Category Archives: Desert Fathers

The Goal

Posted on March 8, 2015 by Administrator

The end of our profession indeed, as I said, is the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven: but the immediate aim or goal, is purity of heart, without which no one can gain that end: fixing our gaze … Continue reading →

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Prayer is a vow

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Administrator

PRAYERS are those by which we offer or vow something to God, what the Greeks call evki, i.e., a vow…… We pray, when we renounce this world and promise that being dead to all worldly actions and the life of … Continue reading →

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Paesius fought with his brother

Posted on December 28, 2014 by Administrator

‘Why have you let the brothers fight without saying anything to them?’ Abba Poemen said to him, Try and think that inwardly I was not here to see it.’
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Not to ask for other things

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Administrator

HOW WE OUGHT NOT TO ASK FOR OTHER THINGS, EXCEPT ONLY THOSE WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN THE LIMITS OF THE LORD’S PRAYER YOU see then what is the method and form of prayer proposed to us by the Judge Himself, … Continue reading →

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A high degree of purity

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Administrator

60. Someone told me of an extraordinarily high degree of purity. He said: ‘A certain man (St. Nonnus bishop of Heliopolis) on seeing a beautiful body, thereupon glorified the Creator, and from that one look he was moved to the … Continue reading →

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Abba Aresenius in Prayer

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Administrator

When sitting down to work he always had a little basin on his lap to catch the tears which continually flowed from his eyes because of the longing he had for the life eternal. Continue reading →

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What is the gravest sin?

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Administrator

The man who repents of heresy is at once cleansed by turning to God with his whole personality. Continue reading →

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What is prayer?

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Administrator

Psalm 72:22-26 LXX And I was despised, and did not know; I became like a beast before You. And I am continually with You; You hold fast my right hand; With Your counsel You guide me, And with glory You … Continue reading →

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Many causes of tears

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Administrator

32. Many of the Fathers say that the question of tears, especially in the case of beginners, is an obscure matter and hard to ascertain, as tears are born in many different ways. For instance, there are tears from nature, … Continue reading →

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What are fasting and prayer?

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Administrator

prayer is converse with God, vigil is a war against Satan, abstinence is being weaned from meats… Continue reading →

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