" There is a sin which is always 'unto death' [1 Jn 5:16]; the sin which we have not repented. Even a saint's prayer's will not be heard for the unrepented sin. The person who repents correctly does not imagine that his sins are cancelled through his own effort; but knows that through this effort he makes peace with God."
St. Mark the Ascetic
The perfection of the Christian life -- and I mean that life which is the only one the name of Christ is used to designate -- is that in which we participate not only by our mind and soul but in all the actions of our lives, so that our holiness may be complete, in accordance with the blessing pronounced by Paul, in our 'whole body and soul and spirit' (I Thess. 5:23), constantly guarded from all admixture with evil.
St. Gregory of Nyssa, From Glory to Glory
I am an ignorant man. Why would I say this? Because it is true. How am I ignorant? I am as most of us are - I do not see the world clearly for what it is. I do not see other people clearly for what they are. I do not see myself clearly for what I am. And most importantly, I do not see God for Who He Is. Ignorance cannot be an excuse. It should be an impetus to seek, to ask, to knock. If we do not know God we will perish - this is absolutely true. And ignorance in other matters brings its own perishing as well.
A humble priest