monastics

Living Sermons on the Mount

“The most interesting thing about Christianity is the ascetics, because they make all of Christ’s talk about the Kingdom of God make sense.” (From Not of This World, St. Herman Press)

Our Claymore


I believe that, when we do spiritual combat, we are escorted by angels. It is just like this, except the banners are more numerous than stars, and the hermits are surrounding us with prayers, but there is always the cross, “invincible weapon, adversary of demons, glory of martyrs, true ornament of holy monks.” It is our claymore.

Origins of Conversations

Grasp the depth of Blessed Theophylact’s point: “While the activity of the demons operates, even though we appear to be speaking, we are not.” Consider what assaults us through the channels, airwaves, and other media of contemporary life: the messages appear to be human speech but actually they are demonic chatter and lies. Think about the distortion of truth that claims to be communication in the contemporary world. The assault is massive. [source forgotten]

From Darkness and Shadow

…As the prophets said, Angels and men keep spiritual festival, for God born of the Virgin, hath appeared in flesh, to those who sit in darkness and shadow. . . . And by His coming, hath saved us from slavery to the enemy. – Monk John (Stichera of Litya, Nativity Vigil)

Monastics

The monks keep unceasing watch, as sentries, at hours when I sleep, ever looking for the coming of the Lord. And indeed He does come to them, and they ring bells and cry aloud “Hosanna”. Honor to the vigilant, who will see the light from the East break across the earth. The monks do combat with demons that never reach me because they are stopped. St. Nikolai likened the monks to ninja among us. Angels invisibly surround them. When they do battle, the banners stretch to Heaven, and the trumpets echo in the distance. The demons are shaken and crumble and are driven back. The field is full of incense, dispelling the smoke of the enemy. God fights for his people. The archangels are mighty and their countenance is fierce. The monks, both men and women, are the brave ‘men’ who make a human wall, and I am a child behind them; therefore I call them “father” and “mother”.

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