καλό Παράδεισο, (A Blessed Paradise), is a traditional greeting among many Orthodox monks and laymen. It is used on the occasion of name days and other special occasions. It replaces the common Greek phrase Χρόνια Πολλά, (Many Years), and thus more properly focuses not on more earthly years but inheriting a Blessed Paradise.


A PARALYZED BOY IS HEALED AT THE MONASTERY
OF PANAGIA MALEVI IN GREECE


Nun Agne told us the following story. “In 2007, a fifteen year-old boy came to the Monastery seeking healing since he was at death’s door. He was from the Island of Cyprus and had suffered with cancer for most of his youthful years. His father had died and his mother tried to remain strong for her sick son and for his younger brother Basil. The child had gone through 23 operations without any success. His condition got worse and the doctors at a large hospital in Athens told his mother that he needed more surgery. They also told her they did not know whether or not he would survive the operation since he was paralyzed. His mother, on the night before traveling to Athens, saw the Holy Mother in a dream and the Holy Mother said to her: ‘Don’t worry. I am Panagia Malevi. Come to my home and Andrew will get well.’ The woman, as soon as she awoke asked her mother who Panagia Malevi was but the mother had no idea who she was. They inquired and found out that the Monastery was in the area of Greece called Kainourgia. Thus, the woman and her child took an airplane from Athens and upon arriving in Kainourgia they rented a taxi to come to our Monastery.”

“According to the nun, the inhabitants of the village, the nuns and the taxi driver helped the mother with the wheelchair and brought her son into the Church to venerate the miraculous icon of the Holy Mother. As soon as the child venerated the icon, he felt that the Holy Mother filled him with strength. The child said that he felt that something strange penetrated his body and he immediately cried out: ‘let me walk.’ His mother and all those present were stunned by this. Everyone began to cry and Andrew stood up. He first walked and then he began to run. The nun Agne said: ‘I have been at this Monastery for forty years and I confess to you that at that moment, I felt the presence of Panagia (Holy Mother) very powerfully and I trembled. Andrew left the Monastery walking normally. He left his wheelchair here because he no longer needed it.’ The doctors who examined the boy after his visit to Panagia Malevi could not believe that the child was walking again and was still alive. Oddly enough the tests furthermore showed that he still had cancer in much of his body but the child appeared to be healed. Ever since that time Andrew and his mother visit the Monastery once a year to thank Panagia (Holy Mother).”


GLORY BE TO GOD IN HIS HOLY SAINTS


THE ELDER IAKOVOS TSALIKIS AND THE WONDROUS
MULTIPICATION OF FOOD


The following is a story that happened in the Monastery built by Saint David in 1550 on the beautiful Island of Evia. I have been blessed to have visited this beautiful Monastery and reverenced the resting places of both Saint David and the Elder Iakovos Tsalikis. The Elder was born in Asia Minor on November 5, 1920 and he fell asleep in the Lord on November 21, 1991. He is a contemporary of the Elders Porphyrios and Paisios. The miracle of the multiplication of the food through the intercessions of Saint David is truly a contemporary miracle and very few Orthodox Christians in America know about Saint David of Evia and the Elder Iakovos. Both of these holy men were miracle workers while alive although more than five hundred years separates their ministries in the world. Remember that the Elder Paisios says that there are no distances that separate Christians in this universe. +Fr. Constantine J. Simones


“In August 1963, 75 people from Livanata, Greece came to visit the Monastery of the Elder Iakovos in Evia, Greece. They came to work on the Monastery cistern, the spring of Holy Water. Many came from Livanata, the homeland of St. David of Evia and had vowed to give something to the Monastery in honor of St. David. They vowed to honor him either in work or with money. These 75 men along with 15 others from the Monastery were working on the cistern. Fr. Iakovos was coordinating the work but he was the only one who could prepare the food during the stay of these good people. He realized that he did not have enough food supplies on hand to feed this many people. The food supplies they had on hand only lasted for one day and he had no money to buy more food. He looked in all the supply rooms to find more food. He was able to find only 3.25 kilograms of orzo and a half loaf of bread. The monk Efthymios also had a half loaf of bread. This certainly was not enough food to feed the one hundred people who were working on the cistern. At this point, the Elder Iakovos became worried and did not know what to do. He was on the verge of tears knowing that he could not feed all these people. But suddenly he was struck with an idea. He found a pot and put the orzo in it along with the two half loaves of bread he had. He then went into the Church and stood before the icon of St. David and literally spoke to him:


“My dearly beloved Saint, these people are working on your Monastery. They are tired and hungry and I have nothing else to give them to eat other than this orzo, a little olive oil, and these two half loaves of bread.” As the Elder was talking to St. David, he held out the food items that he had available to him. “I entreat you to bless them so that all of the workers might eat and be filled.” He put all the items into the pot and cooked them. He then proceeded to feed all the workers. They all ate and were filled and there were leftovers. Many people witnessed this miracle including the current Abbot Fr. Cyril. Many years later, speaking about the miracles of St. David, Fr. Iakovos said: “My brothers, once again there was the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand.”

MOTHER GAVRILIA
THE ASCETIC OF LOVE
OCTOBER 15, 1897—MARCH 28, 1992

Gavrilia was born in Constantinople on October 15, 1897. She was the fourth and last child of Elias and Victoria Papayanni. She was a most unusual woman who spent most of her life living penniless as a neptic ascetic and missionary. Neptic in Orthodox theology means prayerful wakefulness or prayerful watchfulness. She was a missionary to the lepers, the blind and the lost. She offered her life as a humble offering, as a spiritual holocaust to both God and man. Her life was a journey of true Christ-like love that covered four continents. She ended her life being tonsured a nun at a Monastery on the Island of Leros, Greece on August 13, 1991. The following are some of the precious words that came forth from her sanctified life: “Orthodox spirituality is knowledge acquired through suffering rather than through learning. Do not wish for many things, whether they are within or outside of your each. Instead, take care of sanctifying the little that you have. Man wants his freedom. Why? So that he may be a slave to his own passions. Our purpose should be to have the Holy Spirit in our hearts, even when we have the parasite in our heads. We become the reflection of heaven by saying: ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ When God created us, He gave us life and breathed His Holy Spirit into us. This is the Spirit of love. When love deserts us, we become as dead as corpses. We are not alive any more. When thoughts of passing judgment on another person cross our mind, pray God to take them away at once, so that you may love this person as He does. Then God will help you see your own faults. If Christ were visible, could you have such thoughts? We must love people and accept them in our hearts as God presents them to us. It has been thus ordained by the Lord Himself and Orthodox Tradition. The agony of dying is the effort made by the soul to free herself and run towards God. A miracle is the normal course of events according to God’s will. What we call a miracle is only what is natural to God.”

“What would you do if the Lord were present and visible? Would you do certain things if He were here by your side? Thinking this way protects us from committing sins. Beyond the realm of love the will of God will protect you and teach you how to speak to others. Since I am always submitted to the will of God, I can never be anxious about anything. When we become the mirror in which the other person sees his own reflection and this mirror is filled with joy, he will surely see some joy also. We have need of three things in life: first faith, second faith and third faith.”


Her biographer says the following things about the final days of her life: “I remember that when on January 1, 1992, she was at the service for the blessing of the New Year’s Bread, she no longer concealed that she was leaving the world. Seeing in her thoughtful gaze a reflection of heaven, we were filled with awe and a sense of nostalgia knowing that the separation was soon to take place. Again, how could we not see her off with all our heart, with all our soul having an unexplainable joy which is not like any other? During the last month of her life on earth, Mother Gavrilia was no longer seeing anyone except Bishop Nektarios and Father Nicodemus. She kept silent. Still, a few days before her passing away, she found the strength to speak and we recorded her words for her spiritual children. She bid them farewell and gave them her last blessing. She received Holy Communion, and in full readiness entered the gates of heaven.”


“At a quarter past six that morning on March 28, 1992, a few minutes before sunrise, a different serenity filled her cell. Suddenly, she lifted her arms to heaven and with trembling hands tried to tell us something. We understood what it was the moment she gave up her last breath. Probably she had seen or felt a presence. What is most unbelievable is that, at that very moment, we heard quite clearly a youthful voice sing an unknown melody, joyfully, angelically. This lasted a few brief seconds then silence and an absence and a void pervaded her monastic cell.”
St. Makarios, the Great, of the Egyptian desert says the following words about unique spiritual people like Eldress Gavrilia: “The good servants of the Lord permanently have at their sides angels to protect them; and when they depart from the body, again a host of angels take their souls and deliver them to the Lord, to Whom belong all glory, honor and worship, now and forever. Amen.”


In conclusion, my dear people, in the face of this great cloud of witnesses that proclaim the living reality of the Jesus Christ, how can any of us deny the Lord of life in an age of disbelief?


+Fr. Constantine J. Simones, July 25, 2013, Waterford, CT, USA


THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF OUR HOLY MOTHERS AND
FATHERS LORD JESUS CHRIST, OUR GOD, HAVE MERCY ON US


AND SAVE US. AMEN.


http://apantaortodoxias.blogspot.ca/

Ὁ στρατιώτης τοῦ Χριστοῦ ( Άγιος Νικόδημος ο Αγιορείτης )

Ὅπως ἔχει ὑποχρέωσι ἀναπόφευκτη κάθε χριστιανός, ὅταν χάση τὴν εἰρήνη τῆς καρδιᾶς του νὰ κάνῃ τὸ ὅ,τι μπορεῖ γιὰ νὰ τὴν ξαναποκτήσῃ, ἔτσι πάλι πρέπει νὰ γνωρίζῃ, ὅτι κανένα γεγονὸς ποὺ συμβαίνει στὸν κόσμο, ποὺ θὰ τοῦ συνέβαινε, δὲν εἶναι σωστὸ καὶ φρόνιμο νὰ τοῦ στερῇ ἢ νὰ τοῦ κλονίζῃ τὴν παρόμοια εἰρήνη. Πρέπει ναί, νὰ λυπούμαστε γιὰ τὶς ἁμαρτίες μας, ἀλλὰ μὲ ἕναν πόνο εἰρηνικό, κατὰ τὸν τρόπο, ποὺ προηγουμένως ἔδειξα σὲ πολλὰ σημεῖα· καὶ ἔτσι, χωρὶς ἐνόχλησι τῆς καρδιᾶς, νὰ συμπονᾶμε μὲ εὐλαβῆ διάθεσι ἀγάπης κάθε ἄλλο ἁμαρτωλὸ καὶ νὰ κλαῖμε ἐσωτερικὰ τὸ λιγότερο· δηλαδή, ἂς πενθοῦμε γιὰ τὰ σφάλματά του. Γιὰ τὰ ἄλλα ποὺ συμβαίνουν, τὰ βαρειὰ καὶ βασανιστικά, ποὺ μᾶς ἔρχονται, ὅπως ἀσθένειες, πληγές, θάνατοι τῶν συγγενῶν μας, ἐπιδημίες πείνας, πόλεμοι, φωτιὲς καὶ ἄλλα παρόμοια κακά, ἂν καὶ οἱ κοσμικοὶ τὰ ἀποστρέφωνται τὶς περισσότερες φορές, ὡς ἐνοχλήσεις τῆς φύσεως, παρόλα αὐτά, μποροῦμε μὲ τὴν χάρι τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὄχι μόνο νὰ τὰ ὑποφέρουμε, ἀλλὰ καὶ νὰ τὰ θέλουμε καὶ νὰ τὰ ἀγαπᾶμε, σὰν δίκαιη τιμωρία στοὺς παράνομους καὶ σὰν ἀφορμὲς τῶν ἀρετῶν στοὺς καλούς· ἐπειδὴ σὲ αὐτὸν τὸ σκοπὸ ἀποβλέπουμε, καὶ αὐτὸ ἀρέσει ἀκόμη καὶ σὲ αὐτὸν τὸν Κύριό μας καὶ Θεό, ποὺ ἂς τὰ στέλνει· τοῦ ὁποίου τὸ θέλημα ἀκολουθώντας ἐμεῖς, θὰ περάσουμε μὲ καρδιὰ ἥσυχη καὶ ἀναπαυμένη ὅλες τὶς θλίψεις καὶ τὰ βάσανα τῆς τωρινῆς ζωῆς. Καὶ νὰ εἶσαι βέβαιος, ὅτι κάθε παρενόχλησις καὶ ταραχὴ τῆς καρδιᾶς μας, δὲν ἀρέσει στὰ θεϊκὰ μάτια· γιατὶ ὅποια καὶ νἆναι αὐτή, πάντα εἶναι συντροφιασμένη ἀπὸ ἀτέλεια καὶ πάντα προέρχεται ἀπὸ κάποια κακιὰ ρίζα τῆς φιλαυτίας.

Γι᾿ αὐτὸ νὰ ἔχῃς πάντοτε ἄγρυπνη μία σκοπιὰ παρατηρήσεως, ἡ ὁποία ἀμέσως μόλις δεῖ κάτι ποὺ μπορεῖ νὰ σὲ ἐνοχλήσῃ καὶ νὰ σὲ ταράξη, ἂς σοῦ κάνῃ νόημα, γιὰ νὰ καταλαβαίνῃς γιὰ τί πρόκειται καὶ νὰ πιάνεις τὰ ὅπλα στὸ νὰ διοικῆσαι σκεπτόμενος, ὅτι ὅλα ἐκεῖνα τὰ κακὰ καὶ ἄλλα παρόμοια πολλά, ἂν καὶ φαίνονται ἐξωτερικὰ κατὰ τὴν αἴσθησι κακά, δηλαδὴ βλαβερά, ὅμως δὲν εἶναι ἀληθινὰ κακά, οὔτε μποροῦν νὰ μᾶς ἀφαιρέσουν τὰ πραγματικὰ καλὰ καὶ ὅτι ὅλα τὰ διατάζει καὶ τὰ παραχωρεῖ ὁ Θεός, γιὰ τοὺς σωστοὺς σκοποὺς ποὺ εἴπαμε πρὶν καὶ μᾶς συμφέρουν καὶ γιὰ ἄλλα, ποὺ δὲν εἶναι γνωστὰ σὲ μᾶς, ἀλλὰ πολὺ δίκαια καὶ πολὺ ἅγια χωρὶς ἀμφιβολία. Καί, ἂν σὲ κάθε θλιβερὸ καὶ ἀντίθετο γεγονὸς ποὺ συμβαίνει, παραμένῃ ἡ καρδιά σου ἔτσι ἀναπαυμένη καὶ εἰρηνική, μπορεῖ νὰ ἔχῃς πολὺ κέρδος· ἂν ὅμως ταράζεται, γνώριζε ὅτι κάθε ἄσκησι ποὺ κάνεις, σοῦ ἀποδίδει ἢ καμία ἢ πολὺ μικρὴ ὠφέλεια.

Ἐπιπλέον λέω καὶ αὐτό, ὅτι ὅταν ἡ καρδιὰ ἐνοχλῆται καὶ ταράσσεται, εἶναι πάντα κάτω ἀπὸ τὰ διάφορα χτυπήματα καὶ τοὺς πολέμους τῶν ἐχθρῶν καὶ τὸ σπουδαιότερο, ὅταν εἴμαστε ταραγμένοι δὲν μποροῦμε νὰ δοῦμε καλὰ καὶ νὰ διακρίνουμε τὸν ἴσιο δρόμο καὶ τὴν ἀσφαλῆ πορεία τῆς ἀρετῆς· ὁ ἐχθρός μας λοιπὸν διάβολος ποὺ μισεῖ πολὺ αὐτὴν τὴν εἰρήνη (ἐπειδὴ εἶναι μέρος, ποὺ κατοικεῖ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ Θεοῦ, γιὰ νὰ ἐνεργήσῃ μεγάλα πράγματα), πολλὲς φορὲς ἔρχεται σὰν φίλος καὶ δοκιμάζει νὰ μᾶς τὴν πάρη, χρησιμοποιώντας διάφορες ἐπιθυμίες , οἱ ὁποῖες μας φαίνονται πὼς εἶναι καλές· ἀλλὰ πόσο αὐτὲς εἶναι ἀπατηλὲς καὶ ψεύτικες, μπορεῖς μεταξὺ τῶν ἄλλων στοιχείων νὰ τὸ γνωρίσῃς κι ἀπὸ αὐτό· δηλαδή, ἐπειδὴ μᾶς κλέβουν τὴν εἰρήνη τῆς καρδιᾶς.

Γι᾿ αὐτό, ἂν θέλῃς νὰ ἐμποδίσῃς τὴν τόση μεγάλη ζημιά, ὅταν ὁ παρατηρητής, δηλαδὴ ὁ νοῦς καὶ ἡ προσοχὴ τοῦ νοῦ, σὲ προειδοποιήσῃ ὅτι κάποια νέα ἐπιθυμία κάποιου καλοῦ ζητεῖ νὰ μπῆ μέσα σου, μὴν τῆς ἀνοίξης τὴν εἴσοδο τῆς καρδιᾶς, ἂν δὲν ἐλευθερωθῇς πρῶτα ἀπὸ κάθε θέλημα δικό σου καὶ τὴν παρουσιάσης στὸ Θεὸ καὶ ὀμολογώντας τὴν τυφλότητα καὶ ἀγνωσία σου, νὰ τὸν παρακαλέσῃς θερμὰ νὰ σὲ φωτίσῃ μὲ τὸ δικό του φῶς, γιὰ νὰ δῇς, ἐὰν αὐτὴ ἡ ἐπιθυμία προέρχεται ἀπὸ ἀντίδικο ἐχθρό· καὶ γι᾿ αὐτό, τρέξε στὸν πνευματικό σου πατέρα καὶ ἄφησέ το, ὅσο μπορεῖς, στὴν κρίσι ἐκείνου. Ὅμως, ἂν καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία ἐκείνη εἶναι ἀπὸ τὸν Θεό, πρέπει ἐσύ, πρὶν νὰ τὴν ἐπιχειρήσῃς, νὰ ταπεινωθῇς καὶ νὰ θανατώσῃς τὴν μεγάλη σου προθυμία καὶ θερμότητα, ποὺ ἔχεις γι᾿ αὐτή· διότι τὸ ἔργο ἐκεῖνο, τοῦ ὁποίου προηγεῖται αὐτὴ ἡ δική σου ταπείνωσις, ἀρέσει πολὺ περισσότερο στὸ Θεό, παρὰ νὰ γίνῃ μὲ τὴν ἐπιθυμία τῆς φύσεως - μάλιστα καμιὰ φορὰ τοῦ ἀρέσει πολὺ περισσότερο ἐκείνη ἡ δική σου ταπείνωσις, παρὰ αὐτὸ τὸ ἴδιο τὸ ἔργο. Καὶ μὲ τὸν τρόπο αὐτόν, ἀφοῦ ἀποβάλλεις ἀπὸ τὸν ἑαυτό σου τὶς ἐπιθυμίες, ποὺ δὲν εἶναι καλὲς καὶ μὴ κάνονας τὶς καλές, ἂν δὲν καθησυχάσης πρῶτα τὶς φυσικές σου κινήσεις, θὰ κρατήσῃς τὴν εἰρήνη καὶ τὴν ἀσφάλεια, τὴν ἀκρόπολι τῆς καρδιᾶς σου.

Γιὰ νὰ διαφυλάξης ἀκόμη τὴν καρδιά σου εἰρηνική σε κάθε πρᾶγμα, πρέπει νὰ τὴν ἐλέγχῃς καὶ νὰ τὴν φυλᾷς ἀπὸ κάποιες ἐπιπλήξεις καὶ ἐσωτερικοὺς ἐλέγχους τῆς συνειδήσεώς σου, οἱ ὁποῖοι μερικὲς φορὲς εἶναι τοῦ διαβόλου, μολονότι φαίνονται ὅτι εἶναι τοῦ Θεοῦ, μὲ τὸ νὰ σὲ κατηγοροῦν γιὰ κάποιο λάθος· τοὺς παρόμοιους ἐλέγχους, ἀπὸ τὰ ἀποτελέσματά τους θὰ τοὺς ἀναγνωρίσῃς ἀπὸ ποῦ προέρχονται. Γιατὶ, ἂν σὲ ταπεινώνουν καὶ σὲ κάνουν ἐπιμελῆ στὸ νὰ ἐργάζεσαι καὶ δὲν σοῦ ἀφαιροῦν τὴν ἐλπίδα καὶ ἐμπιστοσύνη ποὺ ἔχεις στὸν Θεό, πρέπει νὰ τοὺς δέχεσαι σὰν ἀπὸ τὸν Θεὸ καὶ νὰ τὸν εὐχαριστῆς· ἂν ὅμως σὲ συγχύζουν καὶ σὲ κάνουν μικρόψυχο, δύσπιστο, ἀμελῆ καὶ ὀκνηρὸ στὸ καλό, νὰ εἶσαι βέβαιος πὼς προέρχονται ἀπὸ τὸν ἐχθρό· καὶ μὴ τοὺς δίνης σημασία, ἀλλὰ ἀκολούθησε τὸν δρόμο σου καὶ τὴν ἐξάσκησί σου. Γιατὶ, καὶ ἐκτὸς ἀπὸ ὅλα αὐτὰ ποὺ σοῦ εἶπα, πλέον ἀπὸ κοινοῦ, γεννιώνται στὴ καρδιά μας οἱ παρενοχλήσεις καὶ οἱ συγχύσεις, ἀπὸ τὰ περιστατικὰ τῶν ἀντιθέτων πραγμάτων, ποὺ μᾶς ἀκολουθοῦν σὲ αὐτὸν τὸν κόσμο.

Ἀλλὰ ἐσύ, γιὰ νὰ προφυλαχθῇς ἀπὸ αὐτὰ τὰ χτυπήματα τῆς συγχύσεως, μπορεῖς νὰ κάνῃς δυὸ πράγματα· τὸ ἕνα εἶναι νὰ σκεφθῇς σὲ ποιὸ εἶναι ἀντίθετα ἐκεῖνα τὰ περιστατικά· στὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὴν ψυχή; ἢ στὴν ἀγάπη τοῦ ἑαυτοῦ μας καὶ τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν μας; Γιατὶ, ἂν εἶναι ἀντίθετα στὶς ἐπιθυμίες σου καὶ τὴν ἀγάπη τοῦ ἑαυτοῦ σου (ὁ ὁποῖος εἶναι γενικὰ ὁ πρῶτος ἐχθρός σου), δὲν πρέπει νὰ τὰ ὀνομάζῃς ἀντίθετα, ἀλλὰ νὰ τὰ ἔχῃς γιὰ εὐεργεσίες καὶ βοήθεια τοῦ Ὑψίστου Θεοῦ, ὁπότε καὶ μὲ χαρούμενη καρδιὰ καὶ εὐχαριστία νὰ τὰ ἀποδέχεσαι· ἐὰν ὅμως καὶ εἶναι ἀντίθετα στὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὴν ψυχή, δὲν πρέπει οὔτε γι᾿ αὐτὸ νὰ χάνῃς τὴν εἰρήνη τῆς καρδίας σου, ὅπως θὰ μάθης στὸ ἑπόμενο κεφάλαιο· τὸ ἄλλο εἶναι νὰ ὑψώσῃς τὸν νοῦ σου στὸ Θεό, καὶ μὲ μάτια κλειστὰ (χωρὶς νὰ θέλῃς νὰ γνωρίζῃς κάτι ἄλλο), νὰ δέχεσαι κάθε περιστατικὸ ἀπὸ τὸ σπλαγχνικὸ χέρι τῆς θείας πρόνοιάς του, σὰν πρᾶγμα γεμάτο ἀπὸ διάφορα ἀγαθά .

Γι᾿ αὐτὸ καὶ ὁ Ἀββᾶς Ἰσαάκ, ὄχημα καὶ ἁμάξι τοῦ διαβόλου ὀνομάζει τὴν σύγχυσι, πάνω στὸ ὁποῖο καθήμενος εἰσέρχεται στὴ ταλαίπωρη ψυχὴ καὶ τὴν καταποντίζει (Λόγος λγ´ ). καὶ ὁ Πέτρος ὁ Δαμασκηνὸς λέγει· «Καμμία κακία δὲν εἶναι τόσο εὔκολη γιὰ τὴν ἁμαρτία, ὅσο ἡ σύγχυσις (Φιλοκαλία).
 
Γι᾿ αὐτό, ἄξιο μνήμης εἶναι ἐκεῖνο, ποὺ συνήθιζε νὰ λέγῃ πάντα ὁ θεῖος Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος, σὲ κάθε περίστασι ποὺ τοῦ συνέβαινε, καλὴ καὶ κακή, δυστυχῆ καὶ εὐτυχῆ· εἶναι δὲ τὸ ἀπόφθεγμα αὐτό: «Δόξα τῷ Θεῷ πάντων ἕνεκεν οὐ γὰρ παύσομαι τοῦτο ἐπιλέγων ἀεὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσί μοι τοῖς συμβαίνουσι» (ἐκ τῶν πρὸς τὴν Διάκονον Ὀλυμπιάδα ἐπιστολῶν ια´)· τὸ ὁποῖο καὶ ὁ Θεσσαλονίκης θεῖος Γρηγόριος μιμούμενος, αὐτὸ τὸ ἴδιο συνήθιζε καὶ ἔλεγε, ὅπως βλέπουμε στὸ βίο του.


 Άγιος Νικόδημος ο Αγιορείτης

Αόρατος Πόλεμος ( Άγιος Νικόδημος ο Αγιορείτης )

Ἡ καρδιά σου, ἀγαπητέ, κτίσθηκε ἀπὸ τὸν Θεὸ μόνο γιὰ τὸν σκοπὸ αὐτόν, δηλαδὴ γιὰ νὰ ἀγαπᾶται καὶ νὰ κατοικῆται ἀπὸ αὐτόν. Γι᾿ αὐτὸ καθημερινὰ σοῦ φωνάζει νὰ τοῦ τὴν δώσῃς: «Υἱέ, δός μου τὴν καρδιά σου» (Παρ. 23,26). Ἐπειδὴ ὅμως ὁ Θεὸς εἶναι ἡ εἰρήνη ποὺ εἶναι ἀνώτερη ἀπὸ κάθε νοῦ, πρέπει ἡ καρδιὰ ποὺ πρόκειται νὰ τὸν δεχθῆ, νὰ εἶναι εἰρηνικὴ καὶ ἀτάραχη, ὅπως εἶπε ὁ Δαβίδ: «Ἐγενήθη ὁ τόπος σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ» (Ψαλμ. 75,2). Γι᾿ αὐτὸ πρέπει πρῶτα ἀπὸ ὅλα νὰ στερεώσῃς τὴν καρδιά σου σὲ μία εἰρηνικὴ κατάστασι, ὥστε ὅλες σου οἱ ἐξωτερικές σου ἀρετὲς νὰ γεννιῶνται ἀπὸ τὴν εἰρήνη αὐτὴ καὶ ἀπὸ τὶς ἄλλες ἐσωτερικὲς ἀρετές, ὅπως εἶπε ἐκεῖνος ὁ μέγας ἡσυχαστὴς Ἀρσένιος: «Φρόντισε ὥστε ὅλη σου ἡ ἐσωτερικὴ ἐργασία νὰ εἶναι σύμφωνα μὲ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ νὰ νικήσῃς τὰ ἐξωτερικὰ πάθη». Διότι κι ἂν οἱ σωματικὲς σκληραγωγίες καὶ ὅλες οἱ ἀσκήσεις μὲ τὶς ὁποῖες ἀσκεῖται τὸ σῶμα εἶναι ἄξιες ἐπαίνου, ὅταν εἶναι μὲ διάκρισι καὶ μέτριες, ὅπως ἁρμόζει στὸ πρόσωπο ποὺ τὶς κάνει, ὅμως ἐσὺ ποτὲ δὲν θὰ ἀποκτήσῃς καμία ἀληθινὴ ἀρετὴ μόνο διὰ μέσου τῶν ἀρετῶν ποὺ ἀναφέρθηκαν προηγουμένως, παρὰ ματαιότητα καὶ κενοδοξία, ἂν καὶ οἱ ἀσκήσεις αὐτὲς δὲν παίρνουν δύναμι καὶ ζωὴ καὶ δὲν κυβερνοῦνται ἀπὸ τὶς ἐσωτερικὲς καὶ ψυχικὲς ἀρετές.

Ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου δὲν εἶναι τίποτε ἄλλο παρὰ ἕνας πόλεμος καὶ πειρασμὸς συνεχής, ὅπως εἶπε καὶ ὁ Ἰώβ: «Δὲν εἶναι ἕνα πειρατήριο ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου πάνω στὴ γῆ;» (7,1). Λοιπὸν ἐξ αἰτίας τοῦ πολέμου αὐτοῦ ἐσὺ πρέπει πάντοτε νὰ εἶσαι ἄγρυπνος καὶ νὰ προσέχῃς πολὺ καὶ νὰ παρατηρῇς τὴν καρδιά σου νὰ εἶναι πάντοτε εἰρηνικὴ καὶ ἀναπαυμένη. Καὶ ὅταν σηκώνεται ὁποιοδήποτε κῦμα ταραχῆς στὴν ψυχή σου, νὰ παραμένῃς πρόθυμος γιὰ νὰ ἡσυχάζῃς καὶ νὰ εἰρηνεύῃς ἀμέσως τὴν καρδιά σου μὴ ἀφήνοντάς την νὰ ἀλλάξη πορεία καὶ νὰ καταστραφῆ ἀπὸ τὴν ταραχὴ ἐκείνη. Γιατὶ ἡ καρδιὰ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἶναι ὅμοια μὲ τὸ βαρίδι τοῦ ὡρολογιοῦ καὶ μὲ τὸ τιμόνι τοῦ καραβιοῦ. Καὶ ὅπως ὅταν κάποιο βαρίδι τοῦ ὡρολογιοῦ ξεκρεμασθῆ ἀπὸ τὴν θέσι του ἀμέσως κινοῦνται καὶ ὅλοι οἱ τροχοί, καὶ ὅταν τὸ τιμόνι δὲν πάρη καλὴ στροφή, τότε ὅλο τὸ καράβι φεύγει ἀπὸ τὴν κανονική του πορεία, τὸ ἴδιο συμβαίνει καὶ μὲ τὴν καρδιά: ὅταν μία φορὰ ταραχθῆ, ἀμέσως συγκινοῦνται ὅλα τὰ ἐσωτερικὰ καὶ ἐξωτερικὰ ὄργανα τοῦ σώματος καὶ ὁ ἴδιος ὁ νοῦς βγαίνει ἀπὸ τὴ σωστή του κίνησι καὶ τὸν ὀρθὸ λόγο του. Γι᾿ αὐτὸ πρέπει πάντοτε νὰ εἰρηνεύῃς τὴν καρδιά σου, κάθε φορὰ ποὺ τύχει κάποια ἐνόχλησι καὶ σύγχυσι ἐσωτερική, εἴτε τὴν ὥρα τῆς προσευχῆς, εἴτε σὲ κάθε ἄλλον καιρό.

Καὶ νὰ γνωρίζῃς τὸ ἑξῆς· τότε ξέρεις νὰ προσεύχεσαι καλά, ὅταν γνωρίζῃς νὰ ἐργάζεσαι καλὰ καὶ νὰ παραμένῃς εἰρηνικός, διότι καὶ ὁ ἀπόστολος παραγγέλλει νὰ προσευχώμαστε εἰρηνικά, χωρὶς ὀργὴ καὶ διαλογισμοὺς (Α´ Τιμ. 2,8). Ἔτσι σκέψου ὅτι κάθε ἐργασία σου πρέπει νὰ γίνεται μὲ εἰρήνη, γλυκύτητα καὶ χωρὶς βία. Μὲ συντομία, ὅλη γενικὰ ἡ ἄσκησις τῆς ζωῆς σου πρέπει νὰ γίνεται γιὰ νὰ ἔχῃς εἰρήνη στὴν καρδιά σου καὶ νὰ μὴ συγχίζεται καὶ στὴ συνέχεια μὲ τὴν εἰρήνη αὐτὴ νὰ ἐκτελῇς ὅλα σου τὰ ἔργα μὲ εἰρήνη καὶ πραότητα, ὅπως ἔχει γραφῇ: «Τέκνο μου μὲ πραότητα νὰ ἐκτελῇς τὰ ἔργα σου» (Σείρ. 3,17), γιὰ νὰ ἀξιωθῇς τοῦ μακαρισμοῦ τῶν πράων ποὺ λέγει: «Μακάριοι ὅσοι φέρονται μὲ πραότητα στοὺς ἄλλους, διότι αὐτοὶ θὰ κληρονομήσουν τὴν γῆ τῆς ἐπαγγελίας» (Ματθ. 5,5).



Άγιος Νικόδημος ο Αγιορείτης

Why are we so ready to judge our neighbor? ( St. Dorotheos of Gaza )

Why are we so ready to judge our neighbor? Why are we so concerned about the burden of others? We have plenty to be concerned about, each one has his own debt and his own sins. It is for God alone to judge, to justify or to condemn. He knows the state of each one of us and our capacities, our deviations, and our gifts, our constitution and our preparedness, and it is for him to judge each of these things according to the knowledge that he alone has. For God judges the affairs of a bishop in one way and those of a prince in another. His judgment is for an abbot or for a disciple, he judges differently the senior and the neophyte, the sick man and the healthy man. Who could understand all these judgments except the one who has done everything, formed everything, knows everything?



I remember once hearing the following story: a slave ship put in at a certain port where there lived a holy virgin who was in earnest about her spiritual life. When she learned about the arrival of the ship she was glad, for she wanted to buy a small serving maid for herself. She thought to herself, ‘I will take her into my home and bring her up in my way of life so that she knows nothing of the evils of the world.’ So she sent and enquired of the master of the ship and found that he had two small girls who he thought would suit her. Whereupon she gladly paid the price and took one of the children into her house. The ship’s master went away. He had not gone very far when there met him the leader of a dancing troupe who saw the other small girl with him and wanted to buy her; the price was agreed and paid, and he took her away with him. Now take a look at God’s mystery; see what his judgment was. Which of us could give any judgment about this case? The holy virgin took one of these little ones to bring her up in the fear of God, to instruct her in every good work, to teach her all that belongs to the monastic state and all the sweetness of holy commandments of God. The other unfortunate child was taken for the dancing troupe, to be trained in the works of the devil. What effect would teaching her this orgiastic dancing have, but the ruin of her soul? What can we have to say about this frightful judgment? Here were two little girls taken away from their parents by violence. Neither knew where they came from; one is found in the hands of God and the other falls into the hands of the devil. Is it possible to say that what God asks from the one he asks also from the other? Surely not! Suppose they both fell into fornication or some other deadly sin; is it possible that they both face the same judgment or that their fall is the same? How does it appear to the mind of God when one learns about the Judgment and about the Kingdom of God day and night, while the other unfortunate knows nothing of it, never hears anything good but only the contrary, everything shameful, everything diabolical? How can he allow them to be examined by the same standard?

~St. Dorotheos of Gaza

Dealing with Depression ( Elder Porphyrios )

Almost all illnesses are caused by our lack of trust in the Lord. This creates stress. Stress is caused by the negation of the religious sentiment. Unless you love the Lord and preoccupy yourself with holy deeds, you will certainly have depression and nasty feelings.

There is one thing which helps someone who is depressed: work and showing an interest in living: For example having a garden, some plants, flowers, trees, or getting outside, going for a walk in the countryside, or for a simple walk. All these create an interest and stop a person’s apathy. They act like medicine.

Moreover, being interested in music or the arts is very beneficial. But I specially emphasize the need to show an interest for the Church, for the Gospel and the liturgical services. Just by studying the Lord’s word one is healed without realizing it.

We ought not to be discouraged or be in a hurry. We ought not to judge things superficially or by their external appearance. If for example you happen to see a naked woman or one who is dressed inappropriately, do not criticize her but try to enter her soul. She may have a good heart and may express her existential worries through her wild appearance. She may process an inner strength and wish to show off arousing interest. She may have a distorted view of things because of her ignorance. Imagine what will happen if she does actually come to know Christ. She will become a believer and will direct all this passion towards Christ. She will do anything to attract divine grace. She will become a saint.

Because of our anxiety and our fears we often cause harm to someone without meaning to and without realizing it, even if we love him very much, like a mother does her child. A mother may transfer to the child all her anxiety about his life, his health and progress, even though she does not express it with words. This kind of love, this natural love, may sometimes cause harm. However, this does not happen with the love of Christ which is coupled with prayer and a careful way of life. This love sanctifies and calms a person, since God is love.

Translation of excerpts from the book «ΓΕΡΟΝΤΟΣ ΠΟΡΦΥΡΙΟΥ ΙΕΡΟΜΟΝΑΧΟΥ Ανθολόγιο Συμβουλών»
Published by Η ΜΕΤΑΜΟΡΦΩΣΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΜΗΛΕΣΙ ΑΤΤΙΚΗΣ

The Life Of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou

On July 28th we celebrate the memory of Saint Irene from Cappadocia whose earthly remains now lie in the monastery of Chrysovalantou, near Constantinople.




After the death of the apostate Theophilus, his wife Theodora occupied the throne of Byzantium. She freed the church from the iconoclasts, restored the Holy Icons and re-established a true spirit of holy Orthodoxy. This very blessed woman was to rule the empire until her son Michael came of age.

On Michael’s 12th name day messengers were dispatched by his mother, the empress, to find a suitably beautiful, virtuous and refined girl to be his wife. They found such a candidate in Irene, the daughter of an aristocratic family from the province of Cappadocia. She gladly accepted their proposal and the whole company proceeded to Byzantium greatly impressed by the presence of their future empress. Among the company was Irene’s sister who later married the Empress Theodora’s brother Vardas. While passing Mt. Olympos (near Asia Minor), Irene asked to visit Ioannikos, a saintly recluse of that mountain, to receive his blessing. As he was well known as one who only became visible to the most worthy pilgrims, her request had to be granted.

The hermit, through his gift of spiritual insight, not only foresaw the arrival of the company but also the young girl’s future merits, so as they approached he called out, “Welcome Irene, Servant of God. Proceed to the Imperial City in joy because the convent of Chrysovalantou needs you in the community.”

Irene was amazed at this prophetic power and fell to the ground imploring his blessing. Ioannikos lifted her up, gave her strength with spiritual thoughts and blessed her, so that she was able to continue her journey in great joy. On reaching Byzantium her relatives there, some poor, others patricians and senators, all came to meet her with great ceremony. However, the King of Kings Who created everything out of nothing and orders all things, had, only a few days before arranged for this earthly king to marry another girl so that He, the immortal, invisible, only-wise God could use Irene for His special purpose. Far from being upset, she gave thanks to Him Who had led the Emperor to take this course. Later many of the outstanding men of Byzantium, captivated by her grace and beauty, proposed marriage, but she refused all others, desiring only contemplation of the heavenly Bridegroom.

Remembering the hermit’s prophecy, she visited the great monastery of Chrysovalantou and was so impressed by the climate and the beautiful way of life led by the nuns that she freed her slaves, gave all inherited wealth (and her imperial dowry) to the poor and, rejecting any remnants of vanity and worldliness, entered the community. Dressed in a simple habit of sackcloth and gladly accepting the “easy yoke and light burden” of Christ our Lord (St. Matthew 11:30), the aristocratic young lady served the sisters with amazing humility and obedience. Never resorting to argument or thoughts of her past, she performed the most lowly and despised tasks with cheerful alacrity and an attentive consciousness. The very wise and virtuous abbess advised her that she was living our Lord’s words that “Without Me, you can do nothing. Anyone who remains in Me as I remain in him will bear much fruit.” (St. John 15:5.) So this young novice, like a fertile orchard, bore rich fruit in Christ, winning the admiration of all people through her obedience, humility and concern for all. Such was her enthusiasm that it was said by the community, who were united in love for her, that she had the spirit of a freed slave.

In her cell (the room of a nun or monk), she read the lives of the saints and from the great Arsenios she learned of the discipline of the night-long prayer. The abbess finally granted Irene’s request to attempt this arduous trial through a realization of her profound humility. Thus she embarked on this superhuman task before the end of the first year of her novitiate and was so blessed with divine grace that she was able to stand from morning to night with hands raised like the prophet Moses (on Mt. Sinai). She was so devoted to this exercise (to the abbess’ amazement) that she would even stand twenty-four hours without movement.

Three years of this practice caused the adversary great anguish (we speak of the evil-one) but his every effort failed to divert her, so greatly had she subdued all earthly thoughts. She was now totally free of worldly temptations through abstinence. For food she only took bread and water, occasionally supplemented by herbs or vegetables. For clothing she took a new habit every Easter –Holy Pasha-- and only cleaned it as a gift to the poor the following Great Lent. For her task in the house she chose to clean the toilets, never giving a thought to her noble past.

Thus the evil-one failed to sow spiritual tares in her soul because as soon as she recognized any sign of his activity, she confessed every wayward thought to her abbess and immediately recommenced her exercises. Then she had only to cross herself to render these satanic apparitions invisible. But on one occasion she was shaken with such powerful doubts that she fell to the ground shedding many tears of prayer to the Lord, His holy Mother and all the Saints, and particularly the Archangels to whom the monastery was dedicated. “O Blessed Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), everlasting God, at the intercession of Your most holy Mother and in the presence of the Archangels, their armies, the celestial powers and all Your Saints, help Your servant. Deliver me from the assaults of the devil.” She shed fervent tears for many nights in her prayers to God until under the shadow of His wings she found rest and shelter (Psalm 90:7).

So great was her renewed devotion that she became a chosen vessel of God. Blessed with the Holy Spirit in the manner of the holy Apostle Paul, living no more according to the flesh but so dwelling in Christ and Christ in her that she appeared transfigured to those many souls whom she led to the Lord. Public servants, senators, peasants and noble ladies alike experienced a renewal of faith and many unmarried women took vows and enriched the life of the convent.

At that time the abbess became very weak. Realizing that she would soon die, the community was filled with sorrow while the humble Irene shed many tears for her spiritual mother. One day when many of the nuns had gathered in her cell, noting that Irene was absent, the abbess offered them her last wishes. “Do not lament my departure for in my successor you have a leader who is wiser than I. Be obedient to her, this daughter of light, lamb of Christ and vessel of the Holy Spirit. Do not accept anyone but Irene.” Then with the words, “Glory to You, O Lord, in Your mercy,” she committed her soul to the care of the angels. To protect her humility, Irene wasn’t told of these disclosures. Meanwhile the community prayed that the Lord’s will would be done. Finally the Elders decided to go to the Patriarch and seek his advice.

At that time Methodios the Confessor was Patriarch. He was a leader of such courage that through the tortures of the Iconoclasts he bore on his body the stigmata of Our Lord. He was also blessed with the gift of foresight. After the community had paid their respects to this Holy Patriarch, he asked them to name whom they wished to be their superior. They could only reply that their one prayer was that he would be guided by the Holy Spirit. With no prior knowledge of the former abbess’ disclosure, the wise old Patriarch inquired as to whether there was one of their number of humble disposition called Irene. If so, he believed that she was the choice and that this choice was well pleasing in the sight of God. At his demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit the whole company was so filled with joy that Methodios immediately rose from his throne, took incense and gave thanks to the Lord. He then ordained Irene deaconess in the Holy Church. After he had advised her in the ways of administering and guiding the community, the Patriarch clothed her as Abbess and dismissed them with his blessing.

On reaching the monastery they held a great celebration for all their friends and spiritual children from the city. Only Irene could feel no joy, so great was her sense of inadequacy. However, the sisters reassured her. Alone in her quarters she prayed constantly, “Lord Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd of Your sheep, help Your servant and this, my flock, because we have no power of our own to resist the assaults of the demons. Leave us not without Your grace.” In answer to her prayer Irene was told, “Watch and pray without ceasing for from this day you will have the responsibility of the spiritual welfare of many for whom our Lord was incarnate and shed His precious blood, souls that He has committed to your care. Take care that the ‘blind do not lead the blind’ so that both fall into the ditch.” So Irene redoubled her spiritual exercises and in return she was endowed with great wisdom and received many revelations as to how to lead the flock.

Thus strengthened, she addressed the community of nuns: “I know, beloved sisters in Christ, that it was not logical that I, your humble, unworthy and illiterate servant, should be called to teach you, but the ways of God are mysterious. If it is by His grace that I am your superior, then I pray that you will obey me. Surely if we do not obey the laws (promised before God and His angels) of the habit we wear, we achieve nothing. For it is said: ‘faith without works is dead’ (St. James 2:17). Why have we left the unreal and temporal world? To disobey His commandments? If so, like the foolish virgins we also will lose the eternal kingdom. The soul cannot be divided so as to have both pride and humility, unrestricted pleasure and abstinence. Therefore let us rid our soul of worldly desire and seek only purity, humility, patience and love (prayer of St. Isaac the Syrian-- this prayer is said only during Holy Great Lent) lest we lose not only ourselves but others also.”

It was with the instinct of a mother that the future saint taught her spiritual children. And in the same spirit she gave thanks for the immense fruit that it bore in their lives. These and other experiences instilled such assurance of the Lord’s presence in their work that Irene asked Him (our Lord God) for the most responsible charisma of all, that of foresight, so that she might be able to have knowledge of the sisters’ impending trials, not for the purpose of gaining fame but to be better able to advise them. In answer to this prayer, there appeared to her a guardian angle who greeted her, saying, “Hail, fruitful servant of God, the Lord has sent me that more might be saved through your guidance. I am to remain at your side and disclose the events of the future. He then disappeared, yet remained with her, continually revealing the hidden problems not only of the nuns but of all who sought her advice. Irene in no way used this knowledge to reprimand or humiliate people but corrected their confessions in such a way that they understood she had certain supernatural powers. Her fame spread to such an extent that rich and poor alike gathered to seek her advice and yet, continually offering thanks to God, she increased in humility.

Soon after, her sister, the wife of Prince Varda, sent her eunuch to see Irene who was thus able to inform him of a recent revelation that the Prince would soon die at the wish of the Emperor Michael, who would himself immediately lose his life and kingdom. Despite the obvious confidential nature of the information, the sister told her husband everything. Nevertheless, with characteristic pride and lack of faith, he dismissed the idea. The events took their course and as the saint predicted, the following week he was killed in battle, closely followed by the unworthy Emperor. Irene continued her very remarkable ministry in the reign of his successor, Basil the Macedonian.

At that time a young and beautiful novice came to the convent through a calling to follow the Lord rather than to be married and live in the world. But the devil incited her previous fiancé with such a passion that to retrieve her he had recourse to a magician (that most faithful servant of the adversary). Weaving his spells in distant Cappadocia, this wizard caused the young girl to lose her mind and threaten all the time to drown herself. Lamenting her neglect of this young lamb, the saint received the power to defy the devil in this struggle. So she assembled the community, explained the situation and ordered everyone to fast for a week, make 100 prostrations a day and pray continually for an understanding of God’s will. On the third night of this discipline, Irene had a vision of St. Basil the Great advising her to take the novice to the convent of Vlachernae where the Mother of God would heal her. Arriving at that place with two of the senior nuns, they were so exhausted that they all fell asleep during their first all-night vigil of prayer. While Irene slept, her vision continued. A pilgrim procession appeared all clothed in white and golden robes and shinning with a strange and unearthly light, scattering flowers and incense on the path behind them. When Irene inquired to their purpose, they replied that the Mother of God was approaching. At that moment Blessed Mary (the Theotokos) appeared surrounded by hosts of angels, with such a radiant countenance that no one could look at her. She first visited the sick and then came to Irene who fell at her feet in fear; while lying there she heard the All-Holy One first call to St. Basil of Caesarea (in Asia Minor) and from there to cure the young girl, for as she said, “My Son and God has given you this power. Irene then awoke with the message, “Return to your convent and within three days your novice will be healed.” So she disclosed her vision to the others and they all departed in great joy, arriving home just in time for Friday Vespers.

After Vespers she instructed the whole community to lift their eyes and hands to heaven and with all their heart to cry, “Lord, have mercy.” After many hours when the church was wet with tears, the voices of Basil and Anastasia said to Irene, “Stretch out your hand, accept the gift and do not trouble us any more.” The package which miraculously appeared contained all the evil magician’s aids, among them model idols of the nun and her ex-fiancé. They gave thanks to God during another all-night vigil and in the morning sent the sick nun back to Vlachernae with an offering of holy bread and all the magical aids. After the Divine Liturgy there, the priest anointed her and then solemnly burnt the satanic objects. As they were consumed by the flames the suffering patient was released from her invisible bonds, and the idols cried out from the fire like pigs anticipating slaughter. The nun and all who were present were filled with holy fear and gave thanks to the Lord Who had delivered her in such a wonderful way.

However, the more Irene was respected for her good judgment and sanctity, the more she humbled herself. Especially at the offering of the Holy Mysteries to God (Holy Communion) on His holy altar, she was so consumed by her identity with the unrepentant thief that she had to hide her face to prevent people seeing the tears she shed. Let us now relate another miracle.

A young man named Nicholas, who was responsible for the convent vineyard, fell so desperately in love with one of the nuns that he lay awake at night listening to the suggestions of the evil powers as to how he might satisfy his desire. So demented was he that one night he became unconscious. When the good abbess heard of this the following morning she said, "Blessed be God who has allowed us to be the objects of the devil’s attention." Then she immediately gave orders for the boy to be sent to the Church of Anastasia, (Resurrection) so as to avoid taking the credit for his future healing. During the night St. Anastasia appeared to Irene and told her that she should not so readily lay aside the responsibility for healing her own servant. And so it was decided to confine him in a straightjacket tied to one of the pillars of the church, so that he might hear the many prayers the sisters offered on his behalf. Once during the singing of the Cherubic Hymn in the Divine Liturgy, after the priest had placed the Holy Gifts on the Holy Altar, the possessed man became so furious that he broke the chains, rushed to the Holy Doors (also called the Royal Doors), seized the priest and began to bite the flesh so savagely that Irene had to leave her stall and order him to be still. The command was so powerful that he immediately became calm and wished to return to his place of confinement, but found himself rooted to the spot. After the liturgy the saint prostrated herself beside the boy and with all her strength prayed to God for his healing. Finally she stood up and ordered the demon to leave his victim, seized the boy and hurled him to the ground. At this moment he was cured. He was then sent back to work with a strict rule of life to follow, and advised always to pray for the protection of the holy angels, that he might avoid such disturbances in future. He went on his way praising the Lord our God. The wonder-worker continued her way of patience and humility.

Sometimes she would remain in prayer and contemplation for as long as a week without ceasing, taking only uncooked vegetables and water for sustenance. On great feasts she would keep vigil in the courtyard in the company of the stars, continually giving thanks for the awesome beauty of creation. During one such vigil a truly marvelous miracle was, by divine grace, witnessed by one of the nuns, who, unable to sleep, left her cell and entered the courtyard. There she saw her abbess motionless, totally absorbed in prayer and in a state of levitation about one meter above the ground. This was not only one miracle, but another, that the nun observed for the two nearby cypress trees had bent their heads to the earth in homage before her. When she left her state of prayer, Irene blessed the trees and they returned to their former state. The sister (nun) who witnessed the event trembled thinking that it was a vision from the tempter, but later when others of the community noticed handkerchiefs placed in the tops of these same trees, she related the whole story. At this the whole sisterhood became so excited that Irene had to rebuke them, emphasizing the need to concentrate on their own way of prayer and charging them not to relate any extraordinary events until after her death.

All her life she kept the feast of St. Basil the Great with special devotion as he was from her own country. After that day, during the third watch of the night, she heard a voice from the invisible saying, “Welcome the sailor who brings fruit to you today and eat it with joy; let your soul rejoice.” Later when they were singing Matins again she heard a voice saying, “Go to the door and bring in the sailor who is visiting you.” So she went and invited him to enter. They bowed to one another and remained in church until after the liturgy. Then she asked how it was that he had come to them. He said, “I am a sailor from Patinas and I joined a boat coming to this town for business. As we were passing the coast of that island, we saw a very old man on the shore who called to us to wait for him. We could not because we were near the rocks, so with a good wind behind us we left. He then shouted all the more loudly ordering the boat to stop. This it did at once. Then he came to us walking on the waves and soon entered the boat. Then taking three apples from beneath his cloak, he gave them to me saying, ‘When you go to the capital, give these to the Patriarch and tell him that the Almighty sends them to him from His beloved disciple, John.’ After that he took another three and asked that these be presented to you, the Abbess of Chrysovalantou. To you he said, ‘Eat these and all that your beautiful soul desires will be granted you because this gift comes to you from John in Paradise.’ Having said this he blessed God, wished us well and disappeared.” When she heard this, the saint shed tears of joy and offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God for His evangelist and most beloved disciple. The obedient sailor asked for a blessing and departed.

Irene then fasted for a week continually, thanking God for His most wonderful gift. Then, by His grace, she ate small pieces of the first apple daily without any other food or water for the next forty days. (As a further sign of God’s grace the remaining apples increased in beauty and aroma.) At the same time such fragrance came out of her mouth while eating that it seemed to all the nuns that she was always making myrrh. Then, on Holy Thursday, she directed the community to receive the Holy Mysteries and following the liturgy she took the second apple and gave each one a piece. When they tasted the amazing sweetness, it seemed as if their very souls were being fed. The third apple she kept until its purpose should be revealed. The presence of the apples was such a blessing that on Holy Friday the saint had a beautiful vision during the singing of the great passion hymns. She suddenly became aware of countless radiant angelic beings entering the church. Some had stringed instruments and sang most beautiful hymns to our Lord, while the others had goblets of Holy Myrrh, which they poured onto the altar, filling the whole convent with a wonderful fragrance. Among these beings was a particularly majestic man, his face shining like the sun. All the others treated him with great devotion when he approached and offered him a great shroud with which to cover the fragrant altar. Then the angel who stood by the altar cried out with great sadness to this great one saying, “Until when, O Lord?” A voice replied, “Until the second Solomon, when the heights will be united with the depths and all will be one. Then the Lord will be exalted and the memory of Irene will be glorified.” The good abbess immediately realized that the vision confirmed her most fundamental teaching, that neither she nor any of the sisters could be glorified until in death they achieved the Kingdom. So again she gathered the community and strongly re-emphasized the necessity to run from the honor of men because a soul who desires this honor will be blind to the glory of God. So let us now relate other wonderful events from her life before recording her blessed repose in the Lord.

A noble relative of Irene’s was falsely accused of plotting to take the Emperor’s life. The Emperor not only committed him to prison but was persuaded to order his death by drowning at sea. Various friends and relatives, unable to help, ran to the abbess to implore her intervention. So she comforted them and advised them to return home and have faith in the Lord. At the same time she retired to her cell to intercede for the unjustly condemned man. The good Lord who so readily does the will of His servants who call upon Him, intervened in a wonderful way by arranging for Irene to appear before the Emperor in a dream, threatening him and saying, “O King, get up immediately and release the prisoner condemned through jealousy. If you do not listen to me I will request the King of Kings to cause your death and the deliverance of your worthless body to wild animals. Naturally the Emperor became very angry and asked who it was who was threatening him so arrogantly. “I am the abbess of Chrysovalantou,” she said, “Irene is my name.” So saying, she hit him so hard that with pain he awoke. At that moment she disappeared. Thoroughly amazed, the Emperor summoned his guards to find out how the insolent woman had escaped. When all said they had seen nothing, he realized that he had experienced a vision from God. So the following day the condemned man was questioned concerning the accusation and quickly proved his loyalty to the Emperor’s satisfaction. Before releasing him the Emperor inquired if he knew of an Irene of Chrysovalantou. “Of course,” he replied, “She is a relative of mine, a most virtuous and God-fearing abbess, so humble that she never leaves her monastery and only rarely receives visitors.

Soon after, the Emperor sent his nobles with a skilled artist to pay a courtesy call on Irene, hoping that this artist might later paint a portrait of her to provide confirmation of the vision. By the grace of God all this was known to the saint, so shortly after Matins she returned to the church with the community and gave instructions to bring the visitors to her as soon as they arrived. As soon as the nobles approached to pay their respects to the saint, she became so radiant that they fell to the floor, unable to behold such a presence. Immediately Irene consoled them saying, “Do not be afraid. I am also a fallible creature. But why does your skeptical master put you to all this trouble? Tell him to do as I said and release the prisoner or else all that I prophesied will befall him.” Still overcome with awe, the nobles agreed to report this to the Emperor. But meanwhile they begged to be allowed to stay with her and hear more words of wisdom. (This they had planned to enable the artist to obtain a good impression of her appearance.) The portrait was later shown to the Emperor and once again the whole company was overwhelmed by a great light.

Temporarily blinded, the Emperor cried out in the words of Psalm 50, “Have mercy on me, O God, in Your great mercy." He was even more amazed when his blindness passed and he saw from the portrait that it was the very person he had seen in the vision. He immediately released the prisoner with full honors and sent a message of humble thanks to the saint for intervening in his irresponsibility. He also asked that at her convenience she would bless both himself and the Empress with her most holy hands. In reply she said, “Thanks be to God who desires not the death of a sinner but his repentance. Do not thank me, glorify Him.” With regard to the blessing, she said, “It is neither right for your Majesties to enter the convent nor for me to visit you. You do not need the blessing of a sinful woman when you have the Holy Patriarch and spiritual directors of the great monasteries to advise you. Do as they say and you will rule this empire with wisdom. Please attend to what I say and may the right hand of God watch over you.”

After this both the Royal Household and the family of the exonerated prisoner were very attentive to the example and teaching of the convent of Chrysovalantou. The convent in turn received numerous gifts. Among many other gifts of the Spirit, the holy abbess became known for her ability to predict death and was thus able to help strengthen many a soul during its last hours on earth. Despite all these wonderful gifts our future saint was, after all, only a mortal being and the angel’s prophecy that she would be called to the divine presence on the day following the commemoration of St. Panteleimon had to be fulfilled. They kept the day before St. Panteleimon as the feast of the foundation of their monastery. Irene spent the whole week before the feast preparing herself by remaining all day in meditation and fasting.

This meant taking only water with small pieces of that extraordinary holy apple sent from paradise by the beloved disciple of Christ our Lord. She ate it now because she felt that the time to join the bridegroom was near. From the time of eating the first fragment all enmity disappeared and the whole monastery was again filled with that extraordinary fragrance. Nevertheless, in a moment of doubt she cried out with great anguish and the sisters rushed to her aid. By the grace of God she immediately recovered her composure and said, “Today, my children, I depart from this world and you will see me no more. For the time has come for me to pass to eternal life. Therefore elect as your superior Sister Mary, for I know that she has already been chosen by God. I know that she will lead you according to His Will and keep you on the narrow path so that you will also attain to the broad avenues of paradise. Hate the world and all that is in it, for as our Lord and Master has said, ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, there is no love for the Father in him’ (I John 2:15), because all these temporal things are vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Never follow the will of the flesh but only the Will of God because it is He who gave you all things that you may return them to Him in that day.”

So raising her hands and eyes to the heavens she prayed. “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, the Good Shepherd who has saved and fed us with Your own most precious Blood, I deliver in Your Holy Hands this little flock. Hide it under the shadow of Your wings (Psalm 90), protect it from the wiles of the devil for Yours is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory and to You we give thanks for ever and ever.”

Having prayed thus she sat up and smiled at the sight of the holy angels who greeted her, and at once her face shone like the sun. Then she closed her eyes as if she wished to rest and her spirit was delivered to the Lord.

Such was the crowd of both peasants and nobles who flocked to keep the all-night vigil over her body that the monastery gates had to be closed by force. On the following day the entire congregation, now much larger, who came to pay their final respects were amazed at the beautiful features of one who was more than 102 years of age. Throughout the ceremonies of that day the convent was filled with an unexplainable and indescribable fragrance which persisted at the saint’s burial place for many years. Countless miracles occurred at that site and to this day many of those who, in faith, ask her prayers find that they are answered. All this the saint does to the continual frustration of the powers of darkness and to the eternal glory of the all merciful Lord to Whom alone is due all honor might, majesty, dominion and power, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.


Holy St. Irene,
Pray To God For Us!


Glory Be To God For All Things!