It takes years
1 April 2023
Monastics or lay people who strive to cleanse their heart through repentance will gradually begin to experience the state of virtue and divine illumination. But it takes many years, usually 15 to 20 or even more, depending on the personal struggle and divine providence, for these virtues to become firmly established and for divine grace to be absorbed. The virtues will become second nature or, rather, a person’s real nature. Prayer, purity, meekness, humility, tolerance and love will become the natural state.
Elder Efraim Vatopaidinos
