“If the words of God are uttered merely as verbal expressions, and their message is not rooted in the virtuous way of life of those who utter them, they will not be heard. But if they are uttered through the practice of the commandments, their sound has such power that they dissolve the demons and dispose men eagerly to build their hearts into temples of God through making progress in works of righteousness.” IfsMenWayHeartChristianSoundPracticeProgressHeardExpressionMessagesDemonTemplesOrthodoxRighteousnessWord Of GodRootedVirtuousCommandmentsOrthodox Christian Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Blessed is he who like Joshua (cf. Josh. 10:12-13) keeps the Sun of righteousness from setting in himself throughout the whole day of his present life, not allowing it to be blotted out by the dusk of sin and ignorance. In this way he will truly be able to put to flight the cunning demons that rise up against him.” WayWholeAbleChristianSinSunIgnoranceBlessedSettingFlightSettingsDemonOrthodoxRighteousnessAllowingCunningDuskCfsJoshPresent Life Author:Maximus the Confessor
“... we should not worry about clothes or food? Such anxiety is a mark of? unbelievers, who reject the providence of the Lord and deny the Creator. An attitude of this kind is entirely wrong for Christians who believe that even? sparrows? are under the care of the holy angels (cf. Mt. 10:29). The demons, however? suggest worries of this kind? The divine word can bear no fruit, being choked out by our cares. Let us, then, renounce these cares, and throw them down before the Lord, being content with what we have at the moment?” ShouldBelieveKindMomentsCareChristianAttitudeLordWorryDivineBearsHolyAnxietyClothesAngelMarkFruitCreatorDenyDemonRejectsOrthodoxProvidenceOrthodox ChristianRenounceSparrowsCfsUnbelieversBeing Content Author:Evagrius Ponticus
“Provide yourself with such work for your hands as can be done, if possible, both during the day and at night, so that you are not a burden to anyone, and indeed can give to others, as St. Paul the Apostle advises (cf. I Thess. 2:9; Eph. 4:28). In this manner you will overcome the demon of listlessness and drive away all the desires suggested by the enemy; for the demon of listlessness takes advantage of idleness. 'Every idle man is full of desires' (Prov. 13:4 LXX).” IfsMenGivingDoneHandsChristianDesireNightEnemyAdvantageOvercomingBurdenDemonOrthodoxIdleIdlenessAdviseApostlesOrthodox ChristianCfsApostle Paul Author:Evagrius Ponticus
“He who has mastery over his incensive power has mastery also over the demons. But anyone who is a slave to it is a stranger to the ways of the Saviour, for as the Saviour enjoined us: 'Learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart: and you will find rest for your souls' (Mt. 11:29). Now if a man abstains from food and drink, but becomes incensed to wrath because of evil thoughts, he is like a ship sailing the open sea with a demon for a pilot.” IfsMenWayHeartSoulChristianEvilSeaDrinkSlaveHumbleStrangerShipsYour SoulGentleDemonOrthodoxPilotsMasterySailingWrathSaviourFood And DrinkEvil Thoughts Author:Evagrius Ponticus
“Imagine an American Hans Christian Andersen, conceive of the Brothers Grimm living in Missouri, and you will approximate Howard Schwartz, a fable-maker and fable-gatherer seduced by the uncanny and the unearthly. In Lilith's Cave, he once again reaches into a magical cornucopia of folklore and fantasy and spreads before us, in enchanting language, the marvels and shocks of dybbuks, ghosts, demons, spirits, and wizards.” ChristianSpiritLanguageFantasyImagineBrotherSpreadGhostDemonShockMakersCavesWizardsFablesFolkloreUncannyEnchantingMissouriLilithGrimmBrothers Grimm Author:Cynthia Ozick