“The age-old experience of Christianity has shown that, no sooner does one realise with bitterness and sorrow the vileness of one’s demoniac pretensions to excel - no sooner does one begin to loathe the dark spirit within - than the heart is led into the hitherto-unknown sphere of freedom, where the Divine Light dazzles and all is contemplation of the goodness of God.”
As we come to acknowledge that our poverty is very great indeed, for we no longer compare ourselves with people around us but only with the Lord, so, in a mysterious way, contemplation also begins to unfold within us. And once again the downward path of the Lord is confirmed, that ‘he who shall humble himself shall be exalted.’
Knowing the whole of Christ requires experience of His entire path, of both His life-giving presence and the darkness of His absence.
Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou
Quote from St. Sophrony
“Monasticism”
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