Category Archives: Writings of Elder Paisios the Athonite

The Harmony of God is Hidden Within a Diversity of Personalities

By Fr. Luke | Published: August 10, 2007

One day a man came to my kalyve and told me that he was very worried because he was not of the same mind with his wife. I saw, however, that there was nothing serious between them. He just had a few rough edges, his wife had a few others, and they couldn’t deal with [...]

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A Good Start to Family Life

By Fr. Luke | Published: August 3, 2007

Geronta, a certain young man who has chosen the married life asked me how one properly begins this. —From the beginning, he should seek to find a good girl who will comfort him, as people are relaxed and find comfort differently with different people. He should not seek to find someone who is rich or [...]

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Spiritual Life is the Basic Prerequisite for a Good Future

By Fr. Luke | Published: July 28, 2007

—Geronta, the girl who said to you that she is considering Monasticism told me that a boy from class asked why she won’t go out to the movies or out on dates with boys. What should she have answered? —She should have said: “Not even my brother has ever asked me such questions, and now [...]

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Let Us Help the Youth to Follow their Calling

By Fr. Luke | Published: July 15, 2007

The Good God created man free. He is nobly unimposing. He respects man’s freedom, freely leaving each person to follow that path which brings him or her comfort. He does not force everyone stand in the same line with military discipline. For that reason, we should leave youths to themselves, without restraint, in the spiritual [...]

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Both the Married and Celibate Life are Blessed

By Fr. Luke | Published: June 26, 2007

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 [...]

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Marital Relations

By Fr. Luke | Published: June 4, 2007

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 [...]

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Let Us Make God the Ruler of Our Life

By Fr. Luke | Published: March 27, 2007

—Geronta, in the Gospel, why is the Kingdom of God likened to a mustard seed: “It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all [...]

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To the Measure One Complains, He Also Destroys

By Fr. Luke | Published: March 22, 2007

—Geronda, where does complaining come from and how can one avoid it? It comes from wretchedness, but in giving glory to God one is able to defeat it. Complaining gives birth to more complaining, and glorifying God gives birth to glorifying Him more and more. When someone doesn’t complain about a difficulty he finds himself [...]

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