The Or☦hodox Nepsis

88. When the devil sees that our intellect has prayed from the heart, he makes a powerful attack with subtle temptations ; but he does not bother to destroy the lesser virtues by such powerful attacks.

89. When a thought lingers within a man, this indicates his attachment to it; but when it is quickly destroyed, this signifies his opposition and hostility to it.

90. The intellect changes from one to another of three different noetic states : that according to nature, above nature, and contrary to nature. When it enters the state according to nature, it finds that it is itself the cause of evil thoughts, and confesses its sins to God, clearly understanding the causes of the passions. When it is in the state contrary to nature, it forgets God's justice and fights with men, believing itself unjustly treated. But when it is raised to the state above nature, it finds the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace and the other fruits of which the Apostle speaks (Gal. 5:22) ; and it knows that if it gives priority to bodily cares it cannot remain in this state. An intellect that departs from this state falls into sin and all the terrible consequences of sin - if not immediately, then in due time, as God's justice shall decide.

#Mark_the_Ascetic
#philokalia

St. Isaac of Syria writes in his second “Word”: ”Take an effort to enter your own inner world, and you will see the heavenly world there, for the former and the latter are one and the same thing, and on entering one you see both. The Ladder to the Heavenly Kingdom is within you, hidden in your soul. Immerse into yourself away from sin, and you will find the steps along which you will be able to go up.” The Lord said: “The Kingdom of God is within you.” For this reason the Holy Fathers urgently advise us to say the Jesus Prayer as often as possible. Man enters inside himself through this prayer. I am writing about this now, because during the long divine services in the church, especially during the Lent period, it feels good and easy to say the Jesus Prayer repeatedly for a longer period of time. I advise you not to ignore this precept of the Holy Fathers. The devil in every possible way tries to distract man from doing this.
You must be aware of this and resist him, and induce yourself to this wonderful prayer.
The Lord has opened for us the entrance to the Kingdom of God here on earth, but we would rather look for the miserable crumbs of the truth in science, philosophy and elsewhere, except the Gospel and the works of the Holy Fathers, who have fulfilled the Gospel in their deeds. Miserable people we are, aren’t we? We voluntary doom ourselves to an almost animal-like existence, and at that, blame others for the hard life. The reward is due of our deeds.
One thing just came back to my mind: when attending a lecture you may find dull and uninteresting, but no other occupation is possible, why not taking “exercise” in the Jesus Prayer? The word “exercise” is a frequently used word, but using it with regard to a prayer, people show that they do not know what prayer is about. Man should not “exercise” praying (one can go as far as getting “training” in praying), but when praying he should stay in awe before God , and, fully admitting his own unworthiness even to pronounce the name of God and only hoping for His mercy, with fear and full attention say the words of the prayer.
The right prayer will soon teach man’s heart how to behave when praying.
There is a precept telling us to pray incessantly. Prayer helps man rise from the worldliness, become untouchable for the bunch of creeps, ”cursed to go on their belly,” and be free like a bird breaking out from its cage. This is the implication of the expression of the Fathers “ to tear off the earth.” But we, contrary to this good advice, have stepped away from God and tied ourselves to the earth and go on our belly there, eating dust – passions – and tormenting ourselves and others. We are going in the light of our own source, having rejected the light of God. Satan offered Jesus Christ all the kingdoms of the world for giving in to him. We, unlike Him, disregarding our dignity, willingly agree to submit to Satan, ready to bow and to be at his service any moment, like serves, just to have thin soup in abundance for our meals. This is how human soul may be blinded by man’s daily vanity. Again, it is pertinent to remember good advice: Do not overburden your hearts with overeating, hard drinking and vanity. Alas! Man did not comprehend his honor, and became like unreasonable beast.
Forgive me for unrequested advising. May be something will stick to you, and I may at least have my “feelings vented,” for I just talk and do not do what I must. Woe to me! I like the time of the Lent!

#Abbot_Nikon_Vorobiev
#spiritual_letters

One of those who love Christ and who possessed the gift of almsgiving used to say that he who offers alms ought to offer as though he were himself receiving. Such almsgiving brings one near to God.

#Sayings_of_the_desert_fathers

64
Blessed is he who has become magnanimous and kindhearted and not enslaved himself to untamed vehemence or wicked wrath; he will be magnified by the Lord.
Blessed is he who has been exalted in love and stands like a city built on a mountaintop, for whom the enemy withdraws with terror when he sees him; for he fears a man who is firm in the Lord.
Blessed is he who has shone forth with faith in the Lord like a bright candle on a tall candlestick, and has illumined the souls of those in darkness who followed the teachings of the faithless and the irreverent.
Blessed is he who ever loves truth and does not let his lips arm dishonor with lies, for he fears the commandment that forbids even idle talk.
Blessed is he who does not foolishly judge his neighbor, but rather, as befits a reasonable, spiritual man, tries first to cast out the beam from his own eye.
Blessed is he who has consciously exercised restraint, and who has never been seduced, neither in thought nor in his senses, by skin and flesh which soon pass and putrefy.
Blessed is he who keeps the day of his departure ever before his eyes, and has learned to hate arrogance before our inherent worthlessness is to be revealed by putrefaction in the grave.

#Ephraim_the_Syrian
#Spiritual_psalter

85. A passion which we allow to grow active within us through our own choice afterwards forces itself upon us against our will.

86. We have a love for the causes of involuntary thoughts, and that is why they come. In the case of voluntary thoughts we clearly have a love not only for the causes but also for the objects with which they are concerned.

87. Presumption and boastfulness are causes of blasphemy. Avarice and self-esteem are causes of cruelty and hypocrisy.

#Mark_the_Ascetic
#philokalia

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Disputation between a Christian and a Saracen by St. John of Damascus

Part 7
And if a Saracen asks you, “How did God descend into the womb of a woman,” say to him, “Let us use your Scripture and my Scripture. Your Scripture says that God purified the Virgin Mary above all other women and the Spirit of God and the Word
descended into her; and my Gospel says “The Holy spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Behold, both statements are saying the
same thing but notice this that in reference to our language, Scripture speaks of the ascent and descent of God figuratively, not literally, for ascent and descent according to the philosophers are properly predicated of bodies.
God, however, contains all things, but isn't contained by any place. For a certain one of the prophets says :"how measured the seas by his hand, and the heavens by the palm of his hand, and the whole earth is in the hollow of his hand and all the waters are under the hand of God".
And how can it be, that He who the Universe in his hands, descends and ascends?

#John_of_damascus
#heresy_of_islam

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Christian! Be, and don’t seem to be: this is one of the important rules for you.

#Philaret_of_Moscow
#Orthodox_Saints

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If you feel that anger has seized you, keep silent and do not say anything until your heart is calmed by incessant prayer and self-reproach!

#Hilarion_of_Optina
#orthodox_Saints

Another official was returning to Constantinople from Palestine when, in the region of Tyre, he encountered a blind man on the road who had no guide.
Turning aside a little from the road on hearing the grooms arguing, he stretched out his hands, and began uttering pitiful, miserable things, soliciting charity from him, but [the official] paid no attention to him and passed him by. But a little further on he changed his mind and checked his horse.
Taking out his purse he took out one trimesis,* went back in person to the pauper and presented him with the trimesis. On receiving it [the blind man] made this declaration to him: “I have confidence in God that the commandment itself will deliver you from temptation” [see Mt 6:13, Lk 11:4]. The official received the declaration with confidence. He went off into the city and found the governor there; also some soldiers on active service, spearmen requesting to be embarked by him. When the soldiers saw the official they requested him to ask the governor to give them a vessel in which they could get away from the city. Swayed by their request, he appeared before the governor and, while he was speaking to him about providing post-horses for himself, he asked about the soldiers too. So, with a smile, the governor said to the soldiers: “If you want me to dismiss you, persuade the official to sail with you and you shall be dismissed forthwith.” On hearing this, they persisted in requesting the official to consent to sail with them and, when he agreed, the governor gave them the vessel. Off they sailed together, the official and thesoldiers, catching a fair wind. But it happened that, during the night, troubled by his belly, the official got up for a call of nature. While he was at the side of the vessel he was struck by the sail and fell into the sea. The sailors heard his fall but, since it was night and the wind was fair, they were unable to rescue him. The official was carried away on the water, expecting to die. Next day, however, by the will of God, there was a vessel coming and, when those on board saw him, they took him up and they entered the city to which the soldiers came too. Now the sailors of both vessels having gone ashore came to be in a certain tavern and it came about that one of the sailors from the vessel out of which the official had fallen recalled him. He sighed and said: “What on earth happened to that official?” When the sailors of the other vessel heard this, they asked what official he sighed about. When they learnt of the matter, they said to them: “We saved him and we have him with us!” The others were delighted on learning this; they came and fetched him.
The official explained to them: “The blind man to whom I gave the trimesis on the road, he held me up, walking on the water.” On hearing this they glorified the Saviour and God. From this we learn that almsgiving done on purpose is not lost, for God rewards the giver in a time of necessity.
Following Holy Scripture, let us not hold back from doing good to someone in need when our hand can help him.

#Sayings_of_the_desert_fathers

82. When a sinful soul does not accept the afflictions that come to it, the angels say : 'We would have healed Babylon, but she was not healed' (Jer. 51:9)

83. When an intellect forgets real knowledge, it fights with men for harmful things as though they were helpful.

84. Fire cannot last long in water, nor can a shameful thought in a heart that loves God. For every man who loves God suffers gladly, and voluntary suffering is by nature the enemy of sensual pleasure.

#Mark_the_Ascetic
#philokalia

I wrote to O. that whoever is seriously seeking the Kingdom of God would feel loneliness, but the Lord will send the searchers on the way to this goal such consolations that no earthly joys are able to come in comparison with them.
It is only necessary to go forward, like Ignatiy (Bryanchaninov), without
glancing back.
Did Nikolay Germanovhich tell you what No. 11 says about freemasonry?
Please read this very attentively. We all must beseech spiritual wisdom, because close beside it there is devilish wisdom.
People, in fact, in their essence, in their core, are much better, than what they appear to be in daily life. Image of God at creation and grace received at the Baptism – this is what makes up man’s true, original, personality, his “own self,” his “I.” This is a great gift of God. A new center of self consciousness, “one’s own self,” self-aware of itself and of the entire world around, has come out from non-existence. This “my own self,” “Me” is equal to the whole Universe, because “I” as a self-aware personality has the whole Universe and even God as his objects. This “I-person” strives for perceiving and making part of himself the whole Universe and God Himself. “You are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High.” So, this kind of knowledge is permitted to man by the Creator; man is called to acquire knowledge, but only in a rightful way. This is how high man’s status is! That is why sometimes man looks so winsome, though his great original “essence” is not manifest, as if lying in the grave covered by empiric rubbish: shallow knowledge, feelings, petty interests, occupations and goals. “Man being in honor, abideth not…” In youth – and some people always – many are able to feel the depth of human soul through their empiric sensitivity. With the time, permanent encounter with the “old” – empiric man - makes one be careful with him, to which our Savior calls us. I will not expatiate on this further, though there is much what can be said on this topic. I hope the above would suffice.
The other day, I was reading, though rapidly and without due attention, “The Karamazov Brothers.” This is where human soul is revealed! The scientific psychology looks a poor parody before the psychology of Dostoyevsky. Once I was so naive as to seek knowledge of human soul attending courses on psychology. It is amazing how many silly things a young man may do without due supervision. My condition was as if I were living in woods. The Prince of this world blinds people, so that they have to blunder their way along and therefore they move stepping out from one puddle into another.
Science lies if it claims its data to be absolute, for tomorrow science will reject its achievements of today; Art is conscious falsifcation for the most part; politics is always full of deceit, falsehood and crime – all things here should be seen the other way round; what is known as “life,” is nothing but “vanity of vanities; all is vanity;” and what is more important, there is pettiness and emptiness, lies and lies without end. In short, this is an “era of lying,” the realm of the prince of this world.
I am writing this letter in the morning, with a refreshed strength, and therefore have lost myself in chattering and got carried away by philosophizing.
My dear, try to break away from “unreality” to the “reality” in your own expression; from empiricism to noumenal reality, where there is truth, peace and joy. Cling to the Savior. He is the Way, the Truth and Life.
He is the Door for us to enter into the truth and eternal life. Only with His help we can break away from the vanity and the kingdom of the devil and get into the Kingdom of God.
We all are blocked up by the rubbish, but a small light of the authentic human core is glimmering no matter what.

#Abbot_Nikon_Vorobiev
#spiritual_letters

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For the one who loves his soul, for the one who does not dare to self-sacrifice, the Gospel is closed: he reads the letter; but the word of life, like the Spirit, remains for him under an impenetrable veil. When the Lord was on earth in the most holy flesh, many saw Him and, together, did not see Him. What is the use when a person looks with bodily eyes, which he shares with animals, but sees nothing with the eyes of the soul with the mind and heart?

#Ignatius_Bryanchaninov
#orthodox_Saints

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We do not know what is useful to us, to the extent that God knows, therefore, whether we have received or not, we should thank.

#John_Chrysostom
#Orthodox_Saints

One of the fathers used to say that there was an official sent on an imperial mission who found a dead pauper lying naked on the road. Moved with compassion, he said to his servant: “Take the horse and go on a little.” He dismounted, took off one of his shirts, put it on the dead man lying [there] and went his way. Some days later the same official was again sent out on a mission and, as he was leaving the city, he happened to fall from his horse and his foot was broken. His servant took him back to his house and the doctors took care of him, but after five days his foot turned black. When the doctors saw that the foot had turned black, they signalled to each other that the foot ought to be amputated; otherwise, the whole body would become septic and the man would die. They said to him: “We will come in the morning and heal you”, but the sick man signalled to his servant to go out after the doctors and find out from them what they wanted [to do]. They said to him: “Your master’s foot has turned black; the man is lost unless we amputate. We will come in the morning and do what God wills.” The slave came in to his lord-and-master weeping and saying: “They are planning to do this-and-this in your case.” [The official] was distressed on hearing this and so fainthearted that he did not sleep. Now there was a lamp burning and, around midnight, he saw a man entering through the window, coming towards him and saying to him: “Why are you weeping? Why are you distressed?” He said: “Sir, do you not want me to weep and to be distressed because [my foot] is broken and the doctors are planning to do this-and-this in my case?” Then the apparition said to him: “Show me your foot”, and he anointed it, saying: “Now get up and walk around.” The sick man said: “It is broken and I cannot.” “Lean on me”, said [the other] to him. He leaned on him and walked around, limping. The apparition said to him: “Are you still lame? Sit down again”, whereupon he anointed him again equally on both his feet and said to him: “Now get up and walk around.” He stood up and walked around healthily. “Sit down and rest”, said [the apparition] and spoke some words to him about almsgiving: that the Lord said: “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy” [Mt 5:7] and: “He who has showed no mercy shall have judgement without mercy” [Jas 2:13] and such like things. Then he said to him: “Farewell.” The official said: “Are you leaving?” and he said: “What [more] do you want, when you have become healthy?”
The official said to him: “By the God who sent you, tell me who you are.” “Look at me,” he said to him; “surely you recognise this linen?” “That I do sir,” he said to him, “it is mine.” “And I am the corpse you saw thrown on the road and you threw me the shirt”, the other said to him, “and God sent me to heal you. Always be grateful to God”, and he went out again through the window by which he came. Restored to health [the official] began to glorify God, the cause of every good thing.

#Sayings_of_the_desert_fathers

79· Many of us feel remorse for our sins, yet we gladly accept their causes.

80. A mole burrowing in the earth is blind and cannot see the stars ; and he who does not trust God in temporal things will not trust Him in eternal things.

81. Real knowledge has been given to men by God as a grace preceding the fulness of grace ; it teaches those who partake of it to believe above all in the Giver.

#Mark_the_Ascetic
#philokalia