Elder St. Porphyrios on Turning to Christ… “The soul of the Christian needs to be refined and sensitive, to have sensibility and wings, to be constantly in flight and to live in dreams, to fly through infinity, among the stars, amidst the greatness of God, amid silence. Whoever wants to become a Christian must first become a poet. That’s what it is! You must suffer. You must love and suffer — suffer for the one you love. Love makes effort for the loved one. She runs through the night; she stays awake; she stains her feet with blood in order to meet her beloved. She makes sacrifices and disregards all…
Abbot Gregory of the Docheriou Monastery
I met this Abbot during my pilgrimage to Mt. Athos some 19 years ago now, and he was younger and more energetic, but I could tell then that he was a genuine man. A very down to earth and hands on sort of fellow. This short and simple interview only confirms my impression. ˆˆ
The Dove of the Cells….
Today is the commemoration day of one of the best known saints of the Ireland together with St. Patrick and St. Brigid: St. Columbanus (or Columkille) of Iona! I was blessed to be able to visit the island of Iona and the location of his monastery back in February of 1999. ˆˆ
Come unto Me …
Saint Theophan the Recluse hits the nail on the head yet again. “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. O divine, O dear, O sweetest voice of Thine! Let us all follow the Lord Who calls us! But first we must feel something difficult and burdensome for us. We must feel that we have many sins, and that these sins are grave. From this feeling is born the need to seek relief. Faith will then show us that our only refuge is in the Lord and Saviour, and our steps will direct themselves toward Him. A soul desiring to…
St. Dorotheus of Gaza
One of the feast days of St. Dorotheus of Gaza today – probably not observed in many places, but still good to remember, I think; he is the author of the “ABC’s of monasticism”, after all! ˆˆ