„Christ is the true Light - whoever has seen this Light and dwells in it, will in a natural way be like Christ, even in his outward behaviour. In what is this likeness expressed? Mainly m that he will take upon himself the burden of his brethren, that is, he will envision himself as guilty for evil which takes place, and gradually, as this awareness increases in him, he will accept any form of death with good will, regardless of where it comes from and what form it takes. If somebody comes to kill him, his heart will not be moved to blame his murderer; if illness destroys him, he will not lose his peace of
mind; if he is attacked by evil spirits... whatever happens he will not be afraid and he will not lose his gentleness and humility. This is what it means to ‘hate one’s own soul’.”
Saint Sophrony the Athonite,
from „Born from on High”
The martyrdom of Saint Paul the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople, in the year 350, who was strangled with his archiepiscopal stole by the Arian heretics. Commemorated on November 6; fresco from the church of the Humor Monastery, 1530, Romania. (via Vladimir Bulat)
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