TO APPROACH GOD ... Talking with Geronta Pavlos of Sinai

 

A single oil lamp illumines the Byzantine icon of the "Panagiia* of the Life-Giving Spring," the only flicker of light in the most ancient chapel of St. Catherine's Monastery. The quiet glow on the icon invites one to become a privileged guest in the secret world of the saints, there, to exchange illness for health, confusion for light, burdens for freedom... 

But what truths lead beyond the surface of everyday existence to the place where solutions are transfiguring, not temporary – therapeutic, not palliative? 

"Geronta, our Lord says, 'The truth shall set you free.' " 

Freedom belongs to God.Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Let us lift up our hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Peace be with all.

Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

We can go wherever we want and do whatever we want, but that is not freedom. Freedom belongs to God. When a person is free from the tyranny of thoughts, that is freedom. When he lives in peace, that is freedom. He is always in prayer, he is always expecting help from the Lord—he listens to his conscience and does his best. We must pray with our whole being, work with our whole being, do everything with our whole being. We must also not be at war with anyone and never take any offense to heart. Let it be. Today we are offended by one person—who knows who will offend us tomorrow?