Regarding the topic of marital relations Elder Paisios wrote in one of his epistles:
Concerning marital relations of married priests and laity, which you related to me: since the Holy Fathers do not define “how often” [to have marital relations] exactly, we must conclude that it is not defined, for everyone cannot be put into the same mold. The Fathers leave it to the discernment, zeal, spiritual sensitivity and strength of each person. That I may be more easily understood, I will share instances of spiritual warriors—again, married priests and laymen—whom I have known.
Among them there are those who came together after their marriage and had one, two, or three children, and afterward lived in chastity. Others come together once a year for childbearing, but otherwise live as brother and sister. Some abstain only during fasting periods; and others are not able to attain even this. I also know some who come together once in the middle of the week, so as to be three days before and after Holy Communion. Some stumble over even this, for which reason Christ’s first word when He appeared to the Apostles after His Resurrection was, “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you . . . Receive ye the Holy Spirit: Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained”. [1] Read more →
Both the Married and Celibate Life are Blessed
Geronta, what should someone answer to young children who ask if the monastic life is higher than the married life?
First, help them to understand what is man’s destiny and the meaning of life. Next, explain that the Church blesses both of these paths, because both are able to lead them to Paradise if they live according to God’s will. Let’s say that two people set out on a pilgrimage. The first goes by bus, while the other goes on foot; but they both have the same destination. God rejoices in the first just as he is amazed by the second. What’s bad is when the one who goes by footpath judges the one who goes by bus, or vice versa.
It’s good for youth who think about monasticism to know that the monk’s vocation is very great: it is to become an Angel. Christ told the Sadducees that in the next life, in Heaven, we will live as Angels. [1] For this reason many youth—those with much philotimo [2]—become monastics and begin the angelic life in this life. Read more →