A Spiritual Psalter by Ephraim the Syrian

[TER]

The Second Stasis​

58​

Reproach From The Lord For The Indifferent Soul​

With the eyes of my heart have I seen the Lord sitting in great glory and I seemed to hear Him say to my soul: how can it be, O soul, that thou hast found thy heavenly bridal chamber, filled with the light of glory, abhorrent? How can it be that thou wast repelled by the good things that I have prepared for thee in the land of life? How can it be that thou hast become alienated from Me through indecent deeds and thoughts? How can it be that thou carest not to prepare thyself to stand worthily before Me in My coming? How can it be that thou dost not keep thy lamp ready in expectation of the call: Behold, the bridegroom cometh- so that thou mightest go out to meet Me with joy? How can it be that thou takest no pains to prepare a proper wedding garment? How can it be that thou dost not prepare thyself to enter with joy into the holy, heavenly bridal chamber? How can it be that thou dost not join thyself to Me, Who have redeemed thee from death?

I have partaken of death in order to prepare thee as My bride. I have prepared the eternal kingdom for thee as an inheritance. All My good things have I, as the King, bestowed upon thee. For thy sake I even became a man, for I desired to redeem thy life from corruption. For thee have I prepared a bridal chamber in the heavens and arranged for the angels to lead thee into that bridal chamber, that thou mightest enter therein with joy.

Yet hast thou turned away from Me, from thy Groom, and from the ineffable good things that I have prepared for thee.

But who is more desirable than I, Who save all creation through My compassion? What father gives life as I do? Yet thou hast left Me, O soul, and loved another, a despicable stranger.

Who would not begin to tremble in terror upon hearing these words?

Who would not fall down ashamed, shed tears and cry out: for what purpose did I come forth from my mother's womb - to anger the Good, Holy and kindhearted God?

But, O Lord, grant that we may be sobered and detach ourselves from vain cares, that we may come to our senses and return to Thee, in Whom alone lies all true good for our sake.

 

[TER]

59​

Because Of My Tears, Convert Me And Grant That I May Bring Forth The Fruits Of Repentance​

Hearken, O Master, unto my lamentation, and receive the words of my prayer, which I, a sinner, bring to Thee, Who are longsuffering and all-merciful.

Do not with me according to my deeds; remember not my great transgressions, by which I have embittered Thy grace exceedingly, O all-good Master.

Thy grace endured the sins of my youth, which were great in number. May it endure also my indiscretion, heedlessness, and carelessness.

By Thy compassion hast Thou vowed, O Master and Lover of men, that Thou desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should return to Thee and live. By Thy compassion mayest Thou be moved to have mercy and compassion also on me who am a sinner.

Behold, O Christ our Savior, the fountains of my tears, the contrition and sighs of my unworthy soul! May Thy mercy come and shelter me before the terrible verdict of death finds me unprepared and ashamed.

May Thy grace grant me some time for true repentance. For Thy grace is wont to have mercy on every sinner who sheds tears, and to forgive him all the sins he has committed. Do this, that I too might bring Thee the fruit of repentance.

Draw me toward life and save me. Grant that with a pure heart I might serve Thee all the days of my life and that, having pleased Thee well with good deeds, I might be vouchsafed both to pass through this life and to enter into the eternal bliss which Thou hast prepared for all Thy saints who have pleased Thee in every generation.

 

[TER]

60​

To The Theotokos: A Request For Guidance In Life And Help In Death​

O Virgin Lady and Mother of God, thou who didst bear Christ our Savior and God in thy womb, I place all my hope on thee; in thee do I trust, for thou are higher than all the powers of heaven. Thou, who are All-Pure, protect me by thine all-powerful prayers.

Direct my life and lead me on the path indicated by the holy will of Thy Son and our God.

Grant me remission of sins, be to me a refuge, a protection, a defense, and a directress, guiding me along the path to eternal life.

Do not leave me in the terrible hour of death, O my Lady, but rush to my aid, rescue me from the bitter torments of the demons. For if thou so choosest, thou hast the power to do this, for thou are truly the Mother of God Who reignest over all.

Cease not to pray for all of us, thine unworthy servants, that we might be delivered from all the wiles of the Evil One and from all extremity, and that we might remain unwounded by all his venomous attacks.

Preserve us uncondemned to the end by thy prayers that, saved by thy help and intercession, we might forever send up glory, praise, thanks and honor to the One God in Trinity, to the Creator of all.

 

[TER]

The Third Stasis​

61​

Correct Me Who Am Most Sinful While I Am Here.​

O God Who art above all, Who alone hast authority over life and death: show me, a sinner, Thy great mercy in the hour of Thy terrible coming, that as I stand before Thy throne I might not be a great disgrace and reproach to all who will behold me: the angels, archangels, prophets, apostles, patriarchs, martyrs, ascetics, and all the righteous.

Bring me to my senses here, my Savior, here where I have enjoyed the delusion of sin, as a goodhearted Father Who loves His children, and forgive me there, as our merciful and only sinless God.

I who am wretched have committed every kind of sin. I have surpassed all with my dissipation. I deserve punishment, and if I begin to beg for repentance, I have no tears.

Alas, with what eye shall I, a negligent sinner, behold the terrible throne upon which Thou, O Lord, wilt sit as Thou exposest what I have done? The whole of my life have I squandered like a prodigal, wallowing continually in the mire of sensuality.

Thou alone, O my Creator, knowest all my secret falls and the full extent of my sins. No one has ever been such a dwelling-place of sin as I. No one ever embittered Thy grace, O Master, as fully as I, who followed the aims of sin.

But do Thou, Who art a sea of goodness, dry up the ruinous sea of my sins. do Thou, Who art an abyss of loving-kindness, drown the abyss of my sins.

Repay me not according to the merit of my deeds, and condemn me not to the flames of gehenna. For Thy wrath, O Lord, is unbearable, and who can withstand Thy threats?

 

[TER]

62​

To The Saints: A Request For Intercession​

Fear, O soul, the judgment and gehenna, and drive away the heavy sleep of apathy and the terrible slumber of recklessness. The end is near, the judgment is at the door. What will we encounter after we take leave of this life?

Come to my aid, O saints and righteous ones, who have performed good deeds unto salvation and lament for me as for one deceased, or take pity on me as one who is among the living but half-dead. For I am full of shame and lack boldness because of the sins I have knowingly committed.

Pour out on me your kindness as you would for a prisoner or for one covered with festering sores. Be kind to me, O initiates of the merciful God, our Savior, and pray that He might freely convert me, and that in the hour of His coming I might not be found unworthy and not hear the terrible condemnation: get away from Me, O worker of deceit. I tell you that I know you not.

 

[TER]

63​

Prayer For The Granting Of All Virtues​

Grant me, O Son of the Good One, that for which my mind yearns, and join to it that which is pleasing to Thy will.

Grant that I may choose to do good and in no way deviate from Thy will.

Do not permit me to be a wicked and hypocritical disciple who violates Thy commandments.

Protect me from thinking that I can walk along Thy path merely for the sake of appearance and thus by my hypocrisy deceive those who see me, inciting them to proclaim me blessed.

Grant that my heart might please Thy greatness in secret, and that my just life might glorify Thee publicly.

May truth be a mistress to guide Thy worshiper; may it preserve me in chastity both near and far.

Deliver me from the misfortune of knowing Thy law, yet lacking the desire to please Thee.

Vouchsafe me the company of people who are simple, but experienced and wise in the performance of virtues.

My flesh is weak. Fortify it with Thy strength. Help me, break the arrows of the cunning enemy, and number me among the hosts of Thine heirs.

Grant me, O Lord, ever to be among Thy dominion and to do what is pleasing to Thee. And whenever I begin something good, do Thou, O Lord, give me strength to complete it.

I know, O Lord, that I have sinned against Thy will. Clearly do I see that I have transgressed Thy commands. But do Thou, who makest Thy sun to shine on the bad and the good, deign also to shine Thy light in my clouded mind. And sins - those murderers and robbers who have taken up residence inside of me - will be driven out by this Thy light.

The evil one sees in me no wickedness that did not come from him, for it is because of him that I have become wicked. I am, however, conquered by him through my own free will. The evil one has entangled me because I myself instructed him to do so.

The slothful and timid run from Thy yoke; Thy love shames the negligent.

Praise be to Thy goodness, to that mother of all teachers. The blows that they deliver to bring the stubborn to their senses are perhaps quite painful, yet sympathetically do they offer healing to the penitent.

Worthy of veneration are Thy Father and Thy Holy Spirit, Who rejoices at our return!

 

[TER]

The Ninth Kathisma ​

+++​

The First Stasis​

64​

Life's Lessons: Beatitudes​

Blessed is he who has become magnanimous and kindhearted and not enslaved himself to untamed vehemence or wicked wrath; he will be magnified by the Lord.

Blessed is he who has been exalted in love and stands like a city built on a mountaintop, from whom the enemy withdraws with terror when he sees him; for he fears a man who is firm in the Lord.

Blessed is he who has shone forth with faith in the Lord like a bright candle on a tall candlestick, and has illumined the souls of those in darkness who followed the teachings of the faithless and the irreverent.

Blessed is he who ever loves truth and does not let his lips arm dishonor with lies, for he fears the commandment that forbids even idle talk.

Blessed is he who does not foolishly judge his neighbor, but rather, as befits a reasonable, spiritual man, tries first to cast out the beam from his own eye.

Blessed is he who has consciously exercised restraint, and who has never been seduced, neither in thought nor in his senses, by skin and flesh which soon pass and putrefy.

Blessed is he who keeps the day of his departure ever before his eyes, and has learned to hate arrogance before our inherent worthlessness is to be revealed by putrefaction in the grave.

 

[TER]

65​

On What Is Our Hope Of Vindication At The Judgment Founded?​

Fire threatens my members, O Lord; but concealed within me, O my Deliverer, is Thy reconciling blood. Gehenna awaits to torture me, but Thy life-creating body is intimately united with mine. I am clothed in the garment of the Holy Spirit, and I shall not even be singed. When the river of fire begins to rumble, threatening vengeance, then will the fire be extinguished in me, smitten by the scent of Thy flesh and blood.

Thou, our Lord, art the hope of the penitent. Thou art the friend of all sinners. I beseech Thee, O Lord, by Thy holy name: do not punish me with Thy righteous judgment. By the love of Thy Parent, by Thy Mother's bosom, where Thou wast carried, by the spear that pierced Thy ribs on Golgotha, do I beseech Thee: sprinkle me with the dew of Thy loving-kindness, that I might not then languish with thirst.

May Thy Cross, O Lord, in which I seek refuge, be for me a bridge across the great river of fire. May I pass along it to the habitation of life.

Jonah called out to Thee in the depths of the sea and so did Daniel in the lion's den. The three Hebrew children called Thee in the furnace fired up by the Chaldeans. Thou didst lead Jonah out of the abyss, Thou didst save Daniel, and Thy loving-kindness bedewed and extinguished the flame in the furnace. Have mercy on me also, O Lord, and save me because I have confessed Thee, and, according to Thy grace, forgive me my debts.

Have mercy on me, O our kindhearted Lord, and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my sins. Wash me from the iniquities of my hands, that I might be purified and cleansed of my stains. I know that I have sinned; my sins are ever before me and I see them. Before Thee alone am I guilty, and against Thee alone have I sinned. Be merciful to me, Lord Jesus, our God.

Three times did Simon deny Thee, O Lord; but he brought Thee tears and Thou didst receive him. Behold: I, too, bring Thee a pure confession. Many are my sins; they are countless. According to Thy compassions, O our Lord, forgive mine iniquities; by Thy grace blot out the record of my stains and remember not my sins.

Praise be to the Lord God Who does not desire the death of a sinner! Praise to Thee, Who hast mercy on sinners! Praise to Thee Who receivest the penitent! Praise to Thee, O Jesus, Who openest Thy door to all who knock at it and beg the forgiveness of their sins! Praise to Thee, O Lord, and may Thy compassion be upon us! Be merciful to us, O Jesus, our Lord.

 

[TER]

66​

The Enemy Has Led Me Astray And I Have Committed Many Sins. Have Mercy On Me, For I Confess My Sins.​

According to Thy grace that calls us, O God, to approach Thee without perishing, O Good One, Who hast made a covenant with us, proclaiming: Call upon Me and I will hearken unto you - thus do I knock at the door of Thy goodness, O my Deliverer! Hearken unto me according to Thy compassion and regard not mine iniquities. Have mercy on me, O lord, have mercy on me according to Thy goodness, for I am guilty of much before Thy truth.

Thou didst create me, O Lord, name me in Thine image, and, according to Thy goodness, make me in Thy likeness. Thou didst teach me to recognize the path to the habitation of life and show me the path to gehenna. On account of his envy, the Evil One placed secret ambushes in my way, lured me from Thy path, and sullied me with abominations. Woe is me, O our Lord, for I am guilty of many things! Have mercy on me, O Lord, and save me according to Thy grace.

The thief, the wicked stealer of souls, craftily took my freedom from me, seduced me, and reviled me. By the gaze of my eyes did he delude and imprison me and put sinful thoughts in me. I glanced and was filled with desire; I looked on curiously and I sinned. Because I stretched forth my hands to perform iniquity, so have I utterly perished. Alas, now the fire threatens me! Save me, O kindhearted One, that I might not die.

I am the most unfortunate of all who have been born of woman, for by my very own deeds have I made myself an unforthunate and cast myself into ruin. Daily have I sinned and comforted myself by ignoring the fact that death lies in wait for me. Alas, the angel of death sent to take me to the judgement is already at hand. Alas, all that is concealed will be exposed, and I will be covered with shame!

Behold: my deeds are justly recorded; not a single word has been forgotten. In the Judge's great book are all my deeds and transgressions entered. Woe is me, when justice reads there all the sins which I have committed from my youth through my old age! What shall I do in that hour and where shall I run from Thee, O Lord?

Woe is me, O Lord! I am guilty of so many things! Woe is me; I have sinned and not offered Thee repentance! O God who hadst mercy on the harlot, have mercy also on me who am miserable, O our Lord, that I might not perish! In the place of the myrrh that the harlot brought Thee, I have Thy flesh and blood which are united with my members. No, O our Lord, regard not my deeds; may Thy grace blot out mine offenses.

Enter not into judgment with me, O our Lord, for no living creature can be justified before Thee. Thou alone, O Lord, are pure. Spare me and cleanse me of sins by Thy grace. Vouchsafe me, O kindhearted One, Thy great compassions, that they might make me rich and I might receive forgiveness, and Thine angels might rejoice according to Thy word, O Thou who art kindhearted towards sinners.

 

[TER]

The Second Stasis​

67​

A Defense Against The Enemy's Wiles​

I beseech The, O true Light, begotten of the blessed Father, image of His hypostasis, Who sittest at the right of His magnificence, O Christ, the praise and joy of those who love Thee: Thou art my life, my light and my gladness!

Despise not me, who am worthless; cast me who am vile not away, for the enemy will be exceedingly pleased if I am plunged into despair because of the fog of error which surrounds me. He will rejoice only when he sees that despair is beginning to make me his captive.

Rather do Thou, according to Thine ardent love, shame his hopes, snatch me from his teeth, deliver me from his crafty schemes, from all that he contrives against me; for greatly does he arm himself to do battle with me.

Grant me, O Lord, enlightenment to recognize the wiles of my adversary, the hater of all good; for he places in my path countless multitudes of seductions and pitfalls - both profits and losses, the comforts of this age and carnal pleasure, the length of the present life, timidity in ascetic labor, slothfulness in prayer, sleep and rest for the body during the singing of psalms.

Inasmuch as the enemy strives for my ruin, so do I, who am miserable, surrender myself to recklessness and apathy. The more snares he sets out for me, the more careless I become.

Be wary, O my soul, watch over they conscience; pay no attention to the falls of others, but be instead more attentive to thine own falls. Hasten, forestall thy ruin, and be reconciled to Christ, crucified in the flesh for thy sake. If we have condemned ourselves, we will not be condemned then, at the great and eternal judgment.

Be kind to me, O Lord, according to Thy compassion; and save me according to Thy singular goodness, through the prayers of our All-Pure Lady the Mother of God and of all the saints.

 

[TER]

The Third Stasis​

68​

Deliver Me From The Enemy, Who Is A Rival For My Soul Which Is Betrothed To Thee​

A soul choked by sorrow approaches Thee, O holy Master, and stands before Thee with tears, leveling accusations against the annihilator, the enemy, and with all humility she falls down before Thee, begging for defense from the adversary that oppresses her.

Inasmuch as this soul approaches Thee without shame, be quick to hear her, and visit Thine attention upon her, who runs to Thee with love.

If Thou wilt despise her, choked as she is by sorrow, she will perish. If Thou hesitatest to hear her, who is deadened, her strength will fail.

But if, according to Thy compassions, Thou wilt visit her, she will be made whole. If Thou wilt regard her, she will be saved. If Thou wilt hearken unto her, she will wax in strength.

Be jealous over her, for she is betrothed unto Thee, and Paul who betrothed her unto Thee said that Thou are an immortal and jealous God.

Despise not her, that the enemy might not think that Thou hast divorced Thyself from her and sent her away from Thyself. Punish me, O Lord, according to Thy compassion; but deliver me not into the hands of the annihilator.

Lo, I have gathered up all of my thoughts and cannot recall anything good before Thee, except the fact that I know no other God than Thee.

 

[TER]

69​

The Wiles Of The Enemy And The Resources Of Sin​

Behold, again, I fall at the feet of my Master, begging, beseeching, worshiping and calling out to Him with fear.

O Master, attend to my lamentation, and accept the words of my supplication that I a shameful sinner bring to Thee.

According to Thy mercy, pour out upon me, who am miserable, at least one small drop of grace to make me understand and be converted, that I might make at least some small effort to correct myself. For if Thy grace does not illumine my soul, I will not be able to see the carelessness and negligence that the passions have produced in me through my apathy and recklessness.

Alas, sin has taken possession of me and found in me a pasture. With each passing day it debases me and plunges me further into its depths. And I, who am wretched, cease not to anger God, neither fearing the inextinguishable fire nor trembling at the eternal torments.

Sin has become a habit and has led me into utter ruin. Although I myself recognize my error and cease not to offer confessions, still I remain in sin. I look and do not see, because I sin even in repentance, for I do not endeavor to scrutinize my deeds.

As a slave of sin, even when I do not want to I perform vile acts. As a warrior under its authority, I obey it; and though I have an opportunity to flee, I pay tribute to this habit which reigns in me. I oblige the passions and bring payments of flesh. I know that corruption is gaining strength in me, and I myself cooperate with it, attracted by some secret force. I would like to flee, but like a dog on a chain, I always return again to the same spot.

Sometimes I come to hate sin and nurture disgust for iniquity, but still I remain enslaved to passion. It possesses unfortunate me, and with sinful pleasure does it lead me into sin. Passion has bought my free will for itself, and spews out sin upon me. The passions boil within me contrary to my reason; they have coalesced with my flesh and will not suffer to be separated from it.

I strain to redirect my will, but my previous state will not allow me any success in this endeavor. I who am miserable try to free my soul from its debts, but immediately does the evil usurer lead me into greater debt. Generously does he grant me loans, never even mentioning repayment. He does not even want to take anything back, for he desires only my slavery. He lends and then does not seek after my debts, that I might be made rich in passions. I want to pay off my old debt, but he adds a new one.

If I force myself somewhat to struggle against the passions, in order to overcome me he adds new passions, and, seeing that my constant indebtedness forces me to sin, he introduces me to new desires; and to keep me from confessing them, he plunges me into the oblivion of my passions.

I encounter new passions and, occupied with them, I forget about former ones. I befriend the passion which reappear and become again a debtor. I run to them as to friends and again my usurers behave toward me like masters. And I, who not so long ago tried to gain freedom, make myself their loyal slave. Again I hasten to free myself from the obligation to fight in their ranks, but because I have taken many gifts from them I find myself involuntarily bound to them,

O, how great is the authority of the sinful passions over me! O, how great is the sovereignty of the wicked and cunning serpent! Acting according to nature, he too goes to market and offers a deposit in order to sell a mind to sin. He convinces me to please the flesh under the pretense of using it to serve the soul. I am utterly conquered by sensuality, and I straightaway indulge in unrestrained sleep; and thus am I altogether deprived of the function of my soul. When I pray, he inspires me with the thought of some worthless pleasure, and with it he constrains my mind as with a brass chain. My mind cannot loose the bond, try as it may to flee.

Thus does sin keep my mind under guard and lock the doors of knowledge on me. The enemy ceaselessly supervises the mind, that it might not come to accord with God and not obstruct him in selling the flesh. To this end does he employ a multitude of confused thoughts, assuring me that I will not be asked about such trifles at the judgment, that it is impossible even for anyone to know of these thoughts and that all such things will be forgotten. But I imagine in my mind's eye how my error will be revealed, and I know that I am threatened with punishment.

Thus does sin keep me in check; thus does it blind me; thus does it by and sell me; thus does it lead me into error; thus does it flatter me and subject me to itself for, as the Apostle says, man is carnal, sold under sin. For the sin that is in my flesh reigns over my mind, and through my own fault, it uses my flesh to burned my soul.

If someone undertakes to fast or stand vigil or endure wounds, sin uses the flesh as if it were its own property to burden the soul with chains and, as a sheep for slaughter, it binds her, and uses the flesh also to cut off her hands and feet. I cannot flee, nor can I help myself.

Alas, alive I am a corpse. I look and do not see, I have changed from man to dog and though I have reason I am treated like a beast.

Have mercy, O soul, on thyself, and hasten at last to engage in battle with sin before thou are parted from the body, that we might not remain outside the doors like the foolish virgins; for one dead cannot see life or contemplate righteousness there where there is no battle for life or death, where there is no flesh for the enemy to curse when he is utterly vanquished by it.

 

[Corydoras]

I hope you had a happy Mazlenitsa and I wish you a productive Great Lent. Now I am going to challenge you.

There's something that has always bothered me about Efraim the Syrian. How much of this makes sense for a layman to take up? Is there any place for smiling at your spouse? Enjoying a nice cup of coffee? Telling your kids that they make you proud when they do the right thing? Appreciating the feeling of sunlight and wind on your face?

I am NOT fond of the brand of Orthodoxy that says that we laymen have to be unfeeling robots and that enjoying God's creation is just worldliness. We have a different role in life from the monastics. I don't want a surgeon to be operating me while asking himself whether the Church wants him to make a stitch this way or that way. I don't want children to grow up feeling like they exist only to sin and die. We laymen have different challenges in our lives from monastics.

Do you think a teenage girl should be exposed to ideas like "Alas, alive I am a corpse. I look and do not see, I have changed from man to dog and though I have reason I am treated like a beast"? I think that will actually endanger her, because she will not be able to recognize when a man has sexual desire for her (because she will be unable to believe she is beautiful) and because she will be too easily trapped in an abusive situation where she and any children could get hurt.

I would not want a teenage daughter, or even a son, of mine reading this stuff. It is very, very strong stuff for mature spiritual warriors. I do not believe it was ever intended for laymen of any age.

So yeah, it's good stuff, but I don't actually think it should be spread around. Obviously, you do. Why?

 

[TER]

Thank you for your well wishes and I too hope you have a blessed and refreshing Lent! May we look forward to the Day of Pascha where we will sing "Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death with death, and upon those in the tombs: Bestowing life!"

So yeah, it's good stuff, but I don't actually think it should be spread around. Obviously, you do. Why?

It is said that the light of people are the monks, the light of monks are the angels, and the light of angels is God. While we all are called to lead pure, chaste and virtuous lives, in prayer and fasting and repentance, ultimately "to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13), "He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11)

There is no law against nor any evil in "smiling at your spouse? Enjoying a nice cup of coffee? Telling your kids that they make you proud when they do the right thing? Appreciating the feeling of sunlight and wind on your face?" In fact, in such 'simple' things, the riches and blessings of God are discerned. Not only discerned but, in fact, experienced. In such pure actions of love and thanksgiving, we experience the energies of God and grow closer in loving communion with Him. We become 'partakes of the divine nature', adopted sons of God by His grace. All of this, however, is predicated that it is done so for the love of God and for the love of our neighbor. Thus, if we are smiling at our spouse because in our hearts at that moment we feel overwhelming love for her, then it is to our joy and fulfillment - a taste of the Kingdom of God! If done so, however, out of deceit or in a spirit of contempt, then it is a spirit foreign to God and to our judgment and condemnation and fall.

In order to follow Christ, we are all called not only to be 'monks', but even 'priests'! We all have been given talents. We have all been given the responsibilities as stewards of creation. Most of us work this out 'in the world', in the cities and within the constructs of 'modern man'. It is for some, a blessed few, who are called to run to the desert and forsake the world and the vanities therein and wage spiritual warfare against their passions and against the demons. It is not so for everyone. But that does not take away from us the calling to follow the teachings and commandments of Christ. To fast, as He did. To pray, as He did. To forgive, as He did. To have mercy, as He did. To give alms and bear the burden of others, as He did. Those living in the world have a different struggle, but the prescriptions are the same, to each to the degree they can attain, from glory to glory and to the wisdom of God.

And so by the words of the great spiritual athletes in Christ, in the hymns and meditations and prayers of those who forsook everything for the love of God and His creation, becoming themselves living temples of the Holy Spirit, living prayers to God for the entire world and all those who live in it, by their words we too can see how we can fight against the addictions that plague us or the evil habits that consume us or the malicious thoughts which occupy our minds, presenting ourselves, our mind, our hearts and our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. (cf. Romans 12:1)

These hymns, of course, is strong meat for those who still require milk and as such perhaps may not be appropriate for teenage boys and girls, and I am not offering them here for their study. I defer them, and everyone for that matter, to the direction and guidance of their spiritual father or parish priest. I dare say I know the spiritual condition or the prescriptions required to assist the learner of Christ who is reading this thread, the few or many there be.

I instead offer them to those who wish and are able to see what true repentance and love for God can look like, to the edification of those who read the cries from the heart of this, one of the most beloved saints of Christianity.

May the Lord strengthen all of us, His children, in the days and weeks to come.

 

[Corydoras]

Thank you for responding so thoughtfully and at length.

First I have a question. You write in part:

There is no law against nor any evil in "smiling at your spouse? Enjoying a nice cup of coffee? Telling your kids that they make you proud when they do the right thing? Appreciating the feeling of sunlight and wind on your face?" In fact, in such 'simple' things, the riches and blessings of God are discerned.

My question is, is there any basis for that interpretation in any of the writings of our Holy Tradition? I have never read anywhere in our Holy Tradition of anybody doing any such things. I would like to believe there is a basis in Holy Tradition for what you say. But I have not found it.

Can you even find any examples of the saints smiling? No, instead there are injunctions against laughing. These examples I gave, how are they NOT the sensuous pleasures of the world, particularly the feeling of the sun and wind? They are sensory and they are worldly. As I said, it would be nice if what you said is true, but it just ain't there in the Holy Tradition. If you can find anything that supports what you say about these simple pleasures, then please post me a reply.

The second thing I have to say is that having read what you say about why you posted the Spiritual Psalter, I think you were very wrong to post it. You have done the spiritual equivalent of leaving a loaded gun lying around unsupervised. St. Efrem the Syrian's writing is very powerful and could easily lead to despair and suicide in the vulnerable. And in this society, there are many more people prone to despair than there are numbers of spiritually sophisticated people who might be able to handle this text without guidance.

If a spiritual father wants a penitent to read St. Efrem, then let him give a copy to the penitent. But as you know, the vast majority of Orthodox do not have much spiritual guidance, because our parishes are large, our clergy overworked, and our monastics few.

You did not do a good thing posting the Spiritual Psalter as you did, without a warning at the top that it should be read only under spiritual guidance. I think you need to use better discretion.

If you read it and you are marveling at St. Efrem's spirituality etc. etc., then I think you yourself should not be posting it. What he is writing about is the most brutal, harsh kind of spiritual warfare, and it is no easier to behold than conventional warfare.

And I think you ought to go to your spiritual father and tell him, "This person online said that by posting the Spiritual Psalter, I was leaving a loaded gun around and that the Spiritual Psalter could lead to despair and suicide because most people don't have a staretz. Did I do the right thing by posting it?"

 

[TER]

Thank you for responding so thoughtfully and at length.

First I have a question. You write in part:


My question is, is there any basis for that interpretation in any of the writings of our Holy Tradition? I have never read anywhere in our Holy Tradition of anybody doing any such things. I would like to believe there is a basis in Holy Tradition for what you say. But I have not found it.

Can you even find any examples of the saints smiling? No, instead there are injunctions against laughing. These examples I gave, how are they NOT the sensuous pleasures of the world, particularly the feeling of the sun and wind? They are sensory and they are worldly. As I said, it would be nice if what you said is true, but it just ain't there in the Holy Tradition. If you can find anything that supports what you say about these simple pleasures, then please post me a reply.

The writings and lives of the saints are full of expressions of beauty and awe for the created world and the enjoyment of the 'simple pleasures' in life. There are countless examples of saints who in their holiness granted to them by God have lived in a state not dissimilar to Adam's in the Garden, where even the wild beasts submitted to them and they lived in absolute harmony with nature and all of creation. In fact, to the saints who have by their ascetic labors and spiritual warfare progressed spiritually along the process of purification, illumination and deification, everything is a gift and a cause for glory to God.

The second thing I have to say is that having read what you say about why you posted the Spiritual Psalter, I think you were very wrong to post it. You have done the spiritual equivalent of leaving a loaded gun lying around unsupervised. St. Efrem the Syrian's writing is very powerful and could easily lead to despair and suicide in the vulnerable. And in this society, there are many more people prone to despair than there are numbers of spiritually sophisticated people who might be able to handle this text without guidance.

If a spiritual father wants a penitent to read St. Efrem, then let him give a copy to the penitent. But as you know, the vast majority of Orthodox do not have much spiritual guidance, because our parishes are large, our clergy overworked, and our monastics few.

You did not do a good thing posting the Spiritual Psalter as you did, without a warning at the top that it should be read only under spiritual guidance. I think you need to use better discretion.

If you read it and you are marveling at St. Efrem's spirituality etc. etc., then I think you yourself should not be posting it. What he is writing about is the most brutal, harsh kind of spiritual warfare, and it is no easier to behold than conventional warfare.

And I think you ought to go to your spiritual father and tell him, "This person online said that by posting the Spiritual Psalter, I was leaving a loaded gun around and that the Spiritual Psalter could lead to despair and suicide because most people don't have a staretz. Did I do the right thing by posting it?"

Again I thank you for your concern which is a good and correct one. I have added a warning to the OP. It is true such writings are a loaded gun. I offer it here for those who are prepared and under the guidance of a spiritual father.

 

[Theocrat]

Despair in Repentance

10​

I Cannot Manage My Own Self; Grant Me The Spirit Of Repentance​

Before Thy glory, O Christ my Savior, I will announce all my misconduct and confess the infinitude of Thy mercies, which Thou pourest out upon me according to Thy kindness.

From my mother's womb I began to grieve Thee, and utterly have I disregarded Thy grace, for I have neglected my soul. Thou, O my Master, according to the multitude of Thy mercies, hast regarded all my wickedness with patience and kindness. They grace has lifted up my head, but daily it is brought low by me sins.

Bad habits entangle me like snares, and I rejoice at being thus bound. I sink to the very depths of evil, and this delights me. Daily the enemy gives me new shackles, for he sees how this variety of bonds pleasures me.

The fact that I am bound by my own desires should provoke weeping and lamentation, shame and disgrace. And yet more terrible is the fact that I bind myself with the shackels that the enemy places upon me, and I slay myself with the passions that give him pleasure.

Although I know how dreadful these shackles are, I hide them behind a noble appearance from all who might see. I appear to be robed in the beautiful clothes of reverence, but my soul is entangled with shameful thoughts. Before all who might see, I am reverent, but inside I am filled with all manner of indecency.

My conscience accuses me of all this, and I act as if I wish to be freed of my shackles. Every day I worry and sigh over this, yet I ever remain bound by the same snares.

How pitiful I am; and how pitiful is my daily repentance, for it has no firm foundation. Every day I lay a foundation for the buliding, and again with my own hands I demolish it.

My repentance has not even made a good beginning as yet; yet there is no end to my wicked negligence. I have become a slave to passions and to the evil will of the enemy who destroys me.

Who will give the water to my head, and the founts to my eyes for tears, so that I may weep before Thee, O merciful God, that Thou mightest send Thy grace and draw me, a sinner, out of the sea, furious with the waves of sin, that hourly convulses my soul? For my desires are worse than wounds that cannot be bandaged.

I wait hoping for repentance and deceive myself with this vain promise until my death. Ever do I say, "I will repent," but never do I repent. My words give the appearance of heartfelt repentance, but in deed I am always far from repentance.

What will happen to me in the day of the trial, when God unveils all things at His court! Certainly I shall be sentenced to torment, if here I have not moved Thee to mercy, O my Judge, by my tears.

I hope on Thy mercies, O Lord; I fall at Thy feet and beseech Thee: Grant me the spirit of repentance and lead my soul out of the dungeon of iniquity! May a ray of light shine in my mind before I go to the terrible judgment which awaits me, where there is no opportunity to repent of one's wicked deed.

I can relate to that prayer a lot.

 

[Corydoras]

The writings and lives of the saints are full of expressions of beauty and awe for the created world and the enjoyment of the 'simple pleasures' in life.

I've read enough saints' lives to call BS on this. But I also freely admit that I definitely haven't read as much as you. Please show me a passage from a saint's life that shows the saint taking pleasure in anything. I specifically do NOT mean a saint DOING something that YOU consider pleasurable. I mean the hagiography saying that the saint enjoyed and took pleasure in something - saying how he or she felt about it.

There are countless examples of saints who in their holiness granted to them by God have lived in a state not dissimilar to Adam's in the Garden, where even the wild beasts submitted to them and they lived in absolute harmony with nature and all of creation.
In fact, to the saints who have by their ascetic labors and spiritual warfare progressed spiritually along the process of purification, illumination and deification, everything is a gift and a cause for glory to God.

I'm sorry, but that doesn't mean they took pleasure in it. Just because something is a gift or a cause to glorify God doesn't mean it's enjoyable. Just because something is beautiful or causes awe doesn't mean it causes pleasure.

Again I thank you for your concern which is a good and correct one. I have added a warning to the OP. It is true such writings are a loaded gun. I offer it here for those who are prepared and under the guidance of a spiritual father.

Thank you.

 

[TER]

I've read enough saints' lives to call BS on this. But I also freely admit that I definitely haven't read as much as you. Please show me a passage from a saint's life that shows the saint taking pleasure in anything. I specifically do NOT mean a saint DOING something that YOU consider pleasurable. I mean the hagiography saying that the saint enjoyed and took pleasure in something - saying how he or she felt about it.

Have you never read of saints feeding the poor, or sheltering the homeless, or raising the orphans, or healing the sick? You think they did this without pleasure? Do you have pleasure in doing such things?

 

[TER]

The Tenth Kathisma ​

+++​

The First Stasis​

70​

How Merciful The Lord Accepts The Penitent!​

A fountain full of waters constantly flowing and abundantly giving drink to all who come portrays the abundance of Thine inexhaustible compassion, O Lord.

Plentiful dost Thou nourish the heavenly powers and provide food for all that breathes on earth. Thy love, which desires our salvation, condescends to us in order to bring us to herself and to save those who come to her.

Thou, O Master, art omniscient and seest the resolve with which a man turns from sin. And before he comes to the door, Thou dost open it for him. Before he falls at Thy feet, Thou dost stretch out Thine hand to him. Before he sheds tears, Thou bestowest upon him Thy compassion. Before he confesses his debts, Thou grantest him forgiveness.

Thou dost not accuse him or say: how did you squander your belongings? Thou rememberest not how he angered Thee with his depravity. Thou reproachest him not for scorning Thy good works. But, foreseeing his humility, lamentation and sincere dispostion, Thou proclaimest: take out the best garment and clothe him; kill the fatted calf that we may be consoled and make merry. May the angels gather and rejoice at the son who was lost and has been found, at the return of the prodigal heir.

As people go out to meet a merchant when he comes home with great riches, thus may Thy grace receive a sinner who returns to Thee with all his soul. For Thy grace loves to see tears, longs to see repentance, rejoices at the ardor of those who strive to repent.

Glory to Thee Who are longsuffering and kindhearted, O Master and Lover of men.