Patristic Quote of the Day

Arsenios · Post by **Arsenios** » Thu 2 October 2003 1:22 pm

We therefore sanction that, wherever there is a Hebrew congregation, those who wish it may, in their synagogues, read the sacred books to those who are present in Greek, or even Latin, or any other tongue. For the language changes in different places, and the reading changes with it, so that all present may understand, and live and act according to what they hear. Thus there shall be no opportunity for their interpreters, who make use only of the Hebrew, to corrupt it in any way they like, since the ignorance of the public conceals their depravity. We make this proviso that those who use Greek shall use the text of the seventy interpreters, which is the most accurate translation, and the one most highly approved, since it happened that the translators, divided into two groups, and working in different places, all produced exactly the same text.

Justinian: Novella 146: On Jews
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/novel146.html

Arsenios · Post by **Arsenios** » Thu 2 October 2003 1:25 pm

Therefore We, conceding the authority of the sacred canons, do promulgate the present law, by which We decree that every time it may be necessary to consecrate a bishop in any city, the clergy and principal citizens of the said city shall assemble, and issue proclamations by which they nominate three persons, and then make oath on the Holy Gospels, in conformity with the Scriptures.

Justinian, Novel 137
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/j ... ov137.html

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Thu 2 October 2003 1:30 pm

"...the clergy and principal citizens of the said city shall assemble, and issue proclamations by which they nominate three persons..." (Emphasis mine)

It is my understanding that Cappadocia, among other areas, had a similar method for elevating a bishop. One can only wonder how big the backlash would be if a Christian Emperor made such a statement today, or if a Christian Church followed such a method. Most likely Saints like Justinian would be condemned for being "democratic" and "protestant". One of the best reasons to read history, and the saints and the fathers, is that we find out how very very very very very wrong so many of our opinions and assumptions are. They also prevent us from being judgmental, because such exploration of history teaches you an indisputable fact (which can be summed up in the modern cliche'): "it takes all kinds".

Now, if only I could get that lesson through my thick skull!

Arsenios · Post by **Arsenios** » Fri 3 October 2003 1:16 pm

But our lives are not without a Providence. So we have learnt in the Gospel, for not a sparrow falls to the ground without the will of our Father. Whatever has come to pass has come to pass by the will of our Creator. And who can resist God's will?

Basil the Great, Letter 6
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-08/N ... 631_884982

Daniel · Post by **Daniel** » Tue 14 October 2003 1:31 pm

"The deadly wound consists of every sin that is not repented and confessed, and of falling into despair. This depends on our choice and will. If we do not yield ourselves to the pit of carelessness and despair the devils cannot at all prevail over us. Even when we have been wounded, if we so wish we may through fervent penitence become more courageous and skillful fighters. To rise again and fight after being wounded and slain belongs to the noblest and bravest - it is worthy of great praise and most admirable. It does not depend on us whether we should be preserved from suffering wounds. To become either mortal or immortal depends on us, for if we do not despair we shall not die, 'death will have no dominion over us' (Rom. 6:9), but we shall always be strong if we flee in penitence to our all-powerful and gracious God."

St. Symeon the New Theologian.

away · Post by **away** » Wed 15 October 2003 4:21 pm

Mar Isaac,

From the book, The spiritual world of Isaac the Syrian. Words in bold are the saint’s.

God knew all persons before they became righteous or sinners, yet the fact they underwent change does not change his love. Even many blameworthy deeds are accepted by God with mercy, and are forgiven their authors, without any blame, by the omniscient God to whom all things are revealed before they happen, and who was aware of the constraints of our nature before he created us. For God, who is good and compassionate, is not in the habit of judging the infirmities of human nature or actions brought about by necessity, even though they be reprehensible.

As a grain of sand cannot counterbalance a great quantity of gold, so in comparison Gods use of justice cannot counterbalance his mercy. Like a handful of sand thrown into the great sea, so are the sins of the flesh in comparison with the mind of God. And just as a strongly flowing spring is not obscured by a handful of dust, so the mercy of the Creator is not stemmed by the vices of his creatures.

Let the scale of mercy always be preponderant within you, until you perceive in yourself that mercy which God has for the world. Let this state become a mirror wherein we may see in ourselves that likeness and true image which naturally belong to the Divine essence. By these things and their like we are enlightened so as to be moved toward God with a limpid intellect. A harsh and merciless heart will never be purified. A merciful man is the physician of his own soul, for as with a violent wind he drives the darkness of passions out of his inner self.

Every good care of the intellect directed toward God and every meditation upon spiritual things is delimited by prayer, is called by the name of prayer and under its name is comprehended; whether you speak of various readings, or the cries of a mouth glorifying God, or sorrowing reflection on the Lord, or making bows with the body, or the alleluias of psalmody, or all the other things from which the teaching of genuine prayer ensues.

Reckon every prayer wherein the body does not toil and the heart is not afflicted to be a miscarriage, for this prayer has no soul. At the same time, as Isaac quotes Evagrius, “prayer is joy that sends up thanksgiving”. The paradoxical combination of affliction of the heart and the spiritual joy of thanksgiving becomes a source of tears, which accompany prayer, especially at its higher stages. The fullness of prayer is the gift of tears.

God is not one who requites evil, but he sets evil aright.

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Sun 4 January 2004 1:20 pm

"When the door of the steam baths is continually left open, the heat inside rapidly escapes through it; likewise the soul, in its desire to say many things, dissipates its rememberance of God through the door of speech, even though everything it says may be good. Thereafter, the intellect, through lacking appropriate ideas, pours out a welter of confused thoughts to anyone it meets, as it no longer has the Holy Spirit to keep its understanding free from fantasy. Ideas of value always shun verbosity, being foreign to confusion and fantasy. Timely silence, then, is precious, for it is nothing less than the mother of the wisest thoughts." - Saint Diadochos of Photiki, On Spiritual Knowledge, 70