Ancient Christian Witness

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello,
Pray for me a sinner,
Gleanings from Orthodox authors and Holy Fathers,
Make account that thou hast done nothing,
and then thou hast done all.
For if, being sinners,
when we account ourselves to be what we are,
we become righteous, as indeed the Publican did; how much more, when being righteous we account ourselves to be sinners.
St John Chrysostom, HOMILY III., MATT. I. 1
One elder passed seventy weeks in fasting, eating food only twice a week,
as he begged the Lord to reveal to him the meaning of a passage in Holy Scripture.
But God would not reveal it to him.
Seeing this, the elder said to himself,
"I have labored long and hard, and I have accomplished nothing.
I will go to my brother and ask him."

When he had left his cell and locked the door behind him, an angel from the Lord appeared and said to him: "Seventy weeks of fasting did not bring you nearer to God.
Now,
however,
when you have humbled yourself and resolved to go to your brother with your question,
I have been sent to you to explain the meaning of this passage." And fulfilling this, the angel departed.
the Paterikon of Bishop Ignatius, found in Spiritual Sowings. Translated by Elizaveta Baranova
Pray for me a sinner,
ICXC NIKA
eleni

July 5, 2009 at 3:37 AM