True face of monasticism

[Theopesta]

http://www.pelagia.org/htm/b01.en.a_night_in_the_desert_of_the_holy_mountain. 01.htm#si

The silence of the monks is edifying

The silent figures of the monks, the caves of the hermits, the monasteries permeated with an atmosphere of compunction, nature itself and inanimate objects as well, will tell many stories and transmit wonderful teachings. It is in this way that the Holy Mountain speaks "in silence".

According to St. Symeon the New Theologian, "the silence of the lips, the closing of the eyes, and the deafness of the ears are for beginners in spiritual life the quick way to acquire virtue".

pray for me
IN ONE CHRIST
theopesta

[Theopesta]

http://www.pelagia.org/htm/b16.en.saint_gregory_palamas_as_a_hagiorite.05.htm #s13f

The purpose of withdrawal:

Withdrawal from the world is not out of self love and timidity about taking up worldly responsibilities, but from a holy desire for a heart purified of passions. Men withdraw from the world in order to remove themselves from what incites the passions, for through that comes the death which separates them from God. Death enters "through the doors in us, that is to say the passions". It was through these doors that Adam also died. Eve in Paradise "saw, suffered passion, ate, died, attracted the man, shared with him the tasting and the fall". The monks try to avoid that death, which comes from all the passions and allurements which exist in the world

When the Hagiorite's life is not in keeping with the evangelical and monastic life, he defiles the Holy Mountain. He himself practically loses the possibility of becoming a saint. So it is not a matter of living in a place, but of a way of life

pray for me
in ONE CHRIST
theopesta

[Atanasios]

Dear Theopesta,

Thank you for your sharing. It is refreshing to hear from other monastic souls who seek to embrace our Holy life in poverty and humility.

What a wonderful priveledge to be moved by the Spirit of God, to desire only a simple and quiet life- for the Church, the world; ... for Souls.

All Blessings
+Atanasios

[Theopesta]

our father Atanasios

I will be blessed with reading more about the true face of monasticism from pure practical experience of patristic writings from the blessed monks

theopesta

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

I would like to add to this worthy discussion, utilizing the words of my Spiritual Grandfather, Saint Silouan the Athonite (+1938), Spiritual Father of my Spiritual Father, Archimandrite Sophrony (+1993):

"The monk is someone who prays for the whole world, who weeps for the whole world; and in this lies his main work.

But who is it constrains him to weep for the whole world?

The Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, incites him. He gives the monk the love of the Holy Spirit, and by virtue of this love the monk's heart forever sorrows over the people because not all men are saved...And this is why neither pastors of the Church nor monks should busy themselves with secular matters but should seek to be like the Mother of God, who in the Temple, in the 'Holy of Holies', day and night pondered the law of the Lord and continued in prayer for the people...But if a monk be lukewarm and indifferent, and has not arrived at a state wherein his soul continually contemplates the Lord, then let him wait upon pilgrim travellers and assist with his labours those who live in the world. This, too, is pleasing to God. But rest assured that is not the monastic life by a long way'.

And Father Sophrony to us one day at trapeza: "If you do not weep every night for the people, you are not a monk.'

Difficult words, for monks and nuns, crucifying words. Despite our weakness we struggle on.

[Leandros Papadopoulos]

St Gregory Palamas, writes in his work “three chapters about prayer and cleanness of heart”:

“The uniform of mind (nous) becomes three folded, remaining unified, by the turn of mind in itself and by climbing, through itself, up to God. The turn of the mind in itself is the protection of its self, while the climbing up to God is initially accomplished by prayer, in a condensed form, even though sometimes the prayer becomes more extensive, which makes it more hard . If then, one remains in this compression of mind and elevation to God, with patience, blocking, with great effort, the inclination of the mind to move towards many other things, this person, approaches God neoticaly(in an incorporeal way) and accomplishes the unutterable and taste the future age and in an incorporeal sense takes experience that the Lord is Good, as the psalmist says: “taste and see that the LORD is good” (psalm 33,9) (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2034:8;&version=50;).

When a person experiences his mind three folded, yet unified, by restraining and maintaining the mind in the heart, then he becomes at the same time himself alone the man who guards, the man who is being guarded and the man who prays while being safeguarded. The actualization of these three energies actualized at once, in unification, is presumably an easy work to be accomplished, but it is extremely difficult to stay in this condition for long time, in a permanent way. Those, who accomplish this unification unfailingly, with endurance, arrive in inexpressible and mystic status. Therefore any other labour required to arrive in other virtues is small, compared to this one.”

May God bless us,all.

[Theopesta]

1st: about turn the mind to itself
www.monachos.net/patristics/basil/epistle2 (http://www.monachos.net/patristics/basil/epistle2)

the soul's deadly foes, are better brought under the control of reason, after being calmed by inaction, and where there is no continuous stimulation

nourish the soul with divine thoughts

Quiet,.. is the first step in our sanctification; the tongue

devotes all its energies to the acquisition of the good things which are eternal

Thus the mind, saved from dissipation from without, and not through the senses thrown upon the world, falls back upon itself, and thereby ascends to the contemplation of God.

2nd our father Seraphim Black: if you find time please write the name and ISBN of the most useful book of st.siloan which contain all his sayings also, the same for st. safrony

3rd Brother leandros: please where can I find the complete text of the volume that contain “three chapters about prayer and cleanness of heart" if not online can you please write ISBN

many thanks
in one christ
theopesta

[Leandros Papadopoulos]

Sister theopesta,

"Philokalia" is a 5 volume/books compilation of documents of Church Fathers that St Nikodimos from Mount Athos collected from several sources and then published them, indexed by their original writers.

The "three chapters about prayer and cleanness of heart" from St Gregory Palamas is included in the 4th volume/book of Philokalia. This specific work of St Gregory is only two and a half pages long, and since you find it interesting I will try to interpret it in English and submitted in this thread, for everyone to read, if God permits.

I have the Greek version, but from the contents of the English version I see that they are identical.

You can find information on the 4th volume in Amazon bookstore (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/057119382X/ref=sib_rdr_dp/104-8148479-4497525?%5Fencoding=UTF8&no=283155&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&st=books). In this web page (http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/057119382X/ref=sib_rdr_toc/104-8148479-4497525?%5Fencoding=UTF8&p=S006&j=0#reader-page) you can also find the table of contents and example pages from the book.

---

ISBN: 057119382X

TITLE: The Philokalia, Volume 4 : The Complete Text; Compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain & St. Markarios of Corinth

Paperback: 340 pages

Publisher: Faber & Faber

[nurse-aid]

Only IF you do something REAL...you don't even notice of it...then it is REAL...like breathing or sleeping... you cannot explain yourself WHEN you sleep, or HOW you breath...you simply DO IT! and then someone ealse maybe watching you...and esxpalin how you look when you sleep, or wachting your barin wile you sleep...no one teah us HOW to breath...so no one can teach us HOW to PRAY! you must simply start doing this! just DO! HE is in every single breath, you never alone, how can you do not feel it...how can you do not smell it, how you cannot touch it..IT IS THAT AIR which you breath...and when you breath it must be your prayer..if you know with all your being that you not alone...

[nurse-aid]

and what is the prayer,it is constant connection, wireless communucation or simply constant busy line for any other calls from outside, then your own inside yourself listening those of HIS messages...every our thought or deeds have an acho...and when we did we hear it...and when we hear it...we know how it is songs like...so don't foool anayone saying that you don't know what you did wrong or right...this echo is reflection of what we did in HIS WILL...which agaig we know...and it maybe start with simple bad and good, but child/we are grow up and can hear more...and HE will tell you more in time...alone with your growing in HIM!

[nurse-aid]

so prayer IS NOT some kind of active energetic, with warming up own blood action...but rather opposit calming down to the quiest possible level of all sences...let it go and do not esxept any calls from outside itslef....in order to hear HIM...tiny voice, becuse it is all covered by noise from outside and inside too...so the active act in this situation IS only our motive to tottaly let go all enegry we have...and the we'll be able to hear...and then it is become that prayer inside us...HIMSELF whpo is praying...and nothing more beatiful then that...

BUT no one can teach this...it must be desire first and only HE can teach you after you have that desire...

HE is private trainer and HE works one on one...It is not group lesson what HE gave us...and HE knows evryone and what each of us need...

just sit home/yourself alone, shut all blinds of your sences, tv and light and music of your worries...stave and thirst in the fast of your desire to see OASIS is the desert of own soul...and prepare to die in emptiness of own worthless...and then from the last moment of your life as you think...HE will start pray inside you....

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

I am very moved by these posts: however the Fathers and Mothers of former times are the base and form of our tradition. Would anyone be willing to speak of their own spiritual warfare? I have some things to say from the current monks and nuns I have met.

[Atanasios]

Dear Father Seraphim,

I have been looking for some time, for other souls who would be interested in sharing our own current spiritual lives; ... hopefully for encouragement, support, - generally "coming alongside" one another in friendship along our common road.

Looking forward to corresponding with you.

Peace and all Blessing,
+Atanasios, sinner

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

dear nurse-aid,

forgive me, but I could not disagree with you more.

[Tim Grass]

Dear Seraphim... that seems like a pretty unhelpful comment, if you're not going to say why.

--tim

[Trudy]

Dear Nurse-Aid,

What you've written seems more like opening oneself up to potential danger or evil.

Prayer is not something that just comes. It is something to be taught and be learned from those who know how to pray effectively. It is not man's device given to man but God's device give to man which was taught to us by Christ Himself when He said, "When you pray, pray this way...Our Father who are in heaven..." etc. (Loose paraphrase mine.) Yes it is communication with God. Yes we must be silent and listen for Him as I do agree He comes in a whisper. He did to Elijah.

Perhaps I've misunderstood what you were trying to express. It was difficult to understand the sentences. Forgive me.

Athanasia

[nurse-aid]

as you wish dear, we are all understands of how we are able to, only...

[Theopesta]

forgive me all
I am not search about speaking in own experiance or searching about box not more

the monastic lfe as I know is the most practical life but on the base of the patristic experiance only which make the monk grow forward

also the monk is the most one in need to feed on lawful sound box about the prayer and melt in their experiance

speaking about the own experiance is the protostantic spiritual way which differ fromthe orthodox

what I write in the privious messages and what I ask about is from and about the fathers

also somtimes the geronda i.e the old monks or old pious laity have blessed experience through the fathers ways

forgive me all my aim when I write and ask to learn or disciple and to collect the most more patristic texts in a certain thing

the most one become in danger of speaking publicaly about his own live is the monk
if I have any error welcome whith any correction

in one christ

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

Dear Tim,

Please forgive my brief note. It is very late here. After midnight...but I believe Athanasia wrote a very correct response. I admit at the moment I am very tired, thus I spoke in a few words. Athanasia, however, took the time to explain what I wanted to say.

Faithfully,
Schemamonk Seraphim

I do hope to respond in a more helpful manner tomorrow, and I thank you for your response to my poor reply.

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear friends,

I wonder if there is not a little bit of overreaction taking place here. http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/happy.gif The danger of on-line message forums is that whenever a person posts something that is perceived as being all white, another responds with something all black. It strikes me that 'Nurse-aid's' point above was as a response to some of the more 'scientific' posts on prayer and method that have been part of the discussion here of late -- a reminder that prayer is also that which the Holy Spirit works in us, even as it is that which we struggle after with our own efforts ('O Lord, teach us to pray; pray thou within us...'). People who have read her previous posts will know she's not speaking of abandoning ascetical effort or instruction.

It seems that both perspectives have to be maintained: attempts at prayer without instruction and correction lead to delusion; but belief that prayer is not the working of God himself in the human heart is demonic.

INXC, Matthew

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

Dear Matthew,

Thank you for your post, as a monk I agree with Nun Theopesta. Certainly, to speak of oneself is pride. My own Spiritual Father always spoke in the third person - (except in Confession), my post, indeed my posting is very recent - I do not know the history of this particular 'thread', and really before I open my big mouth I should.

asking everyones' forgiveness,
f. seraphim

[nurse-aid]

the pride IS to speak own exspirience but in the third person..it is lie...SIMPLE! and if our blessed Fathers never said their sermounts or writed down their own expirience...WE ARE NEVER READ IT NOW...DUH!...SO thanks be to GOD....they wasn't so shy...or so fake without pride...and JUST SPEAK UP! without thinkig of others...who is going to gave them marks!!!

[Theopesta]

please nurse-aid
for LOVE in CHRIST I am not understand any thing so, somewords and your unknown personality with all respection to your speciality may cause some need to clarification

I am always respect what you write.

some of new member feel I and you are same person
so, if you want can you clarify what you say without breaking your speciallty
any way many thanks

[Theopesta]

dear all frinds
if my english is poor enough to be not understood can any one say to me to not cause confusion on-line as I can not distinguish with my own mind
many thanks

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

I sent a personal email to Nun Theopesta to ask her if she was writing under two names, that is: theopesta and nurse-aid. She kindly replied immediately. She is not using two names.

I could be very wrong, but experience from other groups, and the fact that there is no personal information on 'nurse-aid' plus his or her use of the word 'duh' leads me, sadly, to feel that this very important topic is being underminded. If nurse-aid writes so poorly in English, yet knows the slang word 'duh' then I can only conclude that this person's intentions are false - if things continue like this, I will willingly withdraw from this topic.

[Vasilis Kirikos]

Dear Theopesta Dem, You do just fine. I think everyone understands what you write; i.e. your meaning . In Christ, Vasilis

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear all,

Someone else in this forum has recently pointed out that there have been a fair number of rather negatively-toned posts of late, and I have to say I have observed the same. Please keep in mind that specific matters of moderation (e.g. conflicts with individuals, should they arise) can either by addressed directly with the other individual involved through Private Messaging (available by clicking on a user's profile link); or can be raised with me as the moderator in private asides. There is no reason to make such things part of the public conversation of the forum.

This is a Christian forum for discussion. Silence is better than an insult. http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/happy.gif

INXC, Matthew

[Marie-Duquette]

Matthew and All forum members,

Yes, "silence is better than an insult." ... But, a Word can also be applicable, after a moment of silence. For, the Word does come from the Silence, doesn't it?

Today as I read the Orthodoxie.com site in French a phrase from St. Theodore Studite was posted exemplifying the monk/nun, or as this Thread started: "Face of Monasticism"?

As the Lord God in the Psalms consistently invites me/us to "SEEK HIS FACE" so also the monk/nun, even each Christian is thus invited to "Seek the Face of God" each day. This is a "Way of Life!" as I understand it, in all simplicity".

"Est moine celui qui n'a de regards que pour Dieu seul, de desirs que pour Dieu seul, d'application qu'a Dieu seul; et, qui, en paix avec Dieu devient cause de paix pour les autres." S. Theodore Studite

So, as far as I can understand and see, in the light of the words of St. Theodore Studite, God is to be the only focus, desire, and attention of the monk/nun/Christian ... Peace! Paix! Shalom!

marie_duquette

[Leandros Papadopoulos]

Dear Friends,

please find the attached document, which is a translation from the Greek of the work of Saint Gregory Palamas "Three Chapters About Prayer And Cleanness Of Heart".

[Theopesta]

Dear Brother Leandros:
I am in your debt for the time taken in written of this words which are golen as it is not theoretical but from experianced soul.
IN ONE CHRIST, theopesta

[Leandros Papadopoulos]

Sister theopesta dem,

you're welcome.

I found no weariness, but only joy and refreshment in this work.

On account of the prayers of St Gregory, may God bless us, all.

[katya the nurse-aid]

To love, like holding precious melting snowflake…
So tiny and so dear, so helpless and so fearless free…
Be melted and become so precious we…
Become that drop of water in the hand,
become observed or drink…
For purposes of serving loving call,
Or serve, itself for who we love, not from the knee…
And I’m holding snowflake and I’m fear
For her to die so quick, but what she did her own way of love,
No other way, no fear and no more words forgive…
My hands are hot and she is freeze, two opposites in One…
And this is love no meter what, when even death is price for that…
And I’m afraid to keep it close, she also fear of that,
To give me sharp and ugly pain, by own nature of the snowflake…
But what to do, and what to fear, love mighty then a death…
And I forget my fear and take it in my hand her precious ornament…
And then no meter what it brings: cold, hit or melt,
My hand and snowflake become ONE…Eternal Ornament!

[Theopesta]

about st. Antony: Fr.Georges Florovsky: the byzantine ascetic and spritual fathers, chapter 3: link www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english (http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english)

The ideal of of ascetic quest is to progress without jealousy of others and without provoking jealousy in others. This ideal is clearly portrayed in the Vita Antonii. “And this he did so as to hurt the feelings of nobody, but made them rejoice over him. So all they of that village and the good men in whose intimacy he was, when they saw that he was a man of this sort, used to call him Beloved of God. And some welcomed him as a son, others as a brother.”

The entire purpose of this stricter form of asceticism is to weaken the body to implement the words of St. Paul [II Corinthians 12:10]: “when I am weak, then I am strong, Antony said that “the fiber of the soul is then sound when the pleasures of the body are diminished.”

both Antony is “working” and God is “working"

[Theopesta]

the true monk pursues carfully and continually every moment in his live to incubate and embrace the sweat example of CHRIST in the incarnation period: As many shall be amazed at thee, so shall thy face be without glory from men, and thy glory shall not be honoured by the sons of men.

as a root in a thirsty land: he has no form nor comeliness; and we saw him, but he had no form nor beauty. He shall be called a Nazarene wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

[Theopesta]

from VITA ANTONI www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/vita-antony.html (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/vita-antony.html)

1. he did not trouble his parents for varied or luxurious fare, nor was this a source of pleasure to him; but was content simply with what he found nor sought anything further.

3. taking heed to himself and training himself with patience he confirmed his purpose not to return to the abode of his fathers nor to the remembrance of his kinsfolk; but to keep all his desire and energy for perfecting his discipline

4. He subjected himself in sincerity to the good men whom he visited, and learned thoroughly where each surpassed him in zeal and discipline

With others of the same age he had no rivalry; save this only, that he should not be second to them in higher things. And this he did so as to hurt the feelings of nobody, but made them rejoice over him

5. But the devil,...First of all tried to lead him away from the discipline, ... In a word he raised in his mind a great dust of debate, wishing to debar him from his settled purpose. But when the enemy saw himself to be too weak for Antony's determination, and that he rather was conquered by the other's firmness, overthrown by his great faith and falling through his constant prayers he the devil)attacked the young man, disturbing him by night and harassing him by day But Antony, his mind filled with Christ and the nobility inspired by Him, and considering the spirituality of the soul, quenched the coal of the other's deceit.

For he (the divil), deeming himself like God, was now mocked by a young man; and he who boasted himself against flesh and blood was being put to flight by a man in the flesh. For the Lord was working with Antony--the Lord who for our sake took flesh and gave the body victory over the devil, so that all who truly fight can say ' not I but the grace of God which was with me.'

7. Antony therefore planned to accustom himself to a severer mode of life. And many marvelled, but he himself used to bear the labour easily; for the eagerness of soul, through the length of time it had abode in him, had wrought a good habit in him (Antony)saying it behoved young men to be earnest in training and not to seek what would enervate the body; but they must accustom it to labour, mindful of the Apostle's words, ' when I am weak, then am I strong.' 'For,' said he, 'the fibre of the soul is then sound when the pleasures of the body are diminished

Dear all venerable members: according to the coptic calender St. Antony's repose in 22 Touba, i.e. 31 January in civil calender IN ONE CHRIST

[Theopesta]

He [Antony] at least gave no thought to the past, but day by day, as if he were at the beginning of his discipline, applied greater pares for advancement, often repeating to himself the saying of Paul:
'Forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before.

but daily as though ever commencing he eagerly endeavoured to make himself fit to appear before God, being pure in heart and ever ready to submit to His counsel, and to Him alone

[Theopesta]

Dear venerable memebers: Today in the coptic calender is the Circumcision of Jesus Christ and the memory of the repose of St. Basil the Great (mega) this paragraph from his letter no.xxii\ vol.xxxi of The Early Chuch Fathers:

On the Perfection of the Life of Solitaries.

The Christian ought to be patient,whatever he have to suffer, and to convict the wrong-doer in season,not with the desire of his own vindication, but of his brother's reformation,according to the commandment of the Lord. The Christian ought not to say anything behind his brother's back with the object of calumniating him, for this is slander, even if what is said is true. He ought to turn away from the brother who speaks evil against him.

He who shows another to be wrong ought to do so with all tenderness,in the fear of God, and with the object of converting the sinner

IN ONE CHRIST, Theopesta

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Dear Thepesta Dem,

For us also today is the feast of the Circumcision of our Lord and of St Basil the Great. On this day we also serve the Liturgy of St Basil the Great.

It's interesting that we celebrate these on the same days. I wonder how many other feasts- especially saints' feast days- we also celebrate together.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Theopesta]

our venerable father Raphael: this day also is the mamory of the ascent of Elijah the profet the most beloved example among prophets to the monks.

I think St. Basil have the same serious nature of Elijah as I read about his live.

the coptics will celebrate with epiphany on the next thursday 19th January
pray for me, holy feasts and litergies
IN ONE CHRIST, Theopesta

[Theopesta]

He who walketh without stain, and worketh righteousness, Who speaketh the truth in his heart"

For some have truth on their lips, and not in their heart. As if one should deceitfully point out a road...Therefore it is not enough to speak the truth, unless it be so also in heart.

St. Augustin on expostion of psalm xv

[Theopesta]

Is the solitery life chance to laziness, and to appear with external cover not reflect the true which present within monk?

can the solitery be just a beatiful life because the honour?

ARE all monk now know and sense with the importance of the solitery which build the great persons --the internal greatness which may be the normal people estimate it??

from VITA ANTONI

And so for nearly twenty years he continued training himself in solitude, never going forth, and but seldom seen by any his acquaintances came and began to cast down and wrench off the door by force,

Antony, as from a shrine, came forth initiated in the mysteries and filled with the Spirit of God.

when they saw him, wondered at the sight, for he had the same habit of body as before, and was neither fat, like a man without exercise, nor lean from fasting and striving with the demons, but he was just the same as they had known him before his retirement,
And again his soul was free from blemish, for it was neither contracted as if by grief, nor relaxed by pleasure, nor possessed by laughter or dejection, for he was not troubled when he beheld the crowd, nor overjoyed at being saluted by so many

I think the spritual eye only can differentiate between the formalist and the honest, also the trials examine the fruits of each.

[Theopesta]

from the words of The Great Antony himself:

as though making a beginning daily let us increase our earnestness. For the whole life of man is very short, measured by the ages to come, wherefore all our time is nothing compared with eternal life. And in the world everything is sold at its price, and a man exchanges one equivalent for another; but the promise of eternal life is bought for a trifle

And though we fought on earth, we shall not receive our inheritance on earth, but we have the promises in heaven; and having put off the body which is corrupt, we shall receive it incorrupt

Wherefore, children, let us not faint nor deem that the time is long, or that we are doing something great, "for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

'5b) Fidelity to the monastic vows heals the estrangement brought about by original sin'

'Monasticism is a gift of grace. When someone receives this charism, he or she becomes capable of following the example of the Lord and of emulating the angelic way of life. The "extreme humility" which Christ's Face inspires, and the unbridled desire for God which monastic life cultivates, attract divine grace towards man, freeing him from passions and making him, in the likeness of Christ, supra-cosmic...'

'i)The vow of obedience

'Obdience is the first condition for monastic life; without it, monastic life has no solid basis. Obedience is cultivated by a human ascetic effort, but also, and primarily, it develops as a gift of God. According to Fr. Sophrony, obedience is a "sacred mystery", in two senses: it is a 'secret' revealed only by the Energy of the Holy Spirit, and it is a sacrament of the Church. The life into which it elevates man is indescribable and incomprehensible.

'It is Christ who first gave us the model and example of perfect obedience. He came into the world 'in the Father's name' and not 'in His own name' [Jn. 5:43] which would have betrayed a luciferic tendency to self-divinization. He taught us that His Father's commandment is eternal life [Jn. 12:50]. He voluntarily [cf. Heb. 10:7; John 5:30] accepted this commandment and fulfilled it without sin [cf.. John 14:30-31], as we learn from the Scriptures. As only-begotten Son He was unceasingly and constantly the bearer of the good pleasure of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, in order to save us He demonstrated perfect and exact compliance to the will of His Father, obeying unto death and accepting the shame of the Cross [cf. Phil. 2:8; Heb. 12:2]. But the righteous God did not let His holy Child Jesus 'see corruption' [Acts 2:27]. He raised Him and exalted Him to be a Prince and Saviour of the world [Acts 3:15, 5:31; Heb. 2:10]. By His obedience Christ, the New Adam, initiated a new law of life and became the healthy root ot the 'new humanity' [cf. Eph. 2:15, 4:24].

'When the monk fulfills his obedience, he is imitating Christ. He sets himself on the path of the Lord's will...'

Archimandrite Zacharias, CHRIST, OUR WAY AND OUR LIFE, A Presentation of the Theology of Archimandrite Sophrony, St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, pgs. 132-134.