A necessary duty
15 August 2021
The Fathers make quietude the first step towards repentance. It’s living free from concerns. It’s removal from the things which cause us to fall and be defeated, in particular for those of weak character, but also on the part of him who ‘prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’ (2 Peter 5, 8). Through quietude, those engaged in the struggle are removed from vain and pointless occupations and thus, if they wish, they’re allowed to turn their thoughts and exertions to God. Enlightened by divine grace, they discover their real self, which is a necessary duty.
Elder Iosif Vatopaidinos
