Category Archives: Fr. Luke’s Translations

Cases of Childlessness

By Fr. Luke | Published: October 14, 2008

—Geronta, a husband and wife that both have Mediterranean anemia [1] asked us if they should try to have children. We told them to ask their spiritual father. —Spiritual fathers should not tell such couples not to have children. They must guide them in philotimo, so as to struggle in abstinence (to abstain), and with [...]

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Human Logic and the Will of God for Childbearing

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 13, 2007

Oftentimes couples express to me their insecurity regarding the topic of childbearing, and they ask my opinion. Some only want one or two children, while others want to have many. It would, however, be to their advantage to leave the issue of childbearing to God—to entrust their lives to divine providence and not try to [...]

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Difficulties in Childbearing

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 12, 2007

—Geronta, if a woman is not Orthodox, and if she is not able to conceive a child, is it alright for her to wear the belt we have blessed on the holy relics of St. Arsenios? [1] —Does she believe in the power of the Saint or does she think that it will help in [...]

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Saints Joakeim and Anna are the Most Dispassionate Couple

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 6, 2007

—Geronta, tell us about Saints Joakeim and Anna, the ancestors of God. You once started to speak of them. —Since I was little I’ve had a great veneration for the Holy Ancestors. Surely I’ve told one of you about wanting them to give me the name Joakeim when they made me a monk. We owe [...]

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Through Asceticism, Man Becomes Immaterial (Part II)

By Fr. Luke | Published: November 30, 2007

I know a layman who became holy with the asceticism he practiced. Yes, not many years ago there was a man and his son who worked for years on the Holy Mountain. Later, a good job opportunity presented itself back in his homeland, and the man decided to leave and take his son with him [...]

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Through Asceticism, Man Becomes Immaterial

By Fr. Luke | Published: November 15, 2007

—Geronta, you once had told us: “A blockade is needed in spiritual warfare.” What did you mean? —In a war they try to blockade the enemy. They surround him, confine him within the city walls, and deprive him of food. Then they cut off his water: for if the enemy is left without basic supplies [...]

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Work Doesn’t Make the Man

By Fr. Luke | Published: November 7, 2007

—Geronta, when someone feels strained at work, what is to blame? —Perhaps they don’t approach their work with good thoughts? If they confront it rightly, then whatever job they do will seem like a festival. —Geronta, when someone is upset because his job is difficult or distasteful—for example, he works construction or washes dishes at [...]

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Sanctifying One’s Work

By Fr. Luke | Published: October 31, 2007

Everyone should, by his life and prayers, sanctify his work and become holy. Additionally, if he is an employer and has responsibilities, he should help his employees spiritually. If he has a good inner state, he sanctifies his work. For example, when young people go to study under a craftsman to learn his trade, he [...]

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Love for Work

By Fr. Luke | Published: October 26, 2007

—Geronta, why do so many people feel bored at work? —Maybe they don’t love their job? Or, maybe they work on the same thing continually? With some jobs—say at a factory where they make door and window frames—a laborer might do the same thing from morning till the time he leaves: glue, glue, glue. Another [...]

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Stress and Work

By Fr. Luke | Published: October 17, 2007

—Geronta, many people return home from work stressed out. —I suggest to men that if they can, they should find an open church after work, go in, light a candle and stay inside for ten to fifteen minutes. Or go sit in a park somewhere and read a small section of the Gospel, so as [...]

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