The New Hieromartyr Cosmas, Equal of the Apostles, in the world Constas, was a native of Aitolia. He studied at first under the guidance of the archdeacon Ananias Dervisanos, and afterwards continued his education on Mount Athos, at the Vatopedi school renowned for teachers such as Nicholas Tzartzoulios (from Metsovo) and Eugenius Voulgaris (afterwards in the years 1775-1779 the archbishop of Ekaterinoslav and the Chersonessus).
Remaining on Athos at the Philotheou monastery to devote himself to spiritual labors, he was tonsured a monk with the name Cosmas, and later was ordained hieromonk. The desire to benefit his fellow Christians, to guide them upon the way of salvation and strengthen their faith, impelled St Cosmas to seek the blessing of his spiritual fathers and go to Constantinople. There he mastered the art of rhetoric and, having received a written permit of Patriarch Seraphim II (and later from his successor Sophronius) to preach the Holy Gospel.
So the saint began to proclaim the Gospel at first in the churches of Constantinople and the surrounding villages, then in the Danube regions, in Thessalonica, in Verroia, in Macedonia, Chimaera, Akarnania, Aitolia, on the islands of Saint Maura, Kephalonia and other places.
His preaching, filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, was simple, calm, and gentle. It brought Christians great spiritual benefit. The Lord Himself assisted him and confirmed his words with signs and miracles, just as He had confirmed the preaching of the Apostles.
Preaching in the remote areas of Albania, where Christian piety had almost disappeared among the rough and coarse people entrenched in sin, St Cosmas led them to sincere repentance and improvement with the Word of God.
Under his guidance, church schools were opened in the towns and villages. The rich offered their money for the betterment of the churches, for the purchase of Holy Books (which the saint distributed to the literate), veils (which he gave women, admonishing them to come to church with covered heads),for prayer ropes and crosses (which he distributed to the common folk), and for baptismal fonts so that children could be baptized in the proper manner.
Since the churches could not accommodate everyone wanting to hear the wise preacher, St Cosmas with forty or fifty priests served the Vigil in the fields, and in city squares, where thousands of people prayed for the living and for the dead, and were edified by his preaching. Everywhere that St Cosmas halted and preached, the grateful listeners set up a large wooden cross, which remained thereafter in memory of this.
The apostolic service of St Cosmas was brought to a close by his martyric death in the year 1779. At 65 years of age, he was seized by the Turks and strangled. His body was thrown into a river, and after three days, was found by the priest Mark and buried near the village of Kolikontasi at the monastery of the Entrance into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos. Afterwards, part of his relics were transferred to various places as a blessing.
He was glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1961."
"It is interesting to note that the initiative for the first church to be built in memory of Father Kosmas was taken by the Moslem ruler of Albania, Ali Pasha, who held Father Kosmas in high esteem not only because he believed Kosmas to be a holy man but also because Kosmas had earlier predicted great success for him [Note: see the first prophecy of St. Kosmas below]. In 1810 Ali Pasha became master of the city of Berat and its environs. Within four years he succeeded in raising the money required to build the first church in honor of St. Kosmas. Moreover, he personally contributed not only toward the building of the church but paid to have a silver reliquary made in which Kosmas' skull was placed and saw to it that the Saint's service (akolouthia) was composed. It was later printed in Venice by the Epirot printer Nicholas Glykys."
Selected Prophecies of St. Kosmas Aitolos
"You will become a great man, you will conquer all of Albania, you will subjugate Preveza, Parga, Souli, Delvino, Gardiki, and the very stronghold of Kurt Pasha. You will leave a great name in the world. Also, you will go to Constantinople,...but with a read beard. This is the will of Divine Providence. Remember, however, throughout your whole reign, to love and defend the Christians, if you want your successors to retain their power."
(This was said at Tepeleni, in present day Albania, to Ali Pasha, and found amazing fulfillment after some thirty years. He became the sole, powerful ruler of Epiros. In saying the Ali Pasha would go to Constantinople but with a "red beard", the Saint meant that Ali Pasha would be beheaded and his head with bloody beard would be sent to that city. This, too, found fulfillment.)
"Things will come out of the schools that your mind does not even imagine."
"You will see in the field a carriage without horses running faster than a rabbit."
"A time will come when the earth will be girded by a thread."
(electrical power grid and telephone lines)
"A time will come when people will speak from one distant place to another, as though they were in adjoining rooms--for example, from Constantinople to Russia."
"You will see men flying in the sky like starlings, and throwing fire on the earth. Those who will live then will run to graves and will cry out: "Come out you who are dead so that we the living may enter."
(These five successive prophecies of St. Kosmas are in books that were written about a century before the related inventions were made. Hence, they arouse admiration and manifestly testify to the Saint's gift of prophecy.)
"The Turks will leave, but they shall return and will come as far as Hexamilia. In the end, they shall be driven away to Kokkina Milia. Of the Turks, one third will be killed, another third will be baptized, and the remaining third will go to Kokkina Milia."
(Kokkina Milia was a region which the imagination of the enslaved Greeks placed in the depths of Asia Minor and beyond. It is there that they hoped to push back their oppressors, i.e., where they originally came from.)
"In the City (Constantinople) so much blood will be spilled that a three-year old calf will swim in it."
"After the war, a man will have to run half an hour to find another human being to join him in fellowship."
(The situation prophesied here fits with that anticipated today in the case of a nuclear war.)
Selected quotes from St. Kosmas Aitolos (taken from: http://www.serfes.org/writtings/stcosmas.htm; see the link and Modern Orthodox Saints I by Dr. Constantine Cavarnos for more information and quotes from St. Kosmas Aitolos)
"This All-holy Trinity we pious Orthodox Christians glorify and worship. He is the true God, and all other so-called gods are demons. And it is not we along that believe, glorify, and worship the Holy Trinity, but angels, archangels, and all the heavenly hosts, as numerous as the stars of the heavens and the grains of the sand of the sea unceasingly praise in hymns and worship and glorify this All-holy Trinity. Again, out of their love for the Holy Trinity men and women as numerous as the stars of the heavens and the grains of the sand of the sea spilt their blood, and as many renounced the world and went to the deserts and led a life of spiritual endeavor, and still as many lived in the world with temperance and virginity, fasting, prayer, almsgiving and other practices; and all went to Paradise and rejoice forever."
"If we want to fare well in this life and to go to Paradise, and to call our God love and father, we must have two loves: the love for God and the love for our neighbor. It is natural for us to have these two loves, and contrary to nature not have them. Just as a swallow needs two wings in order to fly in the air, so we need these two loves, because without them we cannot be saved."
"If you wish to be saved, seek no other thing here in this world as much as love."
"The Martyrs won Paradise through their blood; the Ascetics, through their ascetic life. Now you, my brethren, who have children, how will you win Paradise? By means of hospitality, by giving to your brothers who are poor, blind, or lame."
"If you want cure your soul, you need four things. The first is to forgive your enemies. The second is to confess thoroughly. The third is to blame yourself. The fourth is to resolve to sin no more. If we wish to be saved, we must always blame ourselves and not attribute our wrong acts to others. And God, Who is most compassionate, will forgive us."
"God created woman equal with man, not inferior...My Christian, you must love your wife as your companion, not consider her as your slave, for she is a creature of God, just as you are. God was crucified for her as much as for you. You call God Father, she calls Him Father, too. Both of you have the same Faith, the same Baptism, the same Book of the Gospels, the same Holy Communion, the same Paradise to enjoy. God does not regard her as inferior to you. "
"This prayer should never be absent from you: Lord Jesus Christ, Son and Logos of the living God, through the Theotokos and all the Saints, have mercy upon me, Thy sinful and unworthy servant." (This is the actual Jesus Prayer: "O LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY UPON ME, A SINNER.") Always say this prayer both with your mouth and with your mind, day and night, wherever you may be, whether eating, walking, working, or sitting. Always meditate on it, as it benefits you a great deal., frees you here from every evil, delivers you there from eternal Hell, and renders you worthy of going to Paradise, our heavenly country."
APOLYTIKION IN THE THIRD TONE
By teaching the Divine Faith, thou hast richly adorned the Church and become a zealous emulator of the Apostles; for having been lifted up by the wings of divine love, that hast spread far and wide the message of the Gospel. O glorious Cosmas, entreat God that He grants us His great mercy.
KONTAKION
Having led an irreproachable life on Athos, like Moses thou hast been deemed worthy of God's manifestation; wherefore truly thou dost gladden the Church exceedingly by thy deeds and thy God-inspired words, O Father Cosmas, having contended for which, thou hast been adorned with a double crown.
MEGALYNARION
Rejoice thou emulator of the Apostles, teacher and luminary of the Church; rejoice thou divine cultivator of piety, associate of Martyrs and peer of Angels.
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2013/08/st-kosmas-aitolos-new-hieromartyr-and.html
Of all people, the atheist is the most misfortunate person because he has been deprived of the only good thing upon the earth: faith—the one true guide toward the truth and happiness. The atheist is a most misfortunate person because he is deprived of hope: the essential staff needed to journey through life's lengthy path. The atheist is a most misfortunate person because he is deprived of human love, which caresses the aching heart. The atheist is a most misfortunate person because he has been deprived of the divine beauty of the Creator's image, which the Divine Artist has etched within man and which faith unveils.
The eye of the atheist sees in creation nothing other than the operation of natural processes. The brilliance and magnificent beauty of the Divine Creator's image remain hidden and undetectable to him.
As he glances aimlessly at creation, nowhere does he discover the beauty of God's wisdom, nowhere does he see God's omnipotence, nowhere does he observe God's goodness and providence, nowhere does he discern the Creator's righteousness and love for creation. His mind is neither capable of ascending higher than the visible world nor reaching beyond the boundaries of physical matter. His heart remains anesthetized and indifferent before God's ever-present divine wisdom and power.
Within it, not even the slightest desire to worship
the Lord exists. His lips remain closed, his mouth silent, and his tongue frozen. His soul voices no
hymn, doxology, or praise as an expression of gratefulness to God.
The peace of the soul and the serenity of the heart have been removed by disbelief; instead, mourning has inundated the depth of his being. The delight, which the faithful person experiences from executing God’s divine commandments, and
the great pleasure that he enjoys from an ethical way of life are unknown feelings for the atheist. The elation which faith bestows to the believer has never been felt by the atheist’s heart.
The assurance that arises from faith in God’s providence, which relieves man from the anxiety of life’s worries, is a power unknown to him.
St. Nektarios
http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2013/08/the-atheist-is-most-misfortunate-person.html
That ugly and omnipresent thorn called worry! Since it’s a chronic, recurrent condition, it’s been called the “Worry Disease.” I think worry must be Satan’s best weapon against man. Our minds are incessantly preoccupied with our daily cares. During peace-filled, “quiet time” moments of prayer and reflection we confidently profess our faith to God and feel His peace. Yet, this is so often immediately forgotten, preempted by the next worrisome preoccupation. At time, it’s maddening! Too often our “old nature” chooses to worry rather than to trust God. Worry is a sin because we aren’t taking God at his Word.
Virtually everyone is stressed out today. We fear various problems and what they may do to us. For example, I have worked in pharmaceutical marketing and medical communications for 30+ years and have witnessed incredible changes in the healthcare landscape. I laugh out loud when I remember how in the past I used to complain about various working conditions. However, they were minimal compared to today’s constant stream of pressures. Now there are insecurities about the marketplace, the unrelenting ferocity of managed care, stressed-out clients willing to change their ad agency “on a whim,” and the constant barrage of economic and socio-political uncertainties. It seems every industry, both private and government, is beleaguered by economic crises today.
I guess crying in my beard (?) is both selfish and narrow-minded. Whether we live or have lived in affluence or in abject poverty, we will always have fears and anxieties. Let’s face it; we live in a fallen world. We have to deal with it, and there’s only one way do that: constantly pause and know that God is in control.
When I’m having dark days and am beset by challenges of all sorts, I put my distress in God’s hands and really trust, really believe. He always delivers, and the more I trust, the less my discomfort, and the better the outcome.
Besides entreating the Lord, I must also thank Him. Since the human race is innately selfish, our conversation with God is often a big, one-sided “all about me.” But when we balance our requests with heartfelt thanksgiving, i.e., when it becomes an integral part of our lives, giving thanks can only diminish our despair and contribute to inner peace and real joy. It’s so easy to avow faith and to rationalize it. But faith in action, which means practicing our faith day by day, moment by moment, is the hard part.
Let’s face it. Every day is a life challenge to varying degrees. The storms we face-personal, social, work-related, spiritual, or financial-will always be there. In order to put things into the proper perspective, there are several actions we can take:
1. Start every day with a thanksgiving prayer. One of my favorites was written by Fr. Thomas Hopko:
We praise You, Lord Jesus for showing us how to live day by day without fear, serving obediently, always entrusting our lives into Your care. And we thank you Lord Jesus for showing us how to die, how to gain the victory, how to attain the crown of life by commending our souls into the Father’s hands.
2. Repeat the Jesus Prayer (“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner”) for focus.
3. Recite short Bible verses. These can also help to assuage the anxieties of life whenever those inevitable afflictions rear their ugly heads. Meaningful verses like the following can really lift the weight of our woes:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
Be still and know that I am God (Psalms 46:10).
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not upon your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
There is no formula, no antibiotic, no magic elixir for eradicating worry and fear. It’s a matter of developing childlike faith, a conscious effort to trust in God. If and when He is willing, that burden will become lighter as we grow in His wisdom and grace.
Bottom line: There can be peace in our hearts only when we turn to the One, True Source of peace, Jesus Christ. As He affirmed, “[My] peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
Every day requires a reaffirmation of faith. If we seek God and His values, God will provide for us in wonderful ways we can never imagine. To know the pardon, joy, peace and power that come through Christ, we must personally receive Him by faith. And if our hearts are to change, our faith must be real.
«Και πώς είναι δυνατό, λέγει, άνθρωπος κοσμικός, που είναι προσηλωμένος στο δικαστήριο, κάθε τρεις ώρες της ημέρας να προσεύχεται και να τρέχει στην Εκκλησία; Είναι δυνατό και πολύ εύκολο. Γιατί, κι αν δεν είναι εύκολο να πας στην Εκκλησία, καθώς στέκεσαι εκεί μπροστά στις πόρτες κι είσαι προσηλωμένος στο δικαστήριο, είναι δυνατό να προσευχηθείς. Γιατί δε χρειάζεται τόσο φωνή, όσο σκέψη, ούτε έκταση των χεριών, όσο τεντωμένη ψυχή, ούτε κάποια στάση, αλλά πίστη.
Γιατί κι αυτή η Άννα δεν εισακούστηκε επειδή έβγαλε δυνατή και μεγάλη φωνή, αλλ’ επειδή φώναξε δυνατά μέσα στην καρδιά της. Γιατί «η φωνή της δεν ακουόταν» (Α’ Βασιλειών, 1, 13), λέγει, αλλά την άκουγε ο Θεός. ["Ν": Πρόκειται για ένα βιβλίο της Παλαιάς Διαθήκης, που μπορείτε να το διαβάσετε εδώ (όπως κι όλα τα άλλα βιβλία της Π.Δ. που θα δείτε πιο κάτω). Η αγία Άννα, που αναφέρει εδώ, είναι η μητέρα του αγίου προφήτη Σαμουήλ, όχι η μητέρα της Παναγίας που έχει το ίδιο όνομα, γι' αυτό και τις γιορτάζουμε την ίδια μέρα (9 Δεκ.)].
Το ίδιο έκαναν πολλές φορές και πολλοί άλλοι και, ενώ ο άρχοντας μέσα φώναζε, απειλούσε, έκανε χειρονομίες, μαινόταν, αυτοί, στεκόμενοι μπροστά στις κλειστές πόρτες και λέγοντας λίγα λόγια προσευχής με το νου τους, όταν μπήκαν μέσα τον μετέβαλαν και τον καταπράυναν και τον έκαναν ήμερο, από άγριος που ήταν. Και δεν εμποδίστηκαν καθόλου, ούτε από τον τόπο, ούτε από την ώρα, ούτε από τη σιωπή για την προσευχή αυτή.
Αυτό λοιπόν κάνε κι εσύ! Στέναξε βαθειά, φέρε στη μνήμη σου τις αμαρτίες σου, στρέψε το βλέμμα σου στον ουρανό, πες με το νου σου «’Ελέησέ με, Θεέ μου», και ολοκληρώθηκε η προσευχή σου.
Γιατί αυτός που είπε «ελέησέ με», έδειξε εξομολόγηση και μετάνιωσε για τα αμαρτήματά του.
Γιατί το να ζητούν έλεος ταιριάζει σ’ αυτούς που αμάρτησαν. Αυτός που είπε «ελέησέ με», πήρε συγχώρηση των σφαλμάτων του.
Γιατί αυτός που ελεήθηκε δεν κολάζεται. Αυτός που είπε «ελέησέ με», κέρδισε τη Βασιλεία των Ουρανών.
Γιατί αυτόν που θα ελεήσει ο Θεός, δεν απαλλάσσεται μόνο απ’ τη κόλαση, αλλά γίνεται άξιος και των μελλοντικών αγαθών.
Ας μην προφασιζόμαστε λοιπόν λέγοντας, ότι δεν υπάρχει κοντά μας οίκος προσευχής. Γιατί εμάς τους ίδιους έκανε ναούς η χάρη του Πνεύματος του Θεού, εάν βέβαια είμαστε άγρυπνοι, ώστε να έχουμε από παντού μεγάλη ευκολία.
Η λατρεία μας δεν είναι τέτοια, όπως ήταν παλαιότερα των Ιουδαίων, που είχε πολύ το υλικό στοιχείο και απαιτούσε πολλή απασχόληση. Εκεί ο προσευχόμενος έπρεπε να ανεβεί στο ιερό, να αγοράσει τρυγόνια, να χρησιμοποιήσει ξύλα και φωτιά, να πάρει μαζί του μαχαίρι και το θύμα, γιατί εσύ ο ίδιος είσαι και ιερέας και θυσιαστήριο και θύμα.
Όπου λοιπόν κι αν βρίσκεσαι, μπορείς να στήσεις το βωμό, δείχνοντας μόνο νηφάλια πρόθεση, και σε τίποτα δεν σε εμποδίζει ο τόπος, ούτε σε εμποδίζει η ώρα, αλλά και χωρίς να γονατίσεις, χωρίς να χτυπήσεις το στήθος σου και χωρίς να υψώσεις τα χέρια σου στον ουρανό, μόνο εάν δείξεις θερμή διάνοια, ολοκλήρωσες το άπαν της προσευχής.
Είναι δυνατό ακόμα και γυναίκα, που κρατάει ρόκα και υφαίνει, να στρέψει το βλέμμα νοερά στον ουρανό και να επικαλεσθεί με θερμότητα το Θεό.
Μπορεί και άνθρωπος που πηγαίνει στην αγορά και βαδίζει μόνος του να κάνει μακρές προσευχές.
Κι άλλος, που κάθεται στο εργαστήριο και ράβει δέρματα, μπορεί να αφιερώσει τη ψυχή του στο Δεσπότη.
Είναι δυνατό και ο δούλος και αυτός που ψωνίζει και αυτός που ανεβαίνει και αυτός που κατεβαίνει και αυτός που εργάζεται στο μαγειρείο, όταν δεν μπορούν να έρθουν στην εκκλησία, να κάνουν προσευχή μακρά και ζωηρή.
Ο Θεός δεν ντρέπεται τον τόπο. Ένα πράγμα μόνο ζητά, θερμή διάνοια και ψυχή γεμάτη σωφροσύνη.
Και για να δεις ότι δεν χρειάζονται σχήματα και τόποι και ώρες γενικά, αλλά γενναίο και διεγερμένο φρόνημα, ο Παύλος, ενώ ήταν ξαπλωμένος ανάσκελα στη φυλακή και δεν στεκόταν όρθιος (γιατί δεν τον άφηνε το ξύλο στο οποίο ήταν δεμένα τα πόδια του), επειδή, όντας ξαπλωμένος, προσευχήθηκε με προθυμία, ταρακούνησε τη φυλακή και τράνταξε τα θεμέλιά της και έδεσε τον αρχιφύλακα και τον οδήγησε ύστερα από αυτά στην ιερή μυσταγωγία (Πράξεις των αποστόλων, 17, 25-34).
Και ο Εζεκίας επίσης χωρίς να στέκεται όρθιος, ούτε να είναι γονατισμένος, αλλά ξαπλωμένος ανάσκελα στο κρεβάτι, εξαιτίας της αρρώστιας, γύρισε τον εαυτό του προς τον τοίχο, και με το να επικαλεστεί θερμά και με σώφρονα ψυχή το Θεό, και την απόφαση που είχε ανακοινωθεί ανακάλεσε και πολλή συμπάθεια κέρδισε και ξαναβρήκε όπως πριν την υγεία του.
Κι αυτό θα μπορούσε να το δει κανείς να συμβαίνει όχι μόνο σε άγιους και μεγάλους άνδρες, αλλά και σε κακούς.
Γιατί και ο ληστής δεν στάθηκε σε ευκτήριο οίκο, ούτε γονάτισε, αλλά τεντωμένος πάνω στο σταυρό, με λίγα λόγια πέτυχε τη Βασιλεία των Ουρανών.
Άλλος μέσα σε βούρκο και σε λάκκο (Ιερεμίας 45, 6),
άλλος μέσα σε λάκκο και ανάμεσα σε θηρία (Δανιήλ 6, 22),
άλλος μέσα στην ίδια την κοιλιά του κήτους (Ιωνάς 2, 2-Ι0),
αφού παρακάλεσαν το Θεό, όλα όσα τους απειλούσαν τα διέλυσαν και πέτυχαν την εύνοια του Θεού.
Και βέβαια λέγοντας αυτά σας προτρέπω να πηγαίνετε συνεχώς στις Εκκλησίες, και στο σπίτι να προσεύχεστε με πολλή ησυχία, κι όταν έχετε ελεύθερη ώρα να γονατίζετε και να ανυψώνετε τα χέρια, κι όταν έχετε ελεύθερη ώρα να γονατίζετε και να ανυψώνετε τα χέρια.
Εάν όμως είτε εξαιτίας της ώρας, είτε εξαιτίας του τόπου μείναμε ανάμεσα σε πολλούς άλλους, να μην παραλείπετε εξαιτίας αυτού τις συνηθισμένες προσευχές, αλλά να προσεύχεσθε μ’ αυτόν τον τρόπο, που είπα στην αγάπη σας, και να παρακαλείτε το Θεό, με τη βεβαιότητα ότι δεν θα έχετε τίποτα λιγότερο με αυτή την προσευχή.
Αυτά σας τα είπα όχι για να με θαυμάσετε και να χειροκροτήσετε, αλλά για να τα εφαρμόσετε έμπρακτα και να αφιερώνετε τις ώρες της νύχτας και της ημέρας και της εργασίας στις προσευχές και τις δεήσεις».
(Αγίου Ι. Χρυσοστόμου, Δ΄ομιλία «Περί Άννης»)
The remembrance of death is a daily death, and the remembrance of our departure is an hourly sighing or groaning.
Fear of death is a property is a property of nature that comes from disobedience, but trembling at death is a sign of unrepented sins.
St. John Climacus
Τέσσερις είναι οι κυριώτερες προσβολές και πιο επικίνδυνες με τις οποίες συνηθίζουν να μας πολεμούν οι εχθροί μας δαίμονες κατά την ώρα του θανάτου. Ο πόλεμος που μας κάνουν εναντίον της πίστεως, η απόγνωσις, η κενοδοξία και τα διάφορα φαντάσματα και οι μεταμορφώσεις των δαιμόνων σε Αγγέλους φωτός.
Όσο για την πρώτη προσβολή σου λέγω ότι αν αρχίση ο εχθρός να σε πολεμή με τα ψεύτικα επιχειρήματά του βάζοντας στο νου λογισμούς απιστίας, φύγε αμέσως από το νου σου στη θέλησί σου λέγοντας: «Πήγαινε πίσω μου Σατανά, πατέρα του ψεύδους, διότι εγώ δεν θέλω καθόλου να σε ακούσω, διότι μου είναι αρκετό να πιστεύω εκείνο που πιστεύει η αγία μου εκκλησία».
Και μην αφήσης καθόλου τόπο στην καρδιά σου στους λογισμούς της απιστίας, όπως αναφέρεται: «Εάν Πνεύμα του εξουσιάζοντος, δηλαδή του εχθρού, σου επιτεθή, μην μετακινηθής από την θέσι σου» (Εκκλ. 10,4). Αυτούς τους λογισμούς να τους θεωρής ως κινήσεις του διαβόλου που προσπαθεί την ώρα εκείνη να σε σκανδαλίση. Κι αν δεν μπορής να στηρίξης το νου σου, στάσου με ανδρεία και μένε σταθερός με την θέλησί σου για να μην πέσης σε κανένα λογισμό ή και σε κανένα ρητό της Αγίας Γραφής, το οποίο θα σου προσφέρη ο εχθρός. Γιατί, όσα ρητά της Αγίας Γραφής κι αν σου θυμίση την ώρα εκείνη, είναι ακρωτηριασμένα (ελλιπή), προσφέρονται με κακό σκοπό, άσχημα εξηγημένα κι αν ακόμη φαίνωνται καθαρά, καλά και φανερά.
Κι αν ο πονηρός όφις σε ρωτήση και σου πη με τον λογισμό τι πιστεύει η εκκλησία, καταφρόνησέ τον εντελώς και μην του αποκριθής. Αλλά βλέποντας το ψεύδος και την πονηριά του και ότι προσπαθεί να σε πιάση με τα λόγια, πίστευε χωρίς καμμία αμφιβολία με όλη σου την καρδιά.
Σε περίπτωσι πάλι που είσαι δυνατός στην πίστι και έχεις δυνατό λογισμό και θέλεις να κάνης τον εχθρό να καταντροπιασθή, απάντησέ του ότι η αγία μου εκκλησία πιστεύει στην αλήθεια. Κι αν σου πη ποια είναι αυτή η αλήθεια, να του απαντήσης: εκείνο που πιστεύει αυτή. Πάνω από όλα κράτα την καρδιά σου πάντοτε σταθερή και προσεκτική και στραμμένη προς τον Εσταυρωμένο λέγοντας: «Θεέ μου, Ποιητά μου και Λυτρωτά μου, βοήθησέ με γρήγορα και μην παραχωρήσης να πέσω ποτέ από την αλήθεια της αγίας σου πίστεως. Αλλά ευδόκησε, όπως με την χάρι σου γεννήθηκα στην αλήθεια αυτή, έτσι να τελειώσω και την θνητή μου ζωή σ’ αυτήν προς δόξαν του ονόματός σου».
http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2013/08/blog-post_7035.html
Those who have realized how dangerous and evil is the life they lead, the devil succeeds in keeping in his power mainly by following the simple but all powerful suggestion, '' Later, later; tomorrow, tomorrow.''
St. Nikodemos of Mount Athos
1. Οἱ ψυχὲς ποὺ ἀγαποῦν τὸν Θεὸ καὶ τὴν ἀλήθεια, δὲν ὑποφέρουν οὔτε τὴν παραμικρὴ ἐλάττωση τοῦ ἔρωτά τους πρὸς τὸν Κύριο. Ἀλλὰ καρφωμένες ὁλοκληρωτικὰ στὸ σταυρό Του αἰσθάνονται μέσα τους τὴν Πνευματικὴ προκοπή. Πληγωμένες λοιπὸν ἀπὸ τὸν πόθο Του, κι ἄν ἀκόμη ἀξιωθοῦν Θεία μυστήρια καὶ μετάσχουν εὐφροσύνης καὶ Χάριτος, δὲν ἔχουν πεποίθηση στὸν ἑαυτό τους, οὔτε νομίζουν ὅτι εἶναι τίποτε. Ἀλλὰ ὅσο ἀξιώνονται πνευματικὰ χαρίσματα τόσο ἐπιζητοῦν τὰ οὐράνια. Καὶ ὅσο περισσότερη προκοπὴ αἰσθάνονται, τόσο πιὸ λαίμαργες γίνονται γιὰ τὰ θεῖα. Καὶ ἐνῶ εἶναι πνευματικὰ πλούσιες, κάνουν σὰν νὰ εἶναι φτωχές. «Ὅσοι μὲ τρῶνε θὰ πεινάσουν κι' ἄλλο, καὶ ὅσοι μὲ πίνουν θὰ διψάσουν κι' ἄλλο», λέει ἡ Θεία Γραφή.
2. Αὐτοῦ τοῦ εἴδους οἱ ψυχὲς ἀξιώνονται νὰ λάβουν τὴν τέλεια ἐλευθερία ἀπὸ τὰ πάθη καὶ ν' ἀποκομίσουν τὴν ἔλλαμψη καὶ τὴν κοινωνία τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος μὲ τὴν πληρότητα τῆς Χάρης. Ὅσες ὅμως εἶναι ὀκνηρές καὶ ἀποφεύγουν τοὺς κόπους καὶ δὲν ἐπιζητοῦν τὸν ἁγιασμὸ τῆς καρδιᾶς ἀπὸ αὐτὴ ἐδῶ τὴ ζωή, ὄχι ἐν μέρει, ἀλλὰ ὁλοκληρωτικά. Αὐτὲς ἄς μὴ ἐλπίζουν νὰ κοινωνήσουν τὸ Ἅγιο Πνεῦμα καὶ ν' ἀπαλλαγοῦν ἀπὸ τὰ πάθη τῆς κακίας• αὐτὲς κι' ἄν ἀξιωθοῦν τὴ Θεία Χάρη, ἐπειδὴ ξεγελιοῦνται ἀπὸ τὴν κακία, ἀφήνουν κάθε πνευματικὴ φροντίδα, διότι ἀπολαμβάνουν ὀλίγη πνευματικὴ γλυκύτητα. Ἔτσι οἱ ψυχὲς αὐτὲς εἶναι εὔκολο νὰ πέσουν σὲ ἔπαρση, διότι δὲν ἀγωνίζονται νὰ φτάσουν τὴν τέλεια ἀπάθεια. Καὶ καθὼς ἀρκοῦνται στὴ λίγη αὐτὴ ἐνίσχυση τῆς Χάρης καὶ προκόβουν ὄχι στὴν ταπείνωση, ἀλλὰ στὴν ἔπαρση, ἀπογυμνώνονται κάποτε κι' ἀπὸ τὸ χάρισμα ποὺ ἔλαβαν. Γιατὶ ἡ ψυχή, ποὺ ἀγαπάει ἀληθινὰ τὸν Θεό, κι' ἄν ἀκόμη μυριάδες ἀρετὲς κατορθώσει, ἔχει τέτοια μετριοφροσύνη, σὰν νὰ μήν ἔχει ἀρχίσει ἀκόμη νὰ ζεῖ κατὰ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ νοιώθει ἀπληστία καὶ ἔρωτα γιὰ τὴ Θεία ἀγάπη ποὺ ἐμπνέει ὁ Δεσπότης Χριστός.
3. Στὰ πνευματικὰ αὐτὰ μέτρα οὔτε μονομιᾶς οὔτε εὔκολα μπορεῖ νὰ φτάσει κανείς, ἀλλὰ ἀφοῦ προηγηθοῦν πολλοὶ κόποι καὶ ἀγῶνες καὶ περάσουν χρόνια μὲ δοκιμασίες καὶ ποικίλους πειρασμούς, μέχρι τὸ τέλειο μέτρο τῆς ἀπάθειας. Ἔτσι, ἀφοῦ δοκιμασθεῖ μὲ πόνους καὶ κόπους καὶ ὑποφέρει μὲ γενναιοψυχία ὅλους τοὺς πειρασμούς ποὺ προξενεῖ ἡ κακία, ἀξιώνεται νὰ λάβει τὶς μεγάλες τιμές καὶ τὰ χαρίσματα τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος καὶ τὸν Θεϊκὸ πλοῦτο. Ἔπειτα γίνεται καὶ κληρονόμος τῆς Βασιλείας τῶν Οὐρανῶν.
Όσιος Μακάριος ο Αιγύπτιος
We must not approach Christ out of fear of how we will die and of what will become of us. Rather, we must open our hearts to Him, as when we tug at a window curtain and the sun immediately shines in.
In this way Christ will come to us, that we might truly love Him.
This is the best way .
St. Porphyrios
