Becoming a fool for Christ

[Andrey Vershinin]

how exactly does one do this or start to become a fool for christ?

[Owen Jones]

You sign the register and wait in line.

[Olga]

The calendar produced by the Brotherhood of St Herman featured the theme of holy fools in the 2001 edition (or thereabouts), which should answer a few questions. I'll post it as a word document soon.

[Leandros Papadopoulos]

LOVE.

LOVE with all your heart, with all your mind with all your soul.

Have you ever seen a couple in love. People in love are doing foolish things, they embed their love into reality and then reality is no longer compatible with their world.

Have you seen grandfathers going beyond logic over their grandchildren, how they enter the childish ways and they abandon the adult world for the sake of their love ones.

Have you ever seen how a mother is loosing her mind over her child?

Love is beyond logic, and the first one that went «crazy» of love was our Lord, Christ:

“And He came to a house, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that He and His disciples could not even eat a meal. When His own people heard of this, they went out to restrain Him; for they were saying, "He has lost His mind." (Mark 3:20-21)

You see, foolishness in Christ is the result of a personal, honest, loving relation with another person that makes everything else –even the normal behaviour of eating food- to become needless and at the same time the related other person becomes “everything”.

After Jesus had talked with the Samaritan woman while “His disciples had gone into the town to buy food” (John 4:8), “His disciples urged Him, Rabbi, eat something. But He said to them, I have food to eat that you know nothing about. Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" ”. (John 4:31-33)

Personal Love relation supplies the answer to every need and this looks as “foolish” and incomprehensible behaviour to those that are from outside as they try to explain reality with logic, but reality has been transformed within the relation beyond logic.

God bless us, all.

[Kosmas Damianides]

I don't think we become fools for Christ because we choose to.

If one reads the lives of this group of Saints, it is evident that it is a way of life which is a calling from God.

A fool for Christ requires that they have perfected their obedience, their selfish desires have been replaced by obedience to God alone.

They no-longer have their own will but are beyond worldly and material needs. So their human will and human desires are "numbed" by the grace of God's Love.

God chooses those He wishes to be fools for Christ.

A self elected "fool for Christ" is a fool for their own selfish sake, not for the sake of Christ. A true FOOL FOR CHRIST is elected by God.

[Patrick Walsh]

Becoming a "Fool for Christ" has two different answers. There is the famous Pauline quote, "We are fools for Christ....", and then there is the very special spiritual podvig of being a Fool for Christ. The most famous of the Fool-Saints is St. Feofil of Kiev-Lavra. His life is at:

http://www.roca.org/OA/53-54/53e.htm

The spiritual podvig is very difficult, and many who have followed this life from a calling or otherwise, do not survive long.

I believe the Pauline example is to learn to allow your Faith and Love of God teach you wisdom rather than your sensibilities. Look beyond what you can see, hear, or think. Look beyond what you can rationalize in your mind. Move beyond the limitations of knowledge gained from books, teachings, traditions, etc. Move into the realm of experiential wisdom. But be careful to always rely on the Holy Church. Do not get lost!

After we have reached a certain point in our education, we have to move on our own to grow closer to God. And we have to not allow the words and concepts of our education to limit us. They are only point out the Way, and are not the Way in and of themselves.

feofil

[Theopesta]

ST. ANASIMON THE ANCHORITE QUEEN

http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/dominica/163/

[Marie-Duquette]

Theopesta Dem.
Thank you for the beautiful story of St. Anasimon the Anchorite Queen. Very moving and inspiring. It tells us that the vocation of "Fool for Christ's sake" is not to be taken lightly; and it is certainly not for everyone.

It is enough for for each of us to "take up our cross daily and follow Christ" in our state of life. And to remember what St. Paul says, Greeks look for philosophy, Jews look for wisdom, and we, at the end of the line, look to the Cross, being considered, fools for Christ's sake.

Let us be true lovers of the Cross of Christ!

[Theopesta]

some monks says she not make herself crasy as the usual meaning but she lived very honest to the commandaments of GOD, very active very genuine monastic life in the monastary.

she not like the others, she not try to imitate the external apperance of monastic,

she intentionally made her struggle hidden and this make her crasy in the sight of her companions in the monastery.

she truly anchorite in the surname of the nuns she anchorite even in the style of their clothing

[Andrey Vershinin]

Theopesta Dem that was truly a good story, it's godly.
Lord have mercy

[Theopesta]

ISA Liii: 3 http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/triangle_down.gif

"(AKJV) He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

REV ii: 10 http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/triangle_down.gif
"be you faithful to death, and I will give you a crown of life."

[Olga]

Here is the article from the 1998 St Herman's Calendar :

FOOLISHNESS FOR CHRIST

“THERE ARE PEOPLE who are mocked by all, despised by all, who are sometimes abhorred by even the most lost person. Homeless, destitute, wretched in appearance, tormented by hunger and thirst, they wander amidst cold and self-satisfied people. Cold, hunger, eternal mockeries, contempt, and complete loneliness - this is the lot of these people. The world considers them mad, stupid, pathetic people who have neither reason nor shame. Only the simple soul of the believers among the people regards them with compassion and calls them "little blessed ones," God's people; and the rare, tender and noble heart will feel the greatness of spirit in them and the unearthly beauty of their souls. Such are these ones. These are the Fools-for-Christ.

In the rush of fervent and boundless love for their Saviour and Lord Jesus, they cast away everything: glory, wealth and worldly happiness; and, having cast away all, they devote themselves exclusively to the concerns of salvation. And the labour of salvation is terribly difficult. Many labours and much patience are needed in order to reach the calm refuge. A great and uninterrupted struggle with one's passions, and with evil and malicious spirits lies before him who seeks salvation. The ascetic labour of the Fools is one of the forms of this struggle. Here, at the very root and by the most powerful means, the passions are defeated. Pride is trampled upon by disgrace; vainglory by madness; self-love, love of pleasure and predilection for things by complete renunciation of everything and extreme animosity for the flesh, for example: by hunger, cold, thirst, and other means which mortify the passionate flesh. Thus with the Fools, under the appearance of an insane and disorderly life, a persistent, reasonable and orderly struggle with sin goes on. For this they assume the appearance of the mad and foolish, to hide from people this uninterrupted struggle, to hide from people also this flaming love. Jealously guarding their treasure, they allow themselves strange actions and behaviour, unintelligible words and ways of speaking. Much of this seems to others sinful, but the heart of the fool is far distant from sin.

Often, while with pretence portraying some passion, they graphically demonstrate all the foulness of sin, and these, so to speak, "negative lessons" benefit both the Fools themselves and those who see them, much more than dry, affirmative admonitions. The actions of the Fools which seem sinful are always directed to one goal - salvation of the soul, both their own and their neighbours'. Much greatness of spirit, unbending will and purity of heart is necessary in order to preserve love for Jesus Christ always alive and fresh in this heavy labour of foolishness, under the appearance of insanity, amidst all kinds of animosity and deprivation.

Yet this struggle and love do not remain without response. The Lord often glorifies Fools with extraordinary gifts of grace, and then their sublime faith, their most tender hope and infinitely warm love for Christ the Saviour are revealed for all. But, even when they have been filled with God's gifts after the soul-cleansing struggles of foolishness, the Fools continue to bear their former struggle; and this is essential to them in order to preserve these gifts of grace, essential in order to vanquish the devil who is ceaselessly waging war, to vanquish him by humility and patience. The Lord, seeing the patience of His servants, grants them continually greater and greater consolations. Indeed, such is the meaning and significance in the Fools' work of salvation. Their ascetic struggle is the path of salvation before the eyes of the whole world, amidst people and under the burden of their pressure. The way is not made easier by anything external, but only by the all-effecting grace of God. This is a path most arduous, but by this path quite a few of those who sought the Lord have come to Him; and on this thorny path shine various stars, both small and great.”

THE BEAUTIFUL TEXT above belongs to the hand of a New Martyr of the communist yoke, Bishop Nikodim of Belgorod, from one of the fourteen volumes of his National Ascetics of the 18th and 19thCenturies (1906-1910) [Russian]. His spiritual understanding, expressed in a Pauline tone of description, is sorely lacking in the modern Western world, especially among newly converted people raised on self-pampering and a life of abnormal luxury, affluence and the rampant working of free will. It is hard for us, victims of perpetual self-gratification, to "die" to the world and live a new life in Christ. It is almost impossible, if even in the spiritual life we are told to be logical, to use common (fallen) sense and, so to speak, "have our cake and eat it, too." But all is possible if the mind is set on things divine according to the Orthodox worldview, which is dramatically opposed to the way the world operates. Thus, if only we could get the mind of the Fathers, which is close to us, we could begin to accept pain of heart, which teaches us not to trust our fallen mind but to seek heavenly otherworldliness.

In view of the overwhelming overdose of secular (worldly) ways - pushed today upon a newborn convert by Orthodox people with an apostate, calculating mentality - it is refreshing to turn to the Fools-for-Christ, so rare and misunderstood by the Western mind and so essential to the salvation of the 20th-century Christian.

Let us therefore turn to the wisdom not of this world, and let us learn from the genuine Fools-for-Christ - only, mind you, not trying to imitate them. The Church teaches not to embark into realms not intended for the average mind, for they, the Fools of Christ, are no models. They are exceptions whom God Himself chose, for they were dead enough to the world to endure its revenge. The revenge of the world and the devil upon God-chosen ones is too hard for an average mind to endure. Our job is to venerate them, to kiss the wounds of their self-crucifixion and be silent. For "silence is the mystery of the future age, while words are mere implements of this world," as says St. Isaac the Syrian.

God bless us all.
Abbot Herman
Bicentennial Day of St. Innocent's Birth
August 26/September 8, 1997

[Theopesta]

for my weak education and mind I need to If this way of thought are spritual and healthy or not:

to be patient in endurance of sufferings which result from keeping your GOD with pure heart right behavour, this need the healthy knowledge to keep your mind discern between the over unwanted struggles and the blessed modest temper way.

the true prayer enlighten the NOUS but what kind of people know this way!!???

I think this need positive active from the free will to make GOD support us with his GRACE.

the Most one can suffer patiently and grow while suffering not stop is the most one in whom the true the understanding the philosophy.

many theologians are perfect in philosophy as they use it spiritually and spirtualized it to service theologies.

most our fathers in the early church are philosophic originally, they can be used by holy spirit to be doctors for the church.

the simple also used by holy spirit
every one in the suitable place finall all in one way.

are this mind imperphect or not spiritual?

I will take the blessing of correction

[Theopesta]

http://www.mari.org/JMS/january00/Saint_Marina_the_Monk.htm

I need your prayer
in christ

[Theopesta]

http://www.copticchurch.net/classes/synex.php?id=345

forgive me for many interruptions
this site as we the coptic know about her

http://www.copticchurch.net/classes/synex.php?id=345

p.s. her relics her in cairo, we celebrate with her repose feast in 21 august

[Bp. Ioan (Lightoller)]

May I suggest praying to St. John Maximovitch of Shanghai and San Francisco. Amongst other things, he was considered by some to have embraced the podvig of foolishnes-for-Christ's sake. I'm not one myself personally, but I think that if someone does this, it takes a great deal of courage. At any rate, you are in all my thoughts and prayers.

[Theopesta]

http://www.pelagia.org/htm/b16.en.saint_gregory_palamas_as_a_hagiorite.05.htm #s13g http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/triangle_down.gif

They try by their way of living to remove all distraction and fantasy from their lives, and through the unifying commandments to rise to the unique theosophy, which is higher than any philosophy. This is the all-holy life and way of the monks. They do nothing else but follow the life of the apostolic men.

[Clinton R. LeFort]

how exactly does one do this or start to become a fool for christ?


Dear Brothers and Sisters!


What music this must sing to Our Lord when he hears with his infinite holiness in the inner recesses of a person's soul that he wants to become a fool for Christ. But being a fool in our own eyes is not what being a fool for Christ is in his own eyes-each call is so different and takes courage of Christ to follow it despite the desire to be familiar with the world. I think and believe that St. Peter and the Apostles had to learn also as Christ said "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now." Even on the eve of his Passion his disciples arrogantly thought they could follow Christ to where he was going: "I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be shattered." I know one thing is its not being praised by others as being a fool for Christ. It is absolutely other worldy and a total detachment from all the worlds ideas-while expressing Christ Charity for everthing and everyone, yet holding your salvation in your humble hand seekin his infintei mercy and forgiveness. The best response I have seen is the Gospels , and there I'm sure others for yoursleves, is the Apostle's response "Lord, I do believe , help thou my unbelief."

We see sparks of this call in the Gospels" the call of the Apostles, Matthew, James and Peter, Mary Magdala, Mary, the Mother of Jesus ("Blessed rather are those who hear my words and put them into practice"), Martha and Mary. There is a bit of foolishness-for-Christ in each of them in leaving everything and following the Lord and Master of the Universe- Yet, he wasn't going to be a political leader, there was no power in his words other than the power of the call to conversion and freeodm to live but for Him and Him only and eternally. Lastly, at the Lake after his Crucifixion on the Lake when they were in the boat fishing. Peter stripped himself, jumped int eh water and overjoyed swam to meet his Maker, "It is the Lord."


Eternal Peace of Our Lord

[Clinton R. LeFort]

how exactly does one do this or start to become a fool for christ?


Dear Brothers and Sisters!


What music this must sing to Our Lord when he hears with his infinite holiness in the inner recesses of a person's soul that he wants to become a fool for Christ. But being a fool in our own eyes is not what being a fool for Christ is in his own eyes-each call is so different and takes courage of Christ to follow it despite the desire to be familiar with the world. I think and believe that St. Peter and the Apostles had to learn also as Christ said "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now." Even on the eve of his Passion his disciples arrogantly thought they could follow Christ to where he was going: "I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be shattered." I know one thing is its not being praised by others as being a fool for Christ. It is absolutely other worldy and a total detachment from all the worlds ideas-while expressing Christ Charity for everthing and everyone, yet holding your salvation in your humble hand seekin his infintei mercy and forgiveness. The best response I have seen is the Gospels , and there I'm sure others for yoursleves, is the Apostle's response "Lord, I do believe , help thou my unbelief."

We see sparks of this call in the Gospels" the call of the Apostles, Matthew, James and Peter, Mary Magdala, Mary, the Mother of Jesus ("Blessed rather are those who hear my words and put them into practice"), Martha and Mary. There is a bit of foolishness-for-Christ in each of them in leaving everything and following the Lord and Master of the Universe- Yet, he wasn't going to be a political leader, there was no power in his words other than the power of the call to conversion and freeodm to live but for Him and Him only and eternally. Lastly, at the Lake after his Crucifixion on the Lake when they were in the boat fishing. Peter stripped himself, jumped int eh water and overjoyed swam to meet his Maker, "It is the Lord."
I also think of Hesychios the Priest,Symeon the New Theologian, Maximos the Confessor, the cavedwellers and Desert fathers, the rejected of society who were given the call by Christ. The eternal value over the temporal values of the world. Perhaps the Kingdom of Heaven are just all fools for Christ. Yes, fools to the world, but in being for Christ as St. Paul said: "what the world calls foolish the Lord has chosen to confound the world."

BUT IT IS NEVER SIN NOR REJECTING THE CALL TO VIRTUE NOR SUBMITTING TO LAWLESSNESS AND ALL THA TDISPLEASES GOD as our much of our present society-I'm also speaking of myself- has become so accustomed to.


Eternal Peace of Our Lord

[Jonathan Turton]

I appreciate this information about St. Feofil. I discovered this site while searching for his sayings! However, I saw one opinion repeated in this thread that troubled me enough to make me sign up and get my own poster's account!
All of us are called to think soberly according to the measure of our faith (Romans 12:3). Following after Christ will transform us daily into His likeness, from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18), and will draw us further away from what is deemed normal, acceptable, and even comprehensible by this evil and ignorant world, which is an enemy of God (James 4:4).

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

If this is intimidating, you can be sure it is true, because Christ warned us about the cost of following Him, and that we should consider seriously, beforehand, whether we are really willing to commit what is required.

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" -Luke 14:28.

So, to a lesser or greater degree, becoming foolish in the eyes of the world for the sake of Christ is not a special calling at all, but an inevitable consequence of living the true Christian life. I say to a greater or lesser degree because a different degree of faith is given to different people, and this will dictate different levels of obedience, which will result in different degrees of transformation in the eyes of God and the world.

God bless you.

[John Mitchell]

how exactly does one do this or start to become a fool for christ?

I remember reading of one in Constatntinople, There was an emperor who was particularly unapproachable, Yet a a well known Fool For Chirst(who was born feeble minded) got away with shouting out criticisms of the emperor in front of everyone in the Hagia Sophia

[Clinton R. LeFort]

how exactly does one do this or start to become a fool for christ?

Dear Friends in Christ,
May His Holy Passion be adored eternally,

I've heard this term before thru the years as I have struggled to follow Christ. I have made many attempts and some have failed, while I thought others were acceptable to the Lord. In the end, though, it mattered not. What mattered was and still continue to seek Christ with my all my sincerest self.

The "fool for Christ" presents as much a Mystery to me as Christ himself is a mystery. First, I sense that being a fool is not foolish, but as St. Paul, once experienced and said, "grace impels me." Sometimes we may find ourselves following the Holy Spirit's lead, which may seem a humiliation for ourselves before others, but may bring God glory. WHen I think that Christ, hung on the Cross for us, that seemed to be a very great humilation, but it won our salvation. Before the eyes fo the world, it was very foolish, to be traded for a robber like Barabbas, but Christ expressed his love for humanity that way. Maybe there is no one answer to this thread, but I believe that each of us, as others have indicated, are called to be faithful, whether the world or others in the Church or outside of the Churches see us as "fools for Christ." After all, it may be a source of pride for some to be regarded as such.

That aside, I cannot read the life of Fr. Joseph the Hesychast or read his letters and not sense that he knew what it was like to be Christ's fool. What a blessed condition. Others:

St. Anthony of the Desert
St Arsenios
St Basil the Great
St. John Chrysostom,

"Let the Little children come to me."

[Misha]

I know a young lady,well educated and artist.
She trusts God's care almost as holy fools did even when she has nothing but a few euros in her pocket.
Her stories could be part of a contemporary gerontikon.

[Father David Moser]

No one, I think, sets out to become a fool for Christ. Some are called to this and take on this burden as an obedience for their own salvation and for that of others. In reading the lives of the fools for Christ, it is clear that the one thing they are not is a fool. They may behave in foolish ways but they are clear minded and focused entirely upon their life of prayer. Many times we read of the fool for Christ who would "act out" during the day and then withdraw and spend the entire night in prayer.

Do not set out to become a fool - if anything set out to pray without ceasing and live the life that God gives you to live.

Fr David Moser

[Andreas]

today in the greek orthodox church we celebrate saint alexios the man of god after hearing his life on the radio today i thought of this post i hope this is relevant

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This saint came from elder Rome and was the only-child of noble and rich parents (his father was Patrician Euphemianos and his mother was Aglais). He lived during the reign of Theodosios the great in 380. When he got married and the bridal chamber had been prepared, the bridegroom had to sleep with the bride. However, the saint gave the bride a ring, wished her all the best, departed from the house of his father secretly and went to Edessa. He remained in the church there for eighteen years dressed in poor and mended clothes and receiving his food from the mercy of the Christians. Because his virtue could not be always kept secret and because many people came to him often and disturbed him, he departed thence. He wished to go to Tarsus of Cilicia and stay in Apostle Pauls church but, because of contrary winds, the ship drifted to another place. So, he returned to Rome again and came to his fathers house unrecognisable. He sat at the door and spent the rest of his life there. He used to be laughed at and mocked by his servants. He also suffered all these things which a foreigner, who has no right to speak, naturally suffers from pleasure-loving and disorderly men. When he was about to die, he asked for a piece of paper and wrote down who he was and by which parents he was born. The saint kept this piece of paper on him even after he died and until God revealed to emperor Honorius all about him. The emperor went to the saints holy relics and, after praying to him a lot, even though he was dead, he received the paper and read it for everybody to hear. Then, all who heard were astonished and the saints holy relics were buried with honour and grandeur in the church of the first of the Apostles Peter. St. Alexios relics have always been pouring out sweet-smelling myrrh and have cured various diseases from which those who approached them with faith suffered.

[Vasiliki D.]

today in the greek orthodox church we celebrate saint alexios the man of god after hearing his life on the radio today i thought of this post i hope this is relevant

I had the good fortune to venerate his relics in a beautiful monastery found in the Peloponnese of Greece; I believe that it was his entire right hip bone from memory ... when the nun brough him out from the Holy Alter she opened up the relic box so I could venerate and the entire church filled with the most mystical and beautiful and STRONG fragrance I have ever come across in orthodoxy; the only other time this has happened is the myrrh streaming icon of the Virgin Mary in Andros ... but again, the fragrances were different. It was a very moving experience to meet him - I remember taking notice of what was written on his scroll (on the icon) "Pothos Theou esvise Pothon Goneon" which translates roughly to "Passion for God has wiped out passion for parents". This statement has stuck with me ever since I have read it.

I have wondered why of all statements that could have been on the scroll this particular one was drawn from his life ...

[Herman Blaydoe]

Here (http://www.oodegr.com/english/psyxotherap/crazy_john3.htm) is a very interesting and hopefully edifying story about a modern Fool for Christ who lived in a remote neighborhood of Athens, Greece.

[Alice]

Dear Herman,

WOW...thank you for that story of a contemporary 'fool for Christ'!

In Christ,
Alice

[Paul Cowan]

Yes, thank you indeed Herman. But he never read the letter!!!

It must truly take a special person to be a Holy Fool. I cannot even drag myself from my own house to ask my very friendly neighbors if they need anything.

[Nina]

Another story of a modern day fool for Christ:

Stella: God's Little Sparrow (http://www.oodegr.com/english/psyxotherap/Godsparrow.htm)

[Paul Cowan]

Another story of a modern day fool for Christ:

Stella: God's Little Sparrow (http://www.oodegr.com/english/psyxotherap/Godsparrow.htm)

Glory to God for all things especially His sparrows.

[Ilaria]

Here (http://www.oodegr.com/english/psyxotherap/crazy_john3.htm) is a very interesting and hopefully edifying story about a modern Fool for Christ who lived in a remote neighborhood of Athens, Greece.

Thank you, Herman. I have read and got so impressed, that I've decided to translate it in Romanian, with God help. However I have not noticed any information about his living, when did he live and when he passed to God, approximately?

[Julia Hayes]

Thank you, Herman. I have read and got so impressed, that I've decided to translate it in Romanian, with God help. However I have not noticed any information about his living, when did he live and when he passed to God, approximately?

I have read the book about him in Greek and it purposefully makes no mention of where and when exactly he lived, because his life is tied up with those of the people who live there and knew him and the book gives a lot of detail on their personal lives. The book which was published this year is already in its second printing and has naturally raised a great deal of curiosity about him and where he lived. He obviously lived fairly recently. He lived in a neighbourhood in Athens, that could have been anywhere in Athens.

[Vasiliki D.]

An elder said:

"Either keep away from people or (if you stay in the world) try to mock the world and the people, pretending in many ways to be foolish and silly in order to avoid their praises." (PG 65, 440 C)

----
"Conceit has three awful thorns. The moment it is overcome from all sides, at the same time it raises its thorns upright!" - the more you try to avoid conceit the more easily it threatens you ... the moment you chase it you feel it chasing you ... Saint Maximos the Confessor says, "If you achieve a virtue and in so doing you allow the demons to go after you because they easily lure you to conceit and vanity due to your spiritual achievement, then, you had better give way and stop this effort which seems to be more spiritual to you, so as not to pride yourself. Try to pursue another humbler virtue, until you reach the bottom of dispassion where no demon can approach you any longer." In other words: Pursue a humble (devoid of conceit) virtue!

Which virtue can be free of conceit?

Which virtue is completely exempt from any hidden and unnoticed feelings of self-assertion and pride due to spiritual achievements?

The answer is only one, foolishness in Christ!

[Vasiliki D.]

Following, from my previous post, how then does a fool for Christ end up as a fool?

HUMILIATION.

"When the foolish behaviour provokes men to despise you, mock you and even humiliate you, to laugh with your absurdities or to treat you aggresively with disdain for your peculiar and irritating manners, then you reach the depths of humiliation ...

This is experienced as a refuge to a virtue void of conceit, a charismatic self-contempt and self-refusal." Ioannis Kornarakis.

[Vasiliki D.]

"I told a holy elder, 'Father, a thought came to me that every Sunday, early in the morning, I should sit outside the church and eat my food so that people, going in the church or coming out, will humble and mock me'.

The elder answered, 'It is written that whoever scandalizes laymen, he will not see the light of God's Kingdom. In this country you are unknown. People will thank that monks eat and drink from early in the morning and do not have good thoughts. Moreover, some of them who trust in monastic life and manners and benefit fro it, when they see this behaviour will be harmed.'

The ancient fathers acted foolishly because they performed miracles through which men honoured them for being holy. They behaved in such a way in order to be dishonoured, to cover the spiritual brightness of their life and even to avoid the causes of pride and conceit.

What is that which forces you to imitate them?

This way of life does not benefit everyone spiritually, except the perfect ones and those who have reached high spiritual levels. Whoever tries to struggle beyond his spiritual abilities, doubly harms himself and does not earn anything. In every spiritual calling, there is a certain order and in every practice there is a certain time of spiritual benefit."

---
... St Isaak the Syrian, Speech 76, Ioannis Spetseris, p. 296.

[Paul Cowan]

Following, from my previous post, how then does a fool for Christ end up as a fool?

HUMILIATION.

"When the foolish behaviour provokes men to despise you, mock you and even humiliate you, to laugh with your absurdities or to treat you aggresively with disdain for your peculiar and irritating manners, then you reach the depths of humiliation ...

This is experienced as a refuge to a virtue void of conceit, a charismatic self-contempt and self-refusal." Ioannis Kornarakis.

Humility or humiliation? Big difference between the two. I can be humbled through being humiliated. But even saying I am THE Worst of Sinners can lead people to false humility or even prideful of their humility. So I don't know there is any virtue free of pride or conceit. To say I am more sinful than another is a way to maintain my personal humbleness; taken to extreme, it can lead to arrogance. And yes, I am this also.

Paul

[Alice]

This way of life does not benefit everyone spiritually, except the perfect ones and those who have reached high spiritual levels. Whoever tries to struggle beyond his spiritual abilities, doubly harms himself and does not earn anything. In every spiritual calling, there is a certain order and in every practice there is a certain time of spiritual benefit."



My beloved saint, the blessed fool for Christ, St. Xenia of Petersburg comes to mind. A normal young woman of high societal class, married to the love of her life, only to lose him to a premature death after a heavy night of drinking at a party of his court regimen... She then left her beautiful home to her best friend, disappeared for a few years, (not much is known of her whereabouts at that time, but it is believed that atleast some years were spent with monastics), and then after those absent years of obvious great spiritual growth and theosis, she *then* returned back to the streets of St. Petersburg as a fool for Christ, dressed in her husband's uniform and insisting on being called by his name, doing penance for his soul in his place.

Whilst being mocked and thought of as crazy, she blessed the poorest of the poor with her love, her help and her prayers, and as she continued to grow in saintliness, her intercessory miracles were bestowed upon both the poor and the rich. and those of every station and occupation of life. Her compassion was great for the sorrows and despairs experienced by all her fellow country men of St. Petersburg.

So my point to Vasiliki's post and quote is that indeed, as this example shows, one cannot just turn around and decide to become a 'fool for Christ'. It obviously took tremendous steps of holiness and years of complete dedication to prayer for blessed St. Xenia to transform herself from an average young lady, with a house, a social status and life, and friends, to becoming a homeless, wandering, fool for Christ living on the streets in horrific circumstances depending on the warmth of Christ for all human sustenance...just like a desert ascete lives in extreme heat, but her desert were the frigid temparatures of St. Petersburg.

She became a fool for Christ to deliver the soul of her beloved to God, since he died without the opportunity for repentance, by offering her whole existence to the service of others while taking on his persona and completely emptying herself of her own...In a way, if you think about it, this is the *ultimate, selfless love story*...emphasizing the Orthodox belief of the efficacy of prayer and almsgiving on behalf of a loved one's soul.

Pious tradition since that time has it, that at the end of her wandering and selfless life, God revealed to her that her beloved husband, Colonel Andrei's soul had been delivered from his unrepentant state... :-)
Pious tradition also has it that, before her sanctification, when one offered a memorial prayer for Colonel Andrei, and prayed to St. Xenia, that their prayer was answered. :-)

What a beautiful love story, indeed!

Alice

[Vasiliki D.]

Humility or humiliation? Big difference between the two. I can be humbled through being humiliated. But even saying I am THE Worst of Sinners can lead people to false humility or even prideful of their humility. So I don't know there is any virtue free of pride or conceit. To say I am more sinful than another is a way to maintain my personal humbleness; taken to extreme, it can lead to arrogance. And yes, I am this also.

Paul

Dear Paul, there are different roads that lead us all to repentance and sanctification, yes, we who are not called to be FFC, must struggle daily on the common road all Orthodox are travelling along ...

However, the road of the FFC IS very different and very few go down this path of deification (which is what this thread is about); the key virtue is that they overcome conceit/pride through voluntary humiliation ... it is interesting that this is humility born about through humiliation and is the only kind of virtue (FFC) that does conquer pride ... the ultimate example of humility through humiliation is Christ voluntarily submitting to be crucified ... in other words, voluntary humiliation is "putting on Christ" thus "putting on humility" since Christ IS humility ... not all are called to this blessed state of life.

As a side comment, the following passage in Wounded By Love, opened up in front of me. I am glad to share:

"We must go on our own to God in simplicity and artlessness of heart"

When we have a relationship of absolute trust with Christ, we are happy and joyful. We possess the joy of Paradise. This is the secret. Then we can exclaim with Saint Paul, 'For me to live is Christ and to die is gain and, It is no longer I who live; Christ lives in me.'(Phil 1:21).

Such marvellous words! Delightful!
All things must be done simply and gently.

'Be mindful of the Lord in goodness and seek Him in simplicity of heart; for He is found with those who do not tempt Him, and appears to those who are not unfaithful to Him.'(Wisd 1:1-2)

Simplicity is holy humility, that is, absolute trust in Christ, when we give our whole life to Christ.

... I asked a Bishop who came to see me:

- What is meant by praying ïn simplicity of heart and artlessness?"

- Praying with simplicity, he replied.

-And do you understand what that means, Your Eminence, I said.

- Yes, I do, he responded.

- Well, I dont, I said. It is a mystery ... it is something that happens only with divine grace.

So, that is how you should engage in your spiritual struggle: simply, gently and without force. Simpliocity and gentleness are a very saintly mode of spiritual life but you cannot learn this in an external way. It must suffuse itself mystically within you, so that your soul embraces this mode of life through the grace of God. But very often, in spite of our desire to acquire this simplicity, olur enemy recognises the fact and impedes us. When you desire something and try to force God, it doesnt come. It will come on a day when you do not expect and at an hour you do not know. This is where the mystery lies. I cant explain it to you...

[Nina]

Pious tradition since that time has it, that at the end of her wandering and selfless life, God revealed to her that her beloved husband, Colonel Andrei's soul had been delivered from his unrepentant state... :-)
Pious tradition also has it that, before her sanctification, when one offered a memorial prayer for Colonel Andrei, and prayed to St. Xenia, that their prayer was answered. :-)

What a beautiful love story, indeed!

Alice

Wow! I did not know this. Thank you.