Patristic Quote of the Day

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Thu 18 September 2003 12:21 pm

I was reading Gregory the Theologian's 2nd Oration last night and I came across this passage:

"For hoary hairs combined with pruence are better than inexperienced youth, well-reasoned hesitation than inconsiderate haste, and a brief reign than a long tyranny: just as a small portion honourably won is better than considerable possessions which are dishonourable and uncertain, a little gold than a great weight of lead, a little light than much darkness." (Oration 2, 72)

I've probably read that a half dozen times now, but every time I do it just seems to be more and more relevant (especially the part about well-reasoned hesitation being better than inconsiderate haste).

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Sun 21 September 2003 3:38 pm

Pachomius wanted to become a monk, and he heard of an old hermit called Palamon. He went to visit him and knocked at the door. The old man looked out of the window and said in a rough voice: "Who is there?" "Father, if I may, I would like to become a monk with you." "No, you cannot. It is very difficult to be a monk. Many have come and gone away again." "Try me, Father, and you will see." "First you must test yourself in your cell for some time. This is what I myself do. It is hard. I do not eat before sundown during the summer. In winter I eat every three days. I only take bread and salt, without oil or wine. I watch in vigil until midnight, often even the whole night, to pray and meditate on the Word of God."

Pachomius replied humbly: "I have been testing myself in all these things before coming to you, and I am confident that with the help of God and your prayers, your heart will be at rest concerning me."

Palamon opened the door to him and bade him come in. After having tested him for some time, he gave him the monk's habit. They lived together a life of sacrifice and prayer. Together they made mats. - The Bohairic Life, 10

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Mon 22 September 2003 6:51 pm

First, therefore, brethren, let us keep a festival, not with cheerfulness of face, nor changes and sumptuousness of apparel, nor with revellings and drunkenness, the fruit whereof ye have been taught is chambering and wanton-ness; neither let us crown the streets with flowers, nor our tables with the scandal of perfumes, nor let us decorate the entrances of our dwellings; neither let our houses be illuminated with the material light, nor resounding with concerts and the clapping of hands----for this is the pride of a heathen festivity. But let not us glorify God, or celebrate the present occasion with such things as these, wherewith it is not fitting----but rather with purity of soul and cheerfulness of temper, and with the lamps of the Church that illuminate the body, I mean with godly contemplations, add thoughts raised aloft upon the Sacred Lamp-stand,25 and diffusing a light over all the world I Compared to such a Light, I esteem as a mere trifle all that men light up when they hold festival. - Gregory the Theologian, Oration 5 (Second Invective Against Julian the Apostate), 35

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Tue 23 September 2003 2:00 pm

We must persevere in the straight and narrow road of praise and glory; and since peacefulness and humility and the tranquillity of a good life is fitting for all Christians, according to the word of the Lord, who looks to none other man than "to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at" His word, it the more behoves you confessors, who have been made an example to the rest of the brethren, to observe and fulfil this, as being those whose characters should provoke to imitation the life and conduct of all. - Saint Cyprian, Epistle 6, 3

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Wed 24 September 2003 5:56 pm

Love faith. For by his devotion and faith Josiah won great love for himself from his enemies. For he celebrated the Lord's passover when he was eighteen yearsold, as no one had done it before him. As then in zeal he was superior to those who went before him, so do ye, my sons, show zeal for God. Let zeal for God search you through, and devour you, so that each one of you may say: "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." An apostle of Christ was called the zealot. But why do I speak of an apostle? The Lord Himself said: "The zeal of thine house hath eaten Me up." Let it then be real zeal for God, not mean earthy zeal, for that causes jealousy. - Saint Ambrose, Three Books on the Duties of the Clergy, 2, 30

away · Post by **away** » Thu 25 September 2003 2:43 pm

If you believe with all sicerity that nothing can happen to you except by God's will, and if you have no other desire but to be actively doing God's will, it is self-evident that no matter what happens to you, you will always have only what you desire.

from Unseen Warfare. not sure, but it sounds like Saint Theophans words.

away · Post by **away** » Thu 2 October 2003 2:39 am

“Those who are not well spiritually are certain clergymen who study psychology in order to help people’s souls (with human skill). The strange thing is that their teachers, the psychologists, neither believe in God nor accept the existence of the soul; and if they do, they do it in their own way (almost all of them). These clergymen reveal through their actions that they are spiritually ill and need patristic examinations. After being cured, they will discern for themselves this ill spirit and, at the same time, they will come to know Divine Grace. From then on, they will use divine energy instead of human arts to cure suffering souls.”

Elder Paisios of Mount Athos.