(From “The Gurus, The Young Man, and the Elder Paisios”, by Dionysios Farasiotis)

Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain:

ON SEEING GOD’S WISDOM EVERYWHERE 

“Everything God created is beautiful! Have you seen how beautiful and yet, varied are the colors of kitten’s coats? Wherever you turn your head, you will encounter God’s wisdom. In the old days, everything was natural and beautiful. …

Anything that you see or hear in this world, you should use it to reach up to Heaven; let it transport you there. Climb up step by step, from the creatures all the way to the Creator. The Americans went to the moon and at least they placed a sign there that says, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God’.” …

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“For animals, a man is God. As we ask help from God, so they ask help from man. … And I am really in trouble with the kittens in my cell. They have realized that every time the doorbell rings, I come out to the courtyard and sometimes bring them some food. Well, now, when they are hungry, they pull the rope and the doorbell rings. I come out, see that they are pulling the rope and feed them. How (well) God has arranged everything!”

(From "God's Wisdom and the Environment - Elder Paisios")

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“The animals enjoy being with man and look at him as their king. In Paradise, Adam called the animals one by one and gave them each a name according to its kind. Animals recognized man’s superiority and were happy in his presence. After the fall, however, this relationship was destroyed. Man looked at the beasts with the intention of killing them, and the animals became wild.

Nevertheless, the wild animals are still more sincere than man is. If you approach them with love, they return to that pristine state. Man has ruined the animals. Even the dog that lives continually by man’s side has changed, acquiring a police mentality and distrustful character.

I used to feed a little kitten around here that would come and rub itself up against my leg and purr. Although it was very tame, when one day, I tossed a piece of bread to it, the animal pulled back in fear. What had happened to it? Someone had thrown stones at it and ruined the animal’s attitude towards people. So you see, this evil state of affairs begins with man.”

(From “The Gurus, The Young Man, and the Elder Paisios”, by Dionysios Farasiotis)