eastern church fathers

Evagrios the Solitary

St Evagrios, On Asceticism and Stillness in the Solitary Life

Bruce Strom 5

Evagrios begins by quoting Jeremiah, “You shall not take a wife in this place.”  The primary meaning of this verse is advice not to bear sons and daughters in time of war and troubles, but Evagrios interprets this allegorically, that we should not bear worldly thoughts and desires in our heart.  These worldly thoughts and desires are weak and sickly and lead to death, and “have no place in heavenly life.” […]

Early Church Writing

Life of St Anthony, Blog 2, Living a monastic life

Bruce Strom 2

St Anthony compares those who follow evil spirits to those who follow Christ.  Those who follow the evil spirits show “tumult and confusion of thought, defection, hatred towards them who live a life of discipline, indifference, grief, fear of death, and disregard virtue.”  But those who follow Christ have “joy unspeakable, cheerfulness, courage, renewed strength, calmness of thought, and boldness and love toward God.” […]

Early Church Writing

Life of St Anthony, Blog 1, Sell all you have and give to the poor

Bruce Strom 1

One day St Anthony went into church as this Gospel verse was being read:
Jesus said, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

Anthony perceived that this verse was directed at him, so he IMMEDIATELY gave the family land, his inheritance, and his other possessions to the poor, leaving some money for his younger sister.

Anthony was able to do this because his parents had departed.  His younger sister was put in a convent to be raised, and we can surmise the convent was where she wanted to go, because if this was not the best place for her Anthony would have taken another path.  No degree on saintliness on his part would have been worth the price of her unhappiness and her soul.

Immediately is a word you see quite often in the first Gospel of Mark.  When should you repent and live a godly life?  When should you start caring for your neighbor?  When should you follow the way of the Lord?  IMMEDIATELY. […]

Morality

Introduction to the Philokalia, the Love of the Beautiful

Bruce Strom 2

When the Russian pilgrim in the spiritual classic, “The Way of a Pilgrim,” hears the Scriptures being read that exhorts us to pray without ceasing.  He asks a monk in a monastery how he can pray without ceasing, and the simple answer is he can start on his path by each day praying more.  He selling all he has, giving it to the poor, to embark on a spiritual pilgrimage, trudging through the forests of Siberia.  His only possessions in his travel bag are the Holy Scriptures and the Philokalia, the treasured writings of the early Greek Church Fathers. […]