Here we present words of wisdom of Saint Mark the Ascetic, taken from the book ‘Philokalia” Continue reading “St. Mark the Ascetic – On the Spiritual Law”
St. Mark the Ascetic – On the Spiritual Law
Philokalia – Saint John Cassian – On Pride
Our eighth struggle is against the demon of pride, a most sinister demon, fiercer than all that have been discussed up till now. He attacks the perfect above all and seeks to destroy those who have mounted almost to the heights of holiness. Just as a deadly plague destroys not just one member of the body, but the whole of it, so pride corrupts the whole soul, not just part of it. Each of the other passions that trouble the soul attacks and tries to overcome the single virtue which is opposed to it, and so it darkens and troubles the soul only partially. But the passion of pride darkens the soul completely and leads to its utter downfall. Continue reading “Philokalia – Saint John Cassian – On Pride”
Philokalia – Saint John Cassian – On Self-Esteem
Our seventh struggle is against the demon of self-esteem, a multiform and subtle passion which is not readily perceived even by the person whom it tempts. The provocations of the other passions are more apparent and it is therefore somewhat easier to do battle with them, for the soul recognizes its enemy and can repulse him at once by rebutting him and by prayer. Continue reading “Philokalia – Saint John Cassian – On Self-Esteem”
Philokalia – Saint John Cassian – On Dejection
Our fifth struggle is against the demon of dejection, who obscures the soul’s capacity for spiritual contemplation and keeps it from all good works. When this malicious demon seizes our soul and darkens it completely, he prevents us from praying gladly, from reading Holy Scripture with profit and perseverance, and from being gentle and
compassionate towards our brethren. He instills a hatred of every kind of work and even of the monastic profession itself. Undermining all the soul’s salutary resolutions, weakening its persistence and constancy, he leaves it senseless and paralyzed, tied and bound by its despairing thoughts. Continue reading “Philokalia – Saint John Cassian – On Dejection”
Philokalia – Saint John Cassian – On Anger
Our fourth struggle is against the demon of anger. We must, with God’s help, eradicate his deadly poison from the depths of our souls. So long as he dwells in our hearts and blinds the eyes of the heart with his somber disorders, we can neither discriminate what is for our good, nor achieve spiritual knowledge, nor fulfill our good intentions, nor
participate in true life; and our intellect will remain impervious to the contemplation of the true, divine light; for it is written, ‘For my eye is troubled because of anger’ (Ps. 6:7. LXX). Continue reading “Philokalia – Saint John Cassian – On Anger”
Philokalia of the Holy Neptic Fathers – St. Peter of Damascus (Part Three)
Here we present some valuable words by St. Peter of Damascus. Continue reading “Philokalia of the Holy Neptic Fathers – St. Peter of Damascus (Part Three)”
Novo Scriptorium 