#makarios of corinth

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Thursday, July 27, 2023

july 27_july 14

VENERABLE NICODEMUS THE HAGIORITE FROM Mt ATHOS (1808)

Saint Nikodemos (Νikόdēmos) of the Holy Mountain was born on the Greek island of Naxos in 1748 and was named Nicholas in Holy Baptism. As a child, he was well-behaved, avoiding lousy company and everything which might harm the inner man. He was zealous in his love for that which is good and beneficial, and he loved sacred and secular learning. His first education on Naxos came from the village priest, who taught him to love Christ and His Church. He also assisted the priest during the Divine Liturgy and other Services.

Later Nicholas attended the school at Naxos, where Archimandrite Chrysanthos, the brother of Saint Cosmas Aitolos (August 24), taught him sacred and secular letters.

At age twenty-six, he arrived on Mount Athos and was tonsured at Dionysiou Monastery with the name Nikodemos. As his first obedience, Father Nikodemos served as the monastery’s secretary. Two years after entering Dionysiou Monastery, the Metropolitan of Corinth, Saint Makarios Notaras (April 17), arrived there and assigned the young monk to edit the manuscript of the Philokalia, which he had found in 1777 at Vatopedi Monastery. Editing this book began many years of literary activity for Saint Nikodemos. He soon moved to Pantokrator Skḗtē, where he was under obedience to Elder Arsenios of the Pelopónnēsos, under whose guidance he studied Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Holy Fathers.

According to the testimony of his contemporaries, Saint Nikodemos was a simple man, without any malice, unassuming, and distinguished by his profound concentration. He possessed remarkable mental abilities: he knew the Holy Scriptures by heart and remembered the chapter, verse, and pages they were on. Moreover, he could recite long passages from the writings of the Holy Fathers from memory.

In 1783 Saint Nikodemos was tonsured into the Great Schema and spent the next six years in complete silence. On his next visit to Mount Athos, Saint Makarios gave Nikodemos the obedience of editing the writings of Saint Symeon the New Theologian (printed in three volumes: Syros, 1790). This meant giving up his silence and occupying himself once more with literary work. From that time until his death, he continued to devote himself to such endeavors.

One of the ascetic's remarkable books was his Exomologitarion (Manual of Confession), published in 1794. This was the first book of its kind in the Orthodox Church. Drawing from Holy Scripture and from the Fathers of the Church, Saint Nikodemos lists the qualifications a confessor must have if he is to be a true confessor and offers advice on how one should prepare for Confession, how to confess, and how one ought to guard himself against sin after Confession.

The Saint also made great contributions by publishing liturgical books. Using materials from the manuscript collections on Mount Athos, he published sixty-two Canons to the Most Holy Theotokos under the title, New Theotokarion (Venice, 1796).

The wisest Nikodemos is also known as a composer and interpreter of hymns. His Canon in honor of the "Quick to Hear” Icon of the Mother of God (November 9) and his “Service and Encomium in Honor of the Fathers who Shone on the Holy Mountain of Athos” are used even beyond the Holy Mountain. Some of his other books include the Heortodromion, an interpretation of the Canons which are sung on Feasts of the Lord and of the Mother of God (Venice,1836), and The New Ladder, an interpretation of the 75 Hymns of Degrees (Anabathmoi) of the liturgical book called the Oktoekhos (Constantinople, 1844).

It is readily apparent that the literary work of Saint Nikodemos was multi-faceted, representing more than half a dozen fields of theology: ascetical-mystical theology, ethics, Canon Law, exegesis, hagiology, liturgics, and hymnography. He wrote the preface to the Philokalia, and brief Lives of the ascetics whose writings are included therein. Among the Saint’s ascetical works, his translation of Lorenzo Scupoli’s book, Unseen Warfare (1796), is well known and translated into Russian, English, and other languages.

Saint Nikodemos had a special love for hagiography, as attested by his work, New Eklogion (Venice, 1803), and his posthumous book, The New Synaxarion (1819). He completed a Modern Greek translation of Saint Paul's Fourteen Epistles in three volumes (1819) as interpreted by the Hierarch Mētrophánēs, Saint Theophylaktos, the Archbishop of Bulgaria (December 31).

Saint Nikodemos also wrote An Interpretation of Saint Paul's Seven Catholic Epistles (published in Venice in 1806).

In 1799 Nikodemos edited the New Martyrologion, which he and Saint Makarios of Corinth seem to have prepared together to demonstrate that the Orthodox Church continues to produce Saints, particularly Martyrs, who were subjected to the same trials, torments, and death as the ancient Martyrs. The example of the Saints whose Lives appear in this book strengthened and encouraged the Orthodox to remain faithful to Christ and not convert to their oppressors' religion.

Saint Nikodemos prepared a new edition of the Pedalion or Rudder in collaboration with Hieromonk Agapios. This was printed in 1801, and contained the Canons of the Holy Apostles, those of the Holy Ecumenical and Local Synods, and of the Holy Fathers.

His most edifying book, Christian Morality, was published in Venice in 1803. In it, he says: "Those monks who are strong in body and soul ... should occasionally go into the world to preach and counsel. Those who cannot go into the world, either because of the passions that assail them when they are in the midst of society or because they are physically infirm, should seek the good of their brethren through prayer and by offering counsel to those who visit them, and if they are learned, by writing edifying books."1

Not long before his repose, Father Nikodemos, worn out by his literary work and ascetical struggles, went to live at the Kelli of the iconographers Hieromonks Stephen and Neophytos Skourtaίos, who were brothers by birth. He asked them to help with the publication of his works because he was hindered by his infirmities.

The day before he went to the Lord, he could make his Confession, receive Holy Unction, and then Holy Communion.

His first biographer, Father Euthymios, describes the Saint's repose: "When the sun rose on the earth that day (Wednesday, July 14, 1809), the intelligible sun of the Church set. The fiery pillar, the guide of the New Israel into piety disappeared; the cloud which refreshed those melting in the heat of sin, hid.”

His many friends and acquaintances mourned, and the words of a confident Christian were typical of the thoughts of many individuals of that time: “Oh, my Fathers, it would have been better for a thousand Christians to have died today and not Nikodemos.”

Saint Nikodemos reposed peacefully at sixty on July 14, 1809, and was glorified by the Church of Constantinople in 1955.

1 Constantine Cavarnos, Modern Orthodox Saints Volume 3, Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite, pages 46-47. (Belmont, Massachusetts, 1974).

1 CORINTHIANS 10:28-11:7

28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." 29 Conscience, I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? 30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? 31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man. The head of Christ is God. 4 Having his head covered, every man praying or prophesying dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 6 If a woman is not covered, let her be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but a woman is the glory of man.

MATTHEW 17:10-18 

10 His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 11 Jesus answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise, the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands. 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke of John the Baptist to them. 14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; he often falls into the fire and the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him. 17 Then Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the child was cured from that very hour.

[mjjhoskin]

10 books, no. 3: The Philokalia

10 books, no. 3: The Philokalia

My third of ten books (sorry I fell behind on this) was The Philokalia, vol. 1:

The Philokalia is a five-volume anthology of Greek-language (plus a Greek translation of bits of John Cassian) ascetic/mystical texts focussed on the art of prayer, the prayer of the heart, pure prayer — viz., the Jesus Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

It was compiled in 1782 by…

[hieromonkcharbel]

On How to Prepare Yourself for Communion"

Before communing, you must necessarily prepare yourself, that is, confessing to your spiritual father, correcting yourself, feeling compunction, acquiring inner attention, guarding yourself from passionate thoughts as far as possible, and from every other vice. You must also exercise self-restraint, pray, be inwardly awake, and do every other kind of good deed, reflecting what awesome King you are about to receive within yourself; especially if you consider the grace which is given to you from Communion is proportionate to your preparation."

St. Makarios of Corinth

[byzantine-nectarine]

Saint Makarios of Corinth, a mystic and spiritual writer who worked to revive and sustain the Orthodox Church under Turkish rule. He helped to compile the Philokalia- a principal spiritual text of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

[orthocelt]

I think you might like this book – "The Philokalia" by Bishop of Diokleia Kallistos, St. Makarios of Corinth, G. E. H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard, Kallistos Ware.

Start reading it for free: http://a.co/iqUTZ0y

[beatyroseflower]

Kiến trúc nhà thờ Chúa Giáng Sinh, nơi linh thiêng của các tín đồ Kitô giáo

Nhà thờ Chúa giáng sinh ở Bethlehem của Palestine là một trong những nhà thờ lâu đời nhất còn hoạt động trên thế giới. Khối kiến ​​trúc này được xây dựng tại một hang động được cho là nơi sinh của Chúa Giêsu, vì vậy nó được coi là nơi linh thiêng của các tín đồ Kitô giáo trên toàn thế giới.

Lịch sử nhà thờ Chúa Giáng Sinh

Theo Kinh Thánh, Thánh Giuse và Đức Mẹ Maria phải đến Jerusalem theo lệnh của Vua Herode để kiểm tra dân số. Trên đường đi, Đức Mẹ Maria đã chuyển dạ nhưng vì không thể tìm được nhà trọ, nên họ phải ở tạm trong chuồng gia súc và Đức Mẹ đã sinh ra Chúa Jesus tại đây.

[caption id=“attachment_1085753” align=“alignnone” width=“463”] Tranh khắc Đức Mẹ Maria và chúa Giêsu trong nhà thờ (Ảnh: wiki)[/caption]

Thánh tích này được chứng thực bởi một môn đệ - Thánh Justin Martyr (100 - 165) và được ghi lại trong cuốn “Đối thoại với Trypho” về việc Thánh Gia đã trú ngụ trong một hang động bên ngoài thị trấn: “Vào ngày đó, Joseph đã dựng một túp lều ở giữa một hang động gần làng và trong khi họ ở đó, Đức Mẹ đã sinh ra Chúa Jesus, đặt Ngài vào một máng cỏ, các nhà chiêm tinh từ Ả Rập đã tìm thấy Ngài”.“ (Chương LXXVIII). Mặc dù Kinh Thánh không nói chính xác liệu Chúa Jesus có được sinh ra trong hang hay không, nhưng có bằng chứng khá hợp lý để xác nhận điều này: vào thời điểm đó, những ngôi nhà ở đây thường được xây dựng trước một hang động. Hang động này được sử dụng để lưu trữ và chuồng ngựa.

Dựa trên sự tích đó, năm 326, Thánh nữ Helena, mẹ của Hoàng đế Costantine I, lần đầu tiên xây dựng nhà thờ tại nơi này dưới sự giám sát của Đức cha Makarios của Jerusalem, được khánh thành vào năm 339, bao gồm một tầng bát giác và đặt ngay trên hang.

[caption id="attachment_1085756” align=“alignnone” width=“700”] Nhà thờ Bethlehem (Ảnh: khoahoc.tv)[/caption]

Kiến trúc

Khối kiến ​​trúc là sự kết hợp của 2 nhà thờ với 1 tầng hầm bên dưới - Hang động Chúa Giáng sinh.

Phần chính của nhà thờ Chúa giáng sinh được thiết kế theo phong cách của một nhà thờ La Mã, theo dạng cột Corinth, gồm 5 gian và một nơi cầu nguyện ở cuối phía đông. Nhà thờ được đặc trưng bởi các đồ trang trí khảm vàng xung quanh các bức tường, nhưng hầu hết đã bị hư hại. Lối vào nhà thờ là một cánh cổng rất thấp, được gọi là “Cánh cửa khiêm nhường”.

[caption id=“attachment_1085754” align=“alignnone” width=“584”] Một ảnh minh họa trên Encyclopædia Britannica từ năm 1911 mô tả sơ đồ Nhà thờ Giáng Sinh, Bethlehem. (1) Narthex; (2) gian giữa (dọc); (3) các gian cạnh dọc. (Ảnh: wikipedia)[/caption]

Lý do cổng có thiết kế như vậy là để tránh sự chú ý trong các giai đoạn chiến tranh. Nhìn từ bên ngoài dường như nó không giống như một nhà thờ nên mới có thể tồn tại đến ngày nay. Cánh cửa này cũng giúp những người hành hương nhận thức được sự giản dị của Chúa Giêsu - người được sinh ra ở một nơi tối tăm, bình thường để cứu nhân loại. Sàn được trang trí theo phong cách La Mã thuần túy, nhưng có một cửa hầm trên sàn mở ra để lộ phần gốc của sàn. Nhà thờ cũng có vô số bình hoa mạ vàng, và một loạt đèn nhiều màu sắc dọc theo lối vào. Dầm gỗ được tài trợ bởi vua Edward IV của Vương quốc Anh. Chính ông đã cung cấp một mái nhà chì cho nhà thờ. Tuy nhiên, phần mái nhà này ��ã bị Đế chế Ottoman lấy đi để làm nấu chảy và đúc thành vũ khí dùng cho cuộc chiến chống lại Venice.

[caption id=“attachment_1085755” align=“alignnone” width=“700”] Quang cảnh bên trong nhà thờ Giáng Sinh (Ảnh: khoahoc.tv)[/caption]

Nhà thờ bên cạnh của Thánh Catherine, được xây dựng theo phong cách Phục hưng khá hiện đại. Đây là nơi tổ chức lễ vọng Giáng sinh hàng năm, do linh mục Jerusalem chủ trì.

Bên trong bức phù điêu “Gia phả của Chúa Giêsu” là tác phẩm được thực hiện bởi một nhà điêu khắc tôn giáo nổi tiếng - Czestaw Dzwigaj được đặt trong nhà thờ Thánh Catherine như một món quà của Giáo hoàng Benedict XVI trong chuyến đi của ông viếng thăm Thánh địa vào năm 2009. Công trình cao khoảng 3,75m đến 4m, phần chính là một cây ô liu với các nhánh mô tả gia phả của Chúa Giêsu bắt đầu từ Abraham đến Thánh Giuse theo đúng lịch sử Thánh kinh. Theo bước chân của những người hành hương dẫn chúng ta đến Hang động Chúa Giáng sinh, các bức phù điêu kết hợp các đặc điểm của Cựu Ước. Phần trên cho thấy hình ảnh của Chúa Cứu Thế giang tay bảo vệ thế giới.

[caption id=“attachment_1085757” align=“alignnone” width=“700”] Sảnh chính của nhà thờ (Ảnh: giaoxutanviet)[/caption]

Hang Giáng sinh là một hang động bên dưới thánh đường, nơi Chúa Giêsu sinh ra. Vị trí chính xác được đánh dấu bằng một ngôi sao bạc 14 cánh ngay trên sàn đá cẩm thạch, trên 15 ngọn đèn (6 của Nhà thờ Chính thống, 5 của Kitô giáo, 4 của Giáo hội Rome). Nơi này có màu trung tính mặc dù nó bị ảnh hưởng một phần bởi Kitô giáo. Một bàn thờ khác trong hang, được quản lý bởi nhà thờ La Mã, được cho là nơi Đức Mẹ đặt Thánh Anh vào máng cỏ.

[caption id=“attachment_1085760” align=“alignnone” width=“700”] Ngôi sao bạc 14 cánh và 15 ngọn đèn (Ảnh: khoahoc.tv)[/caption]

Ngoài ra còn có nhiều nhà nguyện nhỏ xung quanh, như Nhà nguyện Thánh Joseph, Nhà nguyện Vô Tội, tưởng niệm các em bé bị giết bởi vua Herod và nhà nguyện của Thánh Jeroma, người đã dịch Kinh thánh sang tiếng Latinh.

Nhà thờ Chúa giáng sinh ở Bethlehem của Palestine là một trong những nhà thờ lâu đời nhất còn hoạt động trên thế giới. Khối kiến ​​trúc này được xây dựng tại một hang động được cho là nơi sinh của Chúa Giêsu, vì vậy nó được coi là một trong những nơi linh thiêng nhất của các tín đồ Kitô giáo trên toàn thế giới.

Hy vọng (TH)

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[daikynguyen]

Kiến trúc nhà thờ Chúa Giáng Sinh, nơi linh thiêng của các tín đồ Kitô giáo

Nhà thờ Chúa giáng sinh ở Bethlehem của Palestine là một trong những nhà thờ lâu đời nhất còn hoạt động trên thế giới. Khối kiến ​​trúc này được xây dựng tại một hang động được cho là nơi sinh của Chúa Giêsu, vì vậy nó được coi là nơi linh thiêng của các tín đồ Kitô giáo trên toàn thế giới.

Lịch sử nhà thờ Chúa Giáng Sinh

Theo Kinh Thánh, Thánh Giuse và Đức Mẹ Maria phải đến Jerusalem theo lệnh của Vua Herode để kiểm tra dân số. Trên đường đi, Đức Mẹ Maria đã chuyển dạ nhưng vì không thể tìm được nhà trọ, nên họ phải ở tạm trong chuồng gia súc và Đức Mẹ đã sinh ra Chúa Jesus tại đây.

[caption id="attachment_1085753" align="alignnone" width="463"] Tranh khắc Đức Mẹ Maria và chúa Giêsu trong nhà thờ (Ảnh: wiki)[/caption]

Thánh tích này được chứng thực bởi một môn đệ - Thánh Justin Martyr (100 - 165) và được ghi lại trong cuốn "Đối thoại với Trypho" về việc Thánh Gia đã trú ngụ trong một hang động bên ngoài thị trấn: "Vào ngày đó, Joseph đã dựng một túp lều ở giữa một hang động gần làng và trong khi họ ở đó, Đức Mẹ đã sinh ra Chúa Jesus, đặt Ngài vào một máng cỏ, các nhà chiêm tinh từ Ả Rập đã tìm thấy Ngài"." (Chương LXXVIII). Mặc dù Kinh Thánh không nói chính xác liệu Chúa Jesus có được sinh ra trong hang hay không, nhưng có bằng chứng khá hợp lý để xác nhận điều này: vào thời điểm đó, những ngôi nhà ở đây thường được xây dựng trước một hang động. Hang động này được sử dụng để lưu trữ và chuồng ngựa.

Dựa trên sự tích đó, năm 326, Thánh nữ Helena, mẹ của Hoàng đế Costantine I, lần đầu tiên xây dựng nhà thờ tại nơi này dưới sự giám sát của Đức cha Makarios của Jerusalem, được khánh thành vào năm 339, bao gồm một tầng bát giác và đặt ngay trên hang.

[caption id="attachment_1085756" align="alignnone" width="700"] Nhà thờ Bethlehem (Ảnh: khoahoc.tv)[/caption]

Kiến trúc

Khối kiến ​​trúc là sự kết hợp của 2 nhà thờ với 1 tầng hầm bên dưới - Hang động Chúa Giáng sinh.

Phần chính của nhà thờ Chúa giáng sinh được thiết kế theo phong cách của một nhà thờ La Mã, theo dạng cột Corinth, gồm 5 gian và một nơi cầu nguyện ở cuối phía đông. Nhà thờ được đặc trưng bởi các đồ trang trí khảm vàng xung quanh các bức tường, nhưng hầu hết đã bị hư hại. Lối vào nhà thờ là một cánh cổng rất thấp, được gọi là "Cánh cửa khiêm nhường".

[caption id="attachment_1085754" align="alignnone" width="584"] Một ảnh minh họa trên Encyclopædia Britannica từ năm 1911 mô tả sơ đồ Nhà thờ Giáng Sinh, Bethlehem. (1) Narthex; (2) gian giữa (dọc); (3) các gian cạnh dọc. (Ảnh: wikipedia)[/caption]

Lý do cổng có thiết kế như vậy là để tránh sự chú ý trong các giai đoạn chiến tranh. Nhìn từ bên ngoài dường như nó không giống như một nhà thờ nên mới có thể tồn tại đến ngày nay. Cánh cửa này cũng giúp những người hành hương nhận thức được sự giản dị của Chúa Giêsu - người được sinh ra ở một nơi tối tăm, bình thường để cứu nhân loại. Sàn được trang trí theo phong cách La Mã thuần túy, nhưng có một cửa hầm trên sàn mở ra để lộ phần gốc của sàn. Nhà thờ cũng có vô số bình hoa mạ vàng, và một loạt đèn nhiều màu sắc dọc theo lối vào. Dầm gỗ được tài trợ bởi vua Edward IV của Vương quốc Anh. Chính ông đã cung cấp một mái nhà chì cho nhà thờ. Tuy nhiên, phần mái nhà này đã bị Đế chế Ottoman lấy đi để làm nấu chảy và đúc thành vũ khí dùng cho cuộc chiến chống lại Venice.

[caption id="attachment_1085755" align="alignnone" width="700"] Quang cảnh bên trong nhà thờ Giáng Sinh (Ảnh: khoahoc.tv)[/caption]

Nhà thờ bên cạnh của Thánh Catherine, được xây dựng theo phong cách Phục hưng khá hiện đại. Đây là nơi tổ chức lễ vọng Giáng sinh hàng năm, do linh mục Jerusalem chủ trì.

Bên trong bức phù điêu "Gia phả của Chúa Giêsu" là tác phẩm được thực hiện bởi một nhà điêu khắc tôn giáo nổi tiếng - Czestaw Dzwigaj được đặt trong nhà thờ Thánh Catherine như một món quà của Giáo hoàng Benedict XVI trong chuyến đi của ông viếng thăm Thánh địa vào năm 2009. Công trình cao khoảng 3,75m đến 4m, phần chính là một cây ô liu với các nhánh mô tả gia phả của Chúa Giêsu bắt đầu từ Abraham đến Thánh Giuse theo đúng lịch sử Thánh kinh. Theo bước chân của những người hành hương dẫn chúng ta đến Hang động Chúa Giáng sinh, các bức phù điêu kết hợp các đặc điểm của Cựu Ước. Phần trên cho thấy hình ảnh của Chúa Cứu Thế giang tay bảo vệ thế giới.

[caption id="attachment_1085757" align="alignnone" width="700"] Sảnh chính của nhà thờ (Ảnh: giaoxutanviet)[/caption]

Hang Giáng sinh là một hang động bên dưới thánh đường, nơi Chúa Giêsu sinh ra. Vị trí chính xác được đánh dấu bằng một ngôi sao bạc 14 cánh ngay trên sàn đá cẩm thạch, trên 15 ngọn đèn (6 của Nhà thờ Chính thống, 5 của Kitô giáo, 4 của Giáo hội Rome). Nơi này có màu trung tính mặc dù nó bị ảnh hưởng một phần bởi Kitô giáo. Một bàn thờ khác trong hang, được quản lý bởi nhà thờ La Mã, được cho là nơi Đức Mẹ đặt Thánh Anh vào máng cỏ.

[caption id="attachment_1085760" align="alignnone" width="700"] Ngôi sao bạc 14 cánh và 15 ngọn đèn (Ảnh: khoahoc.tv)[/caption]

Ngoài ra còn có nhiều nhà nguyện nhỏ xung quanh, như Nhà nguyện Thánh Joseph, Nhà nguyện Vô Tội, tưởng niệm các em bé bị giết bởi vua Herod và nhà nguyện của Thánh Jeroma, người đã dịch Kinh thánh sang tiếng Latinh.

Nhà thờ Chúa giáng sinh ở Bethlehem của Palestine là một trong những nhà thờ lâu đời nhất còn hoạt động trên thế giới. Khối kiến ​​trúc này được xây dựng tại một hang động được cho là nơi sinh của Chúa Giêsu, vì vậy nó được coi là một trong những nơi linh thiêng nhất của các tín đồ Kitô giáo trên toàn thế giới.

Hy vọng (TH)

  from Đại Kỷ Nguyên - Feed - http://bit.ly/2sElCqm via http://bit.ly/2sElCqm https://www.dkn.tv

[avmkilleen]

A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decided to dedicate his life to serving all other living beings, or to be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many religions and in philosophy.

In the Greek language the term can apply to women, but in modern English it is mainly in use for men. The word nun is typically used for female monastics.

Monk

Although the term monachos is of Christian origin, in the English language “monk” tends to be used loosely also for both male and female ascetics from other religious or philosophical backgrounds. However, being generic, it is not interchangeable with terms that denote particular kinds of monk, such as cenobite, hermit, anchorite, hesychast, or solitary.

If you had a female friend who is a monk, what gift would you give in her birthday? She may not take a gift but still it is a nice option to explore. Would it be a high-quality and best hiking boots for women or a nice sleeping bag?

In Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Eastern Catholicism, monasticism holds a very special and important place:

“If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work.”

― Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace

“Angels are a light for monks, monks are a light for laymen”. The Orthodox Church measures its health by the quality of its monks and nuns. Orthodox monastics separate themselves from the world in order to pray unceasingly for the world. They do not, in general, have as their primary purpose the running of social services, as is common in Western Christianity,[citation needed] but instead are concerned with attaining theosis, or union with God.

However, care for the poor and needy has always been an obligation of monasticism, so Orthodox monasteries are not normally “cloistered” like some contemplative Western houses are, though the level of contact will vary from community to community. Orthodox hermits, on the other hand, have little or no contact with the outside world.

Orthodox monasticism does not have religious orders as are found in the West, nor do they have Rules in the same sense as the Rule of St. Benedict. Rather, Eastern monastics study and draw inspiration from the writings of the Desert Fathers as well as other Church Fathers; probably the most influential of which are the Greater Asketikon and Lesser Asketikon of St. Basil the Great and the Philokalia, which was compiled by St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarios of Corinth. Hesychasm is of primary importance in the ascetical theology of the Orthodox Church.

Peaceful Lifestyle of a Monk A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of other monks.

[nathanalbright151]

Book Review: The Philokalia: Volume One

Book Review: The Philokalia: Volume One

The Philokalia:  The Complete Text:  Volume One, compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarios of Corinth, translated from the Greek and edited by G.E.H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard, and Kallistos Ware

I suppose that even those this book is an exceedingly obscure one, it was only a matter of time before I came into contact with it.  My interest in the religious traditions of Mt.…

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Wed., July 27, 2022

July 27_July 14

SAINT AQUILA, APOSTLE FROM THE 70 (1st.c)

It is possible that he was a disciple of the Apostle Paul, a native of Pontus and a Jew, living in the city of Rome with his wife Priscilla (they are commemorated on February 13 on the Greek Calendar). During the reign of the emperor Claudius (41-54) all the Jews were banished from Rome, so Saint Aquilla and his wife were compelled to leave. They settled in Corinth. A short while later, the holy Apostle Paul arrived there from Athens preaching the Gospel. Having made the acquaintance of Aquila, he began to live at his house and labored together with him, making tents.

Having received Baptism from the Apostle Paul, Aquila and Priscilla bacame his devoted and zealous disciples. They accompanied the apostle to Ephesus. The Apostle Paul instructed them to continue the preaching of the Gospel at Ephesus, and he himself went to Jerusalem, in order to be present for the feast of Pentecost. At Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla heard the bold preaching of a newcomer from Alexandria, the Jew Apollos. He had been instructed in the fundamentals of the Faith, but knew only the baptism of John the Forerunner. They called him over and explained more precisely about the way of the Lord.

After the death of the emperor Claudius, Jews were permitted to return to Italy, and Aquila and Priscilla then returned to Rome. The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans recalls his faithful disciples, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who put forth their heads for my soul, whom I do not alone thank, but also all the Church of the Gentiles and the church of their household” (Rom. 16: 3-4). Saint Aquila did not long dwell in Rome: the Apostle Paul made him a bishop in Asia. Saint Aquila zealously labored at preaching the Gospel in Asia, Achaia and Heraklia. He converted pagans to Christ, he confirmed newly-converted Christians in the faith, he established presbyters and destroyed idols. Saint Priscilla constantly assisted him in the apostolic work. Saint Aquila ended his life a martyr: pagans murdered him. According to the Tradition of the Church, Saint Priscilla was killed together with him.

ST. NICODEMUS OF MT. ATHOS, SPIRITUAL WRITER (1809)

Saint Νikόdēmos of the Holy Mountain was born on the Greek island of Naxos in the year 1748, and was named Nicholas in Holy Baptism. As a child he was well-behaved, avoiding bad company and everything which might harm the inner man. He was zealous in his love for that which is good and beneficial, and he loved sacred and secular learning. His first education on Naxos came from the village priest, who taught him to love Christ and His Church. He also assisted the priest during the Divine Liturgy and other Services.

Later Nicholas attended the school at Naxos, where Archimandrite Chrysanthos, the brother of Saint Cosmas Aitolos (August 24), taught him sacred and secular letters.

At the age of twenty-six, he arrived on Mount Athos and was tonsured at Dionysiou Monastery with the name Νikόdēmos. As his first obedience, Father Νikόdēmos served as the monastery’s secretary. Two years after entering Dionysiou Monastery, the Metropolitan of Corinth, Saint Makarios Notaras (April 17), arrived there, and assigned the young monk to edit the manuscript of the Philokalia, which he had found in 1777 at Vatopedi Monastery. Editing this book was the beginning of many years of literary activity for Saint Νikόdēmos. He soon moved to Pantokrator Skḗtē, where he was under obedience to Elder Arsenios of the Pelopónnēsos, under whose guidance he studied Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Holy Fathers.

According to the testimony of his contemporaries, Saint Νikόdēmos was a simple man, without any malice, unassuming, and distinguished by his profound concentration. He possessed remarkable mental abilities: he knew the Holy Scriptures by heart, and even remembered chapter, verse, and the pages they were on. Moreover, he could recite long passages from the writings of the Holy Fathers from memory.

In 1783 Saint Νikόdēmos was tonsured into the Great Schema, and spent the next six years in complete silence. On his next visit to Mount Athos, Saint Makarios gave Νikόdēmos the obedience of editing of the writings of Saint Symeon the New Theologian (printed in three volumes: Syros, 1790). This meant giving up his silence and occupying himself once more with literary work. From that time until his death, he continued to devote himself to such endeavors.

One of the ascetic's remarkable books was his Exomologitarion (Manual of Confession), which was published in 1794. This was the first book of its kind in the Orthodox Church. Drawing from Holy Scripture and from the Fathers of the Church, Saint Νikόdēmos lists the qualifications a confessor must have, if he is to be a true confessor, and offers advice on how one should prepare for Confession, how to confess, and how one ought to guard himself against sin after Confession.

The Saint also made great contributions by publishing liturgical books. Using materials from the manuscript collections on Mount Athos, he published sixty-two Canons to the Most Holy Theotokos under the title, New Theotokarion (Venice, 1796).

The most wise Νikόdēmos is also known as a composer and interpreter of hymns. His Canon in honor of the "Quick to Hear” Icon of the Mother of God (November 9) and his “Service and Encomium in Honor of the Fathers who Shone on the Holy Mountain of Athos” are used even beyond the Holy Mountain. Some of his other books include the Heortodromion, an interpretation of the Canons which are sung on Feasts of the Lord and of the Mother of God (Venice,1836), and The New Ladder, an interpretation of the 75 Hymns of Degrees (Anabathmoi) of the liturgical book called the Oktoekhos (Constantinople, 1844).

It is readily apparent that the literary work of Saint Νikόdēmos was multi-faceted, representing more than half a dozen fields of theology: ascetical-mystical theology, ethics, Canon Law, exegesis, hagiology, liturgics, and hymnography. He wrote the preface to the Philokalia, and brief Lives of the ascetics whose writings are included therein. Among the Saint’s ascetical works, his translation of Lorenzo Scupoli’s book, Unseen Warfare (1796), is well known, and has been translated into Russian, English, and other languages.

Saint Νikόdēmos had a special love for hagiography, as attested by his work, New Eklogion (Venice, 1803), and his posthumous book, The New Synaxarion (1819). He completed a Modern Greek translation of Saint Paul's Fourteen Epistles in three volumes (1819) as interpreted by the Hierarch Mētrophánēs, by Saint Theophylaktos, the Archbishop of Bulgaria (December 31), and others.

Saint Νikόdēmos also wrote An Interpretation of Saint Paul's Seven Catholic Epistles (published in Venice in 1806).

In 1799 Νikόdēmos edited the New Martyrologion, which he and Saint Makarios of Corinth seem to have prepared together in order to demonstrate that the Orthodox Church continues to produce Saints, particularly Martyrs, who were subjected to the same trials, torments, and death as the ancient Martyrs. The example of the Saints whose Lives appear in this book strengthened and encouraged the Orthodox to remain faithful to Christ, and not to convert to the religion of their oppressors.

Saint Νikόdēmos prepared a new edition of the Pedalion or Rudder, in collaboration with Hieromonk Agapios. This was printed in 1801, and contained the Canons of the Holy Apostles, those of the Holy Ecumenical and Local Synods, and of the Holy Fathers.

His most edifying book, Christian Morality, was published in Venice in 1803. In it he says: "Those monks who are strong in body and in soul ... should occasionally go into the world to preach and to counsel. Those who cannot go into the world, either because of the passions that assail them when they are in the midst of society, or because they are physically infirm, should seek the good of their brethren through prayer and by offering counsel to those who visit them, and if they are learned, by writing edifying books."1

Not long before his repose, Father Νikόdēmos, worn out by his literary work and ascetical struggles, went to live at the Kelli of the iconographers Hieromonks Stephen and Neophytos Skourtaίos, who were brothers by birth. He asked them to help with the publication of his works, because he was hindered by his infirmities.

The day before he went to the Lord, he was able to make his Confession, receive Holy Unction, and then Holy Communion.

His first biographer, Father Euthymios, describes the Saint's repose in this manner: "When the sun rose on the earth that day (Wednesday July 14, 1809), the intelligible sun of the Church set. The fiery pillar, the guide of the New Israel into piety disappeared; the cloud which refreshed those who were melting in the heat of sin, hid itself.”

His many friends and acquaintances mourned, and the words of a certain Christian were typical of the thoughts of many individuals of that time: “Oh, my Fathers, it would have been better for a thousand Christians to have died today, and not Νikόdēmos.”

Saint Νikόdēmos reposed peacefully at the age of sixty on July 14, 1809, and was glorified by the Church of Constantinople in 1955.

1 Constantine Cavarnos, Modern Orthodox Saints Volume 3, Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite, pages 46-47. (Belmont, Massachusetts, 1974).

Source: All texts Orthodox church in America

MATTHEW 14:35-15:11

35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick,36 and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. 3 He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 5 But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God"- 6 'then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " 10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.

1 CORINTHIANS 7:12-24

12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? 17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

[fromthefathers]

On How to Prepare Yourself for Communion "Before communing, you must necessarily prepare yourself, that is, confessing to your spiritual father, correcting yourself, feeling compunction, acquiring inner attention, guarding yourself from passionate thoughts as far as possible, and from every other vice. You must also exercise self-restraint, pray, be inwardly awake, and do every other kind of good deed, reflecting what awesome King you are about to receive within yourself; especially if you consider the grace which is given to you from Communion is proportionate to your preparation." - St. Makarios of Corinth

[hieromonkcharbel]

Coming Soon . . . as part of the The Pittsburgh Oratory’s “Ancient Christian Writers Series”.

One of the classic collections of spiritual writings, the “Evergetinos” is a source of inspiration, spiritual guidance, and insight into the lives of men and women who, during the first few centuries of Christianity, attained to the highest ideals of the spiritual life.

In the spiritual laboratory of the Egyptian deserts, these seekers after salvation, enlightenment, and union with Christ brought into sharp focus the teachings of the Apostles and the message of Holy Writ in their daily lives and activities. The stern, the loving, “fools for Christ”—all of the exemplars of Christian Sainthood, the many inhabitants of the many mansions above, are to be found in the rich and profitable lives portrayed in this collection. Also to be found are perfect models for every modern Christian who wishes sincerely to imitate those who have walked the path towards moral and spiritual perfection.

“The Evergetinos”, compiled by St. Makarios of Corinth and first published by St. Nicodemos in 1783, is a companion volume of “The Philokalia”—indeed a precursor, of sorts, to that work—, and together with it an essential and classical spiritual guide for Christians seeking the inner life of spiritual transformation.

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Tue., July, 27, 2021

July, 27 (old cal.)_July, 14 (new cal.)

St AQUILA, DISCIPLE FROM THE 70 and  St PRISCILLA  (1st. c.)

Saint Aquila, Apostle of the 70: It is possible that he was a disciple of the Apostle Paul, a native of Pontus and a Jew, living in the city of Rome with his wife Priscilla (they are commemorated on February 13 on the Greek Calendar). During the reign of the emperor Claudius (41-54) all the Jews were banished from Rome, so Saint Aquilla and his wife were compelled to leave. They settled in Corinth. A short while later, the holy Apostle Paul arrived there from Athens preaching the Gospel. Having made the acquaintance of Aquila, he began to live at his house and labored together with him, making tents.

Having received Baptism from the Apostle Paul, Aquila and Priscilla bacame his devoted and zealous disciples. They accompanied the apostle to Ephesus. The Apostle Paul instructed them to continue the preaching of the Gospel at Ephesus, and he himself went to Jerusalem, in order to be present for the feast of Pentecost. At Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla heard the bold preaching of a newcomer from Alexandria, the Jew Apollos. He had been instructed in the fundamentals of the Faith, but knew only the baptism of John the Forerunner. They called him over and explained more precisely about the way of the Lord.

After the death of the emperor Claudius, Jews were permitted to return to Italy, and Aquila and Priscilla then returned to Rome. The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans recalls his faithful disciples, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who put forth their heads for my soul, whom I do not alone thank, but also all the Church of the Gentiles and the church of their household” (Rom. 16: 3-4). Saint Aquila did not long dwell in Rome: the Apostle Paul made him a bishop in Asia. Saint Aquila zealously labored at preaching the Gospel in Asia, Achaia and Heraklia. He converted pagans to Christ, he confirmed newly-converted Christians in the faith, he established presbyters and destroyed idols. Saint Priscilla constantly assisted him in the apostolic work. Saint Aquila ended his life a martyr: pagans murdered him. According to the Tradition of the Church, Saint Priscilla was killed together with him.

St. NICODEMoS OF MT. ATHOS, THE HAGIORITE (1809)

Saint Νikόdēmos of the Holy Mountain was born on the Greek island of Naxos in the year 1748, and was named Nicholas at his Baptism. At the age of twenty-six, he arrived on Mount Athos and was tonsured at Dionysiou Monastery with the name Νikόdēmos.

As his first obedience, Father Νikόdēmos served as the monastery’s secretary. Two years after entering Dionysiou monastery, the Metropolitan of Corinth, Saint Makarios Notaras (April 17), arrived there, and assigned the young monk to edit the manuscript of the Philokalia, which he had found in 1777 at Vatopedi Monastery. Editing this book was the beginning of many years of literary activity for Saint Νikόdēmos. The young man soon moved to Pantokrator Skete, where he was under obedience to Elder Arsenios of the Peloponnesos, under whose guidance he studied Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Holy Fathers.

In 1783 Saint Νikόdēmos was tonsured into the Great Schema, and spent the next six years in complete silence. On his next visit to Mount Athos, Saint Makarios gave Νikόdēmos the obedience of editing of the writings of Saint Symeon the New Theologian. This meant giving up his silence and occupying himself once more with literary work. From that time until his death, he continued to devote himself to such endeavors.

Not long before his repose, Father Νikόdēmos, worn out by his literary work and ascetical struggles, went to live at the Skete of the iconographers Hieromonks Stephen and Neophytos Skourtaios, who were brothers by birth. He asked them to help with the publication of his works, because he was hindered by his infirmity. Saint Νikόdēmos reposed peacefully on July 14, 1809.

According to the testimony of his contemporaries, Venerable Νikόdēmos was a simple man, without malice, unassuming, and distinguished by his profound concentration. He possessed remarkable mental abilities: he knew the Holy Scriptures by heart, remembering even the chapter, verse and page, and he was able to recite long passages from the writings of the Holy Fathers from memory.

The literary work of Saint Νikόdēmos was multi-faceted. He wrote a preface to the Philokalia, and brief Lives of the ascetics. Among the Saint’s ascetical works, his edition of Lorenzo Scupoli’s book, Unseen Warfare, is well known, and has been translated into Russian, English, and other languages. A remarkable work of the ascetic was his Manual of Confession (Venice, 1794, 1804, etc.), summarized in his treatise, “Three Discourses on Repentance." His most edifying book, Christian Morality, was published in Venice in 1803.

The Saint also made great contributions by publishing liturgical books. Using materials from the manuscript collections of Mount Athos, he published sixty-two Canons to the Most Holy Theotokos under the title, New Theotokarion (Venice, 1796, 1849).

Saint Νikόdēmos prepared a new edition of the the Pedalion or Rudder, comprised of the canons of the Holy Apostles, those of the Holy Ecumenical and Local Synods, and of the Holy Fathers.

Saint Νikόdēmos had a particular love for hagiography, as attested by his work, New Eklogion (Venice, 1803), and his posthumous book, The New Synaxarion in three volumes (Venice, 1819). He completed a Modern Greek translation of a book by Saint Theophylact, the Archbishop of Bulgaria: Saint Paul's Fourteen Epistles in three volumes. Saint Νikόdēmos also wrote An Interpretation of the Seven Catholic Epistles (also published at Venice in 1806 and 1819).

The exceedingly wise Νikόdēmos is also known as the author and interpreter of hymns. His Canon in honor of the “Quick to Hear” Icon of the Mother of God (November 9) and his “Service and Encomium in Honor of the Fathers who Shone on the Holy Mountain of Athos” are used even beyond the Holy Mountain. Some of his other books include the Heortodromion, an interpretation of the Canons which are sung on Feasts of the Lord and of the Mother of God (Venice, 1836), and The New Ladder, an interpretation of the 75 Hymns of Degrees (Anabathmoi) of the liturgical book called the Oktoekhos (Constantinople, 1844).

MATTHEW 13:31-36

31Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. 33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." 34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world." 36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."

1 CORINTHIANS 2:9-3:8

9 But as it is written: 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

[hieromonkcharbel]

Preparing a blog post on the passions as understood by Desert Fathers, I came across this list: interesting albeit a little overwhelming. I’m going to have to break out the dictionary to know how a few of them are defined.

A LIST OF THE PASSIONS

by Saint Peter of Damaskos

The passions are:

harshness, trickery, malice, perversity, mindlessness, licentiousness, enticement, dullness, lack of understanding, idleness, sluggishness, stupidity, flattery, silliness, idiocy, madness, derangement, coarseness, rashness, cowardice, lethargy, dearth of good actions, moral errors, greed, over-frugality, ignorance, folly, spurious knowledge, forgetfulness, lack of discrimination, obduracy, injustice, evil intention, a conscienceless soul, slothfulness, idle chatter, breaking of faith, wrongdoing, sinfulness, lawlessness, criminality, passion, seduction, assent to evil, mindless coupling, demonic provocation, dallying, bodily comfort beyond what is required, vice, stumbling, sickness of soul, enervation, weakness of intellect, negligence, laziness, a reprehensible despondency, disdain of God, aberration, transgression, unbelief, lack of faith, wrong belief, poverty of faith, heresy, fellowship in heresy, polytheism, idolatry, ignorance of God, impiety, magic, astrology, divination, sorcery, denial of God, the love of idols, dissipation, profligacy, loquacity, indolence, self-love, inattentiveness, lack of progress, deceit, delusion, audacity, witchcraft, defilement, the eating of unclean food, soft living, dissoluteness, voracity, unchastity, avarice, anger, dejection, listlessness, self-esteem, pride, presumption, self-elation, boastfulness, infatuation, foulness, satiety, doltishness, torpor, sensuality, over-eating, gluttony, insatiability, secret eating, hoggishness, solitary eating, indifference, fickleness, self-will, thoughtlessness, self-satisfaction, love of popularity, ignorance of beauty, uncouthness, gaucherie, lightmindedness, boorishness, rudeness, contentiousness, quarrelsomeness, abusiveness, shouting, brawling, fighting, rage, mindless desire, gall, exasperation, giving offence, enmity, meddlesomeness, chicanery, asperity, slander, censure, calumny, condemnation, accusation, hatred, railing, insolence, dishonour, ferocity, frenzy, severity, aggressiveness, forswearing oneself, oathtaking, lack of compassion, hatred of one’s brothers, partiality, patricide, matricide, breaking fasts, laxity, acceptance of bribes, theft, rapine, jealousy, strife, envy, indecency, jesting, vilification, mockery, derision, exploitation, oppression, disdain of one’s neighbour, flogging, making sport of others, hanging, throttling, heartlessness, implacability, covenant-breaking, bewitchment, harshness, shamelessness, impudence, obfuscation of thoughts, obtuseness, mental blindness, attraction to what is fleeting, impassionedness, frivolity, disobedience, dullwittedness, drowsiness of soul, excessive sleep, fantasy, heavy drinking, drunkenness, uselessness, slackness, mindless enjoyment, self-indulgence, venery, using foul language, effeminacy, unbridled desire, burning lust, masturbation, pimping, adultery, sodomy, bestiality, defilement, wantonness, a stained soul, incest, uncleanliness, pollution, sordidness, feigned affection, laughter, jokes, immodest dancing, clapping, improper songs, revelry, fluteplaying, license of tongue, excessive love of order, insubordination, disorderliness, reprehensible collusion, conspiracy, warfare, killing, brigandry, sacrilege, illicit gains, usury, wiliness, grave-robbing, hardness of heart, obloquy, complaining, blasphemy, fault-finding, ingratitude, malevolence, contemptuousness, pettiness, confusion, lying, verbosity, empty words, mindless joy, daydreaming, mindless friendship, bad habits, nonsensicality, silly talk, garrulity, niggardliness, depravity, intolerance, irritability, affluence, rancour, misuse, ill-temper, clinging to life, ostentation, affectation, pusillanimity, satanic love, curiosity, contumely, lack of the fear of God, unteachability, senselessness, haughtiness, self-vaunting, self-inflation, scorn for one’s neighbour, mercilessness, insensitivity, hopelessness, spiritual paralysis, hatred of God, despair, suicide, a falling away from God in all things, utter destruction – altogether 298 passions.

These, then, are the passions which I have found named in the Holy Scriptures. I have set them down in a single list, as I did at the beginning of my discourse with the various books I have used. I have not tried, nor would I have been able, to arrange them all in order; this would have been beyond my powers, for the reason given by St. John Klimakos: ‘If you seek understanding in wicked men, you will not find it.’ For all that the demons produce is disorderly. In common with the godless and the unjust, the demons have but one purpose: to destroy the souls of those who accept their evil counsel. Yet sometimes they actually help men to attain holiness. In such instances they are conquered by the patience and faith of those who put their trust in the Lord, and who through their good actions and resistance to evil thoughts counteract the demons and bring down curses upon them.

A LIST OF THE PASSIONS, Saint Peter of Damaskos The Philokalia; The Complete Text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarios of Corinth, Volume Three

[hieromonkcharbel]

Preparing a blog post on the passions as understood by Desert Fathers, I came across this list: interesting albeit a little overwhelming. I’m going to have to break out the dictionary to know how a few of them are defined.

A LIST OF THE PASSIONS

by Saint Peter of Damaskos

The passions are:

harshness, trickery, malice, perversity, mindlessness, licentiousness, enticement, dullness, lack of understanding, idleness, sluggishness, stupidity, flattery, silliness, idiocy, madness, derangement, coarseness, rashness, cowardice, lethargy, dearth of good actions, moral errors, greed, over-frugality, ignorance, folly, spurious knowledge, forgetfulness, lack of discrimination, obduracy, injustice, evil intention, a conscienceless soul, slothfulness, idle chatter, breaking of faith, wrongdoing, sinfulness, lawlessness, criminality, passion, seduction, assent to evil, mindless coupling, demonic provocation, dallying, bodily comfort beyond what is required, vice, stumbling, sickness of soul, enervation, weakness of intellect, negligence, laziness, a reprehensible despondency, disdain of God, aberration, transgression, unbelief, lack of faith, wrong belief, poverty of faith, heresy, fellowship in heresy, polytheism, idolatry, ignorance of God, impiety, magic, astrology, divination, sorcery, denial of God, the love of idols, dissipation, profligacy, loquacity, indolence, self-love, inattentiveness, lack of progress, deceit, delusion, audacity, witchcraft, defilement, the eating of unclean food, soft living, dissoluteness, voracity, unchastity, avarice, anger, dejection, listlessness, self-esteem, pride, presumption, self-elation, boastfulness, infatuation, foulness, satiety, doltishness, torpor, sensuality, over-eating, gluttony, insatiability, secret eating, hoggishness, solitary eating, indifference, fickleness, self-will, thoughtlessness, self-satisfaction, love of popularity, ignorance of beauty, uncouthness, gaucherie, lightmindedness, boorishness, rudeness, contentiousness, quarrelsomeness, abusiveness, shouting, brawling, fighting, rage, mindless desire, gall, exasperation, giving offence, enmity, meddlesomeness, chicanery, asperity, slander, censure, calumny, condemnation, accusation, hatred, railing, insolence, dishonour, ferocity, frenzy, severity, aggressiveness, forswearing oneself, oathtaking, lack of compassion, hatred of one’s brothers, partiality, patricide, matricide, breaking fasts, laxity, acceptance of bribes, theft, rapine, jealousy, strife, envy, indecency, jesting, vilification, mockery, derision, exploitation, oppression, disdain of one’s neighbour, flogging, making sport of others, hanging, throttling, heartlessness, implacability, covenant-breaking, bewitchment, harshness, shamelessness, impudence, obfuscation of thoughts, obtuseness, mental blindness, attraction to what is fleeting, impassionedness, frivolity, disobedience, dullwittedness, drowsiness of soul, excessive sleep, fantasy, heavy drinking, drunkenness, uselessness, slackness, mindless enjoyment, self-indulgence, venery, using foul language, effeminacy, unbridled desire, burning lust, masturbation, pimping, adultery, sodomy, bestiality, defilement, wantonness, a stained soul, incest, uncleanliness, pollution, sordidness, feigned affection, laughter, jokes, immodest dancing, clapping, improper songs, revelry, fluteplaying, license of tongue, excessive love of order, insubordination, disorderliness, reprehensible collusion, conspiracy, warfare, killing, brigandry, sacrilege, illicit gains, usury, wiliness, grave-robbing, hardness of heart, obloquy, complaining, blasphemy, fault-finding, ingratitude, malevolence, contemptuousness, pettiness, confusion, lying, verbosity, empty words, mindless joy, daydreaming, mindless friendship, bad habits, nonsensicality, silly talk, garrulity, niggardliness, depravity, intolerance, irritability, affluence, rancour, misuse, ill-temper, clinging to life, ostentation, affectation, pusillanimity, satanic love, curiosity, contumely, lack of the fear of God, unteachability, senselessness, haughtiness, self-vaunting, self-inflation, scorn for one’s neighbour, mercilessness, insensitivity, hopelessness, spiritual paralysis, hatred of God, despair, suicide, a falling away from God in all things, utter destruction – altogether 298 passions.

These, then, are the passions which I have found named in the Holy Scriptures. I have set them down in a single list, as I did at the beginning of my discourse with the various books I have used. I have not tried, nor would I have been able, to arrange them all in order; this would have been beyond my powers, for the reason given by St. John Klimakos: ‘If you seek understanding in wicked men, you will not find it.’ For all that the demons produce is disorderly. In common with the godless and the unjust, the demons have but one purpose: to destroy the souls of those who accept their evil counsel. Yet sometimes they actually help men to attain holiness. In such instances they are conquered by the patience and faith of those who put their trust in the Lord, and who through their good actions and resistance to evil thoughts counteract the demons and bring down curses upon them.

A LIST OF THE PASSIONS, Saint Peter of Damaskos The Philokalia; The Complete Text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarios of Corinth, Volume Three