A Study on the Apolytikion of St. Paraskevi

St. Paraskevi the Great Martyr (source)

 
Note: The short but powerful Apolytikion (troparion) of St. Paraskevi, is often times not fully or clearly translated from the original Greek, and is even less often explained regarding its deep meaning and how the Saint illustrates Christ. This is an excerpt from a very lengthy study on the Saint's hymn, including many pertinent scriptural references. May the Saint's love and diligence for the Lord help us to prepare ourselves, and may the Lord make us worthy of His Kingdom, through her prayers.
  
Excerpt from a Study on the Apolytikion of St. Paraskevi
By Archimandrite Theophilos Lemonzi, PhD
Together with the holy icons, it is undeniable that the most beautiful hymns of the Church serve as teaching on the spiritual life, as the faithful person receives the knowledge of the wondrous deeds of the Saints, and is moved to imitate them. While the holy icons spiritually nourish the sight of the faithful, the hymns spiritually nourish the hearing of the faithful.

A special place in the heart and the pious lips of the Orthodox Christians is the Apolytikion of St. Paraskevi, which is as follows:
"Τὴν σπουδήν σου τῇ κλήσει κατάλληλον, ἐργασαμένη φερώνυμε, τὴ ὁ μώνυμόν σου πίστιν εἰς κατοικίαν κεκλήρωσαι, Παρασκευὴ ἀθληφόρε· ὅθεν προχέειςἰ άματα, καὶ πρεσβεύεις ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶ ἡμῶν."
"Working with a diligence proper to your calling, corresponding to your name, you inherited your faith of the same name as a dwelling-place, O Champion Paraskevi, therefore you pour forth healings, and you intercede on behalf of our souls."
 
The author of this perfectly-worked hymn is unknown, however, we can surmise that he was learned and had a deep knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and of Theology. From our pastoral experience we believe that very many have discussed the great teaching that this brings, and the deepest meaning of this Apolytikion, and have tried to translate it into modern Greek...
  
In the first part: "Working with a diligence proper to your calling, corresponding to your name" the main issue is the address «φερώνυμε» ("corresponding to your name", "name-bearer" or "namesake"). This is one who receives his name from someone, and the author is likely using the deepest meaning of the name "Paraskevi" which the Saint bears. The name that we are given at Holy Baptism has a deepest spiritual significance, and we are called to express throughout our life as a Christian that which our name means in reality. The author, with this word, tries to give the reason for which the Saint not only was named "Paraskevi", but also lived this name out in deed, because with her holy life was given meaning corresponding to her name: she correspondingly prepared herself with dedication for Martyrdom, and for the Kingdom of Heaven.
  
The word "Paraskevi" comes from the word "παρασκευάζω", meaning I prepare, but also I make myself something in order to obtain an identity, and it further means preparation, production, and ascesis. The sixth day of the week "Paraskevi" ("Friday") received its name from the Jews, for during that day they prepared for Sabbath rest with whatever they would need for that day, e.g. the food that they would eat. In the same way, St. Paraskevi, through the working of the commandments and asceticism of virtue, she prepared, in other words, she made herself worthy, preparing herself beforehand for her Martyrdom, and for her entrance into eternal life.

The phrase "Working with a diligence proper to your calling, corresponding to your name" furthermore expresses the whole Christian life of the Saint. The phrase "your calling" refers to the call from God towards the Saint for salvation, but also for every person. The meaning of divine call plays a central role in holy history. God called Abraham (Genesis 12:1-2), Moses in the desert of Sinai (Exodus 3:2), and the Holy Prophets. The Holy Apostles (Matthew 4:18-25) and the Apostle Paul (Acts 9:1-19) were called by Jesus to follow and to preach the Gospel. God calls all men "with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago," (II Timothy 1:9) through His Grace (Galatians 1:15). What distinguishes this is the freedom of man, and if he will respond to this call, for, as St. John of the Ladder says, even God directs Himself towards all men, because He does not remove their free will, He becomes life and salvation for those alone who desire Him. Because of this, the faithful become partakers in their heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1), and are called "called and chosen" (Romans 1:6, Revelations 17:14). The significance of this calling is one's participation in eternal life (I Timothy 6:12), however, the faithful must show their love of struggle: ["For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps."] (I Peter 2:21)

With the phrase: "Working with a diligence" is expressed this response to the calling of God towards the Saint for salvation. On Holy Friday, Jesus "worked salvation in the midst of the earth" (Psalm 73:12), through His life-giving death, and St. Paraskevi "worked with diligence", in other words, worked with dedication, zeal and willingness to respond to the divine calling for salvation (see the phrase of St. Paul:  ^"For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves" (II Corinthians 7:11)) being obedient to the commandment of St. Paul "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).

The participation through "working", describes the working of the commandments of the Gospels, and the asceticism of virtue, as a struggle and agony of freedom. The Christian, as a worker of virtue, ought to work with goodness and to turn away from evil: "lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love." (Ephesians 4:1-2) As the Saints, who "worked righteousness", and also "received promises" (Hebrews 11:33), thus, the faithful should "work goodness" (Romans 2:10), because God will give to each "according to his works" (Romans 2:6).

The word «σπουδή» comes from the verb "σπουδάζω", which means I hasten, I am going, I am paying attention to details, willingly in order to accomplish something, I am dedicated to something with a unique interest, zeal and care. The faithful should work with care towards their salvation: "be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace" (II Peter 3:14), according to the Apostle Peter, and as the Apostle Paul commands St. Timothy: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed" (II Timothy 2:15).

St. Paraskevi was detail-oriented regarding the words of the Gospel, and she showed special care, willingness and zeal to be diligent to the Holy Scriptures, such that she was shown a missionary of Christ, and embodied non-possessiveness, giving away all her goods to the poor, studying the ascetical life "and through purity, making her soul beautiful", working ceaselessly for the Gospel and life according to God, confessing her faith in Christ and hastening towards Martyrdom.

The diligence and care of the Saint is further adorned through all of her working of the commandments and through her virtue, her struggles of asceticism and martyrdom, and her uncompromising love, to the point that she healed her persecutor, Antoninus. And all of these occurred with a special desire to be obedient to the word of the Apostle Paul "Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord." (Romans 12:11), and because of this, she was continuously witnessing to Christ, even after the first tortures that she suffered. She did not shy away, she was afraid, but continued "receiving the good witness".

The author, therefore, using this word "diligence", wishes to bring to the mind of the faithful the response of the Saint to the call of God towards salvation, her love of struggle, her willingness and care for asceticism in her Christian life, and her bearing witness. The spiritual life, even though it does not come from man, requires the consent of man to bear fruit. This presupposes an unending struggle against the passions, and simultaneously a working towards the keeping of the virtues of the Gospel, as noted by blessed Fr. Michael Karadamakes. The phrase, therefore "Working with a diligence proper to your calling", has the same content as the suggestion of the Apostle Peter to the faithful: "therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (II Peter 1:10-11) and reveals the consent of the Saint to the divine calling towards asceticism and the keeping of the commandments. And all of these she worked with a corresponding and illustrative manner, with humility and love, for the asceticism of virtues, when they do not occur according to the commands of the Gospel, they are not pleasing to God: "An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules." (II Timothy 2:5) Similar to the Pharisee of the Parable (Luke 18:1-14), who worked to keep the commandments of God, but his inspiration was to please men, and because of this, he was not justified...

In the second part: "you inherited your faith of the same name as a dwelling-place, O Champion Paraskevi", a most important point is point is the word "inherited", which serves as the immediate continuation of the beginning phrase "working with a diligence proper to your calling, corresponding to your name", and reveals that which the Saint received as a gift and inheritance from God due to the diligence and willingness that she showed. The word «κληροῦμαι» means to receive something through lot, and the hymnographer says that the Saint received through her lot, as a lawful inheritor, this faith of the same name as a dwelling-place.

St. Paraskevi with scenes from her life and martyrdom (source)

   
But what does this phrase mean: "your faith of the same name"?

That which she herself possesses is called synonymous, because it shares the same name with something. Synonymous unites two words which have the same meaning. In this specific case, the word «ὁμώνυμον» has the final meaning of the word and means that the two words «πίστις» and «παρασκευή» ("faith" and "preparation") have the same meaning. But why does the hymnographer use this meaning to unite these two words? The reason is most deep and theological. As we mentioned above, the name of the Saint means preparation for martyrdom and for the Kingdom of Heaven, through her working of the commandments of God, her asceticism and love of struggle. As a consequence, the Christian faith is not possible as a theoretical religious ideology, but, as was remarked by Blessed Elder Joseph of Vatopedi, if we keep the commandments, this is a confession. As long as sin is a denial of God, then love of struggle and the taking up of one's Cross is a practical outcome of one's Christian identity. Through Holy Scripture, the meaning of faith plays an essential role.

The faith of holy people goes together with works: the Apostles, having believed in Christ, at the same time: "immediately left their nets and followed Him" (Mark 1:18), and Abraham believed "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go" (Hebrews 11:8), he left his homeland according to the directive of God and "you see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works" (James 2:22). Therefore, Blessed Elder Joseph of Vatopedi teaches us that: "our Lord convinces us that it is not enough, and it does not benefit us to know only abstractly that God exists. ['Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)] ["He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.” (John 14:21)]. He who "has", in other words, he who cared to learn the meanings and the goal of my commandments, and who afterwards "keeps" them, in other words, uses them. And He notes the meaning of the commandments "and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (John 14:21) and He confirms again: " He who does not love me does not keep my words."" (John 14:24)

Blessed Fr. John Romanides remarks that, according to Orthodox Theology, man cannot, like Protestant heresies, become a perfect and saved Christian by himself, through some rational decisions regarding the faith and compliance with some general idea about love. He requires ascesis, trial and struggle against the schemes of the devil. This is what St. Paraskevi did. She was not only faithful in words, but expressed this through her asceticism of virtue "faith worked through love" (Galacians 5:6), being obedient to the command of the Apostle Peter "supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge" (II Peter 1:5)...

Therefore, the phrase "your faith of the same name" shows that faith means struggle and ascesis for virtue, and serves as a practical confession, for "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). It means that I prepare myself, through the keeping of the commandments, to receive the Grace of God and to enter the Kingdom of God. The Christian faith does not have a notion of stasis, in other words, that I simply accept an ideology, for "What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?" (James 2:14) but it has a dynamic meaning, to confess my faith in Christ with my deeds according to St. Paul's exhortation to Timothy: "Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (I Timothy 6:12) In essence, the phrase "your faith of the same name" summarizes the whole meaning of the "life in Christ".

The hymnographer says that the Saint received from God through lot, "inherited", to have it as a dwelling place sharing the same name with this faith. The word "κλήρος" has to do with the casting of lots (see Acts 1:26), but also the meaning of the lawful part which one receives as an inheritance. The Apostle Paul offers thanksgiving "to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." (Colossians 1:12) and the sacred Chrysostom, interpreting this says that the Apostle Paul wishes to teach that sanctification and theosis is not the outcome of human virtue, but serves as a gift of God....

The author, therefore, wishes to show the great gift of the Grace of God to the Saint due to her holy life, and that this gift is given, for she obtained adoption, she became a child of God, and as a result, inherited from Him, according to the word of the Apostle Paul "and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." (Romans 8:17) God the Word became man "that we might receive adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:5). The presupposition, however, is for us to "suffer together with Him", as St. Paul says, in other words, ascesis and love of struggle, the diligence for which the Saint showed, and therefore having kept this, "But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God" (John 1:12)

The Saint faithfully kept this presupposition, to "suffer together" through asceticism of the virtues and martyrdom, and through this manner she allowed herself to receive the grace of adoption, and because of this, to become a genuine inheritor of His Kingdom.

The content of this lot, of the inheritance which the Saint received was given to her as a dwelling-place sharing the name of the faith. This phrase is difficult to explain, and for us to understand this, we need to understand what we mean by "place" (II Corinthians 5:1-5), as St. Paul compares the biological and mortal status of man with a "tent", in which dwells sin and the passions. We the faithful dwell in this house as well ["Here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling"] as we experience the consequences of corruption from the passions, and we long to come to dwell in "a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens...For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee..."

St. John Chrysostom, interpreting this, says that this place specifically is not a dwelling made by hands in which we are called to dwell, it is not some stable of the body, but sanctification and incorruption which the faithful receive through Divine Grace...

The person who finds himself under the slavery of the passions comes to dwell in this "earthly tent", in other words, in corruption and sin. He is called to respond to the call from God to repent with a disposition of self-denial, to deny the devil and his words and to walk the path of asceticism, that he might become a recipient of Divine Grace. Blessed Elder Joseph of Vatopedi teaches that, as long as we keep the commandments, we confess our faith in God, and turn our freedom towards God, then Divine Grace is moved, which destroys the old man and builds within us the new, dispassionate one. Divine Grace gives such strength that the Holy Martyrs could endure all the inhumane tortures from their persecutors.

This new reality, the new man, the life in Christ, is the tent not made by human hands, which the faithful hope to be adorned with, and which was received by St. Paraskevi as a gift from God. the hymnographer wishes to show that the Saint, by holding steadfast to her faith, "for we walk by faith, not by sight." (II Corinthians 5:7), endured the struggles of asceticism, and through the keeping of the commandments, of obedience and self-denial, she became a recipient of Divine Grace, receiving "grace sent from above", which works salvation within us...
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St. Paraskevi the Great Martyr (source)

 

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"When the thrones are set up, and the books are opened..."

Icon of the Second Coming of Christ and the Last Judgment (source)

  
When the thrones are set up, and the books are opened, and God comes to sit in judgment, O, what fear will be then! Angels stand around in fear, and the river of fire is drawn. O, what will we guilty people do then, who are in many sins? When we hear the calling of the blessed from the Father unto the Kingdom, the sinners will be sent unto perdition, and who will endure that terrible sentence? But You, O only Savior Who loves mankind, the King of the ages, before I reach my end, turn me back through repentance, and have mercy on me.


Having come to know the commandments of the Lord, let us do them. Let us feed the hungry, let us give drink to the thirsty, let us clothe the naked, let us enter in to the houses of the sick and visit those in prison, that He might say to us, when He comes to judge the whole earth: Come, the blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom that has been prepared for you.
-Idiomela from the Sunday of the Last Judgment
  
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Jesus Christ coming on the clouds of glory at His Second Coming, to judge the living and the dead (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Selected quotes from Sts. Barsanouphios and John

Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior (source)

  
"Having God, fear nothing, but cast all of your care upon Him, and He will take care of you. Believe undoubtingly, and God will help you according to His mercy."
  
"Don't be deceived regarding the knowledge of what will be after your death: what you sow here, you will reap there. After leaving here, no one can make progress. Here is the work, there the reward; here the struggle, there the crowns."
  

"No one ever accomplishes good by means of evil, because they are themselves conquered by the evil. On the contrary, evil is corrected by good."

"In times of affliction, unceasingly call out to the merciful God in prayer. The unceasing invocation of the name of God in prayer is a treatment for the soul which kills not only the passions, but even their very operation. As a doctor finds the necessary medicine, and it works in such a way that the sick person does not understand, in just the same way the name of God, when you call upon it, kills all the passions, although we don't know how this happens."

"Here is the luminous teaching of our Savior: Thy will be done. (Matt. 6:10). Whoever sincerely pronounces this prayer leaves his own will and puts all things in the will of God. But the will inspired by the demons consists in self-justification and trust in ourselves, and then they easily subject a man who receives this sort of thought."
-Sts. Barsanouphios and John
(source)

  

Sts. Barsanouphios and John (source)
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios: "One does not become a Christian with laziness..."

Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior of the world (source)

  
A spiritual child of St. Porphyrios spoke of the Saint: "He spoke to me, not of some piecemeal good effort, but on the decisive, definitive passing from an old life of sin into a new life of holiness, in which we live in Christ and Christ lives within us, and for this transition, we must give all our strength.

Once, he asked me: "Tell me, to study to become a lawyer, how many years does it take?" I answered him.

He asked again: "To study to be an engineer, a chemist, a physician, how many years does it take?" I answered correspondingly, curious as to the nature of his questions.

And the Elder continued: "Do we study to learn the will of God and to apply it?"

I understood what he was referring to, and I was reluctant to respond. What could I say? That most of us faithful are lazy, lukewarm, "amateur Christians"? He knew this.

And he told me: "One does not become a Christian with laziness. It requires work, much work."

He himself was an example, without showing off. He had dedicated himself with zeal all the years of his long life to studying and to living Christ.

He was a worker, bodily and spiritually, and he wished to transmit this love of work to others. He believed that laziness leads to despondency and to many afflictions of soul and body. He recommended occupational therapy. Especially for those who were disorganized and desperate.

For the Elder, it was never too late to make a new start. He perceived of course that the denial of worldly hopes and the crushing of selfishness as the best precondition for this beginning.

Everything is transformed with effort, both with the soul and the body.

Do not leave the prayer. Simply and without being forced, fervently entreat for others. You will benefit them with prayer, not with words.

Regarding my problems, St. Porphyrios told me: "If we spoke a little on the phone, you would see that everything had immediately gone well. Tire the body, do not fear effort. Everything is transformed with effort, both the soul and the body. If they ask you about it, say humbly: 'That's how I think, but whatever you think.'"
-From a spiritual child of St. Porphyrios, in an Anthology of Instructions of Elder Porphyrios
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St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. John of Damascus on Eternity and God's Goodness

Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Savior (source)

  
"In eternity, God gives good things to everyone, because He is the source of good things. Every person, therefore, partakes of the goodness of God according to the manner that he formed himself in this life, receptive to this goodness...God even continuously gives good things to the Devil, but he does not want to receive them."
-St. John of Damascus
  
(Source)
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Paisios the Athonite on the Condition of the Modern World

This is a short but poignant audio recording of St. Paisios the Athonite with English subtitles in which he discusses the condition of modern man with regards to faith, works, thoughts, etc., and how to receive the true joy and peace of God. May he intercede to the Lord for us all and for all who are sick, suffering and distressed throughout the whole world! (source)

  

St. Paisios the Athonite (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

A Vision of the Church from the Shepherd of Hermas

Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior of the World (source)

  
A Vision of the Church from the Shepherd of Hermas (The Third Vision)
  

Chapter 1

The vision which I saw, my brethren, was of the following nature. Having fasted frequently, and having prayed to the Lord that He would show me the revelation which He promised to show me through that old woman, the same night that old woman appeared to me, and said to me, Since you are so anxious and eager to know all things, go into the part of the country where you tarry; and about the fifth hour I shall appear unto you, and show you all that you ought to see. I asked her, saying Lady, into what part of the country am I to go? And she said, Into any part you wish. Then I chose a spot which was suitable, and retired. Before, however, I began to speak and to mention the place, she said to me, I will come where you wish. Accordingly, I went to the country, and counted the hours, and reached the place where I had promised to meet her. And I see an ivory seat ready placed, and on it a linen cushion, and above the linen cushion was spread a covering of fine linen. Seeing these laid out, and yet no one in the place, I began to feel awe, and as it were a trembling seized hold of me, and my hair stood on end, and as it were a horror came upon me when I saw that I was all alone. But on coming back to myself and calling to mind the glory of God, I took courage, bent my knees, and again confessed my sins to God as I had done before. Whereupon the old woman approached, accompanied by six young men whom I had also seen before; and she stood behind me, and listened to me, as I prayed and confessed my sins to the Lord. And touching me she said, Hermas, cease praying continually for your sins; pray for righteousness, that you may have a portion of it immediately in your house. On this, she took me up by the hand, and brought me to the seat, and said to the young men, Go and build. When the young men had gone and we were alone, she said to me, Sit here. I say to her, Lady, permit my elders to be seated first. Do what I bid you, said she; sit down. When I would have sat down on her right, she did not permit me, but with her hand beckoned to me to sit down on the left. While I was thinking about this, and feeling vexed that she did not let me sit on the right, she said, Are you vexed, Hermas? The place to the right is for others who have already pleased God, and have suffered for His name's sake; and you have yet much to accomplish before you can sit with them. But abide as you now do in your simplicity, and you will sit with them, and with all who do their deeds and bear what they have borne.

Chapter 2

What have they borne? said I. Listen, said she: scourges, prisons, great tribulations, crosses, wild beasts, for God's name's sake. On this account is assigned to them the division of sanctification on the right hand, and to every one who shall suffer for God's name: to the rest is assigned the division on the left. But both for those who sit on the right, and those who sit on the left, there are the same gifts and promises; only those sit on the right, and have some glory. You then are eager to sit on the right with them, but your shortcomings are many. But you will be cleansed from your shortcomings; and all who are not given to doubts shall be cleansed from all their iniquities up till this day. Saying this, she wished to go away. But falling down at her feet, I begged her by the Lord that she would show me the vision which she had promised to show me. And then she again took hold of me by the hand, and raised me, and made me sit on the seat to the left; and lifting up a splendid rod, she said to me, Do you see something great? And I say, Lady, I see nothing. She said to me, Lo! Do you not see opposite to you a great tower, built upon the waters, of splendid square stones? For the tower was built square by those six young men who had come with her. But myriads of men were carrying stones to it, some dragging them from the depths, others removing them from the land, and they handed them to these six young men. They were taking them and building; and those of the stones that were dragged out of the depths, they placed in the building just as they were: for they were polished and fitted exactly into the other stones, and became so united one with another that the lines of juncture could not be perceived. And in this way the building of the tower looked as if it were made out of one stone. Those stones, however, which were taken from the earth suffered a different fate; for the young men rejected some of them, some they fitted into the building, and some they cut down, and cast far away from the tower. Many other stones, however, lay around the tower, and the young men did not use them in building; for some of them were rough, others had cracks in them, others had been made too short, and others were white and round, but did not fit into the building of the tower. Moreover, I saw other stones thrown far away from the tower, and falling into the public road; yet they did not remain on the road, but were rolled into a pathless place. And I saw others falling into the fire and burning, others falling close to the water, and yet not capable of being rolled into the water, though they wished to be rolled down, and to enter the water.

Chapter 3

On showing me these visions, she wished to retire. I said to her, What is the use of my having seen all this, while I do not know what it means? She said to me, You are a cunning fellow, wishing to know everything that relates to the tower. Even so, O Lady, said I, that I may tell it to my brethren, that, hearing this, they may know the Lord in much glory. And she said, Many indeed shall hear, and hearing, some shall be glad, and some shall weep. But even these, if they hear and repent, shall also rejoice. Hear, then, the parables of the tower; for I will reveal all to you, and give me no more trouble in regard to revelation: for these revelations have an end, for they have been completed. But you will not cease praying for revelations, for you are shameless. The tower which you see building is myself, the Church, who have appeared to you now and on the former occasion. Ask, then, whatever you like in regard to the tower, and I will reveal it to you, that you may rejoice with the saints. I said to her, Lady, since you have vouchsafed to reveal all to me this once, reveal it. She said to me, Whatsoever ought to be revealed, will be revealed; only let your heart be with God, and doubt not whatsoever you shall see. I asked her, Why was the tower built upon the waters, O Lady? She answered, I told you before, and you still inquire carefully: therefore inquiring you shall find the truth. Hear then why the tower is built upon the waters. It is because your life has been, and will be, saved through water. For the tower was founder on the word of the almighty and glorious Name and it is kept together by the invisible power of the Lord.

Icon depicting the prophecy of Christ from the Proverbs: "Wisdom hath built her house..." (source)

Chapter 4

In reply I said to her, This is magnificent and marvellous. But who are the six young men who are engaged in building? And she said, These are the holy angels of God, who were first created, and to whom the Lord handed over His whole creation, that they might increase and build up and rule over the whole creation. By these will the building of the tower be finished. But who are the other persons who are engaged in carrying the stones? These also are holy angels of the Lord, but the former six are more excellent than these. The building of the tower will be finished, and all will rejoice together around the tower, and they will glorify God, because the tower is finished. I asked her, saying, Lady, I should like to know what became of the stones, and what was meant by the various kinds of stones? In reply she said to me, Not because you are more deserving than all others that this revelation should be made to you — for there are others before you, and better than you, to whom these visions should have been revealed — but that the name of God may be glorified, has the revelation been made to you, and it will be made on account of the doubtful who ponder in their hearts whether these things will be or not. Tell them that all these things are true, and that none of them is beyond the truth. All of them are firm and sure, and established on a strong foundation.

Chapter 5

Hear now with regard to the stones which are in the building. Those square white stones which fitted exactly into each other, are apostles, bishops, teachers, and deacons, who have lived in godly purity, and have acted as bishops and teachers and deacons chastely and reverently to the elect of God. Some of them have fallen asleep, and some still remain alive. And they have always agreed with each other, and been at peace among themselves, and listened to each other. On account of this, they join exactly into the building of the tower. But who are the stones that were dragged from the depths, and which were laid into the building and fitted in with the rest of the stones previously placed in the tower? They are those who suffered for the Lord's sake. But I wish to know, O Lady, who are the other stones which were carried from the land. Those, she said, which go into the building without being polished, are those whom God has approved of, for they walked in the straight ways of the Lord and practiced His commandments. But who are those who are in the act of being brought and placed in the building? They are those who are young in faith and are faithful. But they are admonished by the angels to do good, for no iniquity has been found in them. Who then are those whom they rejected and cast away? These are they who have sinned, and wish to repent. On this account they have not been thrown far from the tower, because they will yet be useful in the building, if they repent. Those then who are to repent, if they do repent, will be strong in faith, if they now repent while the tower is building. For if the building be finished, there will not be more room for any one, but he will be rejected. This privilege, however, will belong only to him who has now been placed near the tower.

Chapter 6

As to those who were cut down and thrown far away from the tower, do you wish to know who they are? They are the sons of iniquity, and they believed in hypocrisy, and wickedness did not depart from them. For this reason they are not saved, since they cannot be used in the building on account of their iniquities. Wherefore they have been cut off and cast far away on account of the anger of the Lord, for they have roused Him to anger. But I shall explain to you the other stones which you saw lying in great numbers, and not going into the building. Those which are rough are those who have known the truth and not remained in it, nor have they been joined to the saints. On this account are they unfit for use. Who are those that have rents? These are they who are at discord in their hearts one with another, and are not at peace among themselves: they indeed keep peace before each other, but when they separate one from the other, their wicked thoughts remain in their hearts. These, then, are the rents which are in the stones. But those which are shortened are those who have indeed believed, and have the larger share of righteousness; yet they have also a considerable share of iniquity, and therefore they are shortened and not whole. But who are these, Lady, that are white and round, and yet do not fit into the building of the tower? She answered and said, How long will you be foolish and stupid, and continue to put every kind of question and understand nothing? These are those who have faith indeed, but they have also the riches of this world. When, therefore, tribulation comes, on account of their riches and business they deny the Lord. I answered and said to her, When, then, will they be useful for the building, Lady? When the riches that now seduce them have been circumscribed, then will they be of use to God. For as a round stone cannot become square unless portions be cut off and cast away, so also those who are rich in this world cannot be useful to the Lord unless their riches be cut down. Learn this first from your own case. When you were rich, you were useless; but now you are useful and fit for life. Be useful to God; for you also will be used as one of these stones.

The Exaltation of the Precious Cross in the Church of Christ (source)

Chapter 7

Now the other stones which you saw cast far away from the tower, and falling upon the public road and rolling from it into pathless places, are those who have indeed believed, but through doubt have abandoned the true road. Thinking, then, that they could find a better, they wander and become wretched, and enter upon pathless places. But those which fell into the fire and were burned are those who have departed for ever from the living God; nor does the thought of repentance ever come into their hearts, on account of their devotion to their lusts and to the crimes which they committed. Do you wish to know who are the others which fell near the waters, but could not be rolled into them? These are they who have heard the word, and wish to be baptized in the name of the Lord; but when the chastity demanded by the truth comes into their recollection, they draw back, and again walk after their own wicked desires. She finished her exposition of the tower. But I, shameless as I yet was, asked her, Is repentance possible for all those stones which have been cast away and did not fit into the building of the tower, and will they yet have a place in this tower? Repentance, said she, is yet possible, but in this tower they cannot find a suitable place. But in another and much inferior place they will be laid, and that, too, only when they have been tortured and completed the days of their sins. And on this account will they be transferred, because they have partaken of the righteous Word. And then only will they be removed from their punishments when the thought of repenting of the evil deeds which they have done has come into their hearts. But if it does not come into their hearts, they will not be saved, on account of the hardness of their heart.

Chapter 8

When then I ceased asking in regard to all these matters, she said to me, Do you wish to see anything else? And as I was extremely eager to see something more, my countenance beamed with joy. She looked towards me with a smile, and said, Do you see seven women around the tower? I do, Lady, said I. This tower, said she, is supported by them according to the precept of the Lord. Listen now to their functions. The first of them, who is clasping her hands, is called Faith. Through her the elect of God are saved. Another, who has her garments tucked up and acts with vigour, is called Self-restraint. She is the daughter of Faith. Whoever then follows her will become happy in his life, because he will restrain himself from all evil works, believing that, if he restrain himself from all evil desire, he will inherit eternal life. But the others, said I, O Lady, who are they? And she said to me, They are daughters of each other. One of them is called Simplicity, another Guilelessness, another Chastity, another Intelligence, another Love. When then you do all the works of their mother, you will be able to live. I should like to know, said I, O Lady, what power each one of them possesses. Hear, she said, what power they have. Their powers are regulated by each other, and follow each other in the order of their birth. For from Faith arises Self-restraint; from Self-restraint, Simplicity; from Simplicity, Guilelessness; from Guilelessness, Chastity; from Chastity, Intelligence; and from Intelligence, Love. The deeds, then, of these are pure, and chaste, and divine. Whoever devotes himself to these, and is able to hold fast by their works, shall have his dwelling in the tower with the saints of God. Then I asked her in regard to the ages, if now there is the conclusion. She cried out with a loud voice, Foolish man! Do you not see the tower yet building? When the tower is finished and built, then comes the end; and I assure you it will be soon finished. Ask me no more questions. Let you and all the saints be content with what I have called to your remembrance, and with my renewal of your spirits. But observe that it is not for your own sake only that these revelations have been made to you, but they have been given you that you may show them to all. For after three days — this you will take care to remember — I Command you to speak all the words which I am to say to you into the ears of the saints, that hearing them and doing them, they may be cleansed from their iniquities, and you along with them.

Chapter 9

Give ear unto me, O Sons: I have brought you up in much simplicity, and guilelessness, and chastity, on account of the mercy of the Lord, who has dropped His righteousness down upon you, that you may be justified and sanctified from all your iniquity and depravity; but you do not wish to rest from your iniquity. Now, therefore, listen to me, and be at peace one with another, and visit each other, and bear each other's burdens, and do not partake of God's creatures alone, but give abundantly of them to the needy. For some through the abundance of their food produce weakness in their flesh, and thus corrupt their flesh; while the flesh of others who have no food is corrupted, because they have not sufficient nourishment. And on this account their bodies waste away. This intemperance in eating is thus injurious to you who have abundance and do not distribute among those who are needy. Give heed to the judgment that is to come. You, therefore, who are high in position, seek out the hungry as long as the tower is not yet finished; for after the tower is finished, you will wish to do good, but will find no opportunity. Give heed, therefore, you who glory in your wealth, lest those who are needy should groan, and their groans should ascend to the Lord, and you be shut out with all your goods beyond the gate of the tower. Wherefore I now say to you who preside over the Church and love the first seats, Be not like drug-mixers. For the drug-mixers carry their drugs in boxes, but you carry your drug and poison in your heart. You are hardened, and do not wish to cleanse your hearts, and to add unity of aim to purity of heart, that you may have mercy from the great King. Take heed, therefore, children, that these dissensions of yours do not deprive you of your life. How will you instruct the elect of the Lord, if you yourselves have not instruction? Instruct each other therefore, and be at peace among yourselves, that I also, standing joyful before your Father, may give an account of you all to your Lord.

Jesus Christ, the Angel of Great Counsel, the Holy Wisdom of God and filled with blessed silence (source)

Chapter 10

On her ceasing to speak to me, those six young men who were engaged in building came and conveyed her to the tower, and other four lifted up the seat and carried it also to the tower. The faces of these last I did not see, for they were turned away from me. And as she was going, I asked her to reveal to me the meaning of the three forms in which she appeared to me. In reply she said to me: With regard to them, you must ask another to reveal their meaning to you. For she had appeared to me, brethren, in the first vision the previous year under the form of an exceedingly old woman, sitting in a chair. In the second vision her face was youthful, but her skin and hair betokened age, and she stood while she spoke to me. She was also more joyful than on the first occasion. But in the third vision she was entirely youthful and exquisitely beautiful, except only that she had the hair of an old woman; but her face beamed with joy, and she sat on a seat. Now I was exceeding sad in regard to these appearances, for I longed much to know what the visions meant. Then I see the old woman in a vision of the night saying unto me: Every prayer should be accompanied with humility: fast, therefore, and you will obtain from the Lord what you beg. I fasted therefore for one day.
That very night there appeared to me a young man, who said, Why do you frequently ask for revelations in prayer? Take heed lest by asking many things you injure your flesh: be content with these revelations. Will you be able to see greater revelations than those which you have seen? I answered and said to him, Sir, one thing only I ask, that in regard to these three forms the revelation may be rendered complete. He answered me, How long are you senseless? But your doubts make you senseless, because you have not your hearts turned towards the Lord. But I answered and said to him, From you, sir, we shall learn these things more accurately.

Chapter 11

Hear then, said he, with regard to the three forms, concerning which you are inquiring. Why in the first vision did she appear to you as an old woman seated on a chair? Because your spirit is now old and withered up, and has lost its power in consequence of your infirmities and doubts. For, like elderly men who have no hope of renewing their strength, and expect nothing but their last sleep, so you, weakened by worldly occupations, have given yourselves up to sloth, and have not cast your cares upon the Lord. Your spirit therefore is broken, and you have grown old in your sorrows. I should like then to know, sir, why she sat on a chair? He answered, Because every weak person sits on a chair on account of his weakness, that his weakness may be sustained. Lo! You have the form of the first vision.

Chapter 12

Now in the second vision you saw her standing with a youthful countenance, and more joyful than before; still she had the skin and hair of an aged woman. Hear, said he, this parable also. When one becomes somewhat old, he despairs of himself on account of his weakness and poverty, and looks forward to nothing but the last day of his life. Then suddenly an inheritance is left him: and hearing of this, he rises up, and becoming exceeding joyful, he puts on strength. And now he no longer reclines, but stands up; and his spirit, already destroyed by his previous actions, is renewed, and he no longer sits, but acts with vigour. So happened it with you on hearing the revelation which God gave you. For the Lord had compassion on you, and renewed your spirit, and you laid aside your infirmities. Vigour arose within you, and you grew strong in faith; and the Lord, seeing your strength, rejoiced. On this account He showed you the building of the tower; and He will show you other things, if you continue at peace with each other with all your heart.

Chapter 13

Now, in the third vision, you saw her still younger, and she was noble and joyful, and her shape was beautiful. For, just as when some good news comes suddenly to one who is sad, immediately he forgets his former sorrows, and looks for nothing else than the good news which he has heard, and for the future is made strong for good, and his spirit is renewed on account of the joy which he has received; so you also have received the renewal of your spirits by seeing these good things. As to your seeing her sitting on a seat, that means that her position is one of strength, for a seat has four feet and stands firmly. For the world also is kept together by means of four elements. Those, therefore, who repent completely and with the whole heart, will become young and firmly established. You now have the revelation completely given you. Make no further demands for revelations. If anything ought to be revealed, it will be revealed to you.
(source)   

In Thee O Full of Grace All Creation Rejoiceth (source)

  

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and upon those in the tombs He has granted life!

Truly the Lord is risen!

St. John of the Ladder's advice for those living in the world

St. John writing his Ladder of Divine Ascent (source)

  
Some people living carelessly in the world have asked me: ‘We have wives and are beset with social cares, and how can we lead the solitary life?’ I replied to them: ‘Do all the good you can; do not speak evil of anyone; do not steal from anyone; do not lie to anyone; do not be arrogant towards anyone; do not hate any one; be sure you go to church; be compassionate to the needy; do not offend anyone; do not wreck another man’s domestic happiness; and be content with what your own wives can give you. If you behave in this way you will not be far from the Kingdom of Heaven.’
-St. John Klimakos, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step I
(source)
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Elder Nikon of New Skete: "Show me your faith from your works..."

Excerpt from an interview with Elder Nikon of New Skete where he discusses faith, works and evangelism as regards the Christian faith (source)

   

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

38 Beneficial Sayings of St. Anthony the Great

St. Anthony the Great (Source)

  
Thanks to the blog Ora Et Labora for this wonderful post on the famous and spiritually-beneficial 38 sayings of St. Anthony the Great.

"In his 2007 Commencement Address at St Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary, Fr Thomas Hopko had this to say:

I urge you, and, if I could, I would command you, to read St. Anthony’s thirty-eight sayings in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers. Everything we need to know in order to live is there for us in its simplest and clearest form.

Heeding his command, I reproduce below these thirty-eight sayings, as translated by the late Sr Benedicta Ward SLG in her collection The Sayings of the Desert Fathers:
  

St. Anthony the Great (source)

1. When the holy Abba Anthony lived in the desert he was beset by accidie, and attacked by many sinful thoughts. He said to God, "Lord, I wand to be saved but these thoughts do not leave me alone; what shall I do in my affliction? How can I be saved?" A short while afterwards, when he got up to go out, Anthony say a man like himself sitting at his work, getting up from his work to pray, then sitting down again and plaiting a rope, then getting up again to pray. It was an angel of the Lord sent to correct and reassure him. He heard the angel saying to him, "Do this and you will be saved." At these words, Anthony was filled with joy and courage. He did this, and he was saved.

2. When the same Abba Anthony thought about the depth of the judgments of God, he asked, "Lord, how is it that some die when they are young, while others drag on to extreme old age? Why are there those who are poor and those who are rich? Why do wicked men proper and why are the just in need? He heard a voice answering him, "Anthony, keep your attention on yourself; these things are according to the judgment of God, and it is not to your advantage to known anything about them."

3. Someone asked Abba Anthony, "What must one do in order to please God?" The old man replied, "Pay attention to what I tell you: whoever you may be, always have God before your eyes, whatever you do, do it according to the testimony of the holy Scriptures; in whatever place you live, do not easily leave it. Keep these three precepts and you will be saved."

4. Abba Anthony said to Abba Poemen, "This is the great work of man: always to take the blame for his own sins before God and to expect temptation to his last breath.

5. He also said, "Whoever has not experienced temptation cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." He even added, "Without temptations no-one can be saved."

6. Abba Pambo asked Abba Anthony, "What ought I to do?" and the old man said to him, "Do not trust in your own righteousness, do not worry about the past, but control your tongue and your stomach."

7. Abba Anthony said, "I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, "What can get through from such snares?" Then I heard a voice saying to me, 'Humility.'"

8. He also said, "Some have afflicted their bodies by asceticism, but they lack discernment, and so they are far from God."

9. He said also, "Our life and our death is with our neighbor. If we gain our brother, we have gained God, but if we scandalize our brother, we have sinned against Christ."

10. He also said, "Just as fish die if they stay too long out of water, so the monks who loiter outside their cells or pass their time with men of the world lose the intensity of inner peace. SO like a fish going towards the sea, we must hurry to reach our cell, for fear that if we delay outside we will lost our interior watchfulness."

11. He said also, "He who wishes to live in solitude in the desert is delivered from three conflicts: hearing, speech, and sight; there is only one conflict for him and that is with fornication."

12. Some brothers came to find Abba Anthony to tell him about the visions they were having, and to find out from him if they were true or if they came from the demons. They had a donkey which died on the way. When they reached the place where the old man was, he said to them before they could ask him anything, "How was is that the little donkey died on the way here?" They said, "How do you know about that, Father?" And he told them, "The demons shewed me what happened." So they said, "That was what we came to question you about, for fear we were being deceived, for we have visions which often turn out to be true." Thus the old man convinced them, by the example of the donkey, that their visions came from the demons.

13. A hunter in the desert saw Abba Anthony enjoying himself with the brethren and he was shocked. Wanting to show him that it was necessary sometimes to meet the needs of the brethren, the old man said to him, "Put an arrow in your bow and shoot it." So he did. The old man then said, "Shoot another," and he did so. Then the old man said, 'Shoot yet again," and the hunter replied "If I bend my bow so much I will break it." Then the old man said to him, "It is the same with the work of God. If we stretch the brethren beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary to come down to meet their needs." When he heard these words the hunter was pierced by compunction and, greatly edified by the old man, he went away. As for the brethren, they went home strengthened.

14. Abba Anthony heard of a very young monk who had performed a miracle on the road. Seeing the old man walking with difficulty along the road, he ordered the wild asses to come and carry them until they reached Abba Anthony. He said to them, "This monk seems to me to a ship loaded with goods but I do not know if he will reach harbor." After a while, Anthony suddenly began to weep, to tear his hair and lament. His disciples said to him, "Why are you weeping, Father?" and the old man replied, "A great pillar of the Church has just fallen (he meant the young monk) but go to him and see what has happened." So the disciples went and found the monk sitting on a mat and weeping for the sin he had committed. Seeing the disciples of the old man he said, "Tell the old man to pray that God will give me just ten days and I hope I will have made satisfaction." But in the space of five days he died.

15. The brothers praised a monk before Abba Anthony. When the monk came to see him, Anthony wanted to know how he would bear insults; and seeing that he could not bear them at all, he said to him, "You are like a village magnificently decorated on the outside, but destroyed from within by robbers."

16. A brother said to Abba Anthony, "Pray for me." The old man said to him, " I will have no mercy upon you, nor will God have any, if you yourself do not make an effort and if you do not pray to God.

17. One day some old men came to see Abba Anthony. In the midst of them was Abba Joseph. Wanting to test them, the old man suggested a text from the Scriptures, and, beginning with the youngest, he asked them what it meant. Each gave his opinion as he was able. But to each one the old man said, "You have not understood it." Last of all he said to Abba Joseph, "How would you explain this saying?" and he replied, "I do not know." Then Abba Anthony said, "Indeed, Abba Joseph has found the way, for he has said: 'I do not know.'"

18. Some brothers were coming from Scetis to see Abba Anthony. When they were getting into a boat to go there, they found an old man who also wanted to go there. The brothers did not know him. They sat in the boat, occupied by turns with the words of the Fathers, Scripture and their manual work. As for the old man, he remained silent. When they arrived on shore they found that the old man was going to the cell of Abba Anthony too. When they reached the place, Anthony said to them, "You found this old man a good companion for the journey?" Then he said to the old man, " You have brought many good brethren with you, father." The old man said, "No doubt they are good, but they do not have a door to their house and anyone who wishes can enter the stable and loose the ass." He meant that the brethren said whatever came into their mouths.

19. The brethren came to the Abba Anthony and said to him, "Speak a word; how are we to be saved?" The old man said to them, "You have heard the Scriptures. That should teach you how." But they said, "We want to hear from you too, Father." Then the old man said to them, "The Gospel says, 'if anyone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.'" (Matt. 5.39) They said, "We cannot do that." The old man said, "If you cannot offer the other cheek, at least allow one cheek to be struck." "We cannot do that either," they said. So he said, "If you are not able to do that, do not return evil for evil," and they said, "We cannot do that either." Then the old man said to his disciples, "Prepare a little brew of corn for these invalids. If you cannot do this, or that, what can I do for you? What you need is prayers."
  

St. Anthony the Great (source)

20. A brother renounced the world and gave his goods to the poor, but he kept back a little for his personal expenses. He went to see Abba Anthony. When he told him this, the old man said to him, "If you want to be a monk, go into the village, buy some meat, cover your naked body with it and come here like that." The brother did so, and the dogs and birds tore at his flesh. When he came back the old man asked him whether he had followed his advice. He showed him his wounded body, and Saint Anthony said, "Those who renounce the world but want to keep something for themselves are torn in this way by the demons who make war on them."

21. It happened one day that one of the brethren in the monastery of Abba Elias was tempted. Cast out of the monastery, he went over the mountain to Abba Anthony. The brother lived hear him for a while and then Anthony sent him back to the monastery from which he had been expelled. When the brothers saw him they cast him out yet again, and he went back to Abba Anthony saying, "My Father, they will not receive me." Then the old man sent them a message saying, "A boat was shipwrecked at sea and lost its cargo; with great difficulty it reached the shore; but you want to throw into the sea that which has found a safe harbor on the shore." When the brothers understood that it was Abba Anthony who had sent them this monk, they received him at once.

22. Abba Anthony said, "I believe that the body possesses a natural movement, to which it is adapted, but which it cannot follow without the consent of the soul; it only signifies in the body a movement without passion. There is another movement, which comes from the nourishment and warming of the body by eating and drinking, and this causes the heat of the blood to stir up the body to work. That is why the apostle said, 'Do not get drunk with win for that is debauchery.' (Ephes. 5.18) And in the Gospel the Lord also recommends this to his disciples: 'Take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness.' (Luke 21.34) But there is yet another movement which afflicts those who fight, and that comes from the wiles and jealousy of the demons. You must understand what these three bodily movements are: one is natural, one comes from too much to eat, the third is caused by the demons."

23. He also said, "God does not allow the same warfare and temptations to this generation as he did formerly, for men are weaker now and cannot bear so much."

24. It was revealed to Abba Anthony in his desert that there was one who was his equal in the city. He was a doctor by profession and whatever he had beyond his needs he gave to the poor, and every day he sang the Sanctus with the angels.

25. Abba Anthony said, "A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, 'You are mad, you are not like us.'"

26. The brethren came to Abba Anthony and laid before him a passage from Leviticus. The old man went out into the desert, secretly followed by Abba Ammonas, who knew that this was his custom. Abba Anthony went a long way off and stood there praying, crying in a loud voice, "God, send Moses, to make me understand this saying," Then there came a voice speaking with him. Abba Ammonas said that although he heard the voice speaking with him, he could not understand what it said.

27. Three Fathers used to go and visit blessed Anthony every year and two of them used to discuss their thoughts and the salvation of their souls with him, but the third always remained silent and did not ask him anything. After a long time, Abba Anthony said to him, "You often come here to see me, but you never ask me anything," and the other replied, "It is enough fo rme to see you, Father."

28. They said that a certain old man asked God to let him see the Fathers and he saw them all except Abba Anthony. So he asked his guide, "Where is Abba Anthony?" He told him in reply that in the place where God is, there Anthony would be.

29. A brother in a monastery was falsely accused of fornication and he arose and went to Abba Anthony. The brethren also came from the monastery to correct him and bring him back. They set about proving that he had done this thing, but he defended himself and denied that he had done anything of the kind. Now Abba Paphnutius, who is called Cephalus, happened to be there, and he told them this parable: "I have seen a man on the bank of the river buried up to his knees in mud and some men came to give him a hand to help him out, but they pushed him further in up to his neck." Then Abba Anthony said this about Abba Paphnutius: "Here is a real man, who can care for souls and save them." All those present were pierced to the heart by the words of the old man and they asked forgiveness of the brother. So, admonished by the Fathers, they took the brother back to the monastery.

30. Some say of Saint Anthony that he was "Spirit-borne," that is, carried along by the Holy Spirit, but he would never speak of this to men. Such men see what is happening in the world, as well as knowing what is going to happen.

31. One day Abba Anthony received a letter from the Emperor Constantius, asking him to come to Constantinople and he wondered whether he ought to go. So he said to Abba Paul, his disciple, "Ought I to go?" He replied, "If you go, you will be called Anthony; but if you stay here, you will be called Abba Anthony."

32. Abba Anthony said, "I no longer fear God, but I love Him. For love casts out fear." (John 4.18)

33. He also said, "Always have the fear of God before your eyes. Remember him who gives death and life. Hate the world and all that is in it. Hate all peace that comes from the flesh. Renounce this life, so that you may be alive to God. Remember what you have promised God, for it will be required of you on the day of judgment. Suffer hunger, thirst, nakedness, be watchful and sorrowful; weep, and groan in your heart; test yourselves, to see if you are worthy of God; despise the flesh, so that you may preserve your souls.

34. Abba Anthony once went to visit Abba Amoun in Mount Nitria and when they met, Abba Amoun said, "By your prayers, the number of the brethren increases, and some of them want to build more cells where they may live in peace. How far away from here do you think we should build the cells?" Abba Anthony said, "Let us eat at the ninth hour and then let us go out for a walk in the desert and explore the country." So they went out into the desert and they walked until sunset and then Abba Anthony said, "Let us pray and plant the cross here, so that those who wish to do so may build here. Then when those who remain there want to visit those who have come here, they can take a little food at the ninth hour and then come. If they do this, they will be able to keep in touch with each other without distraction of mind." The distance is twelve miles.

35. Abba Anthony said, "Whoever hammers a lump of iron, first decides what he is going to make of it, a scythe, a sword, or an axe. Even so we ought to make up our minds what kind of virute we want to forge or we labor in vain."

36. He also said, "Obedience with abstinence gives men power over wild beasts."

37. He also said, "Nine monks fell away after many labors and were obsessed with spiritual pride, for they put their trust in their own works and being deceived they did not give due heed to the commandment that says, 'Ask your father and he will tell you.'" (Deut. 32.7)

38. And he said this, "If he is able to, a monk ought to tell his elders confidently how many steps he takes and how many drops of water he drinks in his cell, in case he is in error about it."

(source)
  

St. Anthony the Great (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!